Perkins Out! Mercer in? Who will lead D&D?

[@franklee6746]

Considering there's nothing that WotC can do that a regular person who just loves D&D can't do, I don't see why the community needs to be obsessed about it. There's not just 6 editions of D&D, there's hundreds of clones, there's thousands of adventures and source books. If WotC ended tomorrow D&D could still live on forever, with more content than anyone but a dedicated academic could ever get around to learning about.

[@StarFyreXXX]

it just depends what most ppl play. If you can convince most ppl to change to, lets say, warhammer roleplay, then most rpg gamers would switch if they play online and need a larger community.

[@mkklassicmk3895]

Actually there is a lot of things they can do that a regular person can't.

[@kaijuultimax9407]

@@mkklassicmk3895 Yeah like send Pinkertons to your house to to threaten you and to steal goods that are rightfully yours under first sale doctrine.

[@WorldsOkayestDM2468]

Convenience is a huge thing for people. Wotc makes it stupid convenient. Just purchase their product if you have the funds to do so.

[@thetruefushicho]

​@@mkklassicmk3895 like afford to sic the Pinkertons on someone for stupid reasons.

[@ShaunHall-i7e]

I love the Dragon magazines back in the day! There is something about having the magazine in your hands while flipping the pages and discovering something new. Plus the art!

[@HappyFunNorm]

The April Fools editions were absolutely the best thing outside of Harvard Lampoon publications

[@russellparker5043]

Matt Mercer would have to have a stroke before taking a job at WotC. Honestly, I would think working there under Hasbro these days would be a little piece of hell for anyone who loves the game or the hobby in general.

[@carysage]

Any creative type would have to be crazy to work there after they fired all their writers last Christmas.

[@darkowl9]

But what if we paid you... eleventy billion squillion dollarydoos?

[@cybernoid001]

If Matt did go, he's smart enough to have a contract in place to ensure he would have the creative control to needed to make the system worth doing.

[@PalleRasmussen]

"Chris makes Seattle Money, Matt makes Hollywood Money." Yea, and also his passion is his own stuff. I cannot fathom him tolerating anything that will stifle his creativity.

[@vyncentelwyn4304]

Are you joking? Matt hasn't had creative freedom for years. Everything after the Chroma Conclave has been one politicized talking point after another.

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@vyncentelwyn4304 have you considered that it could perhaps be expressions of how he views the world.

[@cheesy_87]

​@@vyncentelwyn4304 this is a ridiculous statement

[@philmitchell12]

Perkins is someone who I borderline revere. Would actually LOVE to see what he would do outside of D&D. His "The DM Experience" Blog during 4E is beyond amazing - and yes, his work on Acquisitions Incorporated DMing live both predates Critical Role and is top tier.

[@rynowatcher]

I do not think this is that big of a change. Chris Perkins was asked what he wanted his job title to be at the start of 5e launch, and I think this is just the same thing. They are focusing on digital sales, so instead of some marketing guy telling him what he can or cannot write it is going to be some tech bro. Seems the same.

[@Dark_Jester89]

​@@rynowatcher If they were focusing on digital sales, they wouldn't have unplugged alacart purchases

[@rynowatcher]

@@Dark_Jester89 you would if you want subscriptions :)

[@Marpaws]

That was a great blog

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

Watching Chris DM for Acq Inc was my intro back into D&D. I've never actually watched more than a few minutes of Critical Role. 😂

[@cdfreester]

Once a company becomes successful, all they want to do is repeat the success. Innovation requires risk in losing the success you've previously had. So, rinse and repeat is the corporate model. The success first comes when people take risks because there is nothing to lose. Once there is something to lose, no more risk-takers.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Reads like the script for the episode I am taping this afternoon.

[@cdfreester]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Can't wait to see it. 😀

[@yourdagan]

​@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 ooh

[@Bardicaggravation]

Very astute observation.

[@JWK1101]

Joseph Shumpeter outlined this phenomenon in the 1940s, it's called Creative Destruction.

[@LuiGuiShi]

Where does this rumor comes from? It's pretty clear that Matthew Mercer distanced himself from DnD with the creation of Daggerheart. Why would he work for WOTC when he now own a direct competitor to DnD....

