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Ok Bob my man this means we need to go back over One Dnd and discuss its implications so your ready to discuss with Wotc if they keep things that dont have the desired result. Because game devs do that ENTIRELY too much and they need peer review.
It's simple: The "good Stuff" got dowsed in economical Porpose and dealings so they forgot the most important Thing: The love for the Game that comes from People participating. Different People, different Views. The good, the bad, the ugly - all is part of what makes it great. The constant reinventing yourself as well along - with - the Game, the Hobby we all have and love. The Guys working on that Game should be paid - hell, it should be a big Part of their Job Description - for playing it with the Community, GM and stand outside for a Smoke or sit down for a Coke together as one who participate in that Hobby. Every Creator is bound to its Viewers wishes as well as to his own Tastes and Morales - regardless if it is the Common GM creating a Session for his Players, the Streamers or the Creators of the Game itself. As the Autocrat ruling has huge Problems with "understanding his People down in the Streets", some old Greeks came up with a Place where People could meet and discuss Topics regardless of their Stand - the Forum. This has become more and more important and doable with the Internet - so we should use it. And we did - you did. And now they do - because noone can rule if the ones ruled do not want to be ruled. Thus, democracy in a republican style. I love it.
This somehow reminds me of those letters you get wanting you to go somewhere for a "free weekend" stay, then they expect you to sit in a conference room and listen to a timeshare sales pitch the whole weekend.
Bob's first video after the creators' summit: glazed eyes, reading tele text about wonderful WOTC, a thin line of drool - damn, they got to Bob. Those bastards!
The most interesting question I still have is what was the WotC engagement team doing before this crisis management? What were these employees' duties? Just checking twitter?
Like most things I don't blame the average person in that team, they're doing what they're told. But I definitely think management need to be taken to task.
The email was signed by "The D&D Creator Relations Team (formerly the D&D Influencer Team)", so yes, I would guess their job was mainly posting stuff on twitter and such. I'm just wondering if they have a separate "player relations" team or if the team was just named strangely and they still handle that as well.
I don't have any real evidence, but anecdotally, I realized that the only times I've seen creators opening those special merch packages from WotC, it was one video from Ted, and 99% photos from people on Twitter. So yes? I just don't think they took UA-cam very seriously until all the OGL backlash.
@@parsath_2584 No, there are countless times people "Were just doing their jobs" I used to work for Rent-A-Center making good money, I quit because I knew it was a predatory company.
@@BobWorldBuilder bingo. That's 100% true. It's not just this company, but many others don't consider youtubers as a serious source of customer consensus or at least as a morale sample.
Funny--they didn't invite me for some reason. Checking me email...nope. But I'm glad you got one and I'm looking forward to hearing how it all turns out. Go Bob!
If you do any “work” while you’re out there, just gather the facts and promises. I wouldn’t do any analysis and hot-takes until I had time to meditate on what I experienced. My guess is that there will be a ton of people who attend events during the day, then spend their nights writing articles for their respective publications to be the first ones to share the hot gossip. That ain’t your brand; you give the rock solid, no-frills analysis. Which we love. Plus, hopefully chilling and calmly taking notes allows you to enjoy the event as a person, not as a “river to your people.”
This. Just go and be you. Let it wash over you and process it your own way. That's what I love about you. You don't pander. Just go and have fun. At the end of the day, we all have to decide which path to take on our own. Helps to have friends and adventures to talk about which path to take, but we still have to ultimately make that decision for ourselves. Go. Be Bob. 🌻
just bc you go on a date w/ someone & they buy you food & drinks doesn't mean you're obligated to "put out"...I'd say by all means go, have fun, enjoy yourself...it's on their dime after all
The good thing about this is, even if the event itself turns out to be only for damage control and a OneDnD advertisement show, you still get to meet the people who also go there. Very happy for you, to get that opportunity and I can't wait to hear what this was about and who you got to meet. I don't think you have to record if it doesn't fit the set up and mood. I'm also happy to just hear about what happened.
Yeah I'm definitely excited to meet other creators and the designers in person! And you're right that how much I record will probably just depend on the vibe, but I certainly plan to share something about what all goes down
@@BobWorldBuilder Err on the side of recording. It's much easier to use editorial discretion after the fact than it is to go back and get a recording of something you missed.
@@BobWorldBuilder You could just go in with the mindset of taking pictures. That's something you could add to a video after the fact if you decide to, or just keep for yourself without feeling like it's going to waste. With video you may feel a bit more obligated to the idea that it's definitely going to be making its way to your UA-cam when you get home. You'll likely want keepsakes of your first convention, but really probably best not to go into it trying to be a reporter. Others will undoubtedly be doing the recording thing already, unless the group that got invited turns out to be disappointingly small, while your main focus should by all accounts just be to try enjoying yourself and get acquainted with what this kind of gathering feels like for you.
That's cool, Bob! It's good to hear that WOTC is finally showing interest in the community, though, as you alluded to, the circumstances imply ulterior motives. You'll have to fill me in on what happened... Shockingly, I was not invited. LOL
@@BobWorldBuilder No, its a perfect opportunity to test how many "potions" a rogue feasably can steal and carry without it being noticed. Stick to your brand XD
Dude, it's perfectly ok to feel honored and excited about being chosen to go. You've had a love for this game for a long time, and that love isn't going to just go away because some asshats at the top of the organization did the community dirty. This is a chance to meet some of the people that helped bring the game to life over the years. It's also the chance to get more exclusive content for your channel, to expand your channel's network by meeting and bonding with other creators, and a chance to have some fun. And it's free. You'd be pretty silly to say no. It's just smart business to go if nothing else. Is it an attempt to win you over to their side so they have some cheerleaders in the community again? OF COURSE. But you know that already, so going forward you're able to keep a level head about it. Be excited, man. This is amazing for you. A lot of opportunities could come from this. Hell, I'm excited for you! Have fun. Can't wait to hear how it went.
I would say go and enjoy it as our DM. Don't worry about recording much. We'll look forward to your thoughts on the whole thing. Yes, they did some very bad things, and I don't know if I will ever buy another book from WoTC, but if this is an honest attempt to make things better then, I would like to hear your oppinion and hear about your experience at the conference. Have fun.
Thank you! Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
@@BobWorldBuilder ask them if they are making dnd pubic property? That is the only way I will ever forgive them. When they can no longer try and steal using dnd. Until the all money and advertising for them needs to stop.
@@daltigoth3970 no no no. I mean dnd. Not the ogl or srd or anything like that. I mean ownership of dnd needs to be relinquished by wotc. They do not deserve to have control of anything after what they did. They spit on Gary G’s grave and don’t deserve to have control of dnd anymore. Is that more clear?
@@LundunDansqua Wow...most of my reply just disappeared. Edit with a general rewrite below Gary G was opposed to the OGL. He was very much a control freak, and part of the reason why TSR went under was because of how litigious they were with people publishing unauthorized D&D content. WotC saved D&D from oblivion, and the OGL, which was THEIR idea, is part of what helped that happen. But you go ahead and be mad about it anyways.
Record only what you want to. Otherwise, I'm just excited that you have this opportunity! I would absolutely just experience it as much as you can as just a person, and not a creator, and only record if you feel like it is something that YOU would want to record. That being said, I hope you tell us all about your side quest once its done!
This happens in the video game industry all the time. They fly out a bunch of UA-camrs and put em up in nice hotels while they give them exclusive first look access to content to show on their channels. It tends to build up a "community" who are too afraid to lose that exclusive status by being critical or negative and afraid to lose views from the new subscribers the exclusive content gains them.
My secret is that I'm making ends meet without the special treatment lol, they'll get the critiques they earn. At the very least this is a incredible gesture!
I don't doubt that's at least part of their end goal. I don't think they'll be as successful as the big video game corporations are because tabletop gamin is entirely about community while video games are a largely solitary experience.
