'Dungeons & Dragons' Duo Defect To 'Critical Role'

Tabletop Games

Jun 17

Dungeons & Dragons is over 50 years old and is still going strong, boasting a massive fan base and periodic new revised editions. In an interesting turn of events, D&D legends Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins are transitioning from Wizards of the Coast to employment under Critical Role Productions! The pair will be operating under Darrington Press, the company’s game development label. Perkins and Crawford discussed this career move and the reasons behind their decision to make it.

Perkins touched on the new commitment, “I was committed to staying with Wizards until after D&D’s 50th anniversary, which gave me lots of time to work on succession planning and exit strategies What brought me out of retirement was the chance to work with Jeremy and the brilliant folks at Critical Role on things that have a lasting, positive impact on the world.” Crawford discussed his perspective on the career change, “Chris and I talked about his retirement plan for years…When we sent the new D&D rule books to the printer last year, I felt it was time to explore a new chapter for myself. I love the game and its team, but 18 years is a long time. I was ready for a new adventure. The chapter that we’ve now opened feels like coming home…”

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Image Source: Critical Role Wiki

In an email discussing why the pair made this career move, they said, “First, we believe there’s strength in diversity. Diverse creators and diverse games help to create an industry that feels more inviting to everyone. The more people we welcome into the proverbial tent, the more powerful the industry becomes.” They continued, “Second, we think it’s important for the industry to acknowledge that friendly, introductory experiences are important for onboarding new generations of gamers.”

The pair wrapped up their comments with hope for the future of the gaming industry,

“Third, we hope the industry never loses the joy of play. So many of us became game designers, game masters, and players because of the spark of joy we felt when we first tried a role-playing game. Let’s continue to fan that spark into a flame that fills everything we do with infectious delight.”

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