Editing Jonathan Tweet

{{Short description|American game designer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name          = Jonathan Tweet
|image         = Jonathan Tweet.jpg
|caption       = Tweet in 2015
|birth_name    =
|birth_date    = {{birth year and age|1965}}
|birth_place   = [[Rock Island, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date    =
|death_place   =
|other_names   =
|occupation     = [[Game designer]], author, blogger, writer
|education     = 
|alma_mater    = [[St. Olaf College]]
|employer      =
|known_for    = 
|spouse        = Tracy (d. 2008)
|father        = [[Roald Tweet]]
|partner       =
|children      = 1
|relatives     =
|signature     = 
|website       = {{URL|jonathantweet.com}}
| module      = {{Listen
| filename = Jonathan Tweet Audio.ogg
| title = Jonathan Tweet in his own words
| type = speech
| description = recorded in July 2015
}}
}}
'''Jonathan Tweet''' (born 1965<ref>The Rock Island Argus. September 30, 1965.</ref>) is an American [[game designer]] who has been involved in the development of the [[role-playing game]]s ''[[Ars Magica]]'', ''[[Everway]]'', ''[[Over the Edge (game)|Over the Edge]]'', ''[[Talislanta]]'', the third edition of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and ''[[13th Age]]'', and the collectible miniatures game ''[[Dreamblade]]''. In 2015 Tweet released ''[[Grandmother Fish]]'', a full-color, full-sized book about [[evolution]] aimed at preschoolers. In 2018 Tweet released ''Clades'' and ''Clades Prehistoric'', two card games for children and adults which demonstrate the concept of a [[clade]].

== Early life ==

Native to [[Rock Island, Illinois]], Tweet is the son of [[Roald Tweet]], an [[Augustana College (Illinois)|Augustana College]] professor emeritus and local historian,<ref name="Turner">{{cite web|last1=Turner|first1=Jonathan|title=RI native raising money for kids' book on evolution|url=http://www.qconline.com/news/local/ri-native-raising-money-for-kids-book-on-evolution/article_a486f6ca-4ba2-508e-a29e-04fc0e9beaf9.html|publisher=QConline|date=June 28, 2014}}</ref> and Margaret Tweet.<ref name="Margaret">{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Margaret|title=Margaret Tweet Birthday|date=November 26, 2013 |url=http://www.qconline.com/news/social/margaret-tweet-birthday/article_9455e2eb-7eb6-5905-99bd-fef8f81fcdfe.html|publisher=QConline}}</ref> Jonathan Tweet started playing ''D&D'' in the 1970s, when his father gave him his first ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game. He then formed his own gaming group by recruiting classmates.<ref name="Dragon #274">{{cite journal| last = Kenson| first = Stephen| author-link = Steve Kenson| title = ProFiles: Jonathan Tweet| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #274| pages = 10, 12, 14| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| location = [[Renton, Washington]]|date=August 2000}}</ref> Tweet graduated from Rock Island High School class valedictorian in 1983. He majored in psychology and sociology at his parents' alma mater, [[St. Olaf College]] in Minnesota.<ref name="Turner" />