[@b0therme]

LuiGuiShi, it only seems clear to you that Mercer has distanced himself from D&D for two simple reasons. 1) You are an intelligent and perceptive person and... 2) Matt Mercer distanced himself from D&D with the creation of Daggerhart. You see, other than reality you have no reason to believe this!😝

[@Red_Devil_2011]

I'd bet money that the rumor started purely from the drama mill on mainstream media. Either from lowIQ grugnards who like to place one big name dey know wid udder big name dey know. Or cynically from blue-haired gossip writers who saw another waste-of-cyberspace trash they could use to excuse their own job.

[@1979fsa]

I haven't heard that rumor anywhere but here. I think it's the next level of clickbaiting.

[@chrisroman2177]

Watch the video😂😂😂

[@laoxep]

@@1979fsa I watched other people video about this same subject a week ago. That Dungeons and discourse one

[@macoppy6571]

Deathbringer to lead DnD!!!

[@captcorajus]

A few things about D&D stats. While it is true that in 5E especially for the most the number only matters in determining the bonus or penalty. However, its a bit more nuanced than that. It takes a 2 point change to get a +1 improvement, and this geometric proportion matters when you have a very limited number of opportunities to improve your stats over time. Second, the 3-18 number CAN be important for comparison purposes to help resolve ties. Having this larger variance allows for better individualization within larger groups. So, in reality, it really does count and matter. As far as D&D goes, people love the game for a variety of reasons that have little to do with the game system itself. The game is 50 years old and there's a massive amount of lore and legacy associated with it. D&D has Vecna, and Mordinkanen. Gelatinous cubes, Mind Flayers, Beholders, and Demogorgon. As players we've visited the City of Waterdeep, explored the depths of Undermountain, roamed the Tomb of Horrors, faced off against Elemental Evil, and experienced the horrors of Ravenloft. In our bag of holding we might have a Deck of many things, A rod of seven parts or the Eye of Vecna. Regardless of edition, dungeons and dragons has a vast shared vernacular, and players old and new, from all over the world could find themselves in the same room and immediately have something in common to talk about. no other game offers this. So... while many games may actually be better, with brisker, more robust mechanics, they can never be.... Dungeons and Dragons. 😂 And that's what I think.

[@karlranseier6885]

You are not wrong, but what does all you have mentioned in common? It’s all 25+years old. DnD does nothing new to the genre, neither mechanics nor lore. In the contrary, they are recycling old stuff over and over.

[@nathanmorgan3647]

@@karlranseier6885 This. Like Hollywood recycling Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Ghost busters - each successive iteration less good, less magical, more preachy, and ultimately inferior. DnD is the past.

[@janbiela8596]

@@karlranseier6885 Hm… I started playing D&D with AD&D 2nd edition. While 3rd edition had certain things in common with the previous one, there were a lot of changes that made the game very different. 4th edition introduced even bigger changes, and while it might not have been that popular, many of its ideas were reused in 5th edition. 5e, once again, was a very different game compared to 4e, and the advantage/disadvantage mechanic became popular throughout the entire D&D community. So, I think it’s a bit unfair to say that D&D has remained the same for 25 years. Yes, it always tries to stay faithful to its roots, but the game we play today is not the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago. (I do agree, though, that indie RPGs are more open to innovation. D&D tends to move at its own pace.)

[@Dereliction2]

Now do alignment.

[@cautiousGenesis]

You can just plop all the dnd items and stories into any system and it works. D&D is just the household name for TTRPG for most people as there games are just a mishmash of homebrew rules and items from previous editions and other TTRPG. A lot of modern players value the roleplaying elements of TTRPG and D&D was never really designed to think about that. It started as a dungeon crawler and a lot of people don't play like that anymore. The D&D stats have been outdated for a while, I really like the Daggerheart stats and how those work. Also how often do ties need to be resolved between players rolls? Just flip a or roll another die.

[@bobbobbing4220]

im usually a harsh critic but PDM's wide spread of reviews of stuff other than D&D is very welcome. would love to hear more of his personal games though

[@dutch6857]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Even though I am mostly here for the small publisher and table advise stuff, I do appreciate having a calm voice that understands nuance breaking down the news from the biggest fish in the pond. Like it or not WotC has an impact on the hobby as a whole and I want to know what they're up to, but presented with clear thinking and context and without unnecessary drama.

[@GeeEmming]

Video uploaded 4 min ago and the comments are alrady taking the clickbait as fact. Like it or not, the youtube-dnd-space is just as much, or more, reason for the supposed "downfall" of dnd. Mercer is definitely not stepping into that role.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

That's what I said.