YAY! Bob, you work so hard to deliver us wholesome content! you totally deserve the meet and I hope you have a say, cause what you bring to the community, is fairness, balance and kindness! thank you and I hope you enjoy it!
Hey Bob! Relativively new to the channel (within the last year). I'm a long time D&D player and occasional DM and I've really enjoyed seeing your content. I was shocked to learn you hadn't been to a Con. I have great memories of volunteering for WotC at local PAX events when they were more normal. I'm VERY glad to see you were invited to the Summit (so jealous) and even more delighted that you have decided to go! I think you are about to have an experience of a lifetime. I'm fortunate to live in the area and have many great memories of working along side WotC even if it was only as a volunteer. I have been to the WotC offices and I can tell you its a mix of electricity and mundane awkwardness. It's offices. But offices of cool stuff and very cool people. I truly hope you have the best expereince possible! Looking forward to hearing about any bit of the adventure you wish to share! And thanks for Building!!
Make sure you keep the narrative about holding WotC to account. It would be too easy for them to simply sway a lot of influencers via merch and being "in the cool club" and end up being WotC mouthpieces. It's still cool, for sure, it's worth exploring. Maybe the core ember of WotC is still buring and management have had their knuckles rapped. Stranger things have happened.
Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
Congrats Bob! This sounds like a really unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain at WotC. And for all that they may try to "pull over on you" (I don't really think that's the plan) you also have a voice at the table and are part of the community that can share back to them IN PERSON EVEN what's important to regular players. It's a two-way street! Best of luck and safe travels!
If nothing else, hopefully this gives content creators the opportunity to ask the design team directly what their exact goals are for OneDnD and how they think the changes fit those goals. The community is starving for transparency.
At this point I think it's a mix of two things: wanting to rebalance some things from 5e and wanting to make it work easily for the VTT. It would be cool to hear them acknowledge the latter, but who knows?
@@BobWorldBuilder I hope you get the chance to ask the design team what their design goals are for the new version and whether they were given specific objectives based on player feedback from 5E or if they were handed down to them from WotC executives. My guess is probably a mix of both. You're probably right about the VTT being a central consideration with the new rules, but I would be interested to know what their specific objectives are for improving on 5th Ed.
It seems to me that any rule change that would benefit a VTT would be normalizing things and reducing edge cases or strange interactions between individual features. I would expect those types of changes to help in person players by reducing ambiguities and tough calls a DM has to make that might not feel very satisfactory.
You have to take this opportunity. Don't worry about filming unless there is something you are really excited to show and talk about. Enjoy this experience that few get and I'm sure you'll have a lot of good insights for us later.
Good choice! If there's any way to confirm with WOTC that the offer isn't a phish, go for it and put your mind at ease. And try not to mind the comment section - clearly you're level-headed and know a PR scheme when you see one. Your updates have always been fair and measured. I hope you get to meet some cool people at the summit! :) I've known folks who have been to several other summit opportunities - they can be really fun!
Congratulations Bob dude man! You should obviously absolutely go, and have a damn great time. This is obviously them doing what they can to make things better and gain trust and all that .... But honestly.... That's what we want them to do is it not? Haters are going to continue to hate but so far.. the d&d team at WotC is actually on the right track now imo. Good for them, and good for you!
I love this take. You're toally right that I should want them to be nice and make offers like this. I just never even imagined this as a possibility xD lol
Corporations are legally obligated to maximize profit for their shareholders, and WotC is owned by shareholders. They will 'be on the right track' for precisely as long as it takes to get back to the position they were in a few months back. This isn't even meant as a cynical take, it's just the law. If we love the community, we should be supporting creators directly instead of padding out Hasbro's ledger.
Definitely go! If you/we want a relationship with WotC, then we'll have to walk through the doors when WotC offers them. If you get a weird feeling while there, then the olive branch may be poisoned, but for now...have fun and enjoy the ride!
Yep, I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
Congrats Bob! You totally deserve some vip treatment. Hopefully this is an olive branch and a sign of a shifting attitude in the company. It would be great to see more interaction with the community. And quite frankly, you are exactly the sort of person who I would want to represent me at such an event. I appreciated the way you were able to ask the hard questions and push for anwser in your interview with Kyle without being rude or sensational. And even if this turns out to be an elaborate bribe to get you into their pocket, I hope you have a good time and enjoy yourself.
Thank you! Yeah, I'm looking at this as pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
I hope you go and have a great time. WotC seems to have a hard time for things not to seem corporate-ee so I suspect this might not be as fun as it seems but this is another moment to see if their actions matches their words. They want to build trust, this is a start. If they just milk this group for ideas for the cost of travel expenses to Washington, it might not seem such a good gesture a year from now.
I think it is cool that there are no strings attached, no NDA, no marketing stunts, and they pay the trip/costs. Like you said, the designers are cool and I respect them, so...
Even if this is WotC doing damage control and they are trying to get 3rd party content creators / influencers back into the pro-D&D fold, I would certainly go if I were you. This is how all companies do business if their brand has been tarnished and sales are slipping. You have been buying their products and promoting their game for years, its okay to take some of their money for a change and let them treat you right after all you've done for them.
Machiavelli looked up from his document: "The revolution succeeded, and the tyrants promised betterment. Their first move was to take back the laws that would've impoverished the people, and everybody cheered. The next step however was to win the nobility back. The same nobility that, in such an unpredictable fashion, had itself aligned with mob" - Note from me: Wizzos are probably just really sorry and they're trying to fix things! :--)
Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
@@LyonHart1313 You don't seem to have much corporate experience if that is what you think. Corporations aren't your friends. They answer to the stock market (in this case). If WotC had never been called out on the OGL debacle they would not be doing any of this. If it wasn't an impact to profits they wouldn't be doing this. Hating to hate would be me replying in kind to your uncalled for reply.
@@ScottBaker_ On the contrary, I work for a very large corporation and understand them very well. As entities, they are pretty horrible. But the creative team at WotC is composed of great people.
That's really cool. Don't fret about making it a full video-blog-journey, just have fun, accept the olive branch, and try to absorb/process the feeling of whatever WotC are intending here. At the very least, even if they're just blowing smoke, you get a free trip and will get to meet some cool people. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
As someone who really misses going to conventions, this seems like such a cool opportunity. I totally get the mixed feelings and hesitation given recent events, but as someone who would kill for an opportunity like this, I'm glad you're getting the chance to go. I know my own D&D groups have invested a lot into 5e, and we'll be following it all pretty closely as we look ahead to what's next, so I'm excited to see your takes on the stuff they're going to show. Enjoy it as a fan, for sure, but if there's something you feel like is a really cool opportunity to capture video of something neat at Wizards HQ or that they're showing, I wouldn't say no to that either. My vote is a mix of both!
You are a principled person. I saw your interview with Kyle and thought it was both insightful and even pointed. You are exactly the kind of person who should be on hand to provide the input and oversight that we all wish we could. Speak for us. You will do a good job.
I would go too, if I were invited. Regardless of whether people feel like it may be an attempt to make you shill for WotC or not. It’s always good to get a peek behind the curtain and then, hopefully, share what you saw. 👍
Damn, I knew I should have made a worldbuilding channel! 🤣 That's awesome Bob! I say there is no harm in going as long as they don't try to go back on the agreements they made in the email once you're actually there.
Congrats on the invitation! If you do wind up going, have a good time! To answer your question, I don't have any strong preference on if you record the event or just experience it for yourself, then tell us about it later. It's YOUR experience, so you should enjoy it how you want to first and foremost!
