We Love TTRPGs!

This is really, really long, and I completely understand if you don't want to or don't have time to read it.

Hi.

I woke up this morning realizing I haven't given a proper thanks in a long while for being an important part of this channel.

As of this post, I haven't uploaded anything in 63 days. Here's what's up—and prepare for a long post. I considered making this a video, but I'm avoiding uploading anything, especially a controversy video. That's not why this channel exists.

I have a dozen videos ready to go: Badders vs Domars, Galacta 25, Star Wars D6, Gamma World 1e and 2e redos, etc. etc.

But...

I've been very, very angry at the WotC 5E D&D Dungeontubers who directly profit from Gary, yet remain silent over my Gygax findings. My Gygax video isn't another opinion piece. It is Part 1 of solid journalism, and it should have completely changed the horrible narrative around Gary.

Let's be clear: I am not a so-called "Gygax defender." I'm just some dude who wanted to make a video about Chainmail, so I had to learn about Gary. I'm still dumbfounded that in over two years, since Ben Riggs and others have been spreading disturbing manipulative narratives—for, as I see it, the purpose of making a name for themselves—nobody took the time to investigate the source materials.

I demonetized that video from the start, and I have since demonetized all of my videos. The lack of response from those WotC 5E D&D Dungeontubers—who are disinterested in even considering the evidence and speaking up about the guy they profit from—has left me feeling absolutely gross. I'm genuinely battling with my own morality about being part of that ecosystem in any way, shape, or form.

To be clear, I am not talking about every TTRPG YouTuber, or people covering other games, or people who cover a wide variety of roleplaying topics. I am talking specifically about the WotC 5E D&D content-maker ecosystem that directly profits from D&D and Gary’s legacy while refusing to even look at the evidence that maybe, just maybe, Gary's loved ones and family have been subjected to abuse and trauma.

Some of these people not only profit directly from D&D, they also promote "safety" and empathy in TTRPGs. Oddly, that just doesn't extend to the Gygax family.

We all know that if Matt Colville had uploaded the same video, all of the other 5E D&D Dungeontubers wouldn't be able to deep-throat his cock fast enough, and would produce no fewer than a dozen response videos praising his genius. And yet here I am, not asking for or wanting any of that. All I was hoping for was people giving a damn about a game designer that lines their pockets.

If even half as many people smearing Gygax cared enough to consider that maybe they've been misled, my video would have reached well over 100k views, and the Gygax family might at last find some peace and justice.

Yet here we are, with some bullshit peddler like DnD Shorts able to completely smear my generation with dishonesty—which has now become "indisputable truth"—get 600k views, and do so with no regard for accuracy.

If I make even one little error in a video, I feel like crap. I have a duty to accurately inform, so as to share usable help with those watching my videos. I came here NOT to get rich or famous—a HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed to my GoFundMe last year after I lost my small business. I came here only for the purpose of offering help through my decades of experience. And while my focus is obviously roleplaying games, I occasionally upload a positive mental health video to help others who might not otherwise look for that information elsewhere.

I wasn't looking for, asking for, or wanting to make the Gygax video. It just happened. And as a result, I am really seeing clearly that I live in a WotC 5E D&D Dungeontuber ecosystem where a few Dungeontubers directly profit from D&D and Gary, the deceased game designer, but have no interest in giving anything back to him or acknowledging the torment his family has suffered. Why would I ever want to be part of that?

I'm hoping this feeling goes away. I'm truly hoping I could just give myself a full frontal lobotomy and make mindless videos about stupid performative Reddit drama, or yet another video about initiative, or "Which 5E edition is better?" etc. etc.

My anger is not at the people who watched, commented, cared, or even disagreed in good faith. I’m grateful to them. My anger is at the larger WotC 5E D&D content ecosystem, where creators can profit from Gary’s name, repeat or benefit from the accepted narrative, and still show no apparent interest in examining the source materials or pushing back against false claims.

Out-of-context screenshots, strategically edited screenshots, and uninformed opinions are not the same thing as primary-source research. I provided my sources so people can examine them for themselves.