[@doodanwow]

super annoying that so many dnd youtubers have to clickbait. Best thing to do is just disengage with the videos to let youtube know that this is not good for the algo.

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

I learnt from another channel that, key to the algorithm promoting your video is to have 300 viewers in the first hour. Not a big deal for big channels but critical for little ones. You also need to do premieres.

[@mikebevibevi]

Well why not take an opportunity to change the culture? And make it right?

[@theGhoulman]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 And I saw you did, guess I'm the only one in this thread. lol

[@docmike8601]

Meet the new boss...same as the old boss...

[@scottschreck88]

We won't get fooled again.

[@b0therme]

@@scottschreck88 YEEEAAAAAHHH!!!!!

[@carysage]

I just did a power slide.😂

[@OGNoNameNobody]

I love that old College Prof. line on sensationalist media: "If the Headline is a question, 9 times out of 10, the answer is 'No'."

[@doublekrpg]

I like Dungeon Craft videos and am a fan of Professor DMs fancy haircut.

[@twitchew]

all praise the haircut!

[@paulvolpe2900]

I am honestly jealous of his hair...

[@HunterWoodMusicOfficial]

Prof dm even has as much hair as I do!!!!

[@OgamiItto70]

Let's see...He's told us he wears a +3 Vest of Protection. Maybe his hair is a +5 Holy Haircut of Ineffability.

[@seanmurphy7011]

Video starts at 1:23

[@KromKrausser]

thank you, that intro is garbage

[@stevecarter8810]

I discovered this at 1:11 and it still would have been worth pressing

[@zimmejoc]

Back in the day, when a new issue of Dungeon dropped, I was the happiest nerd around. Even the adventures that weren't a good fit for me group were top notch.

[@stuartmunro2474]

Snarfquest was pretty good too.

[@HEAVYTIGER11]

Mercer main income is still from VO work. And VO actors are still fighting to get 5% pay increase & basic medical care .

[@Dereliction2]

It sounds crazy that VO beats all the other stuff he has going.

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

Well, if he'd take lower pay he could have Medicaid insurance.

[@chriswolfinger6638]

Where did you obtain this information?

[@HollmanOrtizBuitrago]

Es importante mantener a D&D vivo, así mismo los juegos independientes mantienen vivos los juevos de rol de mesa para una nueva generación.

[@breakerpressgames]

I don't think 3-18 stat ranges are just tradition. I use stat damage all the time in my games. Only having the modifiers really reduces the utility of that as a dial I can use. And I find incredible value in going beyond hit points.

[@MemphiStig]

I agree with you. The whole value of stats, or "ability scores" like the kids say, which is clunky, is completely overlooked by most people, including the game itself generally. (Don't monsters and spells still affect stats?) It's not just the modifier that matters, but it's all about how you use what's available to you. (see captcorajus's comment too)

[@oldercloudify]

Funny story: I discovered LARPing through Dragon, and cajoled my dad into driving a group of us from New York to Boston to attend a weekend at NERO. We were literally murdered by the guys who appeared in the article - a group of jerks named Legion.

[@dirkstiletto]

Scary story. Two players in my local LARP were convicted of ACTUAL murder. FOX 12 Oregon January 18, 2016 · Police have arrested Michael Deyette II and Brooklyn Shepard -- who are also involved in a romantic relationship -- in connection with a deadly shooting in Corvallis last week

[@dirkstiletto]

^How NOT to meta-game.^

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

​@@dirkstilettoThat's horrible. Sorry for your loss.

[@Ishpeck]

@6:37 Hey, _I_ watched that video. Even went and bought one'a the books you showed. It's not my fault other people have no taste in DungeonCraft videos and only click the bait.

[@strawberryhellcat4738]

I ordered Corny Gron. I click for the information and stay for the entertainment.

[@yourdagan]

I love it when the comment section whines about him covering D&D while the numbers continue to reflect their preference for D&D content. I also watched that video.

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

I tuned in for that as well. I'm not currently looking to buy another RPG system, but I do enjoy feeling the searing pain of keeping my wallet shut.

[@israelmorales4249]

That Ravenloft anecdote reminded me that Paizo made an allegory of Dracula/Vlad the Impaler with a Blue Dragon (Kazavon) transformed into a human...is this perhaps a very obscure reference to that table that the professor mentions?...such maybe we will never know. Anyway, grat video! i see all your video Professor and no because you tumbnails thx for the video!

