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{{Short description|American game designer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Jonathan Tweet
|name = Jonathan Tweet
|image = Jonathan Tweet.jpg
|image = Jonathan Tweet.jpg
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|caption = Tweet in 2015
|image_size =
|caption =Jonathan Tweet at his home in [[Seattle, Washington]] - 2015
|birth_name =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = 1965-1966
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1965}}
|birth_place = Rock Island, Illinois
|birth_place = [[Rock Island, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date =
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|death_place =
|death_cause =
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|nationality =
|other_names =
|other_names =
|known_for = [[game designer]], author, blogger
|occupation = [[Game designer]], author, blogger, writer
|education =
|education =
|alma_mater = [[St. Olaf College]]
|alma_mater = [[St. Olaf College]]
|employer =
|employer =
|occupation = Writer
|known_for =
|home_town =
|spouse = Tracy (d. 2008)
|title =
|father = [[Roald Tweet]]
|salary =
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|height =
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|term =
|predecessor =
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|party =
|boards =
|religion =
|spouse =
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|partner =
|children = Tessa Tweet
|children = 1
|parents =
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|signature =
|signature =
|website = http://www.jonathantweet.com/
|website = {{URL|jonathantweet.com}}
|footnotes =}}
| module = {{Listen
| filename = Jonathan Tweet Audio.ogg
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'''Jonathan Tweet''' is an American [[game designer]] from [[Rock Island, Illinois]] who has been involved in the development of the [[role-playing game]]s ''[[Ars Magica]]'', ''[[Everway]]'', ''[[Over the Edge (role-playing game)|Over the Edge]]'', ''[[Talislanta]]'', the third edition of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and ''[[13th Age]]'', as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game ''[[Dreamblade]]''. In 2015 Tweet released ''Grandmother Fish'' a full-color, full-sized book about [[Evolution]] aimed at pre-schoolers.
| title = Jonathan Tweet in his own words
| type = speech
| description = recorded in July 2015
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}}
}}
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'''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==
== Early life ==


Native to [[Rock Island, Illinois]], Tweet is the son of Roald Tweet, Augustana College professor emeritus and a popular 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|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref>
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" />
Jonathan Tweet started playing ''D&D'' in the 1970s, when his father gave him his first ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game. He briefly played with a group of college students, although he says, "but the [[Dungeon Master|DM]] killed me off... because he didn't want a twelve-year-old in his group". Tweet then formed his own gaming group by recruiting classmates.<ref name="Dragon #274">{{cite journal| last = Kenson| first = Stephen| authorlink = 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==
== Career ==
Jonathan Tweet and [[Mark Rein-Hagen]] founded [[Lion Rampant (game publisher)|Lion Rampant]] in 1987, while students at [[Saint Olaf College]] where 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 the RPG industry in 1989 to start 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 for a group in [[Rock Island, Illinois]], and wrote about the game "Al Amarja" in ''[[Alarums & Excursions]]''; when [[John Nephew]] saw these ''A&E'' 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 suggested that Tweet revise the ''[[Talislanta]]'' rules for [[Wizards of the Coast]] and write its first new adventure; this resulted in a revision of the ''Talislanta Guidebook'' (1992), which was soon followed by his adventure ''The Scent of the Beast'' (1992).<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|277}} Tweet wrote the adventure ''Apocalypse'' (1993) for [[Mayfair Games]]' ''[[Role Aids]]'' line.<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 became a full-time employee of Wizards of the Coast in June 1994, and heralded in new lines from Wizards, the first of which was ''Ars Magica'', recently acquired at Tweet's suggestion.<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.
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>{{cite web|title=Wizards of the Coast: Player’s Handbook Exclusive Preview!|url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnD_PH_Intro.asp}}</ref><ref name="designers"/>{{rp|286}} Tweet, [[Monte Cook]], and [[Skip Williams]] all contributed to the 3rd edition ''[[Players 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| last = | first = | authorlink = | 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 team designing the ''[[Chainmail (game)|Chainmail Miniatures Game]]'', while [[Skaff Elias]] did the main design work and [[Chris Pramas]] designed the world.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|289}} Tweet became the head of the miniatures group, and the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game]]'' (2003) was primarily the work of 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>[http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=17373955#post17373955 Jonathan Tweet speaks of his severance package on Wizards of the Coast forums]</ref><ref>[http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1160685 Jonathan Tweet leaves the Wizards of the Coast forums]</ref>
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>[http://www.pelgranepress.com/?p=12345 Pelgrane Press press release]</ref> The pre-release version was a nominee for the RPG Geek RPG of the Year 2013.<ref>[http://rpggeek.com/rpg/17925/13th-age RPG Geek listing]</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>
[[File:Jonahan Tweet & his book Grandmother Fish.jpg|thumbnail|A preview copy of ''Grandmother Fish'']]


