payn
Glory to Marik
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WotC How much does Hasbro / WotC impact your feelings towards D&D?
- Thread starter BookTenTiger
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billd91
Not your screen monkey (he/him) 🇺🇦🇵🇸🏳️⚧️
It’s been a 2 so far because many of their worst boneheaded decisions got walked back and haven’t directly affected my game. The DDB one, though, had the potential to really piss me off and affect how I and my group move forward. Most of us haven’t been using DDB, but my daughter has invested a substantial chunk on it so the games she runs can all have the PCs set up - the DM gets to share the material from their books with their players. If 5e.2024 material had replaced 5e.2014 material right in the middle of our campaign, I’d have been pretty pissed. That kind of crap has the potential to seriously derail games due to frustration.
I’m glad, again, that better decisions prevailed after the outcry. But the fact thst outcry had to happen again, is concerning in the sense that they keep hinting they’re a bad content and service partner.
I’m glad, again, that better decisions prevailed after the outcry. But the fact thst outcry had to happen again, is concerning in the sense that they keep hinting they’re a bad content and service partner.
Vaalingrade
Legend
It's multipronged.
Because of their corporate behavior, I'm not going to buy the product anyway even if I have a positive conception of the game itself.
But... then there's the product.
I like a lot of the lore changes and inclusions in 5.5 like orcs finally becoming a real species, the tiny baby steps of weapon masteries, etc. However, the core philosophy of the game; advantage/disadvantage for everything, simplification over customization, ceding levels 1 and 2 to level 0 play, etc... and I'm not very satisfied with the product itself.
And make no mistake, that's a WOTC/Hasbro impact in and of itself.
Because of their corporate behavior, I'm not going to buy the product anyway even if I have a positive conception of the game itself.
But... then there's the product.
I like a lot of the lore changes and inclusions in 5.5 like orcs finally becoming a real species, the tiny baby steps of weapon masteries, etc. However, the core philosophy of the game; advantage/disadvantage for everything, simplification over customization, ceding levels 1 and 2 to level 0 play, etc... and I'm not very satisfied with the product itself.
And make no mistake, that's a WOTC/Hasbro impact in and of itself.
Queer Venger
Dungeon Master is my Daddy
there's no option for 0.
Hasbro is a company and will do what they want to do for the bottom $$.
What I hope they realize is that D&D is what happens at my table, with my players, the way we want to play it.
Im not a game designer, not a writer, not a content creator, not peripherally invested in what this company does to affect me. Ive zero interest in streaming, D&D for me is a game, a past-time, a hobby I love, Ive 0 interest in making a living off it, (I make a very good living professionally, I won't turn my hobby into a job). That said, I play D&D in person, always have, always will. I use digital tools, but if Hasbro decides to change that I will always own the physical product; it belongs to me.
I do sometimes feel for all the third party publishers, they are a big part of how our hobby grows and improves, and YouTubers and others whose lives depend on what Hasbro does; but ultimately,that's not my problem, Hasbro doesn't realize this. Do I wish Hasbro did better? Yep, and tbh, I do see WotC trying to do better, Ive read and seen many examples of they backtracking and doing the right thing. To me that means WotC listens and may have some pull on Hasbro.
Not counting on them to change much but it looks like they do listen to WotC
Hasbro is a company and will do what they want to do for the bottom $$.
What I hope they realize is that D&D is what happens at my table, with my players, the way we want to play it.
Im not a game designer, not a writer, not a content creator, not peripherally invested in what this company does to affect me. Ive zero interest in streaming, D&D for me is a game, a past-time, a hobby I love, Ive 0 interest in making a living off it, (I make a very good living professionally, I won't turn my hobby into a job). That said, I play D&D in person, always have, always will. I use digital tools, but if Hasbro decides to change that I will always own the physical product; it belongs to me.
I do sometimes feel for all the third party publishers, they are a big part of how our hobby grows and improves, and YouTubers and others whose lives depend on what Hasbro does; but ultimately,
Not counting on them to change much but it looks like they do listen to WotC
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Jacob Lewis
Ye Olde GM
I think the real question here is "Can you love D&D and hate the company that makes it?" D&D existed long before WotC and Hasbro came along. So, for many, our love of the game supersedes the influence of the current stewards of the game. But whether or not we allow the company's actions and policies to personally affect our relationship with a 50-year-old game, their decisions affect all of us in one way or another.
