New Hasbro D&D streaming channel.

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Baulderstone

Baulderstone

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Although the ad copy doesn't mention it, I assume they're trying to tap into that vast, hidden market of people who want to watch the 2000 movie repeatedly, but are too embarrassed to own a copy of it.
 
Well, my guess is that they’ll be trying to cash in on the Critical Role craze and do more “witty, beautiful actors playing a RPG” shows.

There IS a large number of people who are self-declared gamers who only watch others play. Same with sports fans, right?
 
Necrozius said:
Well, my guess is that they’ll be trying to cash in on the Critical Role craze and do more “witty, beautiful actors playing a RPG” shows.

There IS a large number of people who are self-declared gamers who only watch others play. Same with sports fans, right?
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Well, there are people who watching fucking lawnmower racing too, doesn't mean it's a good idea....
 
I think they don't want to be hostage to outside streamers as much and get people hooked on a feed they control. As a host becomes a problem they shift them to a crappier slot or otherwise devalue them while pimping up a more compliant personality
 
Sounds like Hasbro/WotC are a bit miffed that they don't own Critical Role outright, (despite it being obvious that WotC is the show's biggest sponsor)

So they are just gonna make their own Hasbro / WotC version of Geek n Sundry, and try and replicate the popularity of Critical Role. It's sad, but it will probably work to some extent, due to the commercial exposure that Hasbro will push.

Now would be a good time for Critical Role to start regularly showcasing a wider range of trpgs. They have dipped their toes in other systems before, but now they need to do it with increased regularity.

Mercer and company should even shift their fantasy setting Tal'dori to another system. I'ld want Mythras Classic Fantasy, but Fantasy Age or Pathfinder would be a better commercial option.

In any case, Hasbro/WotC will either want Critical Role onboard, or they will create their competition.

All this is not surprising, and it all feels very hollow to me
 
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"'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.

'So do I,' said Gandalf,

'And so do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

(The Lord of the Rings)
 
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It's certainly a lot of time to fill for a product line that consists of a view books a year. It would be easier to fill the time if they covered OGL releases, but something tells me that isn't going to happen.

I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to bring Critcal Role on board, but I'm not surprised they didn't.
 
How are they possibly going to fill 168 hour a week? The article mentions 3 new shows plus reruns of the D&D cartoon (which only consists of 27 half-hour episodes). Is it just going to be like latter-day MTV where they just run episodes of Ridiculousness 20 hours a day, every day, except with the D&D cartoon (which, let’s all remember, was actually pretty terrible)? Who’s going to actually watch that, and who would want to advertise on it? Is this really what Hasbro thinks is a good investment to grow the value of the D&D brand? It seems spectacularly ill-conceived in, like, every possible way.
 
A 24/7 streaming sounds like a terrible idea BUT “Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!" sounds like it has potential; I give it a 50-50 chance of being cringe gamer humor.

“Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!” is described as an improv comedy spin on classic Dungeons & Dragons gameplay. Each episode features a party of first-level characters — replete with backstories, accents, theme songs and more — marching to their certain deaths as they face beasts against which they stand absolutely no chance. The series features a revolving cast of special guests and celebrities, including series co-creator Matthew Lillard
Click to expand...
 
Brock Savage said:
A 24/7 streaming sounds like a terrible idea BUT “Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!" sounds like it has potential; I give it a 50-50 chance of being cringe gamer humor.
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I think that is an interesting concept. The very idea of pitting low-level PCs against threats they can't beat in a fair fight seems like it would lend itself well to some old school creativity. I'm just doubtful that is what they are going for here.
 
It’s interesting as this has been going on in the podcast sphere. Daniel of the Bandit’s Keep podcast and YouTube channel regularly runs an OD&D game of level one adventurers vs a dragon at conventions like GenCon and GaryCon. Julz, a prominent person in the NZ RPG scene recently started a series of 5E level one adventurers against dragons on her podcast Jewels from NZ and the podcast Phantom Thoughts just published an episode with an AD&D level one party against a dragon.
 
Mankcam said:
Sounds like Hasbro/WotC are a bit miffed that they don't own Critical Role outright, (despite it being obvious that WotC is the show's biggest sponsor)

So they are just gonna make their own Hasbro / WotC version of Geek n Sundry, and try and replicate the popularity of Critical Role. It's Ÿsad, but it will probably work to some extent, due to the commercial exposure that Hasbro will push.
Click to expand...
1683848352235.png
 
sharps54 said:
It’s interesting as this has been going on in the podcast sphere. Daniel of the Bandit’s Keep podcast and YouTube channel regularly runs an OD&D game of level one adventurers vs a dragon at conventions like GenCon and GaryCon. Julz, a prominent person in the NZ RPG scene recently started a series of 5E level one adventurers against dragons on her podcast Jewels from NZ and the podcast Phantom Thoughts just published an episode with an AD&D level one party against a dragon.
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And the idea of D&D as a long-form campaign game dies even further.
 
Tulpa Girl said:
Although the ad copy doesn't mention it, I assume they're trying to tap into that vast, hidden market of people who want to watch the 2000 movie repeatedly, but are too embarrassed to own a copy of it.
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i own it and the sequel, well, it isn't much of a sequel, but rather the second movie
 
I picture reruns of old fantasy movies like Krull and Beastmaster, then a reality LARP series with behind the scenes drama/romance... and maybe a puppet show featuring a dragon and a princess.
 
I mean, WotC is making their own VTT that's going to be pretty much essential for D&D 2024/One D&D/whatever they're calling it now. I imagine, "Hey, would you like to broadcast this game on our channel for a 5% cut?" to top-rated GMs on the platform would provide plenty of streamable material.
 