That is super exciting!! As for recording, I'd say do what you feel. I'd be more than happy to just get your thoughts afterwards maybe with just a couple of snippits from while you were there (or even none - you having the experience is more important IMO)
Thanks for your positivity! And the approach you described is definitely what I'm leaning towards right now. Maybe get a couple clips while I'm there, but take the time afterward to think about it before I post anything
Keep building! This is awesome news, Bob. Congrats! Whatever you feel inside, make sure you ENJOY this opportunity. Many of us, still with a bad taste or not, would love to have this ❤
A lot of people have been asking how wotc will rebuild community trust - this seems like an attempt in that direction. It feels to me like some folks are assuming bad faith of wotc now, and while I understand that impulse, when all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail right? You can keep in mind what has happened while still being optimistic or open to building something new. You've had a really down to earth perspective through all of this Bob, and I am glad to see your openness here. Keep being a solid community leader
Bob, take the wine and dining experience. That will be awesome. I would also be so excited. Take it for what it is - an opporunity to meet and network with some amazing content creators. Can't wait to see your followup video after the conference. It's like going into Charlie's Chocolate Factory. You have a golden ticket mate. Enjoy it!
I have your dice set and they are dope :) I would like for you to video a small bit of your trip. It would be just plain neat to see their HQ and get a read on generally how WoTC presented themselves during the summit. But I think one of the things that you do best as a voice in the ttrpg world is providing your thoughtful and measured opinions and reflections, so certainly keep that element. Great work as always Bob!
“When dealing with a snarling animal (money craving hasbro-wotc) it is unwise to think the thing a friend and offer your hand. . .,” attributed to Cicero. “Two people of the same business seldom meet that the conversation does not end with a conspiracy against the pubic.” Adam Smith.
Only after great pushback do businesses start listening to what the community says they should try. I imagine after the OGL crisis, they decided to just ask: "ok, what exactly do the people want us to do to get a semblance of trust back?" And actually are trying that.
I am cautiously optimistic about the future of D&D now that they have had their “wake-up call”. They screwed up big time, and the community punished them for it. I think rewarding their steps in the right direction will be a positive thing for encouraging a better future of D&D. Again, I see steps like this with cautious optimism. I hope they are taking these steps in an effort to make a better future for them and this community. If they betray the trust of the community again, they know what will happen. I think as members of the ttrpg community, it is in our best interest to encourage them to make positive changes and keep them accountable for negative actions.
Don't be if you look at all the interviews he said the same thing the company has been saying for the whole time and the Corporate pressures are still the same. They want everyone on the VTT spending money on microtransactions.
Until there are different people in charge, their plans won't change. The lesson they learned was "push softly and slowly, they balked when we pushed hard."
Holy change in policy Batman! That is one heck of a 180º. I'm glad to have you there as you're very level-headed about this situation. Neither a hater not a cheerleader, but like me someone who takes a step back and analyses. Looking forward to your report
They are looking for popular shills to mouthpiece their content and get people to go along with it. The moment the shilling starts, the unsubs also start.
I think you're the perfect person for them to work with to repair the public image and regain trust in the community You're an honest wholesome dude with a great channel and a positive attitude
I met Chris Perkins at the huge party/dinner for the release of 5e at GenCon in 2014. He was awesome. The presence of WoTC was big at the convention. I remember getting a complimentary Monster Manula signed by all the creative team. I would love if WoTC had a bigger presence at conventions!
I remember watching your videos on the dragon of icespire peak, years ago when I first started to DM as that campaign was my first to run. You had less than 10k subs back then but I could tell you were going to go far on this medium. Love watching you grow and love your videos Bob!!!
I'm super excited for you! I really hope it's legit, and you'll have a great time. I would love it if you took some video of your experience, be it on the flight there, the hotel room, the food, and, of course, what you see in the WOTC building. Good luck!
I just love how infectious your positivity is. You are the kind of guy who I would want to tell me that everything will be alright when things aren't too great. You are inspiring me to just be more positive and hopeful. Thanks Bob!
I am super happy for you dude! I would totally go as well. Is this damage control in some way? Absolutely! What else are they gonna do though? This is how diplomacy works in the end. They messed up. They apologized. Now they are attempting to move ahead while keeping in mind what will happen if they cross the line again. Honestly? I WANT to see them come out of this wiser and with a better respect for the community. I want the next DnD to be good and popular. That kind of healthy competition is what makes the TTRPG scene so cool! Good luck Bob, and keep us posted!
Definitely don’t record anything and just live in the moment, this is such a cool opportunity for you and you should enjoy it exactly how you want to. Good job bob!
What a fabulous opportunity, Bob. I had been waiting to see if you would weigh in on the latest One D&D playtest package as I have always appreciated your take on the releases as you are less ... histrionic than some other commentators. Hey what's the worst that can happen you get to go meet some cool people, get entertained at WotC/Hasbro's expense, perhaps be asked to sign an NDA. But on the other hand they might not ask that, almost certainly not given that they have probably asked a number of folks who would be somewhat critical of such a move. Think of it as a bit of a Hobby Holiday, offers like this are once in a lifetime things, so pleased that you are going and really look forward to hearing your tales of a trip cross country and who you got to meet and what you learned ... and I'm a little bit jealous. BTW please look at the new playtest package, not least so that you are fully armed with the latest released information and can ask questions of the design team directly.
I've never had anyone hype up an email this much before but I have to say it was a pretty hype email. Regarding attending the summit, I'd recommend just going and trying to enjoy it the most without worrying about recording stuff. If something important or interesting happens you'll remember it and can tell us about it later anyway.
I knew you were gonna say it was Justice Arman. Any interaction I've had with him on twitter he's just been the nicest, most supportive guy. Really glad he's on a great path.
Congrats Bob! You deserve to reap the benefits of your hard work and you've obviously caught the eye of WotC as being a creator who is objective, but fair in your assessments. If you get the chance to shoot some video to share with us lowly peons, that would be great. Even better if they'll spring for a +1 - you can get Grace to be your cameraperson.
You should definitely go and enjoy the moment with other creators and the designers that really care about the game. Of course we'd love your perspective on the event since you fill a niche spot in the community with your optimism and openness to all sorts of game mechanics and systems. (I guess neutral good ranger is an adequate description.) That being said WotC is definitely still in crisis response mode and your guard should be up as they will want all who attend to be influenced to going back to promoting D&D again. I hope this is a real olive branch and not just a marketing stunt to get good will. Hopefully they truly are wanting to turn a corner and are inviting Dnd Shorts and Linda Codega and aren't stonewalling them as retribution for breaking the news back in January. Overall I'm so glad you are being recognized as part of this community of content creators. You are definitely my favorite TTRPG content creator right now! Maybe we could get some live play at some point?!
I really appreciate this comment and I agree about DnD Shorts and Linda. Wouldn't be surprised if they're keeping it to US-based folks though, and Linda is certainly more of a journalist than a "content creator" so we'll see. PS: I will be in a pre-recorded DCC one shot on Jorphdan's Jocular Junction in a couple weeks!
Congrats, Bob! Definitely take the opportunity. Enjoy the experience, and share what you feel is worth sharing. You always have an even approach to content you find and share, so I think your audience trusts you, and WotC has a lot of ground to make up in that arena; so I think you are a great emissary for our community. Take care, enjoy, and thanks for doing what you do. You’ve earned the trip.
That's super dope that you got invited, and it really is a once in a life time thing! I am glad though that your taking it with some grains of salt. Clearly it's a way for watC to build back relations, but my initial fear was they were trying to buy back all of the D&D creators, leaving this new rise of 3rd party ttrpg trying headless.
