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.

 

[Remathilis]

And my question, which is a much deeper one, is: what does this new audience want that's incompatible with the old one? I think the issue is that there isn't a clear set of design principles or overall "wants" that this new audience has. Remember that 4E was the last attempt at giving people what they wanted and, that didn't work out, did it?

I'm not one of the new fans, so I won't pretend to speak for them. But what I do know is the older fans apparently want Shadowdark with D&D branding and IP (some exclusions apply).

 

[Umbran]

This says more about you than it does any of those 3 lines.

Mod Note:
Hey.
You know you aren't supposed to make this personal.
So, act like you know it, please and thanks.

 

[Arilyn]

First of all, Wyatt and Schneider are not even remotely new blood.

I think, and this is pure speculation, WotC is hoping to not have to fill Crawford's and Perkins'positions. They maybe thinking that they can get by with project leads over product leads. In the article, WotC says they are not filling their roles yet. Others will have more say at the table, and presumably more responsibility but not the same roles as Crawford and Perkins.

This will save some money. If it doesn't work, then I assume the positions will be filled again.

 

[Remathilis]

And there you have it. There is no real reason here, other than to avoid controversy. Please do not leap to BoVD, unless we are going to on the other end call modern D&D "Baby's First RPG".

There is a gulf between 'traditional sword and sorcery' and BoVD that cannot be crossed.

Last I checked, avoiding controversy was a good thing. One need only see what Musk has done to Tesla's brand image globally to see that controversy isn't always good way to make money.

 

[Umbran]

I'm sure if you keep posting comments on her Facebook photos, she'll learn the error of her ways and take you back.

Mod Note:
It has not been clear to some readers whether this was supposed to be funny, or a personal jab. Could you take more care not to leave that question open, please? Thanks.

 

[Reynard]

First of all, Wyatt and Schneider are not even remotely new blood.

I think, and this is pure speculation, WotC is hoping to not have to fill Crawford's and Perkins'positions. They maybe thinking that they can get by with project leads over product leads. In the article, WotC says they are not filling their roles yet. Others will have more say at the table, and presumably more responsibility but not the same roles as Crawford and Perkins.

This will save some money. If it doesn't work, then I assume the positions will be filled again.

I don't know how likely this is, but it also presents the possibility that individual products might have more individual style and feel if there aren't "overseers" trying to keep everything colored inside the lines. That would be a very good thing, IMO.

 

[Scribe]

Last I checked, avoiding controversy was a good thing. One need only see what Musk has done to Tesla's brand image globally to see that controversy isn't always good way to make money.

Got it, milquetoast it is.

 

[Umbran]

It absolutely is. But you have to stop listening to the social media critics that think everything is a microagression.

Mod Note:
You are standing rather too close to the line of our inclusivity policies. You might want to back away from that, before you end up saying something undeniably regrettable.

 

[Scribe]

@Umbran boot me from this thread please. I dont have time to waste all day on it.

 

[Staffan]

He also made Golarion, like Greenwood made Forgotten Realms and he wrote and edited lots of Pathfinder products.

I'm pretty sure James Jacobs is the Greenwood of Golarion – as a kitchen sink setting with highly distinct regions a lot of other people have had their fingers in the pie, but the bones of the setting are his.

It’s the bright colors and bisexual lighting.

It’s all too She-Ra, not enough Conan!

Netflix!She-Ra is absolutely amazing and perfect. I'll take She-Ra over Conan any day of the week and twice on Sundays.