Originally Posted by
Neichus
When Guinsoo was the head of the DotA project I began proposing ideas on the forums. Over time I moved up and worked closely with him on the map itself. My primary focus was hero design, although I did do some things with items and house-keeping. After a period of time Guinsoo became distant as a project lead and DotA was languishing. I more or less led a coup and took the map from him and became project head for some ~6 months before I burned out and handed it to IceFrog.
If you're familiar with DotA: Axe, Morphling, Enchantress, Pudge, Necrolyte (now Necrophore), Earthshaker, Sand King, Ursa, Shadow Fiend, Broodmother, Weaver, Tinker, and Ogre Magi are my creations. The current versions of Tiny, Doom, Phantom Lancer, Riki, and Death Prophet are also a result of my tinkering. I was also involved to a lesser extent with Bristleback, Keeper of the Light, Bane, Treant Protector, and Enigma but those aren't my creations on the whole. Item-wise I didn't do as much, although originally there was only the Null Talisman so I added the Wraith Band and Bracer for symmetry. I'm also responsible for the Refresher Orb and the idea of a courier.