I’m not saying this is the best adventure ever or threat to professional DMing but it’s opening up a whole new way to have pen and paper games (or just games in general).
I’m thinking it might introduce a lot of kids to PNP RPGs. My kid is drawing a map of the dungeon (I don’t know how to tell him there is already a map online).
This might be the gateway for a lot of kids OTOH, this might squeeze out professional DMs who operate a reasonable side gig doing the same beginner adventure over and over again to introduce people to D&D (you can make ~$100 to have walk a beginner group through character creation and a beginner adventure in an afternoon).
I can understand the arguments for a professional/paid DM. But I wouldn’t want to be one nor hire one.
That said, they don’t have anything to fear from Alexa in this instance – this game (from what I saw on Youtube) is more like having a computer text adventure or MUD narrated at you than a real tabletop RPG experience.
This is not just some random dude or dudette showing up to talk their way through a module.
They are often out of work actors/actresses showing up in costume with all the props and doing voice acting for the NPCs, etc. They know the module backwards and forwards so they don’t have to spend much time consulting rules, etc. so the game moves quickly and smoothly. They do parties for adults and kids.
I don’t play RPGs, but you don’t tell him there’s a map online. Let him draw it out and figure things out on his own. Nothing will teach him better about spacial awareness and scale and such. I used to make maps when I was a kid for all the text adventure games I played. Now I make maps for a living.
The new 5e rules are supposed to be noob friendly but AFAICT, it seems more complicated than the AD&D rules I grew up with. I don’t have the time to become fluent with the system or the modules and paying someone what works out to be about $25/hour plus drinks and snacks (plus anything we buy from them) is not a bad way to learn as I play.
The 5e rules are good for noob players and experienced DMs. So often, the rules fall back on “Well, whatever your DM decides”, which is no good when the DM doesn’t know how to decide.
I get it and I don’t have anything against it or think it’s an abomination or anything. I just don’t think I’d want the dynamic of additional expectations when I’m paying a guy or feeling concerned if I’m getting paid. But I’m fortunate enough to live somewhere with a good local community and an Adventurer’s League group that’s made up of good people (as opposed to some of the horror stories I read) so people can learn the system and even take over the reins and cut their DMing teeth on some Tier One modules without much stress.
But, either way, I don’t see this particular Alexa skill/app/whatever they call it is going to give actual tabletop gaming a run for its money. It might be fun in its own way but it didn’t feel much like real tabletop gaming.
That’s how I understand it, as well – it’s more like the old “Choose Your Own Adventure” books.
Paizo is apparently about to launch something similar for Starfinder (their sci-fi reskinning of their Pathfinder game), which sounds like it’ll have sound effects and voice actors, as well. So, pretty cool stuff, but it’s a different beast from sitting around a table (virutal or not) with other players.
A competent GM is a scarce resource. A competent GM who is willing to run a regular game is even scarcer. It’s not at all surprising that people are monetizing that skill set.
I’ve done it before, but at the end of the day I didn’t like making a hobby into work. It was good money, though.
Still not something I would ever take part in, on either side. That I can’t wrap my own mind around the concept doesn’t mean others can’t take part and/or enjoy. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a single reality show on TV, Twitch wouldn’t exist, and there would be no such thing as a professional gamer.