If you're choosing to play a different version of the game or any other variation of it rather than playing what is offered as the most current and official version of it, then the company is in fact influencing how you feel about the game and your place in the community. For older editions and retro clones, players are largely reliant on different publishers for product support, or self-care with a lot of homebrew or conversions. That is, if you're fortunate enough to have a system that is strongly supported by an open and generous license that allows communities to flourish with enthusiastic content creators. Otherwise, the company and its shareholders are happy to let you fend for yourselves while providing service and attention for those still paying for it. Customer loyalty only extends until the last check is cleared.
If you choose to remain current, however, it makes no difference what the comoany does or doesn't do as long as it serves your immediate needs and continued enjoyment of your game of choice. By staying current and loyal, you reap the many benefits and rewards befitting of being part of the majority with full support, new (or renewed) content, and fresh new products that no one else has seen (unless they played literally any other version of the game in the last five decades).
The bottom line is we all have to make a choice. And every time a new edition, or new product, or new change is implemented by the company, it forces everyone to re-evaluate our decisions, even if it is only for a split second. Is the new book going to change our minds? Are the new perks or features worth considering? Should I stick with game I already have and enjoy? Is this still D&D, or something else? No matter what company or what game system you play, the publisher imposes a lot of weight on what you are playing, if not how you play it.
If you're choosing to play a different version of the game or any other variation of it rather than playing what is offered as the most current and official version of it, then the company is in fact influencing how you feel about the game and your place in the community. For older editions and retro clones, players are largely reliant on different publishers for product support, or self-care with a lot of homebrew or conversions. That is, if you're fortunate enough to have a system that is strongly supported by an open and generous license that allows communities to flourish with enthusiastic content creators. Otherwise, the company and its shareholders are happy to let you fend for yourselves while providing service and attention for those still paying for it. Customer loyalty only extends until the last check is cleared.
If you choose to remain current, however, it makes no difference what the comoany does or doesn't do as long as it serves your immediate needs and continued enjoyment of your game of choice. By staying current and loyal, you reap the many benefits and rewards befitting of being part of the majority with full support, new (or renewed) content, and fresh new products that no one else has seen (unless they played literally any other version of the game in the last five decades).
The bottom line is we all have to make a choice. And every time a new edition, or new product, or new change is implemented by the company, it forces everyone to re-evaluate our decisions, even if it is only for a split second. Is the new book going to change our minds? Are the new perks or features worth considering? Should I stick with game I already have and enjoy? Is this still D&D, or something else? No matter what company or what game system you play, the publisher imposes a lot of weight on what you are playing, if not how you play it.
OGLgate came close to driving me away from D&D specifically because some of my favorite D&D content originates from outside WotC/Hasbro, and the continuation of that content was directly jeopardized by WotC's plans.
They backed down in the face of outcry and bad mainstream press so I stayed, and the placement of 5E's SRD in Creative Commons has largely eliminated my concerns about that specific problem arising again. The affair did leave me uneasy and mistrustful of WotC/Hasbro, though I still don't think they can be categorized as anywhere near as bad as many major corps are.
I can't imagine that there is anything similar that WotC could do with D&D that would (potentially) change the way I viewed D&D like OGLGate might have had it gone as originally intended by WotC, but then again maybe they'll find a way.
I voted "3". What WotC does doesn't define D&D for me, but it is not inconsequential to how I view D&D.
They backed down in the face of outcry and bad mainstream press so I stayed, and the placement of 5E's SRD in Creative Commons has largely eliminated my concerns about that specific problem arising again. The affair did leave me uneasy and mistrustful of WotC/Hasbro, though I still don't think they can be categorized as anywhere near as bad as many major corps are.
I can't imagine that there is anything similar that WotC could do with D&D that would (potentially) change the way I viewed D&D like OGLGate might have had it gone as originally intended by WotC, but then again maybe they'll find a way.
I voted "3". What WotC does doesn't define D&D for me, but it is not inconsequential to how I view D&D.
CleverNickName
Limit Break Dancing (He/They)
I was enjoying D&D long before Hasbro/WotC came along, and I'm still enjoying it now.
DarkCrisis
Let her cook.
while not a fan of certain changes they make and continue to make, I also love D&D and realize that 9 times out of 10 if you want to find an RPG table to play it, it will be WotC D&D.
So might as well except it and do my thing.
Mostly they drove me from wanting to DM their game but I’ll play it as a player.
So might as well except it and do my thing.
Mostly they drove me from wanting to DM their game but I’ll play it as a player.
mamba
Legend
or I just like the variant / alternative better, regardless of how I feel about WotC. WotC has at best ensured that I have no loyalty to them
Corinnguard
Hero
Exactly.
Sometimes a variant of D&D just speaks for itself by having features that you like.Similar Threads
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