For those who don’t know me, I consume a copious amount of TTRPG YouTube.
This will be a much shorter and far more polite version of the article I originally wrote now that I’ve calmed down a bit. I’ve ripped three or four D&DTubers pretty hard in the comment sections of various videos recently. I’m going to avoid mentioning names following that awful incident with Ginny Di last year. (*I still feel pretty bad about that misunderstanding, btw.)
Lately I’ve felt as if certain channels have fallen off. Many of them have gone straight back to shilling Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons products. It’s disgusting to me how some of them have slid so far down. WotC isn’t going to treat the fans with any more respect just because YouTubers tell us how great it is getting free product from them.
(*Dave and/or Michael, if you see this, I’m not talking about you.)
Disclaimer: Statements expressed in this article are strictly my opinion. If you disagree or have a different opinion, that’s okay. I’m not an expert on everything. I’m not always right. I’m just writing from my experience as I know it. Your mileage may vary.
It’s almost as if there are deals being made behind the scenes.
Tinfoil hat time. (Sorry if that makes me a “conspiracy theorist.) Yeah, I’m about that angry at the moment. Let’s do some biased critical thinking for a minute.
Wizards of the Coast could approach these big D&DTubers off camera and say, “How would you like to have access to publish the new D&D 2024 edition that we’re not going to offer to just anyone?” All the D&DTubers have to do is sign some very ironclad Non-Disclosure Agreements. I could see this happening very easily because a company with no respect for the fans and a short memory might be prone to trying the same stupid maneuver twice.
This quiet floating of whatever closed game license, whatever we’re calling it, is skeezy, slimy, but still basically legal in every visible regard. (*I’m not a lawyer, yaddah yaddah.) There are a lot of things that go on in the world outside of TTRPGs that are perfectly legal for corporations to do. It doesn’t mean they’re ethical. Black-budget unacknowledged special access projects happen between the US government and private corporations all the time. Corporations operate on their own level when it comes to secrecy.
The short version of my going off.
The full article will stay in my archives, much like a few others. If I ever truly vented my rage publicly, it would be the end of me. That’s why I listen to Eminem, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, G Unit and D12 when I’m mad. I’ve got to get the negativity out somehow. I’m trying to build a brand, not get cancelled on social media.
Eminem spits a lot of wisdom. I get how sometimes it’s really tough wanting to cut loose but there are so many consequences. It’s a good thing because I would be hurting a lot of people’s feelings. I don’t want to be remembered for that.
It’s tough because there are some hard truths about the TTRPG industry and D&D YouTube that I see. I would love to share them, but we don’t know which way the wind will blow next week. I can’t really afford to be cancelled on social media or burn all of my potential bridges in the industry.
I want to be remembered for the good stuff. If it seems I’m picking on YouTubers in their video comments, it’s because I have some legit questions. Everyone sticks up for these guys, but YouTube content creators don’t give me a straight answer. WotC won’t give me any answers.
My reasoning for some of this without naming specifics.
I believe in consistency and authenticity in what I do. I become frustrated when I don’t see others doing the same. (I’m sure some well meaning Samaritan will now go through all 800+ articles and find every disingenuous, inconsistent thing I’ve ever done on the internet. I’m human, too.) But if you’re a YouTube star with thousands of followers, and you publicly wash your hands of WotC, why are you going back? I’m asking because no one else seems to care.
I keep wondering why anyone- YouTubers, cosplayers, writers, artists, DMs, or players still want to hitch their horse to the 5E wagon knowing full well major and possibly unpleasant changes are coming in September. Someday 5E is going to cease being the new hotness. When that day comes, some of these YouTube content creators are going to be very lost and confused, unless they cozy up to WotC now perhaps.
I’m not trying to tell people how to ruin their channel, game, or even game company. It’s fine not to agree with me. To me it just looks callous to back the same company that tried to betray the industry in January 2023. Some of us haven’t forgotten. Some of us aren’t forgiving WotC. I have no reason to forgive and those who know me know I have been known to carry a bitter grudge.
I’ve given up on official 5E products until there’s a major regime change at WotC/D&D Studios. No one else has to do the same. I wish more people did boycott official D&D and all the shills, but it’s not expected. People will still latch onto the 2024 D&D. It’s inevitable.
That’s where I’m going to leave it for today. Anything more sounds like rage mostly aimed at WotC. Thanks for stopping by. I apologize for the very negative spin today. Onward and upward. Please embrace the things that bring you joy.
Jeff's Game Box 