WotC New WotC Statement on Orion Black

Oofta · Jul 11, 2020

WayOfTheFourElements said:
I wish WotC spent more time and resources making better products than worrying about it public image.

This whole mess could have been avoided if WotC hadn't made such a big deal about diversity and inclusion when they hired Orion Black as a designer in the first place.

Did they make a big deal out of it? I mean, I have no clue one way or another. I know Orion makes a big deal out of it, but for WOTC he easily could have just been another contractor that didn't work out.

With appropriate caveat that we don't know what really happened of course.

ccs · Jul 11, 2020

WayOfTheFourElements said:
I wish WotC spent more time and resources making better products than worrying about it public image.

This whole mess could have been avoided if WotC hadn't made such a big deal about diversity and inclusion when they hired Orion Black as a designer in the first place.

I wasn't aware that there was a big deal made about hiring them.
But then I don't really follow the who's who & doing what where of game designers. The only times I take note are if someone makes something really good/really bad/or causes a stir like this for whatever reason.

dave2008 · Jul 11, 2020

WayOfTheFourElements said:
This whole mess could have been avoided if WotC hadn't made such a big deal about diversity and inclusion when they hired Orion Black as a designer in the first place.

Did they make a big deal about? I definitely do not remember anything about them previous to this issue. I did a quick search and I couldn't find any news or statement about when OB was hired by WotC.

MGibster · Jul 11, 2020

WayOfTheFourElements said:
This whole mess could have been avoided if WotC hadn't made such a big deal about diversity and inclusion when they hired Orion Black as a designer in the first place.

I hope this isn't the lesson WotC learns from this. Diversity and inclusion are important to WotC because it's important to many of their customers. And quite frankly, I think we're all better off by having diverse points of view contribute to settings and rules. So things didn't work out with Orion Black, that happens sometimes.

Xeviat · Jul 11, 2020

I love how many people are rushing to the defense of a non-human corporation, which has had multiple complaints about being an old boys club. The amount of "well that's just how it is" complacency and forced civility is sad.

Make a scene. Be outraged. Burn bridges. Being quiet and respectable is how this crap is allowed to keep continuing.

Myrdin Potter · Jul 11, 2020

Xeviat said:
I love how many people are rushing to the defense of a non-human corporation, which has had multiple complaints about being an old boys club. The amount of "well that's just how it is" complacency and forced civility is sad.

Make a scene. Be outraged. Burn bridges. Being quiet and respectable is how this crap is allowed to keep continuing.

There are more important things for me to spend my time on than to complain about employees in a corporation that gets screamed at for being too much of an “old boys club” while also being screamed at for “being too woke”.

I will concentrate on my company and my family and the place that I live.

If I want different RPG products, it is not like I have a lack of choice. And if I want D&D, the OGL lets me publish if just playing and having fun with my friends is not enough.

jerryrice4949 · Jul 11, 2020

Xeviat said:
I love how many people are rushing to the defense of a non-human corporation, which has had multiple complaints about being an old boys club. The amount of "well that's just how it is" complacency and forced civility is sad.

Make a scene. Be outraged. Burn bridges. Being quiet and respectable is how this crap is allowed to keep continuing.

I don’t think most people on this thread are defending WoTC. Maybe they just like facts before they jump to a conclusion. Try it you might like it

There is a high likelihood WoTC could have done better. But we don’t really know what happened. I Do give them credit for giving a very lightly published, fairly Inexperienced game designer an opportunity for the biggest RPG publisher.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/orion-black-b2250841?challengeId=AQGSVlVVJV5MTwAAAXM-5WGCCU15JE1ktVXkPldchzT8peHY3gheQYr9apV_BlBCZMSp5y--Ry08aBZe0--nztZ0JrAh7B0vpw&submissionId=fc121984-77c2-2016-9a4a-a1572d4e2b57

Umbran · Jul 11, 2020

jerryrice4949 said:
For WoTC it was just Theros though perhaps he also worked ....

Mod Note:

Folks, Orion Black uses the gender-neutral "they" pronoun. It would be really nice if folks would use it, thank you.

jerryrice4949 · Jul 11, 2020

Umbran said:
Mod Note:

Folks, Orion Black uses the gender-neutral "they" pronoun. It would be really nice if folks would use it, thank you.

I fixed it, it was an honest mistake.

Oofta · Jul 11, 2020

As much as I've been kind of critical of Orion's response, I'm also sympathetic. While we don't know what happened, most corporations are by and large uncaring entities that border on LE at best. Orion got what they thought would be a dream job and for whatever reasons, it didn't work out.

I've been on a similar roller coaster, of sky high expectations and hope only to have it all end. I wish them, and everyone else in the same situation the best of luck.

WotC New WotC Statement on Orion Black

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