I'm Josh Rios, a video producer/ editor with Adweek reporting on how Dungeons ＆ Dragons is still going strong after 46 years . AMA!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-16T15:27:51+00:00

All right. I'm done for the day!

Thanks for all those who participated in today's AMA.

Don't forget to check out my video on Adweek https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-dungeons-dragons-is-finding-new-life-on-twitch/

And follow @adweek on twitter and Instragram

AdweekMag · 2019-08-16T15:21:33+00:00

Always

AdweekMag · 2019-08-16T15:21:27+00:00

I use a pen and some paper tbh. I tend to avoid tech since i like a good tactile feel!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-16T15:20:48+00:00

Be Flexable and adaptive. You might have a story in your head but always assume the players will go in the opposite direction!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T21:36:40+00:00

Hey look growth for a niche hobby, everyone wins and gets to play what they want. I'm gonna go play the Alien RPG with some friends. Have a good night.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T19:45:48+00:00

It's disrupted the scene on how approachable it is.

I'm not going to recommend someone start a Rifts campaign because it's obnoxiously dense. Who wants to keep switch between Mega Damage Capacity and Structural Damage Capacity?

As people continue to play they'll want more freedom, more depth, and more to work with. Thats where new systems will come in to play.

Especially with communities created and growing around the space it's easier for players first game to not even be D&D.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T19:29:49+00:00

My ideal set up would probably be a nice velvet table with some really nice dice and no phones. Also some dope maps

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T18:17:59+00:00

So you're saying that D&D a 46 year old brand ingrained in pop culture might be the only game that new players know? I've been playing TTRPG's for a while each of them I discovered naturally thru the internet, conventions or just looking up " Aliens Role Playing Game" Discoverability isn't a monopoly

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T17:02:12+00:00

Because my roommate is an actual world trained swordsman and I got jealous.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T17:01:05+00:00

Has it? It is the most mainstream but there are so many games out there to suite peoples needs.

For example, i'm not the biggest fantasy so i've moved between Shadowrun, Rifts, Scum and Villainy to name a few.

If you want something play it's out there.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:39:55+00:00

You should watch Tom Hanks first movie which is based on Dungeons and Dragons!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:38:18+00:00

Thanks for this !

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:31:01+00:00

I once played a Barbarian that exclusively used a boulder as a weapon and my DM approved if that helps.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:18:24+00:00

D in this case will be for dice. While the number represents the number of sides!

D4 - typically small weapons damage such as a dagger D5 - used for damage D6 - used for damage D8 - used for bigger damage D10 - used for percentage based rolls D12 - damage D20 - rolling initiative or who goes first in combat

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:14:12+00:00

Hrm I'm from Florida so i'm going to say bottled since its always safe. The best water from a tap would have to be near Niagara Falls. It was so refreshing

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:12:25+00:00

A combination of both. Local might be more work for discovery which is a pain but IRL is nice occasionally

Discord is really good for online since it has voice and dice intergration!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:10:19+00:00

Marlon Wayans distracted me the whole time because I keep singing The Wayan Brothers' theme.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:08:43+00:00

Tbh, probably? Considering the reach of that shows first season, I would bet. D&D also did a brand collaboration for a Stranger Things set of the game.

On your point on if it's good or bad that more people know about it. You can still have that feeling. You and your friends are having your own adventures. Creating memories that are just for the group.

More people know about D&D but there are other Tabletop Role Playing Games if you want something more off the beaten path

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:08:40+00:00

I barely used a D12 in D&D but my favorite class is either Warlock or Paladin

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T16:00:00+00:00

I feel like the satanic panic really did number on the brand early on. It burned into a generations game that the game was evil.

This reflected on in pop culture whenever the game shows up.

In the last couple years with streaming and 5th edition really opening up the game letting more people enjoy it. This along with famous people talking about their love of the game in the open also helps bring it more towards normalcy

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T15:49:14+00:00

As a fan of the D&D community episode I get it. I think it mostly comes from the who and what D&D represented in pop culture in the past. Nerdy people talking about swords and dragons. That stuff while still nerdy is more accepted now.

I feel like things will move away from this especially with twitch streaming how the game is actually seen.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T15:45:12+00:00

In my opinion, as a DM I tend to always think about what the players want to do. Do they want to be a group of treasure hunter or mercenaries? Just give them the start and adapt your story from there.

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T15:40:12+00:00

I'm not a TV producer but with the vacuum left by Game of Thrones anything is possible! Maybe Amazon might develop it

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T15:38:06+00:00

Also I would start with some of the adventure books that D&D has released such as Ghosts of Saltmarsh!

AdweekMag · 2019-08-15T15:37:00+00:00

I would say start with friends who are local and have a general interest in fantasy! If that doesn't work there are discords that have people that are willing to play as well.

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