D&D (2024) Deborah Ann Woll and Matt Mercer consulted on the 2024 DMG.

WotC consulted with celebrities including True Blood's Deborah Ann Woll and Critical Role's Matt Mercer when revising the upcoming 2024 edition of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Apparently another (unnamed) consultant provided advice on running game for kids.

That's it; that's the news.

 

[Cadence]

I assume they mean it's a selection effect. Those who found it too difficult fell by the wayside. Those who found it difficult but doable are the people who are still here. I can't say that I ever thought AD&D was massively difficult though. Chess is harder.

I misread chess as cheese . Need my reading glasses.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

a ploy (a cheap trick)

It’s a case of what do you mean by “ploy”. The word is not necessarily derogatory. One person’s cheep trick is another person’s cunning plan.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It’s a case of what do you mean by “ploy”. The word is not necessarily derogatory. One person’s cheep trick is another person’s cunning plan.

Ok. I did not know of that meaning. I only knew it with some kind of deception in play. If that is not what they meant, i apologize. Probably a different word would have been more clear though.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Seems that WotC doesn't have much faith in their own staff if they are using outside consultants. Isn't this what their RPG design staff is for? Just seems like an odd marketing ploy to me, the DMG gets Debrah Ann Woll and Matt Mercers seal of approval.

Didn't they lay off a big %% of their staff, including designers, a few months ago?

 

[Scribe]

Didn't they lay off a big %% of their staff, including designers, a few months ago?

I mean wouldnt any consulting have happened during design? Before lay offs? You know when the wider team was still putting it all together?

As cynically as I look at all this (because its all about $$) that would make the most sense.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Not familiar with Deborah Ann Woll's TTRPG work. But Matt's videos on running D&D, his world building, his rule books, and his outsized influence on the D&D fan base makes him an ideal outside consultant. The fact that Deborah Ann Woll is being given an equally high profile call out for her role as an outside consultant makes me want to check out her work. I only know her from True Blood.

Yes same. Seems like she hasn't done much print/text work, unlike Mercer who of course has had two WotC published sourcebooks, and more on DDB. since I spend most of my time on text platforms (forums, slack, discord), I am not v familiar with DA Woll.

Deborah Ann Woll - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Parmandur]

Didn't they lay off a big %% of their staff, including designers, a few months ago?

Dan Dillion got laid off, amd some other staff, bit not really other designers.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

My initial reaction was that politics might be improved by more DMs in politics.

Any GM who can get a regular game of adults together can clearly handle the vicissitudes of politics

Democrat? Republican? Pshaw, I'm all about the Adventuring Party in 2024!!!

 

[Hussar]

It’s a case of what do you mean by “ploy”. The word is not necessarily derogatory. One person’s cheep trick is another person’s cunning plan.

Given later responses, I’m pretty sure the most negative context was meant.

 

[R_J_K75]

Didn't they lay off a big %% of their staff, including designers, a few months ago?

I mean wouldnt any consulting have happened during design?

I haven't followed who is on WotC design staff for quite a while aside from reading here on EN world that there were layoffs late last year, but I couldn't tell you who was affected. Until yesterday I had no clue that WotC used consultants on 5E books. Usually when I think of a company bringing on a consultant it's to do something that those doing the hiring can't IME.