The WORST Dungeons & Dragons Scandal yet

Summary

The video discusses the controversial pre-order strategy of Hasbro for the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons 2024 edition, criticizing the high cost and early access period as manipulative and detrimental to the RPG community. The host expresses concern over the monetization tactics, comparing them to the worst practices in the video game industry, and urges the audience to resist these trends to protect the future of the hobby.

Takeaways

• 📜 The video discusses the controversial monetization strategy of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) by Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast.
• 💰 Hasbro has introduced a pre-order bonus chart for D&D, which is seen as a move towards video game industry practices, causing concern among the RPG community.
• 📉 The pre-order system for D&D is criticized for being unnecessary, given the game's widespread availability, and for benefiting only Hasbro's executives and shareholders.
• 🤔 The video questions the value of pre-ordering D&D, especially the digital edition, when the physical books will be readily available at launch.
• 💸 The cost for all three new D&D books is $180 as a pre-order discount, which is $60 off the regular price of $240 when sold separately.
• 🤯 The video expresses shock at the aggressive monetization tactics, comparing them to the worst practices of the video game industry.
• 🚫 The speaker urges the audience not to pre-order the new edition of D&D, arguing that it's a disservice to both the game and its audience.
• 🔒 The pre-order strategy is described as a psychological manipulation, creating a divide among players and resentment within the community.
• 📚 The speaker is concerned about the future of D&D and the RPG industry, fearing that if this strategy is successful, it could become the norm.
• 🌐 The video is sponsored by Surfshark, a VPN service, which is mentioned as a tool for accessing content and ensuring privacy online.
• 🙅‍♂️ The speaker declares a personal stance against pre-ordering D&D and calls for the community to stand against the monetization practices.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed in the video script about the future of Dungeons and Dragons?

The main concern is that Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast are pushing a pre-order system and early access for the new edition of Dungeons and Dragons, which the speaker sees as a cash grab and a disservice to the game and its community.

What does the speaker believe the pre-order system is doing to the Dungeons and Dragons community?

The speaker believes the pre-order system is creating resentment among players, dividing them into those who can afford early access and those who cannot, and is manipulating players into spending money before the product's value can be assessed.

Why does the speaker argue against the necessity of pre-ordering Dungeons and Dragons?

The speaker argues that pre-ordering is unnecessary because Dungeons and Dragons is widely available and not subject to scarcity, making pre-orders more of a financial benefit to Hasbro than to the consumers.

What is the speaker's opinion on the value of the pre-order bonuses offered by Hasbro for Dungeons and Dragons?

The speaker considers the pre-order bonuses to be an insult to role players, grossly manipulative, and not worth the potential damage they cause to the industry and hobby.

What is the comparison made by the speaker between the pre-order culture in the video game industry and the new approach by Hasbro for Dungeons and Dragons?

The speaker compares the pre-order culture, which is already prevalent in the video game industry, to the new approach by Hasbro, stating that Hasbro has taken it to an extreme, even beyond what is common in the video game industry.

What is the role of the 'Dungeons and Dragons Beyond' subscription in the pre-order system according to the script?

The 'Dungeons and Dragons Beyond' subscription is being used as a platform to offer early access to the pre-order period, adding an additional cost to the pre-order system and further monetizing the players.

Why does the speaker believe that the new edition of Dungeons and Dragons should not be pre-ordered without seeing the books first?

The speaker believes that players should not pre-order the new edition without seeing the books because they cannot make an informed decision on whether the new Monster Manual and DM's Guide are worth the purchase.

What is the speaker's stance on the early access period for the new Dungeons and Dragons edition?

The speaker is strongly against the early access period, viewing it as a form of psychological manipulation that pressures players into pre-ordering to avoid missing out on the game's launch.

What does the speaker suggest will happen if the pre-order strategy is successful and adopted by the rest of the RPG industry?

The speaker suggests that if the pre-order strategy is successful, it will lead to a future where the RPG industry resembles the current state of the video game market, with rampant monetization and pre-order bonuses becoming the norm.

What action does the speaker call for in response to the pre-order system and early access for Dungeons and Dragons?

The speaker calls for the community to stand up against the pre-order system and not to pre-order Dungeons and Dragons until the pre-order chart is withdrawn, in order to protect the industry and hobby from potential damage.

What is the role of Surfshark in the video script, and how does it relate to the main topic?

Surfshark is the sponsor of the video, and while it doesn't directly relate to the main topic of Dungeons and Dragons' pre-order concerns, it serves as an example of a product being promoted alongside the discussion, highlighting the monetization aspect that the speaker is criticizing.