D&D General Todd Kenreck Let Go from WotC

[MonsterEnvy]

which is where the refining comes in (and their own custom AI)


that was not my point, but I do tend to care less for their recent releases on average (relative to ‘early’ 5e)

Having a severely reduced writing staff throwing out Chat GPT prompts for monster designs, new spells, new magic items, archetypes, etc. Then doing a little clean up, throw it in a book, and ship it.

But I have to wonder why do you think this is going to happen when nothing is pointing towards it.

Like I see you people bring up that idea several times, but not have any basis beyond feels.

 

[mamba]

But I have to wonder why do you think this is going to happen when nothing is pointing towards it.

Like I see you people bring up that idea several times, but not have any basis beyond feels.

I said nothing about it happening, I replied to a question why anyone would pay WotC for a product created using AI when they could just use an AI themselves

 

[Steampunkette]

But I have to wonder why do you think this is going to happen when nothing is pointing towards it.

Like I see you people bring up that idea several times, but not have any basis beyond feels.

Because twice, now, WotC has said they're gonna go all in on AI and then backed off a little under the backlash.

Next time they do it they just won't announce it. They'll JUST do it.

Because it's the ultimate goal of any corporation to make as much money as possible while paying the least amount of money possible. And Chat GPT is practically Free compared to 10-20 game designers working on projects.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Because twice, now, WotC has said they're gonna go all in on AI and then backed off a little under the backlash.

Next time they do it they just won't announce it. They'll JUST do it.

Because it's the ultimate goal of any corporation to make as much money as possible while paying the least amount of money possible. And Chat GPT is practically Free compared to 10-20 game designers working on projects.

The president of Hasbro has expressed interest, WotC and it's creatives have not. They explicitly have an AI ban.

They are also hiring new designers so clearly they are not being replaced yet. This is just fearmongering right now, as nothing suggests they plan to get AI writing or art in the books.

 

[lkj]

Possible that this is just part of Hasbro's 3% cut of staff due to high tariffs that was reported today? Rather than being a specific WotC thing? Just a thought.

 

[dave2008]

Having a severely reduced writing staff throwing out Chat GPT prompts for monster designs, new spells, new magic items, archetypes, etc. Then doing a little clean up, throw it in a book, and ship it.

You never know, but that seems unlikely based on current hires and the high profile nature of D&D. For a 3pp I can see that happening (actually it already has), but WotC gets absolutely grilled when an real artist who the used for years uses an AI tool to touch-up their art. I don't see them using as you suggest. Using AI to enhance online tools - that seems more likely to me.

Also, do they have a severely reduced staff? I don't think any of the people who have left recently were do much writing / creating spells, magic items, monsters, etc. It seems to me that the actual production staff is intact (unless people have left I am unaware of). We know there staff is much larger than when 5e started and that didn't need any AI.

 

[Micah Sweet]

You never know, but that seems unlikely based on current hires and the high profile nature of D&D. For a 3pp I can see that happening (actually it already has), but WotC gets absolutely grilled when an real artist who the used for years uses an AI tool to touch-up their art. I don't see them using as you suggest. Using AI to enhance online tools - that seems more likely to me.

Also, do they have a severely reduced staff? I don't think any of the people who have left recently were do much writing / creating spells, magic items, monsters, etc. It seems to me that the actual production staff is intact (unless people have left I am unaware of). We know there staff is much larger than when 5e started and that didn't need any AI.

I think it might be easier to get away with in writing than in art.

 

[Afroconan]

D&D is going to need support and product to keep it moving forward. Right now, WotC aren't giving any signs of doing that.

They recently re-hired Greg Bilsland as Executive Producer, Wesley Schneider is still on the team as Principal Game Designer, James Wyatt is still on the team, Ben Petrisor, Justin Arman, Makenzie de Armas is still there and they're looking to hire two new people to fill Chris and Jeremy's roles.

They have the following products in the pipeline for this year alone:

• Eberron Forge of the Artificer
• Dragon Delves
• Forgotten Realms Player's Guide
• Forgotten Realms DM's Guide
• A new Starter Set
• A secret unannounced product

Plus they recently teased a MtG crossover between D&D and Lorwyn/Shadowmoor.

They've also published two Unearthed Arcana playtesting character options that don't seem to be related to any of the previously mentioned products: The Horror Subclasses and the Psion.

I know the sky falls every day and twice on a sunday but these are just Hasbro going business as usual. Remember the original 5e was developed by a team of 3 IIRC, and the first products were partnered with Kobold Press and Green Ronin.

It is true that WotC must dance to the whims of Hasbro and who knows what they'll do next on their pursuit of the line going up, but concluding from these that Hasbro's abandoning D&D, pen & paper or that WotC's aren't going to properly support D&D is miopic at best.

 

[dave2008]

I think it might be easier to get away with in writing than in art.

That is possible, I haven't looked into that area as much. That doesn't really change my point though.

 

[Sulicius]

Because twice, now, WotC has said they're gonna go all in on AI and then backed off a little under the backlash.

Next time they do it they just won't announce it. They'll JUST do it.

Because it's the ultimate goal of any corporation to make as much money as possible while paying the least amount of money possible. And Chat GPT is practically Free compared to 10-20 game designers working on projects.

Sure, but if using AI loses them more money than it saves, they might not do it anyway.

It’s been 9 months since Chris Cocks spoke about AI, and so far we have not seen any changes to the products by WotC.