== Career ==
Jonathan Tweet and [[Mark Rein-Hagen]] founded [[Lion Rampant (game publisher)|Lion Rampant]] in 1987 while they were attending [[St. Olaf College]]. There, they also met [[Lisa Stevens]] who later joined the company.<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|232}} His article "Egyptian Magic for ''Call of Cthulhu''" appeared in ''[[Different Worlds]]'' #47 (Fall 1987), the magazine's final issue.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|84}} In 1987, Tweet and Rein-Hagen designed the game ''[[Ars Magica]]'', a game centered around wizards in the Middle Ages.<ref name="Dragon #274" /><ref name="designers" />{{rp|232–233}} Tweet left Lion Rampant and briefly left the RPG industry in 1989 to begin a new career.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|234}} Tweet wrote ''Festival of the Damned'' (1991), an adventure published by [[Atlas Games]] for ''Ars Magica''.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|252}} Tweet continued to run a game he created called "Al Amarja" for a group in [[Rock Island, Illinois]], and wrote about the game in articles published in ''[[Alarums and Excursions]]''; when [[John Nephew]] read these articles he wanted to publish the game, and the result was ''[[Over the Edge (game)|Over the Edge]]'' (1992), the first original game from Atlas Games.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|253}} His design on ''Over the Edge'' notably involved free-form rules and a subjective approach.<ref name="Dragon #274" /> Lisa Stevens recommended to [[Wizards of the Coast]] to have Tweet work freelance to revise the ''[[Talislanta]]'' rules for Wizards to publish, and also write the first new adventure for their version of the game; Tweet also wrote a revised version of the ''Talislanta Guidebook'' (1992), and the adventure ''The Scent of the Beast'' (1992).<ref name="designers" />{{rp|277}} Tweet wrote the adventure ''Apocalypse'' (1993) for the ''[[Role Aids]]'' line by [[Mayfair Games]].<ref name="designers" />{{rp|169}} Nephew and Tweet also designed ''[[On the Edge (game)|On the Edge]]'' (1994), a [[collectible card game]] based on ''Over the Edge''.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|253}} Tweet joined Wizards of the Coast as a full-time employee in June 1994, and brought about new product lines for the company beginning with ''Ars Magica'', which Tweet recommended Wizards to acquire.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|279}} Tweet designed ''[[Everway]]'', which was first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1995.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|254, 280}} After Wizards of the Coast moved away from role-playing games, Tweet worked on [[Portal (Magic: The Gathering)|Portal]], a [[Magic: The Gathering]] set designed to help new players learn the game.

Tweet was lead designer on the third edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|286}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Wizards of the Coast: Player's Handbook Exclusive Preview!|url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_PH_Intro.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000711035935/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_PH_Intro.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2000}}</ref> Tweet, [[Monte Cook]], and [[Skip Williams]] all contributed to the 3rd edition ''[[Player's Handbook]]'', ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]]'', and ''[[Monster Manual]]'', and then each designer wrote one of the books based on those contributions.<ref name="Dragon #275">{{cite journal| title = Profiles: Monte Cook| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #275| pages = 10, 12, 14| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| location = [[Renton, Washington]]|date=September 2000}}</ref> Tweet oversaw the ''[[Chainmail (game)|Chainmail Miniatures Game]]'' design team, and [[Skaff Elias]] was responsible for the main design work and [[Chris Pramas]] created the game world.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|289}} Tweet became the head of the miniatures group, and the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game]]'' (2003) was the result of the work by Tweet, [[Rob Heinsoo]], and Skaff Elias.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|292}} On December 2, 2008, Tweet was laid off from Wizards of the Coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=17373955#post17373955|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717124919/http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=17373955%23post17373955|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=The Wizards Community}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1160685|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708092010/http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1160685|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|title=The Wizards Community}}</ref>

''[[13th Age]]'' a [[d20 System]] RPG, designed by Heinsoo and Tweet was published by [[Pelgrane Press]] on August 3, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=12345|title=Through the Scrying Glass: 13th Age Released|date=July 30, 2013 |publisher=[[Pelgrane Press]]}}</ref> The pre-release version was a nominee for the RPG Geek RPG of the Year 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpggeek.com/rpg/17925/13th-age|title=13th Age|work=rpggeek.com}}</ref>

In 2015 Tweet published ''[[Grandmother Fish]]'', a [[Kickstarter]]-funded book described as "the first book to teach evolution to preschoolers".<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.grandmotherfish.com/about/|website=grandmotherfish.com|title= Grandmother Fish|access-date= September 23, 2018}}</ref> While criticized by creationist organizations,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cain|first1=Fraser|title=Grandmother Fish – An Evolution Book for Preschoolers |url=https://plus.google.com/+FraserCain/posts/2sr2QJ5kMGD|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> it has been praised by science educators.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meikle|first1=Eric|title=Granny, What a Big Extended Family You Have!|url=http://ncse.com/blog/2014/06/granny-what-big-extended-family-you-have-0015705|website=National Center for Science Education|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref>

