D&D 5E WotC: Why Dark Sun Hasn't Been Revived

In an interview with YouTuber 'Bob the Worldbuilder', WotC's Kyle Brink explained why the classic Dark Sun setting has not yet seen light of day in the D&D 5E era.

I’ll be frank here, the Dark Sun setting is problematic in a lot of ways. And that’s the main reason we haven’t come back to it. We know it’s got a huge fan following and we have standards today that make it extraordinarily hard to be true to the source material and also meet our ethical and inclusion standards... We know there’s love out there for it and god we would love to make those people happy, and also we gotta be responsible.

You can listen to the clip here.

 

[Minigiant]

You do not need a well thought out reason or argument when you can label or imply the other person as some sort of ism or phobic. Censorship is not the way to fight evil ideas and is often an evil itself.

You can be called whatever under the sun.

The point is:
If you use certain topics nonchalantly, you leave yourself rightfully open.
If you don't make a clear distinction of satire, humor, or serious on a controversial topic., you leave yourself rightfully open.

Be lazy at your own risk.

Yup. It all comes down to fear of the mob.

The mob has not teeth if you put in the work.
As we saw in the Hadozee incident, WOTC is too nonchalant to put in the work every time.

There is a growing undercurrent of supporting laziness or denial of demographic changes within the Fantasy and Sci Fi communities. A lot of people want to be able to do whatever without doing research nor getting criticism.

 

[Micah Sweet]

You can be called whatever under the sun.

The point is:
If you use certain topics nonchalantly, you leave yourself rightfully open.
If you don't make a clear distinction of satire, humor, or serious on a controversial topic., you leave yourself rightfully open.

Be lazy at your own risk.


The mob has not teeth if you put in the work.
As we saw in the Hadozee incident, WOTC is too nonchalant to put in the work every time.

There is a growing undercurrent of supporting laziness or denial of demographic changes within the Fantasy and Sci Fi communities. A lot of people want to be able to do whatever without doing research nor getting criticism.

As has been said above, personal attacks, particularly those intended to ruin personal and/or professional lives, are the problem, not simple criticism. That phenomenon has gotten  much worse in the last several years.

 

[Minigiant]

As has been said above, personal attacks, particularly those intended to ruin personal and/or professional lives, are the problem, not simple criticism. That phenomenon has gotten  much worse in the last several years.

And as I said before, personal attack meant to ruin have less bite if you put the work in when you use sensitive topics. Or no bite.

Dark Sun was from a time when writers did not put the work in.
So to release it, WOTC would have to put the work in.
And they aren't willing to and have shown that they suck putting that work in.

The days when you could be lazy and have a broad audience are over.

I have a major NPC who is a slaver and is sexist. But I warn my players ahead of time that of the idea and explain that an info-dump is coming if they go there.

 

[Micah Sweet]

And as I said before, personal attack meant to ruin have less bite if you put the work in when you use sensitive topics. Or no bite.

Dark Sun was from a time when writers did not put the work in.
So to release it, WOTC would have to put the work in.
And they aren't willing to and have shown that they suck putting that work in.

The days when you could be lazy and have a broad audience are over.

I have a major NPC who is a slaver and is sexist. But I warn my players ahead of time that of the idea and explain that an info-dump is coming if they go there.

So if you don't do sufficient work to appease the mob, you deserve to have your life ruined? Who determines how much work is enough to pass? Is it the mob again?

 

[Minigiant]

So if you don't do sufficient work to appease the mob, you deserve to have your life ruined? Who determines how much work is enough to pass? Is it the mob again?

That's a different issue. And often it doesn't take much work. People who do the minimum amount of work placate the mob or deflect it's barbs easily.

The core problem is many don't think they have to do any work. Some even want to use these topics as a swift joke without repercussions.

At least WOTC recognizes that work needs to be done. They just aint willing to do it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

That's a different issue. And often it doesn't take much work. People who do the minimum amount of work placate the mob or deflect it's barbs easily.

The core problem is many don't think they have to do any work. Some even want to use these topics as a swift joke without repercussions.

At least WOTC recognizes that work needs to be done. They just aint willing to do it.

Not really an argument against fear being their primary motivator.

Edit: also, give me a recent example of a product that handled a controversial topic and didn't get castigated for it? Again, how much work is actually enough to appease the mob?

 

[Minigiant]

Not really an argument against fear being their primary motivator.

Because it's not.
It's not fear.
It's laziness.

WOTC litterally has the money, staff, and power to do it. They just are too lazy or nonchalant to do it (see the Hadozeee incident).

 

[Imaro]

So if you don't do sufficient work to appease the mob, you deserve to have your life ruined? Who determines how much work is enough to pass? Is it the mob again?

I would say if you choose to publish/create around mature and controversial content and you do it irresponsibly, yes... you deserve the backlash, the loss in profits and whatever else you get. I'd say the people affected by the issues you've decided you want to publish about are the ones who decide. But more specifically the public will decide since you decided to release a product for public consumption. You seem to want people to be able to create whatever they want consequence and criticism free... No, that's not going to fly because then we end up with NuTSR levels of stupidity in the hobby and no accountability.

 

[Eubani]

Because it's not.
It's not fear.
It's laziness.

WOTC litterally has the money, staff, and power to do it. They just are too lazy or nonchalant to do it (see the Hadozeee incident).

No, there are just so many people that would get on their high horse regardless of what was put out.

 

[Imaro]

Not really an argument against fear being their primary motivator.

Edit: also, give me a recent example of a product that handled a controversial topic and didn't get castigated for it? Again, how much work is actually enough to appease the mob?

Give me a recent example of a creator in the ttrpg hobby who had their life ruined because of the reaction to a product they published...