An Open Message to Elon Musk Regarding D&D

Summary

In this heartfelt video, the creator addresses Elon Musk, expressing concerns about the direction of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). While highlighting the game's rich mythic tradition, the speaker laments how it has been overshadowed by corporate interests and pop culture trends. The video stresses the importance of preserving the core values of storytelling, adventure, and innovation within the RPG community. With a passion for excellence and a deep love for the game, the speaker offers to collaborate or assist in reviving D&D's soul, aiming for a future where the game remains true to its roots.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker acknowledges the absurdity of addressing Elon Musk in a video, but feels compelled to do so due to their deep concerns about Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that their channel is not political and focuses on artistic and creative aspects rather than political agendas.
• 😀 The speaker has been involved with D&D for 15 years, creating content and maintaining a channel dedicated to preserving the heart of role-playing games.
• 😀 They criticize corporate influence, particularly from Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro, which they believe compromises the integrity and mythic tradition of D&D.
• 😀 The speaker points out the recent commercialization of D&D, where the game is becoming more about tapping into pop culture, rather than staying true to its roots in storytelling and adventure.
• 😀 The speaker offers a personal connection to Elon Musk, citing Musk’s pursuit of excellence and innovation as a potential ally in the fight to preserve the quality of D&D.
• 😀 They share a personal story of their father’s visit to the SpaceX facility, highlighting Musk’s commitment to excellence, which resonates with the speaker’s own values in game design.
• 😀 The speaker expresses concern that the essence of D&D is being lost due to corporate decisions, which prioritize profit over the game’s original artistic and mythic principles.
• 😀 They invite Musk to play D&D with them, seeing this as a potential way to inspire positive change in the direction of the game.
• 😀 The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of a ‘hero’s quest’ to save D&D from commercial ruin, believing that only true writers and artists can restore the game’s legacy.

Q & A

Why does the speaker feel the need to address Elon Musk in the video?

The speaker feels compelled to make a video addressing Elon Musk because they believe there is something important to convey, particularly about the future of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and the state of the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) industry.

What personal experience does the speaker reference that might have influenced their decision to make the video?

The speaker mentions an incident where the trunk of their car fell and hit them in the head, which they humorously describe as potentially influencing their decision to create the video. This injury is also referenced as taking 'D4 bludgeoning damage' in a D&D context.

What is the speaker's stance on the political aspects of their channel?

The speaker emphasizes that their channel is not political and has never been political. They clarify that their content focuses on higher ideals such as the human experience, storytelling, and the arts, rather than political agendas.

How does the speaker describe their work in D&D and their connection to the game?

The speaker has been involved in the D&D community for over 15 years, emphasizing their dedication to preserving the heart and soul of the Mythic tradition in tabletop role-playing games. They have also published D&D books and created content focused on world-building and storytelling.

What recent events and personal experiences led the speaker to become more aware of Elon Musk's work?

The speaker became more aware of Elon Musk's work in October, when they saw the Starship 5 booster catch and rode in a Tesla for the first time. Additionally, they watched Musk's conversation with Joe Rogan and listened to various opinions about him.

What does the speaker think about the direction that Dungeons and Dragons is heading under Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro?

The speaker is concerned that Dungeons and Dragons is losing its focus on the Mythic tradition and high-quality storytelling in favor of corporate interests. They believe the game is becoming more commercialized, with a focus on pop culture marketing and connections to various IPs, which detracts from its essence.

What does the speaker mean when they refer to Dungeons and Dragons as potentially becoming 'Disney McDonald's Pepsi'?

The speaker is warning that Dungeons and Dragons could become overly commercialized and lose its artistic integrity, reducing it to a product designed purely for mass consumption, much like a mainstream brand, which would diminish the game's value and spirit.

What is the speaker's vision for the future of D&D or tabletop role-playing games in general?

The speaker envisions a future where Dungeons and Dragons retains its core values of mythic storytelling, innovation, and artistic excellence. They are also open to helping create a competitor to D&D if necessary, with the goal of restoring the focus on quality, creativity, and the heart of the role-playing experience.

Why does the speaker offer to run a D&D game for Elon Musk?

The speaker offers to run a D&D game for Elon Musk as a gesture of goodwill and an opportunity to share their passion for the game. They hope that Musk will experience the game's potential for storytelling and adventure firsthand.

What does the speaker believe is the key to saving Dungeons and Dragons from ruin?

The speaker believes that Dungeons and Dragons can only be saved by embracing a 'hero's quest' to rescue the game from corporate control. This would require true writers and artists working from a place of love for the game and its traditions, rather than focusing solely on profit and pop culture.