So every few months, I find myself asking why I'm here. Part of the ick I'm feeling is that I truly wish I had never known the idiotic manufactured outrage controversies surrounding my favorite hobby. I wish I had never seen the level to which 5E Dungeontubers debase themselves for a payout. And I believe those close to us are a reflection of our character. I need to reconcile with all of these feelings.

Or shove a drill into my brain.

Included for visibility is a picture from my current 4-year-running campaign. I'm sure the "AI Slop" haters will praise the work artists put into their work! .... #sarcasm

Thanks for reading this.

— Aten

PS: I've read the Reddit critics. FFS. I literally supplied exhibits and source materials. Many of the responses were directly contrary to the supplied evidence.

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 184

We Love TTRPGs!

Can you please do me a little favor? Let's focus on the good things, let's reject the drama and performative outrage. Thanks!

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 90

We Love TTRPGs!

I dressed as the Borg Queen for Halloween! Also ...

Doctors discovered what I've been telling them for years, The lizard people from Mars have been using mind control to walk invisible among so they can collect our toe nail clippings which power their space ships!

Also ... yeah So I've been dealing with so stuff. Love you all!

7 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 269

We Love TTRPGs!

Ramming Speed! Shiver me Timbers! All hands on the Poop Deck!

8 months ago | [YT] | 24

We Love TTRPGs!

Some people need me to explain things using construction paper and crayons.

I literally begin this video stating, "I want this video to be kid friendly because ..... young people who need to learn the facts"

This video was directed at protecting children. Maybe you disagree but I dont think children should be roleplaying "imaginative acts of rape."

Just in case that wasnt entirely clear, I pinned a comment that says, "I am NOT telling anyone how to play their games. I support your right to run whatever content you want with consenting adults.

This is not anti-sex or anti-adult-content. Mature topics can absolutely belong at the table when everyone agrees. My point is that tools like the X-Card do NOT make abusive content safe.

This video is aimed at adults and parents to educate and protect their children."

I assumed that was clear. My bad for not repeating it over and over and over and over.

I'm going to upload Safety Tools Part Two in a day or two (so both are available) but frankly the toxic backlash from the previous two uploads has already been too much. Great job internet. Between a legion of light socket lickers infantilizing two 30 something year old creators for their "humorous misogyny" to others claiming I'm "gatekeeping" and "telling adults how to play" I can't help but feel my doctors must be wrong when they say my head injury didnt cause any cognitive problems because clearly I'm not making sense to people, even when in my view I've clearly spelled it out, repeatedly.

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 41

We Love TTRPGs!

If anyone can help us figure out what the D20 mechanic is, we'd appreciate it.

1 year ago | [YT] | 34

We Love TTRPGs!

When you play Call of Cthulhu with me, things are going to get weird.

1 year ago | [YT] | 115

We Love TTRPGs!

Very frustrated with stagnant channel growth and not feeling 900 views and 3 dollars per video is worth my time so I have a special announcement! I finally launched my Only Fans account!

For the low monthly fee of 99.99 you'll have full access to exclusive videos of me reminding you how beautiful and wonderful you are, including other equally important uplifting messages to encourage self empowerment.

Right Now get -10% off for your first year with the discount code: AprilFools

Also, the frustration part isn't a joke and I will be addressing everything in a Channel Update video soon-ish

Thanks!

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 194

We Love TTRPGs!

Check out this video by ‪@TheLoadingCrew‬ A lot of people are making videos on this topic but this is the ONLY video that hits an absolute home run. Honestly this is the only video anyone needs on this topic.

That's not just because these are many of the same points I'd been saying for months in our Discord but also because he offered a few insights I had not thought about. His video is so good it is what finally motivated me to split channels. Every bit of advice and insight he gives here is objectively true based on what we know about how the YouTube "algorithm" works. Thanks again to ‪@TheLoadingCrew‬ for finally pushing me to do what needed to be done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyo-...

1 year ago | [YT] | 39

We Love TTRPGs!

All new videos contain art by Aten. No AI images. Thanks for your patience as it is time consuming. To support our work here be sure youre subscribed and join us on Discord! Link pinned in comments. See you there!

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 122