D&D 5E Orion Black No Longer a D&D Designer [UPDATED!]

WotC employee Orion Black announced yesterday that they were no longer working for the company or on D&D, citing the corporate culture at the company.

"It's July 3th and I no longer work for Wizards of the Coast. I no longer work on D&D, the little that I did. This is going to be a long thread and my last for quite a while, so bear with me.

I took the job for two reasons. The first was for the dream. To escape poverty doing what I love, writing and making games. The second was to make D&D welcoming to the millions who are scorned by it.

A lot of people had hope for D&D that they carried with me. While some people were upset to see me work for a corporation that overshadows indie, others hoped that I would be able to make real change. I tried. I failed. And I lost a lot.

Liking a tweet or post, RTing, or even following people who speak ill of WotC can lose you your job in an instant. That's why you never see it happen. @Zbeg is 100% correct. It's a silencing tool. I can say more now.

Kindness doesn't replace respect. Working within your comfort zone doesnt support change. Most people in that group were not ready for me to be there, a nonbinary Black person who would actually critique their problems. Idk what they expected.

I worked hard for a very long time. I got a lot of smiles and vocal support, but it was followed by inaction and being ignored. My coworkers were frustrated for me, and still are now. I confided in them often, cried on shoulders on a few occasions.

I realized at one point that leadership had given me 2 assignments over about 5 months. It was mostly me asking project leads for work, searching out opportunities. Leadership didnt really care about me or my growth. I had to.

I firmly believe that I was a diversity hire. There was no expectation for me to do much of anything. I probably disrupted them by being vocal and following up. It didnt matter if I was supported by seniors and positive.

I think genuine people proposed me as an option and it was accepted because it would look like a radical positive change. It would help quiet vocal outrage. And because I had to stay silent, it was a safe bet.

I started to lose all of my confidence. I started to lose trust in myself. After finding out that I wasnt getting an extension or FTE, I resolved to just finish things out and take care of myself. To stop fighting and to just survive, quietly. But it just kept getting worse.

They would talk about how they're going to start working on treating staff better, retaining contractors, actually answering questions. How much they were invested in diversity and change even though they hired two cis white dudes into two big leadership positions during this. One of whom claimed that he doesnt know what he's doing. No naughty word. I never want to hear "maybe they just hire the best person for the job" again.

I found out that some of my work was stolen, which destroyed me. It lined up with a project they were going to do and I had sent it in to someone in leadership months ago. The project was announced and this person who contributed "forgot" that we had a meeting where I gave them my ideas, and then a follow up document the day after. I knew nothing was going to be done about it. Someone else told me that the person said sorry that they forgot. That's it.

I was really losing my ability to do much of anything. I have depression and anxiety and ADHD, all of which I manage pretty well. But those parts of me were under the pressure of being ignored, disrespected, "forgotten", and not being able to say a word to the world.

Then, as social unrest continued global due to BLM, the D&D team comes out with their statement. It was like a slap in the face. How much they care about people of color, how much changing things (that I and others had been pushing for months, if not longer) was just going to happen now. It took weeks of protesting across the globe to get D&D to do what people they hired have been already telling them to fix. You cannot, CANNOT say Black lives matter when you cannot respect the Black people who you exploit at 1/3rd your pay, for progressive ideas you pick apart until it's comfortable, for your millions of profit year over year. People of color can make art and freelance, but are never hired. D&D takes what they want from marginalized people, give them scraps, and claim progress.

I spent my time in that building worrying about how much people hated me for working there. I spent a lot of time thinking about how much it hurt to work there. I had and still have supporters, and many. Thanks to you all for being my voice and speaking out when I could not. But I felt so isolated and alone. If not for some coworkers who checked in on me, who were going through the same things? I would've quit. Every angry statement about D&D felt personal because I couldn't fix it. Because I failed, whether it was my fault or not. I felt like I was being trashed by everyone because I could not disconnect what I set as a personal responsibility from the state of the game. That part IS my fault.

But I wound up as I am now because of all of this and much, much more. I am depressed. I am unable to write. I constantly question if anything I create is worth anything. I feel like I let everyone down, and no matter how much people tell me I didnt, that doesnt change. I feel guilty for not being what y'all needed me to be, what I wanted to be, and betrayed for how I was treated at that company. It's an exceptionally kind place on the D&D team. People are very nice to each other in a very genuine way that I truly enjoyed. However, that doesnt replace respect. That doesnt delete how I was treated. It doesnt change the fact that I honestly never want to play a trpg again and am definitely not working in that field anymore.

I know that I'm probably losing a ton of opportunities writing elsewhere because of what I've said here, as well as what I've sent in internally. It may mean that I will return to poverty, which makes me feel like a failure to my race, my family, and my partner who I want to provide the world. But under all these things, I have my integrity. I worked my ass off. I did my best for as long as I could. And I didnt let them treat me like that without telling the world what needs to be said.

