D&D General On gatekeeping and the 'live-streaming edition wars'

[Maggan]

"technically corned: the very best kind of correct."

Well that's one way of putting it. Not technically a correct way, of course.

EDIT: Ah, you ninja edited it before my slow old finger clicked on post!

 

[Morrus]

There's a big difference between calling yourself a "D&D player" and a "D&D fan". The OP specifically references 'fan' not 'player'. Someone who says they are a big player of D&D when they haven't even played is being disingenuous.

AND THEY MUST BE STOPPED AMIRITE? You'll stand at the gate and make sure they know they're wrong?

Seriously. Why does it matter to you how somebody describes their fandom? This, right here, is what we mean by gatekeeping.

 

[Imaculata]

I think the livestreaming of D&D has opened up the hobby to a ton of people that would otherwise avoid it. By showing people how much fun it can be, more people are willing to try it out, which is a good thing.

Sure, some livestreams can perhaps come across as a bit 'fake'. But that is merely a side effect of it often being a show with viewers in mind. It has to be entertaining to watch, which not all D&D livestreams are. This doesn't mean these people don't enjoy the hobby and are not fans.

People who come into contact with D&D via livestreams simply have to remember that what they see on YouTube is by no means a 'true way' of playing D&D, and they shouldn't expect their games to be exactly like a show.

 

[oriaxx77]

In theory (but technically not) I am the heavyweight UFC champion

 

[Fenris-77]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't care in the least. Fans are fans and I'm not here to judge anyone's fun. It was more an index to how the conversation upstream had switched horses. The more people who care about the game, no matter what their involvement type, is good for the hobby.

 

[prabe]

If someone says they're a "big fan of D&D," and I ask them about what kinds of characters they've played and what kinds of campaigns they've played in, it's not because I'm trying to figure out if they're a RealTrueFan or anything like that, it's because I'm thinking about inviting them to a gaming table.

 

[Magus Darkwind]

The gatekeeping is ridiculous. On one hand, was I a little disappointed at the Wildemount announcement? Sure, I've been playing long enough now that I'm feeling like a crusty old grognard, and I want my 5e Planescape, dammit! But, that's not the Critters' fault, and it's certainly not Mercer's fault. The more people playing D&D, the better it is for the hobby.

So long as the "classic" settings are coming in the long run (Which Matt coyly confirmed), the only thing that sucks for us old-school players is the wait. I'm going to keep supporting Wizards, though; I'll buy Wildemount. Hell, I bought the Tal'dorei Campaign Setting on Sunday just because I figured it's going to be a hot item now that Exandria is D&D canon. New settings are good so long as the old settings get some love, too, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Morrus]

(Anyway, I'm not here to argue the point, just to let folks know what the rule around here is).

 

[Umbran]

But are the fans who don't - and have never - actually played, considered D&D players? Is it ok to make that distinction, or is that also gatekeeping?

Why are you trying to make the distinction?

How much should you really, in all honesty (and at least basic understanding of statistics that a gamer probably has) say about them?

 

[Umbran]

Sitting here and marvelling for a moment.

Gamers, for decades, have been itching for a major media representation of their stuff - like a halfway decent movie. Folks have been saying the are dying for a good D&D movie for ages.

When they actually get a major media movement (in streaming gaming) they want to draw lines between themselves and it.