[@uvarighalvarado8677]

First of all, I have to say I love your clickbait videos as much as your regular content, they are fun and give even more variety to an already varied channel. Also your regular videos have inspired me a lot! Tomorrow I’m running my first one shot with a few friends, it will also be the first time I run a game in person and I’m really excited, your content is the main reason I decided to keep DMing and make the jump to do it in person.

[@thegoodthieves]

That must be this first ad in years that has me in one viewing, looks incredible

[@alfredg.3553]

Love this whole intro so far not even 2 minutes in. It's got the vibes, it's got me laughing, and professor has roasted his critics in the best way. Let's get it.

[@lordofdorknessdm3085]

I think it's pretty hilarious that someone would start a rumor that Mercer would replace Perkins. I'm sure Mercer would be flattered if he was approached, but as you explained in the video there's no way he would accept that job. I hadn't realized you were previously published in Dungeon. Super cool! I'll have to dig up those 'zines.

[@christopherclubb9167]

Keep working that algorithm PDM! Still love the content.

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

Note _Beavis_ is an adventurer - in his secret identity of _The Great Cornholio_ he's on an epic quest...he needs something to fullfill his ultimate destiny!

[@ImperialVirtue]

"Huhuhuhuh... he said 'fill.'"

[@JRDATX]

Dungeon Craft: Your one-stop shop for excellent TTRPG industry analysis, reviews of independent games, and crafting instructional videos. Carry on, sir.

[@AdamMaag]

Perkins is a long time creator. Hasbro doesn’t need creators any more. They just want to maintain the brand. Innovation will be found in independent games.

[@Gerod253]

Thank you, Professor. I appreciate your take on the rumor about Matt Mercer. I think that is wishful thinking from some Critters who don’t want to accept the distance that is developing between Critical Role and D&D. Some people seem to forget that when the players who became Critical Role first got started they were playing Pathfinder. They switched to D&D for the brand recognition when they started the show, and other reasons they haven’t shared I’m sure, and quickly started changing the rules to suit their own style. I can’t fully believe that they would give up Daggerheart, and the freedom that comes with it, to hitch their wagon more closely to a corporation that has tried to torpedo them in the recent past. The OGL situation would likely have gutted them in the long run if it had run the course Hasbro wanted.

[@Diabolik771]

"This room is cleared, we take the rugs, urns and cups!"

[@twitchew]

Thanks for talking about the very real trap of working in a "franchise" where the big / loyal fans. it reminds me of the quote ‘we like that thing you did, and we’d like more of it, please' - some guy that writes for comic books and stuff and looks like snape.

[@soopahsoopah]

7:59 lol so true. Looting the furnishings is a time-honored D&D tradition.

[@mandisaw]

Sometimes there's good stuff there!

[@roderickbabilius2125]

Did the murder mystery end up getting published? Is it still available somewhere? I am quite interested in that!

[@dilsoncamacho4100]

I agree that I don't believe Mercer will take his place. I'd be very surprised to see that happening since daggerheart would have to probably be scrapped, which would mean the whole critical role got a payout.

[@michaelanderson2166]

I love the music for the intro add!

[@sinemi3]

When I first started, with Mentzer's red box, and all through 2e, I don't remember knowing anything about author's names (not so with the novels, of course). So what PDM said is about right, imo. Also, 4d6 minus low is great! you just have to use roll under ability checks! (which is almost sacrilege in 5e and several OSR games) Pendragon has a great roll under ability check mechanic in which higher rolls win, so higher abilities have higher chances. So simple I don't know why every Chaosium game is not like that! But I digress (you think!?)... Great video!

[@Misterbandanahead]

The professor’s work on Dungeon Crawl Classics is top tier.

[@lexington476]

2:35 simple career advancement.

[@myleft9397]

Really like your sober, unbiased takes. What you say makes sense. It isn't a question of good or bad, it's just a question of do you like D&D or not.

[@CausticCatastrophe]

PDM, thanks for also including the indie games like dragontown in this news. I understand how you have to play the yt alg game to be visible, and you are justified and the content itself is great. Keep doin what you are doin.

[@ArcheryGeek]

Perkins is the reason I play DnD. His podcast got me back into DnD. Hopefully they can find another Canadian up to the task!