5:00 What you state about 5e and one dnd is exactly how I feel! I like 5e, will probably play campaings in 5e again in the future, but I'm way more excited right now to try other things (Shadowdark, Dragonbane, DCC, OSE), and keeping up with one dnd just feels like doing work, I don't care to do unpaid work for wotc. I can't be bothered looking into drafts. I'm sure 6e will be fine, but I'm probably more likely to buy 5e content (wotc or 3rd party) if I'm playing dnd in the future. Oh and edit: great video as always. You are very honest and true about how you feel about this whole thing, and you emotions (positive, conflicting an negative) are shared by a lot of people, at least by me haha
It clearly has been triggered by the PR nightmare they started, but they finally demonstrated some goodwill by using Creative Commons and restarting summits and conventions is another step in the right direction. It feels that they finally understand that there is a community to engage with and that they must be part of it, not "own it". Hopefully whoever got the idea that throwing away the OGL and asking royalties will be sidelined.
The shareholders do not care about the community, and they are the boss. Give the company a profit incentive to do all this again and they will be *legally obligated to do so*, only they'll try harder to hide it.
While I agree this is damage control, it does feel like a step in the right direction. At this point, they *should* be doing damage control - they have to be! Regardless, they’ve been asked to engage more with the creator community- and this seems to indicate they are. That’s a win.
@@hunterdaboll2994 they will take as many steps in the right direction as they need until we forget the wrong steps they took, just so that they can see if they can sneak that way again in the future. There's nothing morally 'right' about this company, or most companies. They follow the trail of green.
I think it's great that you're among the people invited. I think you absolutely should go! But I also think you need to keep it firmly in mind that they are courting you for reasons and those reasons are NOT altruistic. Eat their food, listen to their schpiel, enjoy yourself, and don't let it fool you.
That's great, I hope you have fun. One thing I wish they will do is allow 3rd party content into their new VTT. I can't wait to hear you report back. And as a Puget Sound native, bring rain gear.
I'd definitely say to get some footage if allowed. By no means should you make it all about getting stuff for your channel, but if you're allowed to get some in-action footage of their VTT to show people and explain how they see it working vs how you personally feel it would work I think you should. And naturally some pics with the creator team for yourself. It's fine for you to feel honored about going and to enjoy yourseld, Bob. You've earned it, so enjoy it.
I feel like a lot of lessons about dealing with little kids can also apply universally: like sure, maybe something only happened as an apology for bad behavior, and wouldn't have happened without that bad behavior, but an honest effort to move forward and be better is still worthwhile. After a while, being endlessly skeptical about motives just keeps you sad and prevents positive overtures and healing. So enjoy their olive branch! Hopefully it's the first of many that they'll extend to the community.
Bob, you seem like a good guy. And you have a great channel full of incredibly helpful content. You are entitled to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I hope you have a blast.
This is just insane. It's insane that a company would humble its consumers. It's rare to see this. It was rare to see a consumer base up and leave, as well.
Congratulations! You deserve the invitation, and you should go and have fun. Enjoy the event for the rest of us and bring back cool news! If you see Matt Colville, James Introcaso, etc, get an autograph :)
Go. They should have been doing this the last few years already. For them to become the company they want to seem, they have to be asking their community leaders, what they can do for them to better serve their communities, then give everything and more. This is how you grow the hobby and build your brand.
This feels like an abusive husband apologizing and being super kind after a big punch, I understand the mixed feelings! But still, it's a great opportunity to meet with like minded good people amongst creators and perhaps employees. I'm happy you took the chance and I'll be very interested to see the upcoming video about it!!
Bob you are the best! I am so happy for you! Wotc has not been great, but as a fellow DM and world builder (thanks to you) meeting the creative team would be amazing for the game we have played. I would say enjoy the moment, don't film anything and just be present. Through all this BS you have been the only person I have respect due to your kindness and your promotion of imagination. Thank you for all you do,and thank you for being a part of my life.
I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be gun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
@@BobWorldBuilder I'm not saying it's impossible they're sincere about it and it is a very nice step forward, but it does smell a bit fishy, doesn't it?
I’m excited for you! You’ve built your name to earn special recognition, and you have support because your integrity and transparency is acknowledged as reliable. Yes, be wined and dined, and we expect that it won’t muddle your sincere impression from the info they’ll show you there. Have a safe trip!
Oooo, exciting! Honestly, I don't think most of us care whether you film everything or nothing. Personally, I'm here because I like your down-to-earth, honest approach to ttrpgs and this whole D&D drama thing. If the logistics of filming is too much, just focus on the info. Have fun with it! That's what RPGs should be about, right? 😊
Ooof this is the take I needed to hear! "more fun" is the motto of my channel, and that definitely needs to be my approach with this as well. Thank you!
I would say that you have earned this simply because, unlike some other creators, you made videos that were critical of the OGL changes without being mean or disrespectful. I think that upped your credibility with those in the community and with WOTC.
I would be shocked if all of this wining and dining and kissing up to the community wasnt eventually followed up by another plot of evil mustache twirling. That being said, might as well enjoy the wine while it lasts.
Now we know why they were so dicey when you asked them what they were doing to "regain the trust of the community." They really wanted to talk about this, but couldn't yet.
What a shame this invite didn't happen BEFORE the OGL drama! This would have been such a huge buffer of good will among content creators, and talking with these folks may have given WOTC a heads up to avoid trying to do what they did.
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In regards to 7:05 - 7:22.
Bob, just grab the experience. Be there for yourself. Do photos only if you fell like it. Have fun, you deserve it :)
Wednesday is always a great day to start the week. If recorded is legacy footage.
.
Ok Bob my man this means we need to go back over One Dnd and discuss its implications so your ready to discuss with Wotc if they keep things that dont have the desired result. Because game devs do that ENTIRELY too much and they need peer review.
It's simple: The "good Stuff" got dowsed in economical Porpose and dealings so they forgot the most important Thing: The love for the Game that comes from People participating.
Different People, different Views. The good, the bad, the ugly - all is part of what makes it great.
The constant reinventing yourself as well along - with - the Game, the Hobby we all have and love.
The Guys working on that Game should be paid - hell, it should be a big Part of their Job Description - for playing it with the Community, GM and stand outside for a Smoke or sit down for a Coke together as one who participate in that Hobby.
Every Creator is bound to its Viewers wishes as well as to his own Tastes and Morales - regardless if it is the Common GM creating a Session for his Players, the Streamers or the Creators of the Game itself.
As the Autocrat ruling has huge Problems with "understanding his People down in the Streets", some old Greeks came up with a Place where People could meet and discuss Topics regardless of their Stand - the Forum.
This has become more and more important and doable with the Internet - so we should use it.
And we did - you did.
And now they do - because noone can rule if the ones ruled do not want to be ruled.
Thus, democracy in a republican style.
I love it.
0
This somehow reminds me of those letters you get wanting you to go somewhere for a "free weekend" stay, then they expect you to sit in a conference room and listen to a timeshare sales pitch the whole weekend.
A version yeah, definitely
No itinerary/agenda yet, so I'm still wondering if we are gonna just sit through powerpoints about One D&D :P
@@BobWorldBuilder that would be cool lmaooo
I'd enjoy it if you recorded some bits, but more so, I'd just enjoy hearing you talk about your experience.
TBH, a RPG Timeshare sounds intriguing.... ;)
Bob's first video after the creators' summit: glazed eyes, reading tele text about wonderful WOTC, a thin line of drool - damn, they got to Bob. Those bastards!
Now that would make a good YT short
with a visible fresh scar across his forehead, and a guy in a suit just partially in shot.
Mind Flayers!
Got those old cartoon spirals in the eyes 🌀
blinking SOS in morse code
The most interesting question I still have is what was the WotC engagement team doing before this crisis management? What were these employees' duties? Just checking twitter?
Like most things I don't blame the average person in that team, they're doing what they're told.
But I definitely think management need to be taken to task.
The email was signed by "The D&D Creator Relations Team (formerly the D&D Influencer Team)", so yes, I would guess their job was mainly posting stuff on twitter and such. I'm just wondering if they have a separate "player relations" team or if the team was just named strangely and they still handle that as well.
