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.

 

[Parmandur]

I never suggested a shorter product. I suggested using the space for things other than level-grind to make it go from 1-12 or 15. What I'm talking about is sort of what they attempted to do with Waterdeep Dragon Heist. You might argue that that book wasn't very well received, but I think we all know that the main reason for that was that it wasn't a heist. I'm not sure that I've ever heard many complaints about it only covering five levels or that there were (what was it, three?) completely different paths to complete it.

I'm talking about like that, but you know, with more practice. And with an adventure that does what it says on the tin.

Dragon Jeist has a mixed reception...but last I checked, ot was one of the best selling campaign books. There are other examples, like Witchlight or Strixhaven, that have a smaller ambit of Levels covered.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Or they had altered everything, but not called it D&D.

Isn't it interesting how Pathfinder 1 would have made a better D&D 4e and 4e might have made a better Pathfinder (as in a cool alternative to D&D).

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Dragon Jeist has a mixed reception...but last I checked, ot was one of the best selling campaign books. There are other examples, like Witchlight or Strixhaven, that have a smaller ambit of Levels covered.

Yes. My earlier suggestion was to make more of those. For example, I think Phandelver & Below would have been FAR more successful (both critically and financially) if they'd used - some - of the material from the Essentials Set and some new stuff to flesh out the map with more side-quests and wrote a short but proper sequel (a couple of levels more tacked onto the end).

More "meat". And less "And then, something totally unrelated happens!".

 

[mamba]

More "meat". And less "And then, something totally unrelated happens!".

I would have been good with 'and then something similar but suitable for levels 6-12 happens'

 

[DarkCrisis]

Because even if you buy them finding players is a PITA.

Numenera made a beautiful book end. Fantastic condition never used.

I always laugh when I see people claim there is a “DM shortage.” No there isnt. You just don’t want to try the games the DM/GM wants to run.

“Not D&D 5E? Why is it so hard to find a game to play in?!?!?”. Try Shadowdark or Vampire or Cyberpunk etc. it won’t kill you and you might like it.

 

[Zardnaar]

I always laugh when I see people claim there is a “DM shortage.” No there isnt. You just don’t want to try the games the DM/GM wants to run.

“Not D&D 5E? Why is it so hard to find a game to play in?!?!?”. Try Shadowdark or Vampire or Cyberpunk etc. it won’t kill you and you might like it.

Most players don't even know they exist.

Not D&D games I've had most success with is Star Wars. Specifically the legends side of things. Knights of Old Republic game you'll get players generally.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Most players don't even know they exist.

Not D&D games I've had most success with is Star Wars. Specifically the legends side of things. Knights of Old Republic game you'll get players generally.

Probably true.
My experiences come from asking for players on General RPG pages etc for different games and getting nothing. Quick hits when I mention 5E though.

 

[FrogReaver]

Just anecdotal numbers, for those who think D&D is not selling well due to Mearls vague conclusion and bookscan erroneous numbers. I took a screen shot of dndbeyond forum on March 26th of this year and looked just now and the total Members (ie created accounts) went up by 106k in the time frame. Unless it’s people creating accounts to post in their forums that dnd is dying or the 2024 game isn’t selling well, I would tend to think adding 100k potential buyers in less than 3 weeks is pretty dang good.

Wait, you think there is some kind of strong correlation between sells and accounts? And that the only explanation someone could have to create an account would either be to purchase content or post on the forums? Holy Assumptions Batman.

 

[EthanSental]

Wait, you think there is some kind of strong correlation between sells and accounts? And that the only explanation someone could have to create an account would either be to purchase content or post on the forums? Holy Assumptions Batman.

Holy no assumption boy wonder, just like I mentioned…it’s antecdotal but they’ve added 100k actual accounts. Of which some might make a purchase. Which is about as useful as people saying it’s not selling well based on here say or bad bookscan data.

It may just be friends creating accounts to use a friends master tier account sharing but the point remains, 100k joined to have some interaction with D&D which is a pretty decent number of new accounts for what some people using even worse or no data to say it’s not selling or doing well.

 

[Zardnaar]

Probably true.
My experiences come from asking for players on General RPG pages etc for different games and getting nothing. Quick hits when I mention 5E though.

Yup. Facebook D&D group does allow recruitment for other RPGs. As long as it doesn't get out of hand.
2E group gas 6 players but I've got 2 5E groups (sone overlap).

Ex player from 1995 tagged me last night. 4 players looking for DM. "You can DM over zoom".

My response. "I recall you DMing in 1995".