One of the largest Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play streams, Critical Role, has finally spoken out about the genre’s controversy. Its announcement followed Dungeons & Dragons’ previous response to criticism of its proposed alteration of the Open Game License in One D&D.
Shortly after the introduction of 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, the Actual Play group Critical Role, made up of well-known voice actors, began streaming using the new ruleset. Critical Role’s popularity skyrocketed in the years that followed. The company published official and fan-created Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks, board games, and even a TV series, The Legend of Vox Machina.
Critical Role has addressed the latest debate over Dungeons & Dragons. It made it clear that it had nothing against competition from other companies in the sector or Dungeons & Dragons’ original designers developing their game system.
As an example of its efforts to contribute to the creative collective by widening the field of artists, it cites its own publishing company, Darrington Press. It attributes its success to the community’s enthusiasm. In the end, Critical Role promises to “create an environment that allows everyone to share the stories they choose to tell readily.”
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An enormous number of people, inside and outside the tabletop RPG community, enjoy playing Critical Role. Wizards of the Coast’s recent measures have ratcheted up emotions throughout the industry. With its massive following, Critical Role had to say something or risk alienating its supporters forever.
Many people found the statement by Critical Role to be meaningless. It was difficult to tell which side it was on, as it seemed to avoid making a decision. Many players were dissatisfied with the lack of official comment, especially in light of previous statements from other companies, such as Pathfinder’s originator Paizo.
As a gamer & a scientist, & fan of open science, it's an interesting mess w/D&D owner Wizards of the Coast's leaked plan to heavily revise its Open Gaming License. Imagine if PLOS ONE said "Haha, all your papers + data are paywalled, our copyright now." https://t.co/KKBqmlThx8
— Professor John R. Hutchinson (@JohnRHutchinson) January 20, 2023
Other fans, however, were eager to highlight the legal brilliance of Critical Role’s comment. The statement shows its support for Dungeons and Dragons (Sixth Edition) enthusiasts in various places. However, it was carefully constructed so as not to publicly criticize Wizards of the Coast.
Invoking Darrington Press may be interpreted as a threat to Wizards of the Coast, suggesting that Critical Role may have been successful without their support. Matt Mercer has shown modest support for the OpenDnD trend on Twitter by liking statements made by others under that hashtag on his account.
From all of us at Critical Role. pic.twitter.com/PDi9tDF4dc
— Critical Role (@CriticalRole) January 13, 2023
Disparaging Wizards of the Coast would have been a wrong business move, especially as the two firms likely have further contracts with NDAs tied to them, and Dungeons and Dragons fans are quitting their memberships in droves.
The statement from Critical Role struck a good balance between serving its sponsors and helping the D&D fandom. You may buy Dungeons and Dragons right now. One D&D is currently in the works.
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