[@yaboiportch]

Asking Matt Mercer to head WotC would be lke asking Barrack Obama to become the new head of your HOA. He's got higher priorities right now.

[@Dereliction2]

Barrack would be terrible as head of an HOA. Don't do it, people!

[@calebwidogussy452]

Thanks for the update professor. Love the stuff

[@SpiritWolf1966]

I enjoy all of Dungeon Craft videos 🎉🎉🎉😂

[@saveversus]

The irony of someone who prefers roleplaying in person advertising Talespire is not lost on me. Make that money, Prof! 😂

[@papajoots]

You really need to expand on someone telling you to put gold piece values on random furniture. That’s some bizarre D&D history that needs to be preserved.

[@ercle88]

Gold used to be the main method of gaining XP. Today life is far simpler, and the main method of gaining XP is murdering!

[@matiasnl]

Dragon Town is an amazing book! Super innovative, whimsical yet dangerous. I've been running dnd off JP coovert content for the last 2 and a half years!

[@brodahisou]

I agree, they're not going to shake up D&D. They need it to stay the same or at least similar as they want to keep their customers and brand.

[@danielsaper5147]

Loved the opening music! Respect for Mr. Perkins, his sessions with tbe Penny Arcade boys for 4e helped me get back into the hobby after a ten year gap

[@Deliriumend]

Love the title. It definitely got me to go "what the hell is going on?" before my logic center caught up. Also, agreed on the "legacy" issue that D&D has and what it'll mean. Like, I'm all for new blood trying to breathe new life into things, but any changes they make are going to be subtle and small. A ship like D&D doesn't turn quickly, and they can't without alienating their customer base. It's one of the reasons I'm excited for MCDM's Draw Steel. Sure, they're going for a very D&D-esque/4th Ed experience, but since they're NOT doing D&D they're not bound to the sacred cows of D&D. And reading their design notes on patreon, you can see a lot of places where things that "have always been in D&D" are cut away because they just don't make sense for the game they're making...and they're not obligated to pay homage to a legacy that isn't theirs.

[@AJBernard]

9:25 ICRPG did away with derivative stats ten years ago, and Paizo just followed suit in the Pathfinder 2e remaster. And it makes SO MUCH MORE SENSE! Hopefully, 5.24 D&D will be the last edition with them.

[@AAron-gr3jk]

Didn't Mutants and Masterminds did this first in its last/3rd edition

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

So in other words, WotC is rehashing the past to make money? Figures, like Hollywood no real original ideas anymore

[@genlando327plays2]

Wouldn't that be ironic if they HIRED somebody from outside for this position after all those layoffs...

[@lulipe21]

I want a Guitarhero Deathbringer mini

[@carysage]

You ever see a Chaos Noise Marine from Warhammer 40K? That's pretty much what it is .😂

[@lulipe21]

@@carysage deathbringer is a bard, my new headcannon

[@lulipe21]

Deathsinger!!!

[@pixledriven]

I agree, it doesn't really matter who the lead designer on D&D is. The D&D line has been designed by committee and focus group since AD&D 2E.

[@bhorrthunderhoof4925]

DnD only survives because it was the first and it stays the best known TTRPG Brand. Let's wait and see where we stand in 5 years from now. Interesting times ahead, this is guaranteed.

[@pixledriven]

Re: James Bond movies: You're right, what really matters are these: was it based off of one of Ian Flemmings stories, and produced by Albert Broccoli?

[@madprophetus]

Yeah, just like Mearls got a 'new role'. The tyranny of Jeremy Crawford continues. That dude is to D&D as Kathleen Kennedy is to Star Wars.

[@TheReaLcatniP]

He did ruin Acquisitions Incorporated, I could never get into the games he was running and I really missed Perkins. It's actually better when the players get to be the DM for a while !

[@robdabanks]

I'm catching all your videos atm, but I think I'm also going out of my way to make sure I do. I am enjoying the varied stuff so I hope people do ring the bell because otherwise they're missing out

[@TVMAN1997]

The new DMG is a love letter to the players. They are giving us a whole campaign setting in it. I will be buying it cause they put a lot of hard work in it.