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>
==''Grandmother Fish''==


The third edition of ''Over the Edge'', with a new setting and new rules, was released June 1, 2019.
Inspired by his adult daughter, Tessa,<ref name="Turner"/> Tweet in June 2014 announced plans on [[Kickstarter]] to publish the first evolution book aimed at pre-schoolers. In a interview with [[Derek Colanduno]] on the [[Skepticality]] podcast he stated, "Creationists have all sorts of books about [[Adam and Eve]]... creation makes perfects sense to a pre-schooler". He felt that it is time for parents to have a resource that teaches evolution to the very young. After talking to science educators he decided that a interactive, rhythmic approach was best to involve the child. Children can "wiggle like a fish - hoot like a ape ...[it] makes [learning about] evolution personal".<ref name= "Skepticality">{{cite web|last1=Colanduno|first1=Derek|title=Evolution: Pre-School to High School|url=http://www.skepticality.com/evolution-reading-pre-school-high-school/|website=[[Skepticality]]|publisher=The Skeptic Society|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> The majority of the book is full-colored illustrations and text, the last few pages of the book has "hard science" aimed at adults who will be better able to give context to the story.<ref name="Kickstarter">{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Grandmother Fish ● The Kickstarter Video|url=https://vimeo.com/97745667|website=Vimeo|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref>


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== Religious views ==
The Kickstarter campaign initially asked for $12,000 to publish the book as a hard-cover and ended up fully funded with $36,500 in July 2014. Science educator Greg Laden was one of the people Tweet reached out to to make sure his science was sound. Laden states, "I had a comment or two, but really, he already had his ducks in a row and the book, with the notes, was in good shape. It had evolved, as a project ... I recommend the book, strongly."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Laden|first1=Greg|title=Evolution Book For Young Children: Grandmother Fish|url=http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2014/06/28/evolution-book-for-young-children-grandmother-fish/|publisher=Science Blogs|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> The anti-evolution website [[Answers in Genesis]] calls its text and illustrations "engaging" and stated, "I’m sure this book will find its way into many ...libraries." They suggest sending creationist books to libraries instead, they have "vast resources for children" to choose from.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Your Grandmother a Fish?|url=https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/georgia-purdom/2014/07/10/is-your-grandmother-a-fish/|website=Answers in Genesis|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> Science podcaster [[Fraser Cain]] writes that Tweet's book "makes evolution adorable."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cain|first1=Fraser|title=Grandmother Fish - An Evolution Book for Preschoolers|url=https://plus.google.com/+FraserCain/posts/2sr2QJ5kMGD|publisher=Google|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> [[Daniel Dennett]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Daniel|first1=Dennett|title=Tweet about ''Grandmother Fish''|url=https://twitter.com/danieldennett/status/481249934654443520|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> and [[Hemant Mehta]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mehta|first1=Hemant|title=Grandmother Fish: A Book to Teach Evolution to Preschoolers|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/06/24/grandmother-fish-a-book-to-teach-evolution-to-preschoolers/|publisher=Patheos|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> have come out in support for the book. Eric Meikle from the [[National Center for Science Education]] states "How extremely stupid not to have thought of that!".<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|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> Tweet explains to interviewer Colanduno, "Naturally we had to simplify it, but there is a lot of good science in there".<ref name= "Skepticality"/> The book follows the lineage "of a fish, a reptile, a mammal, an ape, and a human" he hopes this will help with the common misconception that "all living things led to humans ... Evolution is going in a million directions at once, and we're just one of them."<ref name="Turner"/>


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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>
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==Religious views==


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{{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."
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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|accessdate=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|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=jonathantweet.com figment hub|url=http://www.jonathantweet.com/jotfigmenthub.html|accessdate=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/|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref> He also blogs about religion on the Atheist Sunday School blog.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tweet|first1=Jonathan|title=Atheist Sunday School|url=http://jonathan-tweet.blogspot.com/|accessdate=July 12, 2015}}</ref>

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


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{{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.”
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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>}}
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==
== Personal life ==
Tweet and his wife Tracey moved to [[Seattle, Washington]] in 1994. Tracey died from [[multiple sclerosis]] in 2008.<ref name="Turner"/> He continues to live in the Seattle area with his daughter, Tessa and two poodles.<ref name="Kickstarter"/>
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>


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== References ==
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{{reflist}}


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== External links ==
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==References==
* {{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 }}
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{{reflist|30em}}
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* {{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}}

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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111006011853/http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/front-page6153.php My First Gen Con: Jonathan Tweet]
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==External links==
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* [https://venturebeat.com/2011/07/18/is-amazon-going-to-challenge-zynga-in-social-games/ Is Amazon going to challenge Zynga in social games?]

