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People sometimes claim that Dungeons & Dragons only supports a narrow range of play styles, but that is not my experience. I've seen the D&D rules used to support a variety of games, and as a DM, you should comprehend this versatility and use it to your advantage. Along the way, you should...

Thanks folks - it sounds like I'll need to be a little more patient in order to see this movie. If any of the backers hears any more news about a release date, I hope you'll post it in here or contact me directly.

@SlyFlourish has just posted up an article related to this topic: https://www.enworld.org/threads/dont-throw-5e-away-because-of-hasbro.702010/

I have found this discussion very helpful and it has helped me sharpen my thinking. I have updated the original essay to clarify and expand on some points, hopefully addressing some of the issues raised.

Some years ago, there was a documentary about D&D crowdfunded called "The Dreams in Gary's Basement." After many delays, it was finally released this year. I did not back the original project, but I've been eagerly awaiting its wider release, but there has been no sign of it. I've even attempted...

Several people have noted that Fifth Edition is far from dead, so it clearly does not need to be revived. To be clear, Riggs talked about the “Golden Age” being dead rather than the whole game. I like the word “revival” because of it’s parallels with the Old School Revival, but let’s not get...

Yes, this is very close to what I feel as well. There is something going on in the OSR I'd like to see happen in the world of 5E.

That's right - and I'd love to see that wildly creative scene emerge in the 5E ecosystem as well. I don't think we are there yet, and it might be because folk still feel tethered to Hasbro and the "official rules". That is the essence of my essay.

Well, the original claim from Riggs is that the "golden age" of 5E is dead, not 5E itself. But I don't want the "revival" language to distract from the heart of the article, which is a 5E future driven by fans and 3PP rather than Hasbro.

Yep, this is the exact concern. People may think I'm fear mongering if I point to subscription fees, but surely this is the end goal. Perhaps it will start with saying, "It costs money to maintain your account and give you access to these books. Starting next month, we are introducing a small...

Yeah, you are right. You have to have an account to access the material you buy, but not a paid account.

Do you keep access to all content you've bought on D&D beyond when you unsubscribe?

Absolutely. I suspect WOTC will be looking to expand that side of the business in future. I think the recent "digital only" releases on D&D beyond point to that. Don't get me wrong - I like digital content. But when it is subscription-based, I get concerned.

Can the scene just go on forever with what has already been released? Maybe. But there are lots of folk who enjoy new content and new ideas, who feel like the game is ossified if it is not being developed. They can stick with Hasbro, sure, but that future seems likely to one of subscription fees...

It does seem likely that there will be an increasing focus on digital D&D via their own portal, and they are perhaps opening the door on micro-transactions. For Hasbro, I think the D&D future is digital and subscription based, regardless of what happens mechanically. I think there's room for a...

I do agree. In my last paragraph I suggest the "golden age" of 5E might be replaced by a "silver age" that is led by 3PP 5E developers. What I'd like to see is an ongoing 5E scene that is as vibrant and creative as the OSR. It's the sort of environment that A5E would thrive in.

I don't think it's going to happen either, so what are the options left for those of us who love 5E? One way is for a community to "take ownership" of 5E in the same was the OSR took ownership of B/W.

Ben Riggs, a D&D historian, caused quite a stir this week when he pronounced The Golden Age of TTRPGs is Dead. Riggs describes the 2010s as a booming period for tabletop role-playing games, marked by a massive influx of new players and innovative game design, primarily fueled by the success of...

I'll admit that I find this technology fascinating. For the sake of the exercise, I've been playing around with the first five rooms of Gygax's original Castle Greyhawk (level 1). Using Tsojcanth as a template, and with a bit of massaging, the AI produced the following: Castle Greyhawk: Level 1...

If anyone wants to try a prompt to turn the key into some rooms, here is the raw key data: Design Key: Castle Greyhawk, Level 1 1,-,Kobolds,9-16,5,63,-,"Dust colored silver mirror, 750 gp" 2,-,Goblins,7-12,8,71,-,10 gp 3,-,Giant Rats,3-12,5,38,-,Potion of strength 4,-,"Bandits, warrior...