I don't have any real evidence, but anecdotally, I realized that the only times I've seen creators opening those special merch packages from WotC, it was one video from Ted, and 99% photos from people on Twitter. So yes? I just don't think they took UA-cam very seriously until all the OGL backlash.
@@parsath_2584 No, there are countless times people "Were just doing their jobs" I used to work for Rent-A-Center making good money, I quit because I knew it was a predatory company.
@@BobWorldBuilder bingo. That's 100% true. It's not just this company, but many others don't consider youtubers as a serious source of customer consensus or at least as a morale sample.
Funny--they didn't invite me for some reason. Checking me email...nope. But I'm glad you got one and I'm looking forward to hearing how it all turns out. Go Bob!
I guess they don't think they will be able play you like a fiddle :).
If you do any “work” while you’re out there, just gather the facts and promises. I wouldn’t do any analysis and hot-takes until I had time to meditate on what I experienced.
My guess is that there will be a ton of people who attend events during the day, then spend their nights writing articles for their respective publications to be the first ones to share the hot gossip. That ain’t your brand; you give the rock solid, no-frills analysis. Which we love.
Plus, hopefully chilling and calmly taking notes allows you to enjoy the event as a person, not as a “river to your people.”
Totally, while I may do a bit of recording, I don't want to do any posting until I get home and had more time to digest it
This.
Just go and be you.
Let it wash over you and process it your own way.
That's what I love about you.
You don't pander.
Just go and have fun.
At the end of the day, we all have to decide which path to take on our own.
Helps to have friends and adventures to talk about which path to take, but we still have to ultimately make that decision for ourselves.
Go. Be Bob.
🌻
This, entirely. Well said.
@@BobWorldBuilder do you think they’ll even allow recording?
“I’m willing to be wined and dined guys.” 😂 We all deserve a little of this. I literally laughed out loud at this. Love the honesty.
just bc you go on a date w/ someone & they buy you food & drinks doesn't mean you're obligated to "put out"...I'd say by all means go, have fun, enjoy yourself...it's on their dime after all
The good thing about this is, even if the event itself turns out to be only for damage control and a OneDnD advertisement show, you still get to meet the people who also go there. Very happy for you, to get that opportunity and I can't wait to hear what this was about and who you got to meet.
I don't think you have to record if it doesn't fit the set up and mood. I'm also happy to just hear about what happened.
Yeah I'm definitely excited to meet other creators and the designers in person! And you're right that how much I record will probably just depend on the vibe, but I certainly plan to share something about what all goes down
@@BobWorldBuilder
Err on the side of recording. It's much easier to use editorial discretion after the fact than it is to go back and get a recording of something you missed.
@@steamer2k319 yeah specially because some valuable moments and comments spontaneously happen when you don't expect them to.
@@BobWorldBuilder You could just go in with the mindset of taking pictures. That's something you could add to a video after the fact if you decide to, or just keep for yourself without feeling like it's going to waste. With video you may feel a bit more obligated to the idea that it's definitely going to be making its way to your UA-cam when you get home. You'll likely want keepsakes of your first convention, but really probably best not to go into it trying to be a reporter.
Others will undoubtedly be doing the recording thing already, unless the group that got invited turns out to be disappointingly small, while your main focus should by all accounts just be to try enjoying yourself and get acquainted with what this kind of gathering feels like for you.
That's cool, Bob! It's good to hear that WOTC is finally showing interest in the community, though, as you alluded to, the circumstances imply ulterior motives. You'll have to fill me in on what happened... Shockingly, I was not invited. LOL
They are gunning for a content creator feud (shills vs. Sour grapes) leaving Treantmonk, colby d4 and you out (maybe you have been tainted by PF2 😉).
Be sure to raid the hotel minibar, Bob!
It's a work trip!!!
@@BobWorldBuilder Ah, Tax write-offs. Good call!
@@BobWorldBuilder No, its a perfect opportunity to test how many "potions" a rogue feasably can steal and carry without it being noticed. Stick to your brand XD
Dude, it's perfectly ok to feel honored and excited about being chosen to go. You've had a love for this game for a long time, and that love isn't going to just go away because some asshats at the top of the organization did the community dirty. This is a chance to meet some of the people that helped bring the game to life over the years. It's also the chance to get more exclusive content for your channel, to expand your channel's network by meeting and bonding with other creators, and a chance to have some fun. And it's free. You'd be pretty silly to say no. It's just smart business to go if nothing else. Is it an attempt to win you over to their side so they have some cheerleaders in the community again? OF COURSE. But you know that already, so going forward you're able to keep a level head about it. Be excited, man. This is amazing for you. A lot of opportunities could come from this. Hell, I'm excited for you! Have fun. Can't wait to hear how it went.
Well said.
100%
Totally this. Go and have fun! Make whatever video you feel inspired to make afterword.
Very well said
Yes very well put. There's no reason not to go, honestly.
I would say go and enjoy it as our DM. Don't worry about recording much. We'll look forward to your thoughts on the whole thing. Yes, they did some very bad things, and I don't know if I will ever buy another book from WoTC, but if this is an honest attempt to make things better then, I would like to hear your oppinion and hear about your experience at the conference. Have fun.
Thank you! Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
@@BobWorldBuilder ask them if they are making dnd pubic property? That is the only way I will ever forgive them. When they can no longer try and steal using dnd. Until the all money and advertising for them needs to stop.
@@LundunDansqua The 5.1 SRD was already released under the creative commons license in January. Its already public property.
@@daltigoth3970 no no no. I mean dnd. Not the ogl or srd or anything like that. I mean ownership of dnd needs to be relinquished by wotc. They do not deserve to have control of anything after what they did. They spit on Gary G’s grave and don’t deserve to have control of dnd anymore. Is that more clear?
@@LundunDansqua Wow...most of my reply just disappeared. Edit with a general rewrite below
Gary G was opposed to the OGL. He was very much a control freak, and part of the reason why TSR went under was because of how litigious they were with people publishing unauthorized D&D content. WotC saved D&D from oblivion, and the OGL, which was THEIR idea, is part of what helped that happen.
But you go ahead and be mad about it anyways.
Record only what you want to. Otherwise, I'm just excited that you have this opportunity! I would absolutely just experience it as much as you can as just a person, and not a creator, and only record if you feel like it is something that YOU would want to record.
That being said, I hope you tell us all about your side quest once its done!
This happens in the video game industry all the time. They fly out a bunch of UA-camrs and put em up in nice hotels while they give them exclusive first look access to content to show on their channels. It tends to build up a "community" who are too afraid to lose that exclusive status by being critical or negative and afraid to lose views from the new subscribers the exclusive content gains them.
Exactly
My secret is that I'm making ends meet without the special treatment lol, they'll get the critiques they earn. At the very least this is a incredible gesture!
I don't doubt that's at least part of their end goal. I don't think they'll be as successful as the big video game corporations are because tabletop gamin is entirely about community while video games are a largely solitary experience.
+
It's not just video games. It's cars, motorcycles, boats, guns, basically anything that relies on "reviewers" and critics to push their wares.
While you're in the Seattle area you MUST go the to Museum Pop Culture. Trust me, you'll love it.
YAY! Bob, you work so hard to deliver us wholesome content! you totally deserve the meet and I hope you have a say, cause what you bring to the community, is fairness, balance and kindness! thank you and I hope you enjoy it!
I really appreciate your enthusiasm! :)
Hey Bob!
Relativively new to the channel (within the last year). I'm a long time D&D player and occasional DM and I've really enjoyed seeing your content. I was shocked to learn you hadn't been to a Con. I have great memories of volunteering for WotC at local PAX events when they were more normal. I'm VERY glad to see you were invited to the Summit (so jealous) and even more delighted that you have decided to go! I think you are about to have an experience of a lifetime. I'm fortunate to live in the area and have many great memories of working along side WotC even if it was only as a volunteer.
