WotC Layoffs - Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, and Chris Sims

Truth Seeker · Dec 5, 2009

Okay, who is left in the old guard?

Kzach · Dec 5, 2009

Keefe the Thief said:
The mass-appreciation and well-wishing of the community is nice, but there are a lot of knives coming out of pockets who had been sharpened long before the Christmas layoffs.

Huh?

Windjammer · Dec 5, 2009

My condolences to all involved - speaking of whom, may I suggest to move Stephan Radney-MacFarland's name into the OP?

Rob Heinsoo's departure comes as a heavy blow to me, as his contribution to 4E was decisive. I have taken this occasion to write him a tribute on Enworld here, since the way the thread progressed here seems a poor fit for that. That said, the discussion on WotC' layoff policy may profit by re-reading Monte Cook's post the last time this happened. Darren Drader already referenced the post, and you can reread it here.

Another suitable point of comparison are Zach' Houston's "Not so Fearless Predictions for 2009" which he made on Dec 30 2008 (excerpted):

December 1: Wizards of the Coast continues its cheery tradition of holiday layoffs by firing everyone but Mike Mearls and Enis the janitor. Mearls and Enis immediately begin work on Player's Handbook 4. After its completion, Enis gets the word to give Mearls the axe.

Keefe the Thief · Dec 5, 2009

Cool tribute, Windjammer! A "what they contributed to D&D" webpage would actually be a cool idea, me thinks.

Rechan · Dec 5, 2009

Can folks stop using the misfortune of these folks as a venue for their own personal axe-grinding?

This thread should be about the people let go. Let's keep it consoling and supportive of Rob, Chris and Logan, without bickering about company policies. I imagine they don't want to swim through that stuff just to read the well wishes.

I'm sad to hear you guys let go. Chris is a great DM, evident through the Podcasts, and the calmest voice around. Logan has always been the most prodigious WotC forum guy, and I always recognize Rob's work and enjoyed hearing interviews with him.

Nymrohd · Dec 5, 2009

I am curious, academically speaking, of how layoffs affect this type of business. In many industries layoffs are part of restructuring and downsizing costs, and are done often so you can fudge your numbers for the shareholders. But even more so than other types of business, creative business lives on knowledge workers and bleeding talent never has as simple an opportunity cost as lower apparent costs.

ggroy · Dec 5, 2009

Nymrohd said:
I am curious, academically speaking, of how layoffs affect this type of business. In many industries layoffs are part of restructuring and downsizing costs, and are done often so you can fudge your numbers for the shareholders. But even more so than other types of business, creative business lives on knowledge workers and bleeding talent never has as simple an opportunity cost as lower apparent costs.

Another question is who exactly is making these layoff decisions, and for what reasons. Wouldn't be too surprising if many workplaces resemble stuff that goes on in Dilbert.

diaglo · Dec 5, 2009

Darrin Drader said:
My perception is that Peter Adkison was never as layoff-happy as Hasbro-WotC is. Since my personal experience with WotC started after the Hasbro acquisition, and the fact that I happen to think Peter Adkison is a great human being, I admit that my perception could be inaccurate. I don't have the numbers from before the Hasbro layoffs, but I did see a significant downsizing of the company that was a direct result of the corporate merger while I worked there.

WotC bought TSR in 1997. the move to seattle was a big breaker for many. some retired some were let go.

Hasbro bought Avalon Hill in 1998. although, iirc as far back as 1994 they thought about buying WotC. i think it was Pokemon which finally caused them to act/bid. the purchase for WotC was in sept 1999.

Peter Adkison left in 2001.

i wanna say the layoffs were just normal business before then too. but not really large in numbers and mostly they were guys who were asked. then hired back later.

after Peter left though i think they went whole hog on the layoffs. i very much remember the 2001 Xmas layoffs and the 2003 ones as well. only b/c it seemed so strange to be getting rid of some of their talent during the height of d02 and Magic the Gathering going Online.

i'm not a historian and my memory sucks lemons. but that is just how i remember it. which certainly could be flawed.

at Gen Con 03 i remember chatting with anthony valterra at his booth. one day, he left work for the night. and the next they jhad locked him out of his office. he had to call a friend to escort him in to get some of his personal stuff.

avin · Dec 5, 2009

What a crapstatic company having D&D in its cold hands...

DaveMage · Dec 5, 2009

Jack99 said:
First of all, good luck to those who have been fired.

Considering the state of the 3pp business today, what companies other than WotC are likely to hire fulltime? Goodman Games perhaps?

No - not 3PPs - Freelance for WotC (so that presumably you have an income from another source as well).

Jack99 said:
If the practice has been there for 10 years or so, can't we agree that most if not all knew the risks (or whatever you want to call them)?

Maybe - as long as one goes into it with the idea that they are going in and getting out on their own terms, and not really caring what happens to WotC long term (as WotC apparently doesn't really care what happens to the employee long term).

In other words, if you're going to work there, go in with a 2-3 year plan, then get out.