“Infernal Marches” Kickstarter Implicates Wizards of the Coast IP Concerns for Professional Dungeon Masters

Skylar Dash AKA Dashing Adventure, a Texas-based attorney and professional Dungeon Master, has initiated a Kickstarter campaign titled “Infernal Marches,” touching upon intellectual property rights issues stemming from professional Dungeon Masters using Dungeons & Dragons Intellectual Property to deliver paid performances to private audiences. Dash has been pushing for clarification on the topic since starting his professional DMing career over five years ago.

This campaign seeks to fund a remixed version of the “Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus” module, extensively revised to include new elements and narrative expansions. Dash’s initiative pushes deep into the frontier of the legal ambiguities surrounding the professional Dungeon Mastering scene, particularly concerning the monetization of such services.

Background and Motivation

The concept for “Infernal Marches” evolved from Dash’s experiences DMing five paid runs of Descent into Avernus on Roll20.

Despite the increasing popularity of professional DMing, WOTC has not publicly clarified the IP rights implications, creating uncertainty for those in the field. Dash, frustrated with the lack of clear guidelines from Wizards of the Coast regarding the use of D&D content by professional Dungeon Masters, hopes to use this Kickstarter as a platform to catalyze discussions on these unresolved IP issues.

Campaign Details

“Infernal Marches” is set to begin in the D&D setting of Elturel on the day it is dragged into Avernus, the first layer of The Nine Hells. The campaign introduces a high-risk environment with a significantly elevated player character mortality rate, organized through a West Marches-style framework. This framework supports a flexible scheduling system and accommodates up to 20 players.

The narrative of “Infernal Marches” expands the original “Descent into Avernus” storyline, incorporating five additional Archdevils and three Demon Lords, alongside new Avernian locations and three substantial dungeons in Elturel. These expansions are designed to align the campaign’s outcome with the canonical state of affairs at the beginning of Baldur’s Gate III.

The campaign utilizes Roll20 for gameplay mechanics, and Discord for voice communications and administrative coordination. The structured scheduling of the campaign, with initial sessions set for October 2024, allows players to engage flexibly according to their availability.

The outcomes of the “Infernal Marches” campaign could have implications for professional Dungeon Masters seeking to use and monetize WOTC content. By pushing for clarity on IP rights, Dash not only aims to safeguard the interests of WOTC but also to enhance the quality and accessibility of professionally managed D&D campaigns.

Wizards of the Coast’s Response

Amidst the rise of professional Dungeon Masters in the tabletop role-playing game community, questions regarding the legality of compensated Dungeon Mastering remain a subject of ambiguity. When he initially formed the artistic vision for this campaign and concluded it would only be feasible through crowdfunding in August 2023, Dash submitted an inquiry to Wizards of the Coast through their official support system, seeking clarification on the legal standing of Dungeon Masters who seek compensation for their services while using WOTC’s published materials.

The inquiry referenced a statement made in 2019 by Nathan Stewart, vice president at WOTC, highlighted in a Bloomberg article, where he expressed enthusiasm about the emerging trend of professional DMs. Stewart described the phenomenon as “cool and mind-blowing,” acknowledging the growing acceptance of DMs turning their passion into a profession.

However, a thorough review of WOTC’s publicly available legal documents, including their Terms of Use, Fan Content Policy, and Code of Conduct, reveals no explicit provisions addressing the specific practice of professional DMing. This absence of clear guidelines has left a gray area for those wishing to monetize their role-playing expertise. The Fan Content Policy, for instance, permits running private group games requiring a login but emphasizes that fan content should be accessible freely, which some interpret as conflicting with paid DM services.

WOTC’s response to the inquiry was non-committal, stating the following:

“Hello,

Unfortunately, Wizards of the Coast cannot provide assistance with, or legal interpretations for, questions related to our licenses. If you require further assistance with something beyond what can be found on our website, we recommend that you consult with a lawyer or other legal professional of your choosing qualified to interpret such documents.

Permissions Team
Wizards of the Coast”

Despite legal ambiguities, the market for professional Dungeon Masters has seen global growth, with services readily available online and in major cities, reflecting strong demand for these experiences. A search for “Professional Dungeon Master” returns numerous websites offering such services, indicating that clearer regulations could potentially benefit both Dungeon Masters and Wizards of the Coast.

TabletopGamingNews.com has reached out to Wizards of the Coast for a comment. We will update this article if and when we hear back from them.