I have been to the WotC offices and I can tell you its a mix of electricity and mundane awkwardness. It's offices. But offices of cool stuff and very cool people.
I truly hope you have the best expereince possible! Looking forward to hearing about any bit of the adventure you wish to share!
And thanks for Building!!
Make sure you keep the narrative about holding WotC to account. It would be too easy for them to simply sway a lot of influencers via merch and being "in the cool club" and end up being WotC mouthpieces. It's still cool, for sure, it's worth exploring. Maybe the core ember of WotC is still buring and management have had their knuckles rapped. Stranger things have happened.
Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
Congrats Bob! This sounds like a really unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain at WotC. And for all that they may try to "pull over on you" (I don't really think that's the plan) you also have a voice at the table and are part of the community that can share back to them IN PERSON EVEN what's important to regular players. It's a two-way street!
Best of luck and safe travels!
If nothing else, hopefully this gives content creators the opportunity to ask the design team directly what their exact goals are for OneDnD and how they think the changes fit those goals. The community is starving for transparency.
Just chuck it away, from what I've seen one is for none.. Just garbage honestly
At this point I think it's a mix of two things: wanting to rebalance some things from 5e and wanting to make it work easily for the VTT. It would be cool to hear them acknowledge the latter, but who knows?
@@BobWorldBuilder I hope you get the chance to ask the design team what their design goals are for the new version and whether they were given specific objectives based on player feedback from 5E or if they were handed down to them from WotC executives. My guess is probably a mix of both. You're probably right about the VTT being a central consideration with the new rules, but I would be interested to know what their specific objectives are for improving on 5th Ed.
It seems to me that any rule change that would benefit a VTT would be normalizing things and reducing edge cases or strange interactions between individual features. I would expect those types of changes to help in person players by reducing ambiguities and tough calls a DM has to make that might not feel very satisfactory.
I'm so excited for you Bob! You deserve this and I just want you to have all the fun you can!
Drunken livestream with Ginny Di and Professor DM. Shoot, I would pay for that. I’ll wine and dine you, Bob.
I mean, I don’t know if you or any of them drink, but it would be quite the conversation.
Lol if they're there too, that would be amazing! xD
Make this happen.
This is the highest priority and the only thing that I request gets filmed.
You have to take this opportunity. Don't worry about filming unless there is something you are really excited to show and talk about. Enjoy this experience that few get and I'm sure you'll have a lot of good insights for us later.
Good choice! If there's any way to confirm with WOTC that the offer isn't a phish, go for it and put your mind at ease. And try not to mind the comment section - clearly you're level-headed and know a PR scheme when you see one. Your updates have always been fair and measured. I hope you get to meet some cool people at the summit! :) I've known folks who have been to several other summit opportunities - they can be really fun!
I really appreciate this comment, even though you say not to mind the comments too much haha
So happy to see this happen for you and the Chanel! Plz film everything!!
Congratulations Bob dude man! You should obviously absolutely go, and have a damn great time. This is obviously them doing what they can to make things better and gain trust and all that .... But honestly.... That's what we want them to do is it not? Haters are going to continue to hate but so far.. the d&d team at WotC is actually on the right track now imo. Good for them, and good for you!
I love this take. You're toally right that I should want them to be nice and make offers like this. I just never even imagined this as a possibility xD lol
Corporations are legally obligated to maximize profit for their shareholders, and WotC is owned by shareholders. They will 'be on the right track' for precisely as long as it takes to get back to the position they were in a few months back. This isn't even meant as a cynical take, it's just the law.
If we love the community, we should be supporting creators directly instead of padding out Hasbro's ledger.
This guy is exactly what WOtC wants and needs right now. That’s not a compliment.
Definitely go! If you/we want a relationship with WotC, then we'll have to walk through the doors when WotC offers them. If you get a weird feeling while there, then the olive branch may be poisoned, but for now...have fun and enjoy the ride!
Yep, I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
“I’m willing to be wined and dined.” Truer words never spoken.
Congrats Bob! You totally deserve some vip treatment. Hopefully this is an olive branch and a sign of a shifting attitude in the company. It would be great to see more interaction with the community. And quite frankly, you are exactly the sort of person who I would want to represent me at such an event. I appreciated the way you were able to ask the hard questions and push for anwser in your interview with Kyle without being rude or sensational. And even if this turns out to be an elaborate bribe to get you into their pocket, I hope you have a good time and enjoy yourself.
Thank you! Yeah, I'm looking at this as pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
I’ll see you there man
I hope you go and have a great time. WotC seems to have a hard time for things not to seem corporate-ee so I suspect this might not be as fun as it seems but this is another moment to see if their actions matches their words. They want to build trust, this is a start. If they just milk this group for ideas for the cost of travel expenses to Washington, it might not seem such a good gesture a year from now.
Yeah I'm just going to make the best of it and hope everything feels genuine
I think it is cool that there are no strings attached, no NDA, no marketing stunts, and they pay the trip/costs. Like you said, the designers are cool and I respect them, so...
Even if this is WotC doing damage control and they are trying to get 3rd party content creators / influencers back into the pro-D&D fold, I would certainly go if I were you. This is how all companies do business if their brand has been tarnished and sales are slipping. You have been buying their products and promoting their game for years, its okay to take some of their money for a change and let them treat you right after all you've done for them.
Congratulations Bob, very happy you’ve been offered this opportunity. I think you’re a good and thoughtful representative for the larger community.
Machiavelli looked up from his document: "The revolution succeeded, and the tyrants promised betterment. Their first move was to take back the laws that would've impoverished the people, and everybody cheered. The next step however was to win the nobility back. The same nobility that, in such an unpredictable fashion, had itself aligned with mob" - Note from me: Wizzos are probably just really sorry and they're trying to fix things! :--)
Yeah I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be fun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
Yeah, they're really sorry they got caught.
@@ScottBaker_ "I am going to hate just because I enjoy hating!" - Scott Baker, March 8, 2023
@@LyonHart1313 You don't seem to have much corporate experience if that is what you think. Corporations aren't your friends. They answer to the stock market (in this case). If WotC had never been called out on the OGL debacle they would not be doing any of this. If it wasn't an impact to profits they wouldn't be doing this.
Hating to hate would be me replying in kind to your uncalled for reply.
@@ScottBaker_ On the contrary, I work for a very large corporation and understand them very well. As entities, they are pretty horrible. But the creative team at WotC is composed of great people.
Come on community! Let’s try and be positive it the efforts that Wizards is putting forward to right the wrongs.
That's really cool.
Don't fret about making it a full video-blog-journey, just have fun, accept the olive branch, and try to absorb/process the feeling of whatever WotC are intending here. At the very least, even if they're just blowing smoke, you get a free trip and will get to meet some cool people.
Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Thanks! I think what you described is pretty much what I'm going to do
"I'm willing to be wined and dined" 1000% enjoy your trip.
As someone who really misses going to conventions, this seems like such a cool opportunity. I totally get the mixed feelings and hesitation given recent events, but as someone who would kill for an opportunity like this, I'm glad you're getting the chance to go. I know my own D&D groups have invested a lot into 5e, and we'll be following it all pretty closely as we look ahead to what's next, so I'm excited to see your takes on the stuff they're going to show. Enjoy it as a fan, for sure, but if there's something you feel like is a really cool opportunity to capture video of something neat at Wizards HQ or that they're showing, I wouldn't say no to that either. My vote is a mix of both!
☝️This!
You are a principled person. I saw your interview with Kyle and thought it was both insightful and even pointed. You are exactly the kind of person who should be on hand to provide the input and oversight that we all wish we could. Speak for us. You will do a good job.
