Jeremy Crawford Also Leaving D&D Team Later This Month

Jeremy Crawford is leaving Wizards of the Coast later this month. Screen Rant (via me!) had the exclusive announcement. Crawford was the Game Director for Dungeons & Dragons and was one of the guiding forces for D&D over the past decade. In the past year, Crawford has focused on the core rulebooks and leading the team of rules designers. He has also been a face of Dungeons & Dragons for much of 5th Edition, appearing in many promotional videos and DMing Acquisitions Incorporated Actual Play series.

He joins Chris Perkins in leaving the D&D team in recent weeks. Perkins, who was the Creative Director for D&D, announced his retirement last week. Both Perkins and Crawford appear to have left Wizards on their terms, with Lanzillo very effusive with her praise of both men and their contribution in our interview.

On a personal note, I've enjoyed interviewing Jeremy over the years. He was always gracious with his time and answers and is one of the most eloquent people I've ever heard talk about D&D. I'll miss both him and Chris Perkins and look forward to their next steps, wherever that might be.

 

[Greg K]

Here's what I don't get: if it has been literally nearly a decade since "D&D was good", why do you care? You aren't a customer.

Maybe, they want WOTC to produce material they like so they can be a customer again. Not hard to figure out.

 

[Reynard]

The CEO literally stated he is using AI. This isn't even speculation. He says it in public and most telling on investor calls. It is actually the plan forward.

But not to WRITE the game.

 

[Gradine]

Excellent!

Some unsolicited advice from a gamer dad:

For an 8 year old D&D is manageable. But you absolutely cannot go wrong with Monte Cooks No Thank You Evil. Education consultants had to be working on that game. Great for introducing elementary age kids.

+1 for No Thank You, Evil. It's exactly the kind of scope and tone that the Cypher system is actually pretty good at. Also they add a fourth stat called "Cool" which basically boils down to "how good you are at helping other people" and that's such an awesome approach.

 

[kayakingpoodle]

Yeah, I get tired of all the people who "moved on" from the game but can't help talking trash at the first opportunity.

Many have not "moved on" they are simply playing the most current version they find acceptable while waiting for the next swing through an acceptable game that comes with the inevitable massive knee-jerk overcorrection.

 

[Mournblade94]

Neither of those are ringing endorsements to me, both were disappointing.

Strixhaven was lame but he did great work on pathfinder. Fizbans was one of the last good things WOTC put out. I thought it was pretty good.

 

[Mournblade94]

The core rules of 5e, even much of 5.5 (Weapon Properties and such) are not the issue with modern D&D. It's the misguided desire to keep it looking PG.

BG3, does not do this, and does not infantilize those who play it.

10 years ago I would be right with you. But now that I have taught the game to many youths including my daughter, I have to disagree. D&D can have that added in by the user. I did.

It's not until I had a daughter that I could empathize with George Lucas on why he made Greedo Shoot first. Don't get me wrong. Han shot first. But i understand why he wanted to change it.

 

[Mournblade94]

"Guys like me cannot leave soon enough." ?

Brinks was toxic to the brand then and there. 100% one of the problems at wotc.

 

[Gorgon Zee]

Baldur's Gate is D&D IP.

While this is true, it’s irrelevant. It was BRANDED as Baldur’s Gate. I bought the game early because it was Baldurs Gate and I had played the previous games and liked the BG IP. The fact it used D&D 5e rules was not relevant to me. I wanted to visit that specific world.

 

[Minigiant]

Many have not "moved on" they are simply playing the most current version they find acceptable while waiting for the next swing through an acceptable game that comes with the inevitable massive knee-jerk overcorrection.

One thing the last decade taught me is there is a large contingency of fans in many fandoms who cannot accept not being the main target audience.

So when companies need more money and shift to younger or other demographic audience, they remain but grow very vocally angry about the change

 

[Mournblade94]

I knew he worked for Paizo, but I did not know that he created Golarion.

I may be mixing him up with James Jacob's as creator. Not sure. But he worked on a lot of golarion