Call it a suburb or what. Basically, I live in a small town. But it’s growing and fast. When I first moved here way back in 2000, the population was just under 8,000. A couple of weeks ago, they changed the sign. It’s now clocking in just over 80,000. That got me thinking on gaming stuff.

The charm of small town or odd ball community seems to attract people. But then eventually, there are so many people that all that charm and what drew folks to the area to begin with dies and withers. The quaint farmer’s market gets replaced by a mixed use development. The friendly greasy spoon where every one knows your name is replaced is replaced the latest and greatest chain restaurant. That local festival gets moved and morphed into a bare shadow of what it once was. Neighborhoods are replaced by HOA’s. The irony is that they then go and attempt to create artificial “artist” districts or whatever. Communities like that just happen. You can’t make them appear out of no where.

What the hell does this have to do with gaming? One D&D, of course. Sure, I got nothing against businesses making money. Heck, it’s looking like they’re coming up with ways to rake in the cash. But I can’t help but just think that’ll end up being a curated mess. I could be wrong. I hope that I am.

Personally, I’m sticking to my guns. I’m sure there’s this underground community of gamers who don’t care about One D&D. Heck, they might even be using rules based on 5E. Sure I basically don’t care what WOTC does any more but what I’m trying to get across is that us weirdos need to stick together. Preach the gospel that there’s more than just WOTC. Prop each other up. Spread the word about cool stuff. And just have a good time at the game table without apology to some stranger on the Internet.

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