Arcanum What is the status of the writer for Arcanum?

[rusty_shackleford]

Edward R.G. Mortimer
Is he alive? Did he do anything after Arcanum?



For a bit of background, PCGamer did an interview with Tim Cain sometime after Fallout released
http://home.ica.net/~mordeth/compendium/fallout/timcain.htm

He's even interested in working with some of the Judges Guild writers, if he know how to contact them. "I don't know what happened to all their designers," says Cain. "There was a guy Edward R.G. Mortimer, his stuff was just incredible. He was a great designer; I'd love to hire him. His ideas were just incredible."

Tim Cain eventually did contact him and got him to write for Arcanum, obviously.

 

[curds]

I'd like to know as well, as Arcanum is one of the better-written CRPGs out there, IMO. Evocative, but not too flowery. Made me chuckle more than a few times (something I find really rare in video games).

 

[Ramnozack]

I'd like to know as well, as Arcanum is one of the better-written CRPGs out there, IMO. Evocative, but not too flowery. Made me chuckle more than a few times (something I find really rare in video games).

Not to mention redpilled on (((gnomes)))

 

[pidstuff]

There's some guy asking around for him as well. He said that Tim Cain hasn't emailed back yet, and Josh Sawyer doesn't know who he is. Then it was speculated as to whether it was a pseudonym.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Then it was speculated as to whether it was a pseudonym.

If it is then it was a pseudonym that dated back decades prior to Arcanum as he's credited with that on his Judges guild works

 

[Ramnozack]

He's being fucked by an ogre on gnomesteins island

 

[Kainan]

Afaik the manual was written by Arinn Dembo under a pseudonym. She also wrote some lore for Homeworld and Sword of the Stars (great games)

 

[Lawntoilet]

I'd like to know as well, as Arcanum is one of the better-written CRPGs out there, IMO. Evocative, but not too flowery. Made me chuckle more than a few times (something I find really rare in video games).

Not to mention redpilled on (((gnomes)))

Well as Rusty mentioned, he did write for Judges Guild: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judges_Guild#2020_racist_and_antisemitic_remarks_by_Bob_Bledsaw_II
The Arcanum "Protocols of the Gnomes of Zion" was pretty based.

I'd like to know as well, as Arcanum is one of the better-written CRPGs out there, IMO. Evocative, but not too flowery. Made me chuckle more than a few times (something I find really rare in video games).

It is quite a funny game. Trolling Gar about green tea being superior and talking to Lukan the Witless come to mind.

 

[Kainan]

Some of the "goodbye" answers are funny a la Fallout
Like in Skyler and Sons basement when the guy talks for a long time you can say
"Well, well, look at the time!" or something like that.

 

[Ed Mortimer]

I'm still alive. I have been in the modding community for decades, and am still modding -- for my own enjoyment nowadays.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Rusty never discovered the edmortimer on Circle of Eight modding.

 

[Ryzer]

I'm still alive. I have been in the modding community for decades, and am still modding -- for my own enjoyment nowadays.

Do you remember how it was to work on Arcanum after 20 long years? How did you come up with this story?

 

[Ed Mortimer]

I'm still alive. I have been in the modding community for decades, and am still modding -- for my own enjoyment nowadays.

Do you remember how it was to work on Arcanum after 20 long years? How did you come up with this story?

I remember how it was to work on Arcanum, and even remember the little I saw Troika working on Temple of Elemental Evil, and yes, to answer Zed the Circle of Eight edmortimer is me also. Most of the quests/stories/etc within Arcanum were created by all those working on the project - my job was to fill in the conversations. The main points, if it wasn't my story, was done by whoever had the idea. The archaic language was my idea, and it wasn't accepted at first, but I insisted and eventually everyone liked it (after they toned me down a little).

 

[NecroLord]

You really don't see this kind of story and writing in video games anymore.
Everything is just so childish and low IQ...

 

[Sweeper]

I was gonna post the image, but I'll decide not to be an asshole.
Ed Mortimer I've only the highest regard and respect for everyone that worked on Arcanum. We'll never get anything like it ever again (and that's a good thing).

 

[Terenty]

Yep, Arcanum is one of the best written games indeed, imho. Kudos to everyone involved

 

[ERYFKRAD]

I'm still alive. I have been in the modding community for decades, and am still modding -- for my own enjoyment nowadays.

Anything else you've released?

 

[502]

I commend you for your extraordinary work on one of my favorite games.

 

[Ed Mortimer]

I was gonna post the image, but I'll decide not to be an asshole.
Ed Mortimer I've only the highest regard and respect for everyone that worked on Arcanum. We'll never get anything like it ever again (and that's a good thing).

Thank you all for appreciating what little i did to add flavor to Arcanum. I worked remotely, 3000 miles away, and so 99% of the credit belongs to the guys working their hearts out there: Tim Cain, Leonard Boyarsky, Jason Anderson and the rest. Tim was my main contact with the project, and his direction was invaluable.

Most of my commercial work was done with Judges Guild. There was a big project with Bard Games (pen & paper) I was on, and some other projects I helped a little on. but most of my computer stuff has been modding: SPCamo Workshop for 7+ years, The Bear's Pit for I forget how long and other places like ToEE Circle of Eight. I had a evil mod of ToEE almost done, where the object was to recruit everyone in the Temple over to your side and take it over . . . but real life got in the way for a few years and I never finished it.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

Salute to your Sir, Arcanum will forever be a timeless masterpiece and your writing is a big part of that

 

[Ed Mortimer]

I have to say this: Tim Cain is The Man, yo! He's the one who had the vision and inspired all of us.

 

[Ed Mortimer]

I see my earlier reply to this thread is still awaiting moderator's approval - I dunno why, I'm a noob here - so to sum it up I'll just say, thank you, I appreciate that you enjoyed our work. I had very little to do with it, and all the credit goes to Tim, Leonard, Jason, and the entire crew who lived and worked Arcanum.

 

[Anthedon]

Posting in the same thread as an Arcanum writer, a true privilege has been conferred on the Codex this day.

 

[sosmoflux]

I'm still alive. I have been in the modding community for decades, and am still modding -- for my own enjoyment nowadays.

Do you remember how it was to work on Arcanum after 20 long years? How did you come up with this story?

I remember how it was to work on Arcanum, and even remember the little I saw Troika working on Temple of Elemental Evil, and yes, to answer Zed the Circle of Eight edmortimer is me also. Most of the quests/stories/etc within Arcanum were created by all those working on the project - my job was to fill in the conversations. The main points, if it wasn't my story, was done by whoever had the idea. The archaic language was my idea, and it wasn't accepted at first, but I insisted and eventually everyone liked it (after they toned me down a little).

You've gotta tell us more before you die suddenly. What was it like working with some of those now-famous writers and designers? Fun stories?

 

[Ed Mortimer]

You've gotta tell us more before you die suddenly. What was it like working with some of those now-famous writers and designers? Fun stories?

Unfortunately, I worked remotely - 3000 miles away using postal mail and CDs as well as email. I only spent a week in California (or was it 2?, I had terrible jetlag) with everybody. I would have loved to have lived and worked there with them. The work area was incredible -- welcoming to pets, family, crashing there after late night sessions, cutting edge computers and tech (for the time, not like mine at home) . . . it was everything you wanted in a workspace. There were a lot of people at Troika at this time -- ToEE was also in development. Lots of people contributed, and those who lived there would have first-hand stories - you can look them up. I'd guess they would appreciate the interest just as I do.