Mad at Paizo?

[Mercador]

I would definitely be curious how things might have differed had PF2 come out at early enough of a time when Matt Mercer would have considered it over 5e, though I think that the simplicity of 5e favors his playstyle. Still, Critical Role continuing with PF is one of the great "what ifs" of TableTop streaming.

You should take a look in a different universe Seriously though, I know only Critical Role by name so I can't relate, but I think Stranger Things got a way bigger influence than a youtube show, isn't it?

 

[Aldarc]

You should take a look in a different universe Seriously though, I know only Critical Role by name so I can't relate, but I think Stranger Things got a way bigger influence than a youtube show, isn't it?

I have encountered far more new people interested in our hobby (and D&D) via Critical Role than Stranger Things, even if the latter has a wider audience.

 

[Mercador]

I have encountered far more new people interested in our hobby (and D&D) via Critical Role than Stranger Things, even if the latter has a wider audience.

Different perspectives I guess. On my side, the DnD effect was nostalagia around me, feeling like the kids playing DnD with the red box.

 

[Aldarc]

Different perspectives I guess. On my side, the DnD effect was nostalagia around me, feeling like the kids playing DnD with the red box.

I am not discounting nostalgia, but if the question is which media has attracted more people back to TTRPGs: Critical Role or Stranger Things? IME it has been Critical Role. We talk about the Matt Mercer Effect but not a Stranger Things Effect. Nostalgia is definitely present, but Stranger Things capitalizes on that nostalgia. And the TTRPG hobby has also been boosted (by extension) from the resurgent popularity of board games.

 

[Parmandur]

You should take a look in a different universe Seriously though, I know only Critical Role by name so I can't relate, but I think Stranger Things got a way bigger influence than a youtube show, isn't it?

Critical Roll has six figure viewership.

 

[Parmandur]

I would definitely be curious how things might have differed had PF2 come out at early enough of a time when Matt Mercer would have considered it over 5e, though I think that the simplicity of 5e favors his playstyle. Still, Critical Role continuing with PF is one of the great "what ifs" of TableTop streaming.

Yeah, having watched Mercer run PF in that Goblin one-shot, I don't think it would have been the same good fit.

I'm curious to see if PF2 breaks the streaming show barrier. There are games other than 5E being streamed, but 5E hugely dominates the streaming scene. I'm surprised there are not more Star Wars or Call of Cthulu or whatnot shows.

 

[EthanSental]

Just personal opinion since we have no real data either way. I think Stranger Things might have been the catalyst for those 40 and over that hadn’t played in a while since that demographic might not have been the people surfer YouTube for dnd live streams. Younger players probably got pushed over the edge to start playing by critical role....hard to tell either way but both have helped bring players back or in to the hobby.

 

[Parmandur]

Just personal opinion since we have no real data either way. I think Stranger Things might have been the catalyst for those 40 and over that hadn’t played in a while since that demographic might not have been the people surfer YouTube for dnd live streams. Younger players probably got pushed over the edge to start playing by critical role....hard to tell either way but both have helped bring players back or in to the hobby.

Perfect storm.

 

[Aldarc]

Yeah, having watched Mercer run PF in that Goblin one-shot, I don't think it would have been the same good fit.

In general, it's weird seeing Critical Role, which has STRONG influences in the world from 4e flavor and lore but run with 5e. But then again, I also think that 4e's world-building was highly underrated.

I'm curious to see if PF2 breaks the streaming show barrier. There are games other than 5E being streamed, but 5E hugely dominates the streaming scene. I'm surprised there are not more Star Wars or Call of Cthulu or whatnot shows.

Paizo is definitely trying via their own channel and Geek & Sundry. It has to sting for Paizo knowing that Critical Role was run as a PF1 game before switching to 5e. However, my recommendation for Paizo would be to get a non-Paizo employee (i.e., not Jason Bulmahn) to GM these PF2 streams. This is not to say that Bulmahn is a bad GM. (On the contrary, he is fairly enjoyable to watch.) But I think that PF2 would benefit from a non-employee GMing the game since it can otherwise come across as corporate micromanaging or salesmanship of the new game rather than amateur enthusiasm for the new game.

 

[Parmandur]

In general, it's weird seeing Critical Role, which has STRONG influences in the world from 4e flavor and lore but run with 5e. But then again, I also think that 4e's world-building was highly underrated.

Paizo is definitely trying via their own channel and Geek & Sundry. It has to sting for Paizo knowing that Critical Role was run as a PF1 game before switching to 5e. However, my recommendation for Paizo would be to get a non-Paizo employee (i.e., not Jason Bulmahn) to GM these PF2 streams. This is not to say that Bulmahn is a bad GM. (On the contrary, he is fairly enjoyable to watch.) But I think that PF2 would benefit from a non-employee GMing the game since it can otherwise come across as corporate micromanaging or salesmanship of the new game rather than amateur enthusiasm for the new game.

I was not a big fan of 4E as a game system, but I loved the story.

The thing about the D&D streaming scene is that it is mostly not involved with WotC directly, it's just happening.