Vanguard: Developer Profile: Salim Grant

Hi Salim - or should I call you Silius? What's your official title here at SOE? Lead Designer of Vanguard Saga of Heroes If you could decide your own title, what would it be? The guy who likes to do stuff. How long have you been a part of the Vanguard team and what did you do before coming to work for Sigil and SOE? I have been a member of the Vanguard team for almost 4 years. Before that I worked at SOE in various positions ranging from Tech Support Rep to Associate Game Designer over my 4 years before I left to join Sigil. Where are you originally from, and how long have you lived in San Diego? I was born in L.A. grew up in New York, Arizona, and California. I have lived in San Diego on and off for about 17 years. What does a typical day at the office include? A typical day for me generally starts around 8:30 a.m. I come in early so I can run through emails and squeeze in some design work before the fires start around the office. Once everyone arrives I am generally checking up on different things across all departments and making sure that things are moving smoothly. What's the best and worst part of your job? The best is being able to destroy walls that may be hindering others from getting work done or solving a problem. I like solving problems and having the ability to make final decisions means I can help push a solution through and get it started.

The worst part of my job is that I spend so much time managing that I don't get to design much. I spent the majority of my time at Sigil being the crafting lead designer and handling various other challenges in the game so that our other designers and seniors could focus on the adventuring side of things.

Who is the funniest person at work?
Hmmm that is a hard one. Everyone is witty in their own way so it's hard to really place anyone at the top.

I recently asked the players who would win in a Battle Royal of "red names". You had a few strong votes out there, but Glip and I were in the forefront. Who do you think would win?
I was recently told that crafters think I am a sadist with an appetite for crafters, so I can see why I might get some votes but I am a big teddy bear so you guys would trounce me.

I hear you rescue orphaned kittens, is there much truth to this rumor? Well uh... I guess you could call it rescuing but I was young and that is not the term we used. Complete the following sentences... "I never leave home without... a kiss and hug from my wife, my baby boy, and my baby girl." "If I had three wishes they would be... that I live to see my kids get old, be financially stable enough to not worry about money for the rest of my life, and have the powers and abilities of James (Logan) Howlett otherwise known as Wolverine" "I'd never (not even for a million bucks!)... cause any harm to my family." I will however beat up Glip, Avarem and Talisker for free if anyone is interested =) With the holiday coming up, what would your perfect Thanksgiving meal include? I get the perfect meal every year as it is. Nothing like a Filipino Thanksgiving. Give us a little known fact about you that would surprise the community! I am not a sadist; I do however have a huge appetite for crafters.

Look out Glip, Avarem and Talisker!

Do you have any advice for those people reading this who want to pursue a career in the gaming industry?
Believe in your designs and be willing to recognize when things need to change. Be collaborative sometimes just explaining your thoughts to someone can help you work out a problem.

Thanks again to Salim for taking the time to sit down and let us know a little but more about who he is and what he does.