D&D General Dan Rawson Named New Head Of D&D

Hasbro has announced a former Microsoft digital commerce is the new senior vice president in charge of Dungeons & Dragons. Dan Rawson was the COO of Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Hasbro also hired Cynthia Williams earlier this year; she too, came from Microsoft. Of Rawson, she said "We couldn’t be bringing on Dan at a better time. With the acquisition of D&D Beyond earlier this year, the digital capabilities and opportunities for Dungeons & Dragons are accelerating faster than ever. I am excited to partner with Dan to explore the global potential of the brand while maintaining Hasbro’s core value as a player-first company.”

Rawson himself says that "Leading D&D is the realization of a childhood dream. I’m excited to work with Cynthia once again, and I’m thrilled to work with a talented team to expand the global reach of D&D, a game I grew up with and now play with my own kids.”

Interestingly, Ray Wininger -- who has been running D&D for the last couple of years -- has removed mention of WotC and Hasbro from his Twitter bio.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

You're annoying and smug. Bye.

That seems like a fair question. You asked for proof. They gave it. They ask for your proof and you banned them? And they are the smiug one?!

 

[Greg Benage]

I won’t be sorry if Winniger is out. The last 1 1/2 years have been the poorest so far of 5e. Just lousy. Time for some new blood, though I don’t have high hopes.

I don't know if the last couple years of products can be laid at the feet of Ray Winninger, or even if they can, whether he deserves a chance to turn it around, and I certainly don't know whether New Guy heralds a new and better direction...but yeah, they've been in a bit of a slump.

 

[darjr]

I don't know if the last couple years of products can be laid at the feet of Ray Winninger, or even if they can, whether he deserves a chance to turn it around, and I certainly don't know whether New Guy heralds a new and better direction...but yeah, they've been in a bit of a slump.

What? How so? D&D is bigger than ever. RPGs are bigger than ever in part because if it.

 

[Greg Benage]

What? How so? D&D is bigger than ever. RPGs are bigger than ever in part because if it.

I think their last couple years of products have, overall, been rather poor.

• Some are products I'm just not interested in (e.g. Strixhaven, Witchlight)
• Some I was excited about, purchased, and have been disappointed in execution or content (e.g. Candlekeep, Radiant Citadel, Spelljammer)
• Some I didn't like the design direction or the execution (e.g. MMotM)

I don't expect this to be a universally shared opinion, it should go without saying, and I'm certainly happy the game is still going strong. Nevertheless, for me, it's been a particularly bad stretch.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

And the rock and roll albums! Going to use Spelljams during combat!

Space is a place!

But not compared to 1e to 2e, or 3.0 to 3.X. to me, 6e is shaping up to be bigger than either.

Idk about 1e to 2e, but this seems smaller, thus far, than 3.5.

It was compatible, but it also could completely replace the original 4e core going forward, so yes. Less so than the upcoming 6e though, since that is explicitly designed to replace the existing 5e core.

A revision of the core that doesn’t change how the game plays, and only significantly changes the classes that need it…oh whatever people were wrong about essentials being 4.5 and they’re wrong about this being 5.5.

Freemium D&D is inevitable now.

That’s been the model since 2014.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Wizards isn't calling it an edition change, just the evolution of the current game and that all adventure books will be fully usable.

And supplements.

 

[TheSword]

What? How so? D&D is bigger than ever. RPGs are bigger than ever in part because if it.

Because the last 2 years products just haven’t been floated the boat for a lot of people. I totally acknowledge that is a personal opinion but it is shared by a number of people.

Perhaps the fact that part of the releases was reprint material (Monsters of the Multiverse), or that Netherdeep was part of marmite Critical Role, or that Spelljammer/Radiant Citadel is also an acquired taste. Similarly Witchlight and Strixhaven are also pretty acquired tastes.

I don’t think people are saying D&D isn’t selling just that their interest is waning.

 

[AnotherGuy]

I'll add a job that pays more

Family emergencies, health problems, personality clashes, desire to relocate, not liking the stress of the job, ready for a change, busted for breaking a corporate policy or law,... all feel like things too.

Busted... and Personality Clashes are the only thing that would make one go quietly though, right? Generally speaking of course. All the other options you listed would still see some acknowledgement, some thanks or something...

 

[DarkCrisis]

And it had nothing to do with a computer game on top. Was just slander by people who barely read the PHB one time... or less...

Played a lot of MMOS (esp WoW) and a lot of 4th ed (until I dropped it). It was a pen and paper MMO. Nothing wrong with that and I think a 4th ed type game would do amazing well with todays crowd, just came out at the wrong time. Would never be for me though, cause if I wanted to play an MMO type game, I'd just go play an MMO. Over all though, every class felt "the same" and that was boring.

A lot of people felt the same. The inspiration for 4th eds mechanics was obvious.

On a side note, I keep trying to play and enjoy Dragon Age Inquisition and it has the same problem. Its a single player MMO. Zzzzzzzz

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It was a pen and paper MMO.

No. It was not. It might have taken some inspirations here and there, but it was an RPG. It was neither massive, nor online.