[@fingersmalone7683]

A few years back Perkins said that 5E would likely be his last run and here we have it. As much as Chris loves DnD I can only imagine that it also pains him a little with all the issues that he and the Wizard's team have faced in the past few years. Its not 'his DnD' anymore.....that game died pre-2014 and its found a new home with a new generation - which at first looked great but of course like anything it has its downsides as well. I would like to hope he keeps active in the gaming community. I have always been a fan of his - his writing and approach to the game. Would've loved to have been a player in one of his campaigns to share his love of the game. Perhaps he will write a book of his own down the road, perhaps a memoir or a novella from his own homebrew campaign world of Gaile etc. Thanks for all the awesome content over the years Mr. Perkins!!

[@gregoryfloriolli9031]

This could be good for the brand if Perkins is the guy in charge of the look, feel, and tone of the game. This is where D&D has been struggling of late. At best the brand is getting lame and at worst some of it feels like it’s veering into Tumblr style FanFic. We need someone to bring back the old school style feel to the game with the artwork and tone of the adventurers.

[@knghtbrd]

Matt Mercer? Not a chance. And even if it weren't a massive paycut and he wanted the prestige, if I were him I'd stay FAR AWAY from the dumpster fire that is WotC which now regularly lays off huge swathes of its staff. And I've gotta move to Seattle (a massive expense) only to be out a couple years later? No thanks.

[@AMRosa10]

I commented this on Nerd Immersion's video. I think that as the Core Rules are, for the most part, set for the next decade, with the possible exception of a Tasha's or Xanathar's like book to bring legacy classes to 2024 officially, most of what WotC will be doing is mining their back catalog of adventures and campaigns and updating them for 5e and looking to innovatively integrate them into the VTT environment. In the role of Creative Director, Perkins knowledge of that catalog will allow him to guide what gets worked on, while new product leads, possibly even from video game design will be brought in to develop those titles to be integrated into VTTs. The newer designers, especially if they have video game experience, have a better concept of developing in three dimensions, so they can innovate the battlemaps that are brought into a VTT that isn't necessarily as practical to implement for a campaign or adventure anthology that is "just" in book form.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Good points.

[@cavalcojj]

So I've re-implemented roll below your Ability score for skill checks, best change I've made.

[@MotiviqueStudio]

Perkins really reinvigorated my love for the game in a way, I'll just say, *no one else* has.

[@norl55]

So, over the last few years, in the promotional youtube videos, we have seen James Wyatt appearing more and more frequently. He has been around for a very long time, and worked both in D&D and on the MTG side of Wizards. I don't think it it is coincidence that Chris and James worked on the DMG together, I think this transition has actually been known for a while and James has been in Chris's succession planning for quite some time, and the DMG was the "handover project". I think James is going to be announced as the new lead designer sometime after the Monster Manual 2024 is released in Feb.

[@awesomedude255]

Great video, loved the insight on the process of writing for Dragon Magazine! Maybe you could do a video on the adventures you wrote and go more into detail?

[@awesomedude255]

Would be neat to see you maybe do re-writes of your old adventures too in your patented Prof DM style! Haha

[@ungainlytitan1460]

You are correct, D&D is big money and possibly still growing and "Don't screw it up" is primary. We may see some careful experimentation but even if sales decline, nothing radical will happen unless thing get really bad. The best one can hope for is D&D stealing some successful innovation in the third-party space.

[@brandonshelp4682]

Zero respect for one of the people who oversaw the destruction of D&D. Being amazing in the past does not make up for the death of *the* pillar of TTRPGs.

[@rickrogers8735]

Agree with your take. There is always a small chance that a large company like Hasbro will take a risk and make a strategic shift, but usually there is a driver that triggers that risk-taking. I don't see any significant drivers like that right now, except perhaps the push to digital products, but that is just a media shift so far. So if the new person wanted to make a big change, that would likely be an uphill battle.

[@iam0rion1]

You got me with the title.

[@Saerbhreathach]

Man the delivery on that conclusion was just so *chefs kiss* lol. Trust Prof to throw down the truth bombs deadpan and tasty.

[@hrothgarrannulfr1972]

"D&D has always evolved at a snail's pace." I'd be worried if it were evolving faster.

[@beowulfshaeffer8444]

Hadn't heard the rumor, but I wouldn't imagine Mercer gradually going more and more rules-light to suddenly being in charge of a "crunchy" game.

[@imayb1]

"Curation rather than innovation" is a very good summation.

[@craftersforge570]

Professor DM is just the best! Would love to see his top 3 TTRPGs of all time.