Fenris-77 said:
Well, there are people who watching fucking lawnmower racing too, doesn't mean it's a good idea....
Click to expand...
I'd forgotten I'd actually seen this once on TV. Did the guys from Top Gear do a segment on it once?

a) Do I need to put up my hand so say I actually enjoyed it? (Says he as he slinks away to the naughty corner)

b) Is it sad that, given the choice between these two options (lawnmover racing and D&D), I'd pick the one with the lawnmower?

That is, unless the D&D channel introduced an new weapon type..... the 'lawnmower'
 
burbles said:
I'd forgotten I'd actually seen this once on TV. Did the guys from Top Gear do a segment on it once?

a) Do I need to put up my hand so say I actually enjoyed it? (Says he as he slinks away to the naughty corner)

b) Is it sad that, given the choice between these two options (lawnmover racing and D&D), I'd pick the one with the lawnmower?

That is, unless the D&D channel introduced an new weapon type..... the 'lawnmower'
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I too think I would rather watch lawnmower races than the average D&D stream. I'm sure a guy named Bubba will be drinking a beer and doing something stupid in one of those
 
Mankcam said:
Sounds like Hasbro/WotC are a bit miffed that they don't own Critical Role outright, (despite it being obvious that WotC is the show's biggest sponsor)

So they are just gonna make their own Hasbro / WotC version of Geek n Sundry, and try and replicate the popularity of Critical Role. It's sad, but it will probably work to some extent, due to the commercial exposure that Hasbro will push.

Now would be a good time for Critical Role to start regularly showcasing a wider range of trpgs. They have dipped their toes in other systems before, but now they need to do it with increased regularity.

Mercer and company should even shift their fantasy setting Tal'dori to another system. I'ld want Mythras Classic Fantasy, but Fantasy Age or Pathfinder would be a better commercial option.

In any case, Hasbro/WotC will either want Critical Role onboard, or they will create their competition.

All this is not surprising, and it all feels very hollow to me
Click to expand...
They are publishing their own systems. Feels like that’s more likely to get their promotional push than Mythras, Fantasy AGE (does anyone play that?), or Pathfinder.
 
Bunch said:
I think they don't want to be hostage to outside streamers as much and get people hooked on a feed they control. As a host becomes a problem they shift them to a crappier slot or otherwise devalue them while pimping up a more compliant personality
Click to expand...
This. They want the internet inside the tent pissing out instead of outside pissing in. What streamer isn't going to pull...well every muscle they have trying to get on D&DTV? It will boost their channel and help WotC fill the content. They'll get people jumping to play D&D live on the channel and won't have to pay them anything probably.
 
Mankcam said:
Sounds like Hasbro/WotC are a bit miffed that they don't own Critical Role outright, (despite it being obvious that WotC is the show's biggest sponsor)

So they are just gonna make their own Hasbro / WotC version of Geek n Sundry, and try and replicate the popularity of Critical Role. It's sad, but it will probably work to some extent, due to the commercial exposure that Hasbro will push.

Now would be a good time for Critical Role to start regularly showcasing a wider range of trpgs. They have dipped their toes in other systems before, but now they need to do it with increased regularity.

Mercer and company should even shift their fantasy setting Tal'dori to another system. I'ld want Mythras Classic Fantasy, but Fantasy Age or Pathfinder would be a better commercial option.

In any case, Hasbro/WotC will either want Critical Role onboard, or they will create their competition.

All this is not surprising, and it all feels very hollow to me
Click to expand...
CR is partnering with frickin' Amazon for the animated versions of their games, WotC is kind of small potatoes. :devil:
 
CRKrueger said:
This. They want the internet inside the tent pissing out instead of outside pissing in. What streamer isn't going to pull...well every muscle they have trying to get on D&DTV? It will boost their channel and help WotC fill the content. They'll get people jumping to play D&D live on the channel and won't have to pay them anything probably.
Click to expand...
I dunno. If WotC finds any money there at all I suspect Amazon will show up right quick to say "And... That's mine!"

Amazon has the money and ability to turn a stream into revenue with very very low margins. That's their secret weapon. Everyone else in tech is starting with high margins and enjoying the fat. In lean times they have a lot to cut but they don't really know how. Amazon is lean and tech. People don't love working there but when you come out of that org you know how to produce and how to stay on budget or under.

WotC has nothing on that level. What they should have is a deep understanding of their fans but clearly they don't have that
 
Baulderstone said:
This probably isn't for me, but I though this was newsworthy enough to pass on. Hasbro is doing a 24-hour, advertising-supported D&D channel. No word on where it is going to be available yet.
variety.com

Dungeons & Dragons Free 24-Hour Streaming Channel Set to Launch This Summer (EXCLUSIVE)

A dedicated Dungeons & Dragons free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel from Hasbro's eOne is set to debut this summer.
variety.com variety.com
Click to expand...

if it's just a constant replay of episodes of the D&D cartoon...I'm in!
 
Mankcam said:
Mercer and company should even shift their fantasy setting Tal'dori to another system. I'ld want Mythras Classic Fantasy, but Fantasy Age or Pathfinder would be a better commercial option.
Click to expand...

They announced they're making their own game - two games actually. A 5e-clone type game and something more like a storygame. They'll be shifting to those.
 
This feels like launching a startup right before the the dotcom burst.

If I had shares in a streaming company I think I'd be be saying "What a toy company is launching a streaming service based on a game? Sell! Sell now!"
 
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