The question is discussed in this podcast episode.

Cynthia Williams is out at WotC, which begs the question: If you were hired as the new CEO, what would you do to right the ship of game and sail us all to safer waters?

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
    5·
    6 months ago

    I mean if you’re going to simplify D&D that’d be great, but a lot of people would hate it.

    Most of the new crowd of TTRPG players I’ve played with want to hangout with friends, do some silly improv bits, maybe have a cool moment where they kill a goblin in a creative way, and go home

    I routinely tell people that Fate is more in line with how people new to RPGs imagine them to go. It’s sad watching D&D crush the creativity out of players. “I’m a pirate, surely I can sing a sea shanty!” “Sorry, you only have 8 charisma and no proficiency in perform because you’re a fighter.” “But I’m a pirate.” “That’s just flavor.”

    Though it does have a higher burden on the players to actually be creative. “Bob the fighter” works fine in D&D, but not so much in Fate.

    • djsoren19@yiffit.net
      3·
      6 months ago

      I mean, I’d hate it as well, but I already avoid D&D, and Wizards of the Coast has shown over and over again that they’re more than happy to burn out committed fans in order to chase the potential of new players. Also maybe it’s just the pick-up games that I’ve been in, but playing a creative character is often a huge part of the draw that people come in for. People are becoming aware of TTRPGs through improv comedy clips on TikTok from funny people like Critical Role or Dimension20, and those are the moments they want to emulate.