WotC WotC invites Bob the World Builder and other creators to an in person Summit.

[Retreater]

There are a few Wizards people at GaryCon this year (as is usual).

Though not in an official capacity, right?
I'll be there as a fan, but it's not like I'm representing my company there.

 

[darjr]

Though not in an official capacity, right?
I'll be there as a fan, but it's not like I'm representing my company there.

I think at GaryCon it’s been both. Not sure about recently though.

 

[overgeeked]

But it goes deeper than that.

If the influencers get used to being wined and dined, they will be reluctant to ever criticize WoTC, and may go out of their way to defend them if they do something wrong.

Controlling the influencers is how they will control the narrative, and squash any legitimate concerns.

Propaganda 101.

Considering how the majority of the community flipped the second WotC released 5.1 under CC-BY, it likely won't take much wining and dining to bring many of the "influencers" back into the tent.

 

[Vaalingrade]

But it goes deeper than that.

If the influencers get used to being wined and dined, they will be reluctant to ever criticize WoTC, and may go out of their way to defend them if they do something wrong.

Controlling the influencers is how they will control the narrative, and squash any legitimate concerns.

That is the obvious intent on WotC's part, yes. But I'm not so sure it's going to be effective. These people already risked their online careers fighting back against WotC, many are no longer covering just D&D and unlikely to turn back from that. What worked in the past with people of the past isn't necessarily going to work now.

Edit: Even if you want to impugn the ethics of the influencers, two things: these are people who never grew up in an environment that thought corporations could be trusted and in fact have their livelihood shackled to Youtube, which is just a sliver above Amazon in abusing the free labor of the content mill, and second, what have they seen gets more clout: leading the charge against WotC when they screw up or towing the corporate line? Hell, they're the ones being placated here, not WotC.

 

[Dragonhelm]

It would be nice if WotC included those of us who have been working on fan sites for the last 20+ years.

 

[Scribe]

It would be nice if WotC included those of us who have been working on fan sites for the last 20+ years.

Better brush up on your Twitter and YouTube skills...

 

[bedir than]

Propaganda 101.

Considering how the majority of the community flipped the second WotC released 5.1 under CC-BY, it likely won't take much wining and dining to bring many of the "influencers" back into the tent.

Yes, the people that got better than they wanted stopped attacking the company for doing the thing they didn't like

 

[Micah Sweet]

Everyone realizes that this is WoTc's attempt to butter up the influencers, right?....

I guess Kyle's damage control tour wasn't enough.

That would be my assumption. 2024 has to pop, and they can't rely on 1D&D to do it for them on its own.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If you think they won't criticize WotC, then you shouldn't be watching them at all....if you think that little of their ethics.

I don't watch them. I actually kind of hate the idea of "influencers". The whole quasi-celebrity, in it for the clicks mentality depresses me.

 

[Retreater]

I guess Kyle's damage control tour wasn't enough.

I don't think many on this Board are as pessimistic about WotC as I am, but I don't think the intent was that Kyle's interviews were ever going to be enough by themselves.
This summit is one more step towards making it right with the community. For me, there are more steps I want, but every bit of progress is welcome.