In 2018 Tweet, along with children's science illustrator Karen Lewis, released two card games, ''Clades'' and ''Clades Prehistoric''.  These animal matching games are intended to be used as tools to teach about evolution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandmotherfish.com/uncategorized/clades-clades-prehistoric-press-release/ |title=Clades & Clades Prehistoric Press Release |website=grandmotherfish.com|access-date=September 5, 2018 |date=May 7, 2018}}</ref> Clades Solo, an app version that includes both prehistoric and modern animals, was released in 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Clades Solo |url=https://www.ideategames.org/Clades/ |website=Ideate Games |access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>

The third edition of ''Over the Edge'', with a new setting and new rules, was released June 1, 2019.

== Religious views ==

An [[atheist]] since grade school,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Hell and Sunday School|url=http://www.jonathantweet.com/religionsundaysc.html|website=Jonathan Tweet's Personal Blog|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> Tweet has devoted much of his personal website to his views on religion,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=jonathantweet.com Religion Hub|url=http://www.jonathantweet.com/jotreligionhub.html|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=jonathantweet.com figment hub|url=http://www.jonathantweet.com/jotfigmenthub.html|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> in particular on the historical Jesus.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Jesus Mortal|url=http://www.jonathantweet.com/jesus/|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> He also blogs about religion on the Secular Sunday School blog.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Secular Sunday School|url=http://jonathan-tweet.blogspot.com/|access-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref>

{{Cquote|My plan was to demonstrate hell to be absurd... One Sunday, I screwed up my courage and announced to the teacher, "I don't believe in Hell."

The teacher responded with "I don't either."

With the initial foray against dogma a total failure, I called off the whole assault. Speaking my mind would have to wait for college.|author=Jonathan Tweet<ref>[http://www.jonathantweet.com/religionsundaysc.html Hell and Sunday School] December 2006</ref>}}

== Personal life ==
Tweet and his wife Tracy moved to [[Seattle, Washington]], in 1994. Tracy died from [[multiple sclerosis]] in 2008.<ref name="Turner" /> He continues to live in the Seattle area with his daughter.<ref name="Kickstarter">{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Grandmother Fish ● The Kickstarter Video|url=https://vimeo.com/97745667|website=Vimeo|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |title=TIES Webinar: Jonathan Tweet, author of Grandmother Fish |url=https://www.richarddawkins.net/2018/08/ties-webinar-jonathan-tweet-author-of-grandmother-fish/ |website=Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science |publisher=Richard Dawkins Foundation, Center for Inquiry |access-date=August 25, 2018 |archive-date=August 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825074143/https://www.richarddawkins.net/2018/08/ties-webinar-jonathan-tweet-author-of-grandmother-fish/ |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=4 |title=Jonathan Tweet |access-date=June 9, 2013 |publisher=Pen & Paper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204544/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=4|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111006011853/http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/front-page6153.php My First Gen Con: Jonathan Tweet]}}
* [https://venturebeat.com/2011/07/18/is-amazon-going-to-challenge-zynga-in-social-games/ Is Amazon going to challenge Zynga in social games?]
* [http://oathsandfates.blogspot.com/2011/07/wizards-peter-on-cusp-part-ten.html Wizards: Peter on the Cusp, Part Ten].
* [http://rpgreview.net/node/51 Jonathan Tweet Interview], RPG Review, April 7, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
* [http://obskures.de/2012/13th-age-my-d-d-next-an-interview-with-rob-heinsoo-jonathan-tweet-and-lee-moyer/ 13th Age – My D & D Next: An interview] with [[Rob Heinsoo]], Jonathan Tweet and [[Lee Moyer]], Obskures, December 17, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
* [https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/05/20/13th-age-review-the-excellent-new-tabletop-game-from-the-lead-designers-of-3rd-and-4th-edition-dungeons-and-dragons/ "13th Age: The New Tabletop Game From The Lead Designers Of 3rd And 4th Edition Dungeons And Dragons"], Forbes.com. May 20, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tweet, Jonathan}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American skeptics]]
[[Category:Atlas Games people]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:St. Olaf College alumni]]