D&D General Elon Musk Wants To Know 'How Much Is Hasbro?'

Following the richest man in the world's attack on Wizards of the Coast for two paragraphs in the 500-page celebration of D&D, The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons 1970-1977, Elon Musk--who bought Twitter not that long ago--wants to know how much D&D's owner Hasbro would cost.

After the public sharing on Twitter of Jason Tondro's (who wrote the book’s foreword) private Facebook posts, Musk replied "How much is Hasbro?"

Hasbro's estimated capitalization is currently $8.71 billion, with $3.95 billion of debt.

It was on 21st December 2017 when Musk similarly enquired "How much is it?" before proceeding to make a bid for Twitter. He later tried to back out of the deal, but was forced to buy the platform for $44 billion in June 2022. Current estimates by investment firm Fidelity put the platform at a value 80% less than when he bought it, with a worth of only about $9.4 billion.

 

[Dire Bare]

The current edition of D&D, 5th Edition, is my favorite version of the game. I also care deeply about the D&D brand and the larger hobby.

Elon Musk purchasing Hasbro would destroy Hasbro and damage all of the properties Hasbro owns, including D&D.

I could certainly just keep playing D&D 5E without supporting Musk's Hasbro, even with just the stuff I've already purchased! With Level Up and Tales of the Valiant, the game can continue to be vibrant. Playing D&D at my table likely wouldn't be overly affected by Musk taking over Hasbro.

But I would be upset and frustrated that a brand I've grown up with could be so damaged. And I think the loss of the industry leader could reverse some of the popularity growth TTRPGs have enjoyed the past decade or so.

Musk purchasing Hasbro would be bad for the D&D game, bad for D&D fans, and bad for the larger TTRPG hobby.

However, there really isn't anything I can do about it. Musk will or won't purchase Hasbro. So, I don't really worry about it much.

 

[Flights of Fancy]

Hey this is a crazy thread! All I can tell you is that if it wasn't for me dropping in on EnWorld from time to time, I never would have even known this might happen.

It makes me wonder just how invested the fanbase is in all this? Most the people I know and play with would have no clue this might be going on, continue to play D&D anyway, and buy whatever products looks good in the future under the D&D brand, whether WotC or Musk, if they even saw a difference or recognized it.

The game will remain the game. I just don't see this as a big deal to worry about, especially since it hasn't happened yet. But at least it gives people plenty to talk about!

 

[Bohandas]

And if it doesn't remain the game we just switch to Pathfinder again like during 4e

 

[Henadic Theologian]

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In all fairness to Chris Cox, his greed is immaterial, unless he is a major shareholder in the company. His job is to do what the board tells him, which is probably along the lines of "make line go up". Nothing he has said suggest that he has any particular novel vision for Hasbro or WoTC. He interchangeable with any of the other professional or potential professional CEO types out there. He is also likely to be the first out the door in any takeover but I am sure that the golden parachute is already locked in.

And the board has a fiduciary responsibility to do what is best for Shareholders or they can be sued by Shareholders like hypothetically Musk.

Shareholders at Twitter hated Musk too, didn't stop him from buying Twitter.

 

[Mort]

And if it doesn't remain the game we just switch to Pathfinder again like during 4e

If you like 3e, or Pathfinder 2 if you like a different direction.

Or you can just keep playing 5e like nothing happened.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Or you can just keep playing 5e like nothing happened.

Assuming he goes through with this, I don't think Musk's goal would be to have D&D remain the same. Better or worse, it'll be different.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Honestly I don't know what you all think Musk would do that would be that bad, except firings maybe, although hopefully not.

 

[mamba]

What people are serious about discussing it do say is that if I don't like the direction D&D is moving in

I mean, I do not like the direction all that much, too superheroic, that is quite different from ‘not sexist / racist enough’ though

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I mean, I do not like the direction all that much, too superheroic, that is quite different from ‘not sexist / racist enough’ though

What do think Musk will do to D&D to make it more sexist/racist.

What do you think Musk will do to Minorities and women?

It's all vague comments, so I don't understand.

 

[mamba]

Honestly I don't know what you all think Musk would do that would be that bad, except firings maybe, although hopefully not.

if he doesn’t change anything, why would he buy it, and if he changes anything, I very much doubt it is for the better…