WotC Restructures Away More Jobs, 2024 Rules Dominate 2014, Free Life Is Strange Game - TTRPG News 10/24/2024

It’s time for a dose of the latest happenings in the tabletop gaming world! StartPlaying is back with a new roundup of TTRPG news, from corporate rumblings to surprise releases. In this week’s stories, Wizards of the Coast laid off a beloved community figure, D&D Beyond users flocked to the 2024 rules in big numbers, Amazon ordered more Legend of Vox Machina, and Life is Strange dropped a free TTRPG.

Restructuring At WotC Leads To Known Names Being Laid Off And Promoted 

It looks like Hasbro (or Wizards of the Coast, or both) is driving away a DnD community favorite once again. Dixon Dubow, a Creator Relations Associate, reported on Twitter that he was laid off from WotC as part of a “corporate reorganization.” Several streamers, influencers, and designers expressed their disappointment, calling Dubow a beacon of support in their relations with the company. 

In more positive news, Christopher Perkins clarified his promotion after news broke that he was stepping away from leading DnD book production. The change in roles is that he is moving to the Creative Director position. It seems like rather than lead individual books, Perkins is taking a broader leadership role within the company. 

Almost Twice As Many DnD 2024 Characters Are Being Created Than 2014 Ones

D&D Beyond users look to the new 2024 rules around twice as much as the 2014 rules to create characters, according to WotC Vice President of franchise and product Jess Lanzillo. The claim was made during an interview with Polygon about the high print demand for the 2024 Player’s Handbook. 

“People are still creating characters using the 2014 rules [online],” Lanzillo begins. Later, she says, “We are seeing the 2024 [rules] outstrip 2014 [rules for] character creation — not quite two times as many, but around there. And it’s increasing kind of week over week as people get more used to it.” Previous WotC figures had the 2024 PHB tripling the sales of the 2014 version. 

Legend Of Vox Machina Renewed For Season 4

Amazon is doing what Netflix won’t by ordering a fourth season for a beloved series. The Legend of Vox Machina will continue to tell the Critical Role story with another season. And, if a report on EN World is correct, a fifth season is already in pre-production based on contract info. Season three just ended today, so now the wait is on for these future seasons and the Mighty Nein animated series set to release next year.

Life Is Strange TTRPG From Hunters Entertainment Now Available 

Two Moons Rising, a murder mystery game based in the Life is Strange universe, is now available as a free download on DriveThruRPG. The game was designed by Wesley Crowe as part of a collaborative effort between Hunters Entertainment, Square Enix, and Compadre to coincide with the release of Life is Strange Double Exposure. The game presents a murder mystery scenario complete with a murder board and is played with d6s. An actual play of Two Moons Rising starring several well known figures in the TTRPG space is available on YouTube. 

That brings this week’s news roundup to an end! Thanks for reading, and may your dice be kind.