Sean Merwin

And we can talk about it being the right rule set at the right time. We can talk about streaming. We can talk about how the pandemic, while it was obviously devastating, came at the time when normally we would have definitely seen a decline. But the way it changed life made it continue to go up. Yeah, maybe.

And we can talk about it being the right rule set at the right time. We can talk about streaming. We can talk about how the pandemic, while it was obviously devastating, came at the time when normally we would have definitely seen a decline. But the way it changed life made it continue to go up. Yeah, maybe.

Right. Yeah, I'm wondering if not non-pandemic, we would have seen the decline then, but life changed so much that it may have affected things. And the term magical is perfect here. Because it is. It was magical, it is magical. Not one person, we can't point a finger and say, this is the person or this is the reason. I think it was a lot of reasons.

Right. Yeah, I'm wondering if not non-pandemic, we would have seen the decline then, but life changed so much that it may have affected things. And the term magical is perfect here. Because it is. It was magical, it is magical. Not one person, we can't point a finger and say, this is the person or this is the reason. I think it was a lot of reasons.

And so there can be a concerted, strong effort to replay that, get stranger things to focus on D&D again. put up more video content, engage with streamers more and try to recreate the success that Critical Role had in expanding D&D. I just don't think that you can say, let's do these four things and it'll work.

And so there can be a concerted, strong effort to replay that, get stranger things to focus on D&D again. put up more video content, engage with streamers more and try to recreate the success that Critical Role had in expanding D&D. I just don't think that you can say, let's do these four things and it'll work.

Right. And I think that is just as important. We had talked in the first segment about community, which I think is where you're headed here. How can you establish or give the seeds for people growing that community? And that is done through things like organized play.

Right. And I think that is just as important. We had talked in the first segment about community, which I think is where you're headed here. How can you establish or give the seeds for people growing that community? And that is done through things like organized play.

It's done through programs at game stores where people are actually going to buy the books, or if they're buying the books digitally, have the information they need there to get them in touch with the community that you want them to be in touch with, rather than people making spaces on YouTube. And so part of me is also wondering if we have seen the peak of people who watch actual play.

It's done through programs at game stores where people are actually going to buy the books, or if they're buying the books digitally, have the information they need there to get them in touch with the community that you want them to be in touch with, rather than people making spaces on YouTube. And so part of me is also wondering if we have seen the peak of people who watch actual play.

There's generationally things ebb and flow. We have now seen the people who were teenagers or in their early 20s who had the time and the stamina to watch four hours of people playing D&D. Very entertaining people, but people watching... will that lose its effervescence with the kids who were five then, who are now 15, and maybe they don't want that.

There's generationally things ebb and flow. We have now seen the people who were teenagers or in their early 20s who had the time and the stamina to watch four hours of people playing D&D. Very entertaining people, but people watching... will that lose its effervescence with the kids who were five then, who are now 15, and maybe they don't want that.

Maybe they want their own form of entertainment, their own thing that draws them in.

Maybe they want their own form of entertainment, their own thing that draws them in.

Yeah, we've got the dragon anthology of 10 short dragon adventures coming in July. When you have a new edition, the first thing you need is something for people to play. So in July will be that book. We won't see an updated starter set, the Heroes of the Borderlands until October. So that's a long time to wait for release.

Yeah, we've got the dragon anthology of 10 short dragon adventures coming in July. When you have a new edition, the first thing you need is something for people to play. So in July will be that book. We won't see an updated starter set, the Heroes of the Borderlands until October. So that's a long time to wait for release.

The thing that most people look for to bring new players in is the starter set. So it will be interesting then. And then in November, we'll see the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide and Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, which again is that big sort of bellwether thing that everyone is going to buy to see what... the setting that Wizards of the Coast is most supporting will will provide.

The thing that most people look for to bring new players in is the starter set. So it will be interesting then. And then in November, we'll see the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide and Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, which again is that big sort of bellwether thing that everyone is going to buy to see what... the setting that Wizards of the Coast is most supporting will will provide.

Mm hmm. Yep. What else? We're looking at how the D&D Beyond third-party marketplace evolves. Will there be more partners signed on? Will it become too much content? If you have to integrate everything that is being sold there into the character builder, At what point are there too many feats? At what point are there too many subclasses?

Mm hmm. Yep. What else? We're looking at how the D&D Beyond third-party marketplace evolves. Will there be more partners signed on? Will it become too much content? If you have to integrate everything that is being sold there into the character builder, At what point are there too many feats? At what point are there too many subclasses?