WotC Chris Perkins announces Retirement from Dungeons and Dragons

Over on Twitter and Bluesky, Chris Perkins has announced his retirement from Dungeons and Dragons.

Chris Perkins started officially working for Wizards of the Coast in 1997 as an Editor for Dungeon Magazine. Since then, he has functioned as the Editor in Chief of D&D Periodicals, A Senior Producer, and eventually landing as the Senior Story Editor over D&D 5e and Game Architect on D&D 5e 2024.

He also is known for acting as one of the Dungeons Masters for Acquisitions, Incorporated.

Personally, I'll miss the guy's work.

https://bsky.app/profile/chrisperkinsdnd.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3llyvdjkphk2p

 

[Reynard]

Plus the business is stuck in this weird rut where everyone is convinced that the audience hates change.

The weird part about that is, of course, the fact that most of the audience is new anyway.

 

[Reynard]

Thinking on it, Perkins leaving is probably good for D&D's future. They should probably eliminate all the GenXers from the design team and let the 20s/30s remake the game for the generation(s) actually playing and buying it.

 

[David Howery]

enjoy your retirement, Chris.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Thinking on it, Perkins leaving is probably good for D&D's future. They should probably eliminate all the GenXers from the design team and let the 20s/30s remake the game for the generation(s) actually playing and buying it.

By this logic, 5e sold well because of all the youngsters on the design team? As a cold calculating businessman I could not disagree about capturing market share as a priority and hitting key demographics.

But I am not sure about it being good for the game that he in particular is leaving.

 

[Zaukrie]

Thinking on it, Perkins leaving is probably good for D&D's future. They should probably eliminate all the GenXers from the design team and let the 20s/30s remake the game for the generation(s) actually playing and buying it.

If the bosses let them. Or even have a clear plan at all?

 

[Scribe]

Or even have a clear plan at all?

I think its pretty clear there isnt one.

 

[Incenjucar]

Thinking on it, Perkins leaving is probably good for D&D's future. They should probably eliminate all the GenXers from the design team and let the 20s/30s remake the game for the generation(s) actually playing and buying it.

You want to have a mix of ages (and other perspectives). Even the most well-read 20-something is going to be lacking in depth and experience. A 20-something might know what's popular on TikTok but someone who has been designing for longer than they've been alive is going to run circles around them in a lot of areas. You also learn a lot about cycles as you get older and see the patterns repeat. I've seen bell-bottoms come back at least three times!

 

[Xenolith234]

By this logic, 5e sold well because of all the youngsters on the design team? As a cold calculating businessman I could not disagree about capturing market share as a priority and hitting key demographics.

But I am not sure about it being good for the game that he in particular is leaving.

Yeah, I don’t think Crawford being the senior resource remaining is going to be a good thing.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

You want to have a mix of ages (and other perspectives). Even the most well-read 20-something is going to be lacking in depth and experience. A 20-something might know what's popular on TikTok but someone who has been designing for longer than they've been alive is going to run circles around them in a lot of areas. You also learn a lot about cycles as you get older and see the patterns repeat. I've seen bell-bottoms come back at least three times!

Well…I am trying to be logical about this. Unless you want to dismantle something entirely, I do think you want some continuity and length of experience in the mix.

That said, there is a lot of talk in business and on online hobby enthusiast sites about the need for a diverse design team and the importance of multiple perspectives. Sometimes people conveniently exclude certain groups.

I think 5e worked specifically because there was some throwback to its roots.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Yeah, I don’t think Crawford being the senior resource remaining is going to be a good thing.

Well it’s a matter of opinion but I have to agree.

As I tinker and go buy foam today to improve
My mountain boards, I know the wargamers are fewer and I am a bit skewed. But I do want a bit more wargame in the process of telling a story.

As I play now occasionally with my kids, I find a mix is great fun like it always was…