I would go too, if I were invited. Regardless of whether people feel like it may be an attempt to make you shill for WotC or not. It’s always good to get a peek behind the curtain and then, hopefully, share what you saw. 👍
Right?? I know some people are going to say they wouldn't go, but come on, feels like a weird thing to say no to
Damn, I knew I should have made a worldbuilding channel! 🤣 That's awesome Bob! I say there is no harm in going as long as they don't try to go back on the agreements they made in the email once you're actually there.
Congrats on the invitation! If you do wind up going, have a good time! To answer your question, I don't have any strong preference on if you record the event or just experience it for yourself, then tell us about it later. It's YOUR experience, so you should enjoy it how you want to first and foremost!
I really appreciate this take! Thank you!
That's really awesome! I hope it goes really well, and that this is a good step from WotC to really connecting with us as a community on the whole.
That is super exciting!! As for recording, I'd say do what you feel. I'd be more than happy to just get your thoughts afterwards maybe with just a couple of snippits from while you were there (or even none - you having the experience is more important IMO)
Thanks for your positivity! And the approach you described is definitely what I'm leaning towards right now. Maybe get a couple clips while I'm there, but take the time afterward to think about it before I post anything
Keep building! This is awesome news, Bob. Congrats! Whatever you feel inside, make sure you ENJOY this opportunity. Many of us, still with a bad taste or not, would love to have this ❤
A lot of people have been asking how wotc will rebuild community trust - this seems like an attempt in that direction. It feels to me like some folks are assuming bad faith of wotc now, and while I understand that impulse, when all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail right? You can keep in mind what has happened while still being optimistic or open to building something new. You've had a really down to earth perspective through all of this Bob, and I am glad to see your openness here. Keep being a solid community leader
Go for it man! It's an awesome opportunity to meet some great people no matter what happens with wotc & D&D.
Bob, take the wine and dining experience. That will be awesome. I would also be so excited. Take it for what it is - an opporunity to meet and network with some amazing content creators. Can't wait to see your followup video after the conference. It's like going into Charlie's Chocolate Factory. You have a golden ticket mate. Enjoy it!
I have your dice set and they are dope :)
I would like for you to video a small bit of your trip. It would be just plain neat to see their HQ and get a read on generally how WoTC presented themselves during the summit. But I think one of the things that you do best as a voice in the ttrpg world is providing your thoughtful and measured opinions and reflections, so certainly keep that element. Great work as always Bob!
You should totally go and record everything. If they are extending an olive branch we should be gracious enough to accept it.
…but be prepared to use the aforementioned olive branch to defend your life when the mind flayer inevitably shows to eat your brain 😂
“When dealing with a snarling animal (money craving hasbro-wotc) it is unwise to think the thing a friend and offer your hand. . .,” attributed to Cicero.
“Two people of the same business seldom meet that the conversation does not end with a conspiracy against the pubic.” Adam Smith.
Only after great pushback do businesses start listening to what the community says they should try.
I imagine after the OGL crisis, they decided to just ask: "ok, what exactly do the people want us to do to get a semblance of trust back?" And actually are trying that.
I am cautiously optimistic about the future of D&D now that they have had their “wake-up call”. They screwed up big time, and the community punished them for it. I think rewarding their steps in the right direction will be a positive thing for encouraging a better future of D&D. Again, I see steps like this with cautious optimism. I hope they are taking these steps in an effort to make a better future for them and this community. If they betray the trust of the community again, they know what will happen. I think as members of the ttrpg community, it is in our best interest to encourage them to make positive changes and keep them accountable for negative actions.
Don't be if you look at all the interviews he said the same thing the company has been saying for the whole time and the Corporate pressures are still the same. They want everyone on the VTT spending money on microtransactions.
Until there are different people in charge, their plans won't change. The lesson they learned was "push softly and slowly, they balked when we pushed hard."
Holy change in policy Batman! That is one heck of a 180º. I'm glad to have you there as you're very level-headed about this situation. Neither a hater not a cheerleader, but like me someone who takes a step back and analyses. Looking forward to your report
They are looking for popular shills to mouthpiece their content and get people to go along with it. The moment the shilling starts, the unsubs also start.
I think you're the perfect person for them to work with to repair the public image and regain trust in the community You're an honest wholesome dude with a great channel and a positive attitude
I met Chris Perkins at the huge party/dinner for the release of 5e at GenCon in 2014. He was awesome. The presence of WoTC was big at the convention. I remember getting a complimentary Monster Manula signed by all the creative team. I would love if WoTC had a bigger presence at conventions!
Manula is so much better than manual. We should change it
I remember watching your videos on the dragon of icespire peak, years ago when I first started to DM as that campaign was my first to run. You had less than 10k subs back then but I could tell you were going to go far on this medium. Love watching you grow and love your videos Bob!!!
Lets go Bob, go and enjoy it! If they are really trying to redeem themselves, this is going to be great!
Thanks very much!
I'm super excited for you! I really hope it's legit, and you'll have a great time.
I would love it if you took some video of your experience, be it on the flight there, the hotel room, the food, and, of course, what you see in the WOTC building.
Good luck!
I just love how infectious your positivity is. You are the kind of guy who I would want to tell me that everything will be alright when things aren't too great. You are inspiring me to just be more positive and hopeful. Thanks Bob!
I am super happy for you dude! I would totally go as well. Is this damage control in some way? Absolutely! What else are they gonna do though? This is how diplomacy works in the end. They messed up. They apologized. Now they are attempting to move ahead while keeping in mind what will happen if they cross the line again. Honestly? I WANT to see them come out of this wiser and with a better respect for the community. I want the next DnD to be good and popular. That kind of healthy competition is what makes the TTRPG scene so cool! Good luck Bob, and keep us posted!
Definitely don’t record anything and just live in the moment, this is such a cool opportunity for you and you should enjoy it exactly how you want to. Good job bob!
Have fun Bob!
Looking forward to your honest review of what happens.
What a fabulous opportunity, Bob. I had been waiting to see if you would weigh in on the latest One D&D playtest package as I have always appreciated your take on the releases as you are less ... histrionic than some other commentators. Hey what's the worst that can happen you get to go meet some cool people, get entertained at WotC/Hasbro's expense, perhaps be asked to sign an NDA. But on the other hand they might not ask that, almost certainly not given that they have probably asked a number of folks who would be somewhat critical of such a move. Think of it as a bit of a Hobby Holiday, offers like this are once in a lifetime things, so pleased that you are going and really look forward to hearing your tales of a trip cross country and who you got to meet and what you learned ... and I'm a little bit jealous. BTW please look at the new playtest package, not least so that you are fully armed with the latest released information and can ask questions of the design team directly.
Thanks for this comment! Great take on the event, and yeah, I suppose I should check out the new UA before the summit!
I've never had anyone hype up an email this much before but I have to say it was a pretty hype email.
Regarding attending the summit, I'd recommend just going and trying to enjoy it the most without worrying about recording stuff. If something important or interesting happens you'll remember it and can tell us about it later anyway.
I knew you were gonna say it was Justice Arman. Any interaction I've had with him on twitter he's just been the nicest, most supportive guy. Really glad he's on a great path.
Congrats Bob! You deserve to reap the benefits of your hard work and you've obviously caught the eye of WotC as being a creator who is objective, but fair in your assessments.
If you get the chance to shoot some video to share with us lowly peons, that would be great. Even better if they'll spring for a +1 - you can get Grace to be your cameraperson.
this sounds like a company panicking to keep the creators from jumping to other games.
“I’m willing to be wined and dined.”
Me too Bob… Me too.
You should definitely go and enjoy the moment with other creators and the designers that really care about the game. Of course we'd love your perspective on the event since you fill a niche spot in the community with your optimism and openness to all sorts of game mechanics and systems. (I guess neutral good ranger is an adequate description.)
