In Geek Native’s coverage of the leaked Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount news, I found myself pointing out how frustrating this must be to Wizards of the Coast. It took up a segment of Saturday’s podcast.
What’s the problem? Lots of hype around a new and mystery D&D sourcebook, expectations rising as speculation runs wild and gamers hoping that the new book is the one that they wanted most of all. Of course, statistically, that means most people are going to be disappointed. There isn’t a single ‘must-have’ book the whole community is asking for.
Then D&D confirmed the news – it’s not your old favourite coming back, or splatbook, but it’s a detailed inspection of the part of the world that Critical Role’s campaign is set in.
It’s easy to find negative comments on the announcement.
There’s nothing wrong with being disappointed, of course, especially if you had your hopes up for a different book. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that D&D’s publishing schedule can’t possibly be written to please any single DM or group.
Imagine if the creator of the most popular D&D entertainment title of all time came to you and said; “Hey, do you want to work together on an official book?”
Would you say no?
Green Ronin didn’t when they published Critical Role: Tal’dorei Campaign Setting in 2017. Is it a surprise that the Critical Role fans at Wizards of the Coast were also keen to do the same?
Matthew Mercer defends Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount
An hour after the official D&D news, and signing off as insecure nerd, Matthew Mercer was on Reddit with a follow-up of its own. Sadly, you can tell just how worried he’s feeling about the whole thing.
I am also well-aware of how much negativity can permeate these spaces regarding myself and the games we play, and that’s ok!
He’s spot on. D&D is a game that makes experienced DMs and players feel like experts. Confident in their knowledge of their hobby, many of these gamers feel as if the world needs to hear their opinions. I am one, of course, and worst than most as run a whole blog! Sometimes those opinions are negative.
Mercer also shows that he keeps his finger on the pulse of the community. He knows exactly why some gamers are speaking up and disappointed.
As a person excited and clamoring for new settings to be brought into the D&D multiverse, I also understand the frustrations from some that this isn’t one of the “classics”. Believe you me, I’m one of the those who is ever-shouting “I want my Planescape/Dark Sun”, and said so loudly… multiple times while in the WotC offices.
It’s not as if it makes business sense for Wizards of the Coast to find success with D&D 5e (a success which is due, in no small way, to Mercer) and crank out re-issues of old material as quickly as possible. There’s no hurry to burn through old hits.
There are also all sorts of complications around rights to intellectual property, ownership and royalties. Just cast a glance at Keith Baker, the Eberron creator’s Project Raptor for an idea of how complicated this can get.
It’s a brave author who can take unsugared and heads on criticism of their labour of love. Mercer, it seems, can.
I also wanted to comment on the occasionally-invoked negative opinions on my homebrew designs I’ve seen here… and they aren’t wrong! I don’t have the lengthy design history and experience that many of you within this community do have.
Reddit, so far, has responded with warmth and positivity to Mercer’s post. After all, it’s not all that common for someone who appears on so many computer screens around the globe to take the time to write your community a heartfelt letter.
Will you be buying Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount and using it in your D&D? Let us know in the comments below.
I’m absolutely purchasing this product because I collect D&D books and it’s probably going to be pretty cool. I know more than a few Critters who are super pumped about this and I had the pleasure of being their first DM because after watching critical role they knew I was into this game called Dungeons and Dragons and asked me to. As far as rebooting the old stuff I personally have boxes upon boxes of D&D material because I’m a collector and if WOTC wants to reboot Dark Sun, Dragonlance, Spelljammer, or any other setting I’ll probably buy that as… Read more »
I agree with you about that it’s a shame that Matt Mercer should have to defend that book. I don’t quite agree about part of the reasoning. Because the thing isn’t that some people are dissapointed because the book isn’t the release they were waiting for instead. The thing is that this is the book literally NOONE was waiting for and it is the book literally noone needs. Now I have admittedly stopped caring about WotC since 2007 when they stopped caring about having people like me as their customer, but to me, releases like that are proof that all… Read more »
since 2007? So you’ve not touched 5e then? You should, it’s the most accessible it’s ever been. They didn’t stop caring about you. They just started caring about more than just the likes of you. Critical role fans are literally a massive chunk of the D&D fanbase and player base now. It’s the main reason that so many negative connotations no longer hold true to the vast majority of the player base. It’s mainstream because of them and widely accepted in society instead of being the dominion of basement-dwelling gatekeepers. What strikes me about far too many old school D&D… Read more »
I’m personally really excited about this book! As a person who grew up outside the community (an only child in a conservative family, there was nobody to really bring me into the fold) I really appreciate the opportunity that this setting creates. I became interested in D&D a few years ago and struggled to find a group to play with, as people can be insular with their pre-existing campaigns, and though my friends were interested in playing with me, none of us had the experience to run a game. Someone recommended Critical Role to me and it served a dual… Read more »
I started playing D&D in ’74 and am happy that Mr Mercer has kept the basic idea flowing and look forward to Wildemount adventures. Most of the comments I have read here and other sites seem to come from basically from 2 groups of players / dms. Those who understand that D&D is based in the age of magic and the other who play tech rpg. Mercer has continued in the “old sense” of what D&D was meant to represent. Tech gamers should stick to their tech games and worry about what they can do to keep their game refreshed… Read more »