D&D (2024) Collage of Dance Reveal

[Staffan]

And I just said this rant partially because I did not want anyone to think I agree with Dark Crisis' horrible opinions when I say I really DO NOT like that WotC been giving those exclusive reveals of content to youtubers, especially youtubers like Ginny Di, who've been front and center of pressing agaisnt the OGL.

Huh? This video seems to be saying "Wizards really stepped in it, here are some links to people who are more informed about the situation than I am."

There's also another video around where she interviews Kyle Brink about the fiasco – I didn't check that out because it's over 20 minutes and defending Ms Di's honor isn't that important to me in this case.

But zooming out from this particular question, I think that if you want to reach The Kids These Days, going through Youtube creators is a pretty big avenue.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

everything should have been:
1-3-6-10-14

but we couldn't have that because "muh backwa compatibilitah"

We could not have that (except for the level 1 thing) because too many people told wizards that changing it makes them liers because there is no backwards compatibility.
There were so many people here on the forum who said that if things are not the same it is not backwards compatible.
Using a sidebar to update old subclasses (with a feat or so) was too much. So they paddled back, because it was not worth the bad press.

(and maybe they also found that 3-6-10-14 did not really look great for all classes).

 

[Neonchameleon]

If they'd made substantial changes to the subclass levels they'd have lost backwards compatibility. Which is not nothing.

And I'm in favour of 3-6-10-14-18 but I see why they did what they did.

As for Ginny Di, it's pretty obvious why she's among the best paid D&D YouTubers. Making cosplay like that from scratch isn't cheap or slow and she's both engaging and thoughtful with what are, for D&D YouTube excellent production values.

 

[Gorck]

Could be worse: a hybrid between Johnny Castle and James Dalton

[sigh] If you have to explain a joke, it’s probably not funny.

You see kids, these are both Patrick Swayze roles. Johnny Castle is from Dirty Dancing and represents the College of Dance Bard. James Dalton is from Road House and represents unarmed strikes.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

If they'd made substantial changes to the subclass levels they'd have lost backwards compatibility.

That's an empty excuse. They could have designed the subclasses that are (re)printed in the new books with the new structure, and if you use an old subclass then you just use its structure.

 

[CapnZapp]

I really DO NOT like that WotC been giving those exclusive reveals of content to youtubers, especially youtubers like Ginny Di, who've been front and center of pressing agaisnt the OGL. It seems to me WotC is trying to recreate the toxic relationship between video game industry and video game press, in which the latter is so dependent on exclusives, they effectively become part of hype cycle and can no longer meaningfully criticise a big company.

Eh, what?

What's wrong with a marketing strategy where you hand stuff out and people work hard to market your stuff of their own free will presumably without any direct monetary recompense?

More generally, choose one: bite the hand or eat the feed. Trying to bite the hand that feeds you seldom ends well, and I don't understand why you would expect anyone to try.

I mean, I can understand if you're resentful WotC is getting away relatively scot free from their earlier debacle, but I find it very hard to expect Ginny Di to self-sabotage her own channel just to stick it to the Man... likely WotC would easily have found someone else to create free promotion for their subclass and Ginny would just be short one video, with zero appreciation or anything else to show for her "sacrifice".

So...

 

[CapnZapp]

That's an empty excuse. They could have designed the subclasses that are (re)printed in the new books with the new structure, and if you use an old subclass then you just use its structure.

They totally could (and should) have rejigged the entire game to make subclasses interchangeable if not between all classes at least between classes within the same "power source": it would have been great if every martial class (such as Paladins or Bards) could pick a Fighter subclass, and if every arcane class (such as Bards and Warlocks) could pick a Sorcerer subclass and so on.

 

[Neonchameleon]

That's an empty excuse. They could have designed the subclasses that are (re)printed in the new books with the new structure, and if you use an old subclass then you just use its structure.

So what do you do for the now dead levels? Not adding complexity is also beneficial.

I'd have preferred they make a different compromise, but making a compromise isn't inherently bad.

They totally could (and should) have rejigged the entire game to make subclasses interchangeable if not between all classes at least between classes within the same "power source": it would have been great if every martial class (such as Paladins or Bards) could pick a Fighter subclass, and if every arcane class (such as Bards and Warlocks) could pick a Sorcerer subclass and so on.

Here I can't agree. Things not working with other things from other classes is something you can do with a class system.

My immediate "this is probably abusive" is an Eldritch Knight Warlock, mixing third-casting and pact magic, and mixing Eldritch Blast with Cantrip-As-Attack and Thirsting Blade.

You can write round those - but you need to look at every new combination and the internet had more eyes.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

So what do you do for the now dead levels?

Plenty of levels already feel dead, especially for martials. That's clearly not a priority.

Not adding complexity is also beneficial.

The complexity of... looking at your subclass? Because there is no standardization for the subclass levels, you already always need to check to know when you'll be getting stuff. Standardized progression would make things simpler, not more complex.

 

[Iosue]

I mean, I can understand if you're resentful WotC is getting away relatively scot free from their earlier debacle, but I find it very hard to expect Ginny Di to self-sabotage her own channel just to stick it to the Man... likely WotC would easily have found someone else to create free promotion for their subclass and Ginny would just be short one video, with zero appreciation or anything else to show for her "sacrifice".

So...

One thing I was glad to see was WotC out-and-out sponsoring the YouTube videos. Take out the ambiguity and set the right expectations. These are commercials for WotC. The content creators may be able to give some of their own critical thoughts, but everyone can understand the relationship without wondering about how honest the presenters are being.