[@JMSouchak]

7:00 I think WOTC is all about LCD more than anything anymore.

[@AlLajeunesse]

Maybe the next one will revive Dark Sun!

[@holycowitsdave]

I keep seeing people make the exact same video about this exact thing, even weeks apart, using the same clickbait title. I don’t get it. Nobody on Earth thought Mercer was taking a job at WotC until this influx of clickbait video titles, and none of them have had anything more substantive to say on the topic than "Matt was one of several consultants for the new DMG crazy huh?"

[@JarrettOriginal]

As someone who lives and works in Hollywood, I would be shocked if Matt Mercer cleared more than 1 million a year with everything combined. Voice acting is a fine career, but as Dani Pudi said on Larry King, "Larry, I'm on Ducktales."

[@Bardicaggravation]

Great insight and grounded info, as always. I'm curious to hear more of your thoughts on DC20. I know you talked about it during the kickstarter and probably will again upon its official release. I've purchased many of the games you've recommended (5 Torches; The Black Hack; The North Road, etc.) and all were spot on. Yours and Skorkowski's opinions are the ones I trust the most, so I'd love to get your deeper dive on the system. My new channel (4 months old) is a dedicated DC20 KZbin and I'm wondering if any of the more established and game diverse channels like yours will be covering it more as well.

[@gregoriancatmonk6904]

Mercer should ask Perkins and hire him to help him with his game company. He can write modules or create content for them.

[@EricMesa]

This was a good video. I loved your dive into the past and writing modules for the old magazine. To me, the click-bait with your news stuff is the "Mercer in?" when you immediately refuted it.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks! That's how I roll--hook them with Mercer, but really talk about my own stuff. Fortunately Matt doesn't mind.

[@andrewlustfield6079]

I don't mind the click bait actually--as long as there are other things. Just saying--get your views and clicks, chief. That way you can continue doing things like game philosophy--shoe leather for instance. Love that one. And Many Many MANY of your older ones covering topics like initiative. Onto the topic--I don't see why Mercer has any incentive to join WOTC---not when he''s pushing Daggerheart and he has a built in fan base of his own. WOTC would have to throw a lot of money at him---and now that they have their evergreen rules, why would WOTC need to pay huge amounts of money for game design?

[@smctunes]

I went ahead and got the Dragon Town boxed set + several add-ons. It was 100% due to your review, so thank you very much.

[@ingjaldsleikestove]

A tip from the Professor in an earlier episode for those how want to see more of the other types of videos, Hit notify all, but most importantly, hit like and comment on those that you like. Feed the algorithm.

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

9:13 I think that’s due to copyright law as much as anything else. If they want to retain the licence to Dark Sun, for example, they need to publish materials to it every so often (which is most likely why it’s going to be another 10 years before we get new Dark Sun content).

[@Istari68]

Thanks for another interesting commentary, Professor! Random question: is Chris Perkins originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada? - I read that somewhere and I just want to know if it's true. I gather he has US citizenship now, but I'd love to know if he is actually from the place I'm from.

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

The eternal question asked in this video: _Wat is a Beavis_ He is _The Great Cornholio_ ah-huh-ha, huh

[@zelbarnap]

Professor, I like how you sneak in the real information of good RPG's amongst all this 'news'. nice work!

[@valorin5762]

I enjoyed the last 6 videos, I'm glad though you're back to your quality clickbait!

[@scottwalker6947]

Here is a hint to whoever applies. When they ask you in the interview "how would you handle X problem with the fans?" The answer is "send in the Pinkerton's".

[@twitchew]

just settling in to watch, looking forward to the great and wonderful video, I like your game and game business vids!

[@TheTerrainWizard]

More Dungeons & Dragons & Drama right before a new release? Who would have thought?!?

[@kingVibe111]

I just feel like the OSR books are usually so much better designed. I know the next D&D will be overstuffed and yet poorly implemented layout and they’re going to start writing for the VTT where all the math is done for you already. And now that they’re aping videogames even more, which pen and paper was kind of an escape from for a lot of people these last 20 years, I don’t have faith in them. I really don’t think they’re going to improve adventure module sales except with these VTT and online components. This is how they make their terrible adventure rules profitable and while they could just do less stuff of better quality corporations need that infinite growth potential so I don’t see them doing what I want from a game any more.

[@carltonbauheimer]

I play Into the Odd, and Electric Bastionland

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Great game!