D&D 5E Sell Out: Hasbro and the Soul of D&D

[Scribe]

Discussing so-called generational differences is incredibly racist and Eurocentric.

?

I mean I guess everything is now. So why not.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Your analysis is full of binaries and shallow thinking and demonstrates a complete lack of even a little bit of research on the topic you're addressing.

Discussing so-called generational differences is incredibly racist and Eurocentric.

Just joined.

Two posts.

Going great so far!

(Edit- to be clear, this is Poe's Law. Is this a newly-created troll account? Or not? Hard to say. It's the internet, after all.)

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I won't lie, I stopped reading after the first few paragraphs. I understand the OP put a lot of work into it, but every good article needs a good editor, and that post is way too long for me.

But I will comment on "Selling Out."

"Selling out" is a common expression for the compromising of a person's integrity, morality, authenticity, or principles in exchange for personal gain, such as money. In terms of music or art, selling out is associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream or commercial audience.

Looking at that definition, I don't know at what point you could point to and say D&D officially began to "sell out its fans." Was it when Hasbro bought WotC? When WotC bought TSR? When Lorraine Williams got full control of TSR? Was it when Gygax first started selling products instead of just keeping it a game in his basement?

My opinion? It's never actually happened, at least not for long. At every stage of D&D's life there have been rules designers and adventure writers who are writing D&D material because they want to and are passionate about it. Yes they've also earned wages off of it, but guess what, we live in a world where people need to do something to earn money for food and housing. These folks are just lucky enough that they get to do something they love that feeds their table.

Can anyone seriously say that people like Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Adam Lee, Kate Irwin and Emi Tanji work on 5E (and previous editions) for a bigger reason than "I really love my job!" I doubt it. Perkins for example has tried to be a part of D&D ever since he left Canada (and as a fellow Canadian, I salute his bravery).

Yes, the brand has changed hands numerous times, but I don't think that really means it's ever sold out. The folks who work on D&D today seem to work without corporate supervision, and have helped create the most popular period of D&D, ever. And I think they've been able to do that with more than just dumb luck, but also a little bit of passion.

 

[Charlaquin]

Discussing so-called generational differences is incredibly racist and Eurocentric.

Interesting. What’s racist about it?

 

[TwoSix]

Discussing so-called generational differences is incredibly racist and Eurocentric.

OK Boomer.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Discussing so-called generational differences is incredibly racist and Eurocentric.

 

[Scribe]

Interesting. What’s racist about it?

If I had to guess, it would be down to the difference between development levels across the world, and how these brackets are defined.

 

[el-remmen]

D&D, like people, has no soul.

 

[Marc_C]

D&D lost its Soul the day Gygax tried to deprive Dave Arneson, the co-creator of OD&D, of his royalties by making AD&D and proceeding with legal shenanigans. Arneson sued. Gygax lost in court and had to pay. That was decades ago.

 

[prabe]

D&D, like people, has no soul.

I understand and appreciate the literal truth of this, but I think there's some utility left in the old metaphor yet.