Veteran game designers Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins bid farewell to Wizards of the Coast after 46 years, joining forces with Darrington Press of Critical Role fame, stunning peers.
Hey there, pal! So, you're not into sports, huh? That's cool, 'cause neither am I, though I'm a PC gaming writer for a livin'. Anyways, the recent switch of Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins from Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to Critical Role's publishing arm, Darrington Press, is the closest I'll ever get to witnessing a sports star jumping teams. Yeah, I know, it's a lame comparison, but work with me here.
Now, if someone's talking about a sports player switching teams, I can now sympathize and say, "I feel ya, man. I've got memories of that with Crawford and Perkins."
Here's the deal: Darrington Press is Critical Role's publishing hustle. They've got a big following, enough to instantly fund an Amazon Prime animated series. Critical Role has blossomed into its own media empire, slapping out sourcebooks for custom systems like Candela Obscura and Daggerheart.
Perkins and Crawford, well, they're big shots in the industry. The former senior story designer and principle rules designer of D&D, Perkins jumped ship from WotC back in April of this year after 28 freakin' years there. Crawford bolted shortly after.
Losing Perkins and Crawford was a hard hit for WotC, fresh off unloading their latest ruleset update. And now these two are designing systems for Critical Role, a company that started streaming D&D, to compete directly with their old gig. In a statement on the Darrington Press site, they write:
"Excited news-our team is growing, welcome Chris Perkins as Creative Director and Jeremy Crawford as Game Director! These folks have decades of experience making kickass tabletop games like D&D, Star Wars, Warhammer, and Blue Rose. We heart their work and are psyched to have 'em on board!"
It's hard not to feel like Critical Role has landed a touchdown here. The old guard is now part of the new, and it's kind of poetic, ain't it?
Perkins says, "I love telling stories, and joining Darrington Press feels sorta like coming home... I've always been part of the Critical Role fam as a guest, and I can't wait to help create new worlds filled with adventure."
Crawford seems pumped too. "This team is passionate, imaginative, and committed to building engaging story-driven experiences. I can't wait to work with 'em and bring something fresh to the table!"
WotC ain't been the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to D&D these last ten years or so. I might scrunch my face at some parts of the latest rules update, but it's solid, and plenty of people will dig it. When it comes to secondary projects? Well, they're stumbling faster than a blind man at a boxing match.
I'm just saying, perhaps Perkins and Crawford leaving WotC to swing for Critical Role has something to do with heading for greener pastures, away from a corporation that keeps trotting out AI as if it's the next big thing. Critical Role isn't exactly a pocket-change operation, but it's not exactly running the show either, if you know what I mean.
If there's any hard feelings, they'll likely keep 'em quiet. Can't speak ill of a former employer, and Critical Role still has ties to the D&D brand. But if Perkins, Crawford, and Critical Role are feeling any resentment, they'll know when to keep quiet.
Either way, I'm stoked to see what Perkins and Crawford bring to the table at Critical Role. It's gonna be a wild ride!
P.S.: Hey, here's some geeky trivia for ya: Did you know that both Crawford and Perkins used to jam on a little somethin' called The Fourth Age, a tabletop RPG very similar to D&D, back in the day? It was popular in the 90's, and they were part of its creative crew. Times change, huh?
- The switch of Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins from Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to Critical Role's publishing arm, Darrington Press, is the closest I'll ever get to witnessing a sports star jumping teams in the world of PC gaming.
- The environment at Darrington Press, Critical Role's publishing hustle, is enough to instantly fund an Amazon Prime animated series with the help of its dedicated fans.
- Critical Role has blossomed into its own media empire, producing various books such as sourcebooks for custom systems like Candela Obscura and Daggerheart.
- Perkins and Crawford, while being big shots in the D&D industry, have stepped away from their old position at WotC to join the ranks of Critical Role, a move that feels like a win for both parties.
- This professional transition marks an interesting shift in the entertainment landscape, with celebrities from the world of pop-culture, such as Perkins and Crawford, moving from traditional media companies to more independent entities like Critical Role.
- Perkins and Crawford's decision to leave WotC could be attributed to the desire for more creative freedom, as WotC has been criticized for relying too heavily on artificial intelligence and pushing it as the next big thing.
- Despite any potential hard feelings, Perkins and Crawford will likely keep quiet about any ill feelings towards their former employer, maintaining professionalism in the process.
- The collaboration between Perkins, Crawford, and Critical Role has the potential to bring something fresh to the table, especially in the world of sci-fi and fantasy, movies and TV, social-media, and entertainment.
- The upcoming projects at Critical Role, headed by Perkins and Crawford, promise to be an exciting ride for fans of sports, gaming, and pop-culture alike.