That being said WotC is definitely still in crisis response mode and your guard should be up as they will want all who attend to be influenced to going back to promoting D&D again. I hope this is a real olive branch and not just a marketing stunt to get good will. Hopefully they truly are wanting to turn a corner and are inviting Dnd Shorts and Linda Codega and aren't stonewalling them as retribution for breaking the news back in January.
Overall I'm so glad you are being recognized as part of this community of content creators. You are definitely my favorite TTRPG content creator right now! Maybe we could get some live play at some point?!
I really appreciate this comment and I agree about DnD Shorts and Linda. Wouldn't be surprised if they're keeping it to US-based folks though, and Linda is certainly more of a journalist than a "content creator" so we'll see. PS: I will be in a pre-recorded DCC one shot on Jorphdan's Jocular Junction in a couple weeks!
Congrats, Bob! Definitely take the opportunity. Enjoy the experience, and share what you feel is worth sharing. You always have an even approach to content you find and share, so I think your audience trusts you, and WotC has a lot of ground to make up in that arena; so I think you are a great emissary for our community. Take care, enjoy, and thanks for doing what you do. You’ve earned the trip.
That's super dope that you got invited, and it really is a once in a life time thing! I am glad though that your taking it with some grains of salt. Clearly it's a way for watC to build back relations, but my initial fear was they were trying to buy back all of the D&D creators, leaving this new rise of 3rd party ttrpg trying headless.
Thanks! Yeah that's definitely a big part of why brands do this sort of thing. I have zero plans to revert to exclusively dnd videos though
5:00 What you state about 5e and one dnd is exactly how I feel! I like 5e, will probably play campaings in 5e again in the future, but I'm way more excited right now to try other things (Shadowdark, Dragonbane, DCC, OSE), and keeping up with one dnd just feels like doing work, I don't care to do unpaid work for wotc. I can't be bothered looking into drafts. I'm sure 6e will be fine, but I'm probably more likely to buy 5e content (wotc or 3rd party) if I'm playing dnd in the future.
Oh and edit: great video as always. You are very honest and true about how you feel about this whole thing, and you emotions (positive, conflicting an negative) are shared by a lot of people, at least by me haha
It clearly has been triggered by the PR nightmare they started, but they finally demonstrated some goodwill by using Creative Commons and restarting summits and conventions is another step in the right direction. It feels that they finally understand that there is a community to engage with and that they must be part of it, not "own it". Hopefully whoever got the idea that throwing away the OGL and asking royalties will be sidelined.
Good point.
Yeah, to me (and I'm obviously biased) this feels like another step in a good direction for WotC
The shareholders do not care about the community, and they are the boss. Give the company a profit incentive to do all this again and they will be *legally obligated to do so*, only they'll try harder to hide it.
While I agree this is damage control, it does feel like a step in the right direction.
At this point, they *should* be doing damage control - they have to be! Regardless, they’ve been asked to engage more with the creator community- and this seems to indicate they are. That’s a win.
@@hunterdaboll2994 they will take as many steps in the right direction as they need until we forget the wrong steps they took, just so that they can see if they can sneak that way again in the future.
There's nothing morally 'right' about this company, or most companies. They follow the trail of green.
I think it's great that you're among the people invited. I think you absolutely should go! But I also think you need to keep it firmly in mind that they are courting you for reasons and those reasons are NOT altruistic. Eat their food, listen to their schpiel, enjoy yourself, and don't let it fool you.
That's great, I hope you have fun. One thing I wish they will do is allow 3rd party content into their new VTT. I can't wait to hear you report back. And as a Puget Sound native, bring rain gear.
That's a great question to ask! And I have a pretty good raincoat haha
I'd definitely say to get some footage if allowed. By no means should you make it all about getting stuff for your channel, but if you're allowed to get some in-action footage of their VTT to show people and explain how they see it working vs how you personally feel it would work I think you should. And naturally some pics with the creator team for yourself. It's fine for you to feel honored about going and to enjoy yourseld, Bob. You've earned it, so enjoy it.
Go on, Bob! I hope you have fun over there. Tell us all the details after this event. It's an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are proud of you!
"They are just trying to wine and dine you" Sweet, go get wined and dined.
WOTC planning a TPK!
😬
That's what I was first thinking too
Red Wedding style lol
@@lukejackson3901 Hasbro send their regards...
I feel like a lot of lessons about dealing with little kids can also apply universally: like sure, maybe something only happened as an apology for bad behavior, and wouldn't have happened without that bad behavior, but an honest effort to move forward and be better is still worthwhile.
After a while, being endlessly skeptical about motives just keeps you sad and prevents positive overtures and healing. So enjoy their olive branch! Hopefully it's the first of many that they'll extend to the community.
Bob, you seem like a good guy. And you have a great channel full of incredibly helpful content. You are entitled to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I hope you have a blast.
This is just insane. It's insane that a company would humble its consumers. It's rare to see this. It was rare to see a consumer base up and leave, as well.
Congratulations! You deserve the invitation, and you should go and have fun. Enjoy the event for the rest of us and bring back cool news! If you see Matt Colville, James Introcaso, etc, get an autograph :)
Go. They should have been doing this the last few years already. For them to become the company they want to seem, they have to be asking their community leaders, what they can do for them to better serve their communities, then give everything and more. This is how you grow the hobby and build your brand.
Wow. Getting WOTC messages must be really cool.
Not when they're trying to recruit people to shill for them.
Meh, not really. Blatant damage control.
It's real weird haha
Dude! Absolutely go! Have a great time! Keep your head about you and record when it feels right.
This feels like an abusive husband apologizing and being super kind after a big punch, I understand the mixed feelings!
But still, it's a great opportunity to meet with like minded good people amongst creators and perhaps employees.
I'm happy you took the chance and I'll be very interested to see the upcoming video about it!!
@@troffle that's other possibility, yeah
Bob you are the best! I am so happy for you! Wotc has not been great, but as a fellow DM and world builder (thanks to you) meeting the creative team would be amazing for the game we have played. I would say enjoy the moment, don't film anything and just be present. Through all this BS you have been the only person I have respect due to your kindness and your promotion of imagination. Thank you for all you do,and thank you for being a part of my life.
Very obvious damage control attempt, I think... I'd be careful around them now :) Not that you should refuse. But don't let them buy you!
I'm looking at it like this is pretty much the best thing they could do to make amends with me personally. It'll be gun to hear what else they're doing for the wider community!
@@BobWorldBuilder I'm not saying it's impossible they're sincere about it and it is a very nice step forward, but it does smell a bit fishy, doesn't it?
I’m excited for you! You’ve built your name to earn special recognition, and you have support because your integrity and transparency is acknowledged as reliable. Yes, be wined and dined, and we expect that it won’t muddle your sincere impression from the info they’ll show you there.
Have a safe trip!
Oooo, exciting! Honestly, I don't think most of us care whether you film everything or nothing. Personally, I'm here because I like your down-to-earth, honest approach to ttrpgs and this whole D&D drama thing. If the logistics of filming is too much, just focus on the info. Have fun with it! That's what RPGs should be about, right? 😊
Ooof this is the take I needed to hear! "more fun" is the motto of my channel, and that definitely needs to be my approach with this as well. Thank you!
I would say that you have earned this simply because, unlike some other creators, you made videos that were critical of the OGL changes without being mean or disrespectful. I think that upped your credibility with those in the community and with WOTC.
I would be shocked if all of this wining and dining and kissing up to the community wasnt eventually followed up by another plot of evil mustache twirling.
That being said, might as well enjoy the wine while it lasts.
Admiral Ackbar called. "It's a trap!!!"
Now we know why they were so dicey when you asked them what they were doing to "regain the trust of the community." They really wanted to talk about this, but couldn't yet.
Very cool! Enjoy the visit, you deserve it.
What a shame this invite didn't happen BEFORE the OGL drama! This would have been such a huge buffer of good will among content creators, and talking with these folks may have given WOTC a heads up to avoid trying to do what they did.