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

[Oofta]

But back to the original subject, I don't know that D&D can ever sell out. It's a unique form of art that exists in its fans as much as its creators. Just as D&D in the beginning was monetized from the very beginning, D&D still has a hobbyist core today. It's always going to be a little weird. No matter how many great big epic campaigns Wizards releases, there's always going to be someone that decides that they want to run a world where everyone is a mushroom, or stat up a two-butted dragon to fight their PCs. It's a game that invites creativity in this beautiful perpetual motion machine.

Well, I disagree with the basic premise that at one point D&D was somehow "pure" or that it had a DIY, hobbyist roots from a company POV. I mean, maybe back in the mid seventies with the first initial releases? But it became a business long ago in the mists of D&D history.

But the real "hobbyist" side of things has always been the DM and table, that's not going to change even if the basic premise is correct.

 

[Gadget]

You know, I don't usually have the patience to read huge wall of text posts of this nature, but this one was surprisingly well written and thoughtful; or at least held my interest. So, bravo OP.

I was reading the first half and was thinking..."D&D sold out a long time ago, have you heard of TSR?" but then got about three quarters through the article and and thought..."Oh, yeah right." Very thought provoking at least. Like someone above said, a taller tree catches more wind, and I can see the fear of D&D getting so homogenized for mass corporate consumption becoming an issue. Not like when it was our own private kewl thing we did, before it was cool. Also, increased popularity does make it more visible and vulnerable to criticism on the grounds of cultural and racial sensitivity, if that can be considered a down side.

 

[Umbran]

Not like when it was our own private kewl thing we did, before it was cool.

Part of the point being, I think, that it never was our own private thing. WE did not own it. We think of ourselves as if we owned it, and as if we have some entitlement to it for liking it back in the day, so we feel like we are betrayed when we are taught how that was never actually the case, and then we say they "sold out" to get back at them for our self-inflicted hurts.

 

[embee]

The Beatles sold out.

If you listen to With The Beatles, it will sound radically different from Sgt. Pepper's. It's still The Beatles but it's not the same Beatles. Mainly because instead of being some garage band, they were bigger than Jesus. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Success gave them more ability to fail.

You need to be able to fail if you're going to succeed.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

The Beatles sold out.

Only after the Man killed Paul.

 

[embee]

Only after the Man killed Paul.

Paul is dead?

 

[billd91]

Paul is dead?

Dude, didn't you see the cover of Abbey Road? 28 IF, man, 28 IF.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I have read the OP twice and I am not sure I get it. It appears to me to be about "selling out". I do not believe that D&D is capable of being sold out.
Let me explain: D&D is a ruleset and support material. What is created is what happens at the table and that is where the magic is at.
Even if the group is using a published adventure path one table's play through may have very little resemblance of another's using the same material.
So, what Hasbro/WoTC appear to be doing is creating a merch/multi-media franchise out of the D&D IP. The biggest risk that this poses to D&D is that it will fossilise the rules system. If a split like the D&D 4 - 3.x split is seen as a threat the rest of the franchise. I suspect that in the long run if the franchise creation effort is successful the people playing the video game or watching the movies/tv shows and buying the toys will not be playing the TTRPG. If that is the case the TTRPG can evolve naturally, its importance in the larger scheme is that it is there for those that go looking for it.

 

[Mistwell]

Oh, no, I’m not blaming Gen X for destroying the economic future. I’m 100% blaming the Boomers for it. I’m just expressing jealousy that Gen X had the opportunity to gain a modicum of financial stability before the economy imploded, and consternation at their holier-than-thou attitude about “selling out”

Gen-X isn't holier-than-thou about anything. It's a defining feature.

These two are kind of the same thing, but it’s a good meme nonetheless.

Ah see I disagree. "We didn't do it" isn't the same as "We blame everyone else for doing it." To Gen-X, it's just a thing that's happened. Maybe someone is to blame, maybe nobody is to blame, we just know we didn't do it.

 

[fearsomepirate]

The Beatles sold out.

If you listen to With The Beatles, it will sound radically different from Sgt. Pepper's. It's still The Beatles but it's not the same Beatles. Mainly because instead of being some garage band, they were bigger than Jesus. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Success gave them more ability to fail.

You need to be able to fail if you're going to succeed.

Technically, the Beatles sold out when they connected with Brian Epstein and cleaned up their image.