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* {{cite web |url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=4 |title=Jonathan Tweet |accessdate=June 9, 2013 |publisher=Pen & Paper|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930204544/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=4|archivedate=Sep 30, 2007}}
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* [http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/front-page6153.php My First Gen Con: Jonathan Tweet]
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* [http://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://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://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.
* [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.
* [http://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.
* [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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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = D&D game designer
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tweet, Jonathan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tweet, Jonathan}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American skeptics]]
[[Category:American skeptics]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Atlas Games people]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Role-playing game designers]]
[[Category:St. Olaf College alumni]]
[[Category:St. Olaf College alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 19:45, 19 September 2024

Jonathan Tweet
Tweet in 2015
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materSt. Olaf College
Occupation(s)Game designer, author, blogger, writer
SpouseTracy (d. 2008)
Children1
FatherRoald Tweet
Jonathan Tweet in his own words
recorded in July 2015
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Websitejonathantweet.com

Jonathan Tweet (born 1965[1]) is an American game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, 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

[edit]

Native to Rock Island, Illinois, Tweet is the son of Roald Tweet, an Augustana College professor emeritus and local historian,[2] and Margaret Tweet.[3] 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.[4] 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.[2]

Career

[edit]

Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen founded Lion Rampant in 1987 while they were attending St. Olaf College. There, they also met Lisa Stevens who later joined the company.[5]: 232  His article "Egyptian Magic for Call of Cthulhu" appeared in Different Worlds #47 (Fall 1987), the magazine's final issue.[5]: 84  In 1987, Tweet and Rein-Hagen designed the game Ars Magica, a game centered around wizards in the Middle Ages.[4][5]: 232–233  Tweet left Lion Rampant and briefly left the RPG industry in 1989 to begin a new career.[5]: 234  Tweet wrote Festival of the Damned (1991), an adventure published by Atlas Games for Ars Magica.[5]: 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 (1992), the first original game from Atlas Games.[5]: 253  His design on Over the Edge notably involved free-form rules and a subjective approach.[4] 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).[5]: 277  Tweet wrote the adventure Apocalypse (1993) for the Role Aids line by Mayfair Games.[5]: 169  Nephew and Tweet also designed On the Edge (1994), a collectible card game based on Over the Edge.[5]: 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.[5]: 279  Tweet designed Everway, which was first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1995.[5]: 254, 280  After Wizards of the Coast moved away from role-playing games, Tweet worked on 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.[5]: 286 [6] 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.[7] Tweet oversaw the Chainmail Miniatures Game design team, and Skaff Elias was responsible for the main design work and Chris Pramas created the game world.[5]: 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.[5]: 292  On December 2, 2008, Tweet was laid off from Wizards of the Coast.[8][9]

13th Age a d20 System RPG, designed by Heinsoo and Tweet was published by Pelgrane Press on August 3, 2013.[10] The pre-release version was a nominee for the RPG Geek RPG of the Year 2013.[11]

In 2015 Tweet published Grandmother Fish, a Kickstarter-funded book described as "the first book to teach evolution to preschoolers".[12] While criticized by creationist organizations,[13] it has been praised by science educators.[14]

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.[15] Clades Solo, an app version that includes both prehistoric and modern animals, was released in 2019[16]

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

Religious views

[edit]

An atheist since grade school,[17] Tweet has devoted much of his personal website to his views on religion,[18][19] in particular on the historical Jesus.[20] He also blogs about religion on the Secular Sunday School blog.[21]

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.

— Jonathan Tweet[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Tweet and his wife Tracy moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1994. Tracy died from multiple sclerosis in 2008.[2] He continues to live in the Seattle area with his daughter.[23]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Rock Island Argus. September 30, 1965.
  2. ^ a b c Turner, Jonathan (June 28, 2014). "RI native raising money for kids' book on evolution". QConline.
  3. ^ Tweet, Margaret (November 26, 2013). "Margaret Tweet Birthday". QConline.
  4. ^ a b c Kenson, Stephen (August 2000). "ProFiles: Jonathan Tweet". Dragon (#274). Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast: 10, 12, 14.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
  6. ^ "Wizards of the Coast: Player's Handbook Exclusive Preview!". Archived from the original on July 11, 2000.
  7. ^ "Profiles: Monte Cook". Dragon (#275). Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast: 10, 12, 14. September 2000.
  8. ^ "The Wizards Community". Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
  9. ^ "The Wizards Community". Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
  10. ^ "Through the Scrying Glass: 13th Age Released". Pelgrane Press. July 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "13th Age". rpggeek.com.
  12. ^ "Grandmother Fish". grandmotherfish.com. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  13. ^ Cain, Fraser. "Grandmother Fish – An Evolution Book for Preschoolers". Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  14. ^ Meikle, Eric. "Granny, What a Big Extended Family You Have!". National Center for Science Education. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "Clades & Clades Prehistoric Press Release". grandmotherfish.com. May 7, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "Clades Solo". Ideate Games. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  17. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "Hell and Sunday School". Jonathan Tweet's Personal Blog. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "jonathantweet.com Religion Hub". Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  19. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "jonathantweet.com figment hub". Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  20. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "Jesus Mortal". Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  21. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "Secular Sunday School". Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  22. ^ Hell and Sunday School December 2006
  23. ^ Tweet, Jonathan. "Grandmother Fish ● The Kickstarter Video". Vimeo. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
[edit]
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