So Jeff Goldblum is starring in one of those twitch/youtube "D&D"-themed improv-acting reality shows, and it's not Critical Role. Is this a sign of the triumph of the "critical role" fad, or bad news for the people currently profiting off it?

I think Jeff Goldblum will be good for the hobby if this catches on.

Why?

Because more people will start to see these critical role style shows for what they are: Fake.

If 'name' talent becomes more of a feature the production values and story aspects of these shows will get to the point that it will be quite straightforward to point out the many discrepancies between the shows and and actual session of D&D.

Actors of this level will not like participating in amateur hour. The CR shows will drift even more towards full-on 'radio play' territory with less and less randomization allowed to 'interfere' with the story.

Not that they have much randomization now - even CR has house rules that are even more generous with rest times and actions to cast healing spells than RAW 5e.

Or the opposite will happen and even more people will start to believe that RPG sessions are some high production or neo-LARPs. But if its a game show then it will fit in likely with some from the past.

Way back in the late 80s there was Knightmare too. A UK produced series I believe.

Then in the 90s there was Knights and Warriors, a sort of American Gladiator style game show with a fantasy theme.

Believe there is at least one other but its been ages.

And of course the fantasy contest show The Quest. That had fairly good production and mixed elements of a LARP and an elimination challenge contest.

I think it will be bad.
Once Hollywood actors and eventually the Hollywood machine get involved, the woke/SJW/flavor of the week agenda will be in full force.
If your character has dark skin then you better have dark skin or you won't be able to portray said character properly.
Already several of these types of shows have gotten into trouble over various issues and no Hollywood actor, no matter how B-list, is going to want to risk the cancel mob. So if you want to have B-list actors on your show you are going to have to tote the line.
It will push these types of programs further away from being a spontaneous gaming interaction and into the realm of carefully edited garbage. Or you know, I could be totally wrong, a more likely scenario if you listen to my ex-wives.

Silk Road supplement sounds good!  One of the most fascinating bits of world history!

Quote from: ZenGunslinger on May 04, 2021, 04:29:40 PM
It will push these types of programs further away from being a spontaneous gaming interaction and into the realm of carefully edited garbage. Or you know, I could be totally wrong, a more likely scenario if you listen to my ex-wives.

That can't be more than what, five people, ten tops? Pretty small sample size there, think you're in the clear.

Sounds like a meme game. Be cool if he did a horror game and revisted the fly though as like a one-off

Good, the best thing that can happen to the hobby is for people to realize WotC/DnD are not the hobby.

The second best thing that can happen to the hobby is for Woke of the Coast/Paizo/Stupid Hat/etc to crash and burn. Only the unwoke compaqnies will remain, and the OSR because it's decentralized.

Nerdy McBitchface

Well, at least I got my next D&D character's name from the video.

Quote from: ZenGunslinger on May 04, 2021, 04:29:40 PM
...
Once Hollywood actors and eventually the Hollywood machine get involved, the woke/SJW/flavor of the week agenda will be in full force.
...

This is a good thing.

They will destroy it's relative popularity before it can take a foothold with normies.

People are starting to reject the nonsense. Pedowood has been taking it in the shorts for years, and crying about "toxic fans" when their woke movies don't do well...

The problem is that all the media companies are converged, and have access to tons of cash through their respective megacorps.

It will take a long time before they really start to feel the pinch. And they will have to go bankrupt or damn near before they change their woke ways.

It's gonna be a long ride. Stock up on popcorn...

Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 04, 2021, 05:02:24 PM
Good, the best thing that can happen to the hobby is for people to realize WotC/DnD are not the hobby....

I tend to agree, but this is a slow process as D&D has no prominent non d20 system competitors.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 04, 2021, 05:02:24 PM
The second best thing that can happen to the hobby is for Woke of the Coast/Paizo/Stupid Hat/etc to crash and burn. Only the unwoke compaqnies will remain, and the OSR because it's decentralized.

Gamers are very IP loyal, and in spite of wokeness they are loathe to leave their beloved IP behind.

I think Baizuo will gradually fade, they will keep going to the complex system side of things with their D&D clone and eventually drive new players away like Gurps/Hero.  This process will accelerate if a company makes a game that can take the number 2 RPG spot from them.

Stupid Hat is literally based around 2-3 designers making games that they publish. Once those guys creativity dries up they will fade.

WOTC/D&D... They have Magic money to cover for all kinds of nonsense. Buckle up Kids, they will do what they want for a long time.

At this point it will have to take an exceptional series of own goals by WOTC (worse than 4e) for D&D to be dethroned as the #1 RPG.

Quote from: RPGPundit on May 04, 2021, 01:35:22 AM
So Jeff Goldblum is starring in one of those twitch/youtube "D&D"-themed improv-acting reality shows,

1) Not one of those "twitch/youtube" things. It's a podcast. That's an audio thing, not a video thing.
2) Only sorta D&D. It's a horror game. I think they kinda use D&D rules, but it's mostly improv horror with heavy editing and soundscapes. I don't even think they mention rules or rolling much.

Another reply...at first I thought the title of the thread/video was "Jeff Goldblum-themed D&D" because I glanced at the title.

Now there is an RPG someone needs to work up.

Quote from: Mistwell on May 04, 2021, 06:33:14 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit on May 04, 2021, 01:35:22 AM
So Jeff Goldblum is starring in one of those twitch/youtube "D&D"-themed improv-acting reality shows,

1) Not one of those "twitch/youtube" things. It's a podcast. That's an audio thing, not a video thing.
2) Only sorta D&D. It's a horror game. I think they kinda use D&D rules, but it's mostly improv horror with heavy editing and soundscapes. I don't even think they mention rules or rolling much.

Yea, it sounds like they're having to dance around WOTC's licensing issues for certain monsters, etc.
Should be a fun listen if nothing else.

I still laugh when I think of Hulu and Netflix killing replays of the Community D&D episode, as the player enthusiastically being a Dark Drow was obviously too complicated for us simple viewers to comprehend.  Hurr durr.

I doubt the Paramount D&D film will have anything to do with the actual tabletop experience either.  Just branding.  I actually think making it more popular might remove the goofy fringe element that has built up around RPG's as WOTC only sees dollar signs.

How do you even depict drow in live action?

Quote from: BoxCrayonTales on May 04, 2021, 11:01:30 PM
How do you even depict drow in live action?

Dunno, Pierre Trudeau's wife's son doing black face?

Critical Role is 5e's version of the D&D cartoon. AKA, its questionable how many people became serious D&D players after watching the cartoon since media is a passive experience. It's doubly passive when you don't even have to turn on Channel 4 at 9am on Saturday to get your passive experience. With Critical Role, you can zone out to the show whenever and wherever you are, thus appealing even more to people seeking passive experiences.

Note I said "became serious D&D players" - I am well aware the D&D cartoon sold ancillaries, acting as a gateway somewhat to the kids become teen readers of Dragonlance and other D&D fiction. And no question, the D&D cartoon probably sold plenty of Red Boxes too. However, I question how many of those people introduced to D&D via the cartoon became serious D&D players, just like the CR audience might yap on Twatter about being "D&D gamers", seeing them at the game table once CR stops producing segments is another question entirely.

Even though Adventurer's League is about as passive an experience as RPGs get, there's still a jump between that milquetoast pablum and the truly passive experience of watching a screen.