Trust actions, not words. Not "look at how much we freelance so and so", because freelancing is exploitation of diversity with no support for the freelancer. Not "here we finally did what we KNOW we should've done a long time ago", because they only care about how optics turn to dollars. EVERYTHING involving D&D will continue to farm marginalized people for the looks and never put them in leadership. They wont be put on staff. They will be held at arms length. I hope they prove me wrong.

A lot of BIPOC and other marginalized people are trying to make their way by using D&D. Dont shame them for that. Think about how much, and when you wield your anger, that it is done righteously.

That said, I dont recommend to anyone, working for the D&D department of Wizards of the Coast."

Orion's Tweet about this. They also cite this statement, The Wizards I Know, by Zaiem Beg.

WotC's PR person, Greg Tito, commented publicly on the issue.

This should not have happened the way it did & I'll continue to fight so it does not happen again. I'm sorry if I let you down, Orion. You deserve better.

In response to an observation that this required more than just a PR statement or donation, and that it required diversity at the executive level he continued:

I have said almost these exact words for years, and more recently to executives put in charge of a community they don't understand. I am in the awful position of saying things I believe without the company making even a single, simple action of real change.

UPDATE! WotC has issued a short statement:

We sincerely apologize to Orion Black for the negative experiences they had as a contractor with the D&D franchise team. Their statement is being taken seriously and is an opportunity for us to improve the experiences of all those who contribute to our company and community. We're not perfect and we know there is more work to do. The ongoing dialogue with our community is critical to make meaningful change. We remain committed to making D&D a more inclusive community by supporting voices from people of all backgrounds.

 

[jerryrice4949]

That's not fair: this is a case of someone thinking they had achieved a dream job, when it was really always an entry level burner job. That's a pretty brutal confluence of events, frankly, and WotC should have set expectations lower ahead of time.

Obviously there was a misunderstanding at the very least. But I doubt WoTC was not clear both verbally and with the actual written contract. Often I hear what I want to hear. But that is me.

 

[Parmandur]

Obviously there was a misunderstanding at the very least. But I doubt WoTC was not clear both verbally and with the actual written contract. Often I hear what I want to hear. But that is me.

Not clear enough, I'd wager, and probably eager to sell the dream, too...

 

[Myrdin Potter]

EXCUSE ME I (ME!) am an "average" Asian person who also believes WotC should not profit off of OA any longer. if both me and the expert are "hurt" then you can do better than trying to hide behind neutral parties in an effort to deligitimize this argument.

also the fact that you put quotation marks around expert shows you have absolutely little inclination to take his argument at all seriously or find out who he is. he knows more about Asian culture than you (or I) do and we both know what it's like to be Asian in North America more than you ever will.

I lived in China and have a Chinese wife. What I saw on regular Chinese TV shows (historical dramas) made for Chinese in China goes well beyond any complaints about OA I have seen. I asked my family and colleagues in China about this when I was there and after this came up. No one cared. I have seen more people express the desire that OA not be removed from sale than I have seen complaining about it.

OA had Japanese playtesters, you can see that by the credits where it is specifically mentioned that their input was valuable in creating the book.

I can both recognize your discomfort and not think that banning the sale of the book or profiting on it is a good idea.

I talked to another Chinese origin friend (a Singaporean) that recently moved to Europe. She said is feeling it somewhat herself now, an extra sensitivity to the way she is perceived that was different when she was part of the majority. I felt it the two times I lived in Asia as I was a minority there.

I find it disingenuous to say go watch many, many hours of Youtube videos where some guy from Toronto will get paid for the views, when a quick "top 5" complaints list could be made. I watched some of a few of them and they are more reaction videos where the reactions seem like badly acted takes. The one thing I did get a reaction to from some Chinese colleagues was the use of the word "oriental" as they think they are in the middle and that is their long term historical view. But they were not offended by it. More recent history around the end of the last dynasty and being kicked around by European powers at the time will get a reaction as will discussion of the Japanese occupation.

The sales of OA are tiny compared to the newer 5e books. A better reaction would be to make a superior modern book. And concentrate on one region, Asia is pretty big. Heck, China is pretty big and people from one region do not even necessarily like each other.

---

I am not 100% certain why this discussion here is in a thread about what Orion posted. I don't even think it will impact their employability that much. Jessica Price publicly trashed her last 2 employers and still was hired to work on the just released book. She named names, Orion talked about the culture.

I also find many comments about working in a larger company and what it means to be a consultant somewhat misinformed.

 

[MGibster]

I also find many comments about working in a larger company and what it means to be a consultant somewhat misinformed.

Which comments?

 

[Myrdin Potter]

Which comments?

The ones where they are expected to just have their contract re-upped and the ones that imagine that they (contractors) get the same treatment and opportunity as a full time employee. There is no evidence that the contract was terminated early, Orion simply went from being a contractor employed by WoTC to do development work to being a freelance designer like they were before, but now with valuable experience and contacts. Based on social media posts, that is pretty common. Especially for the community manager position, but for developers as well. MtG has the same pattern. Seems normal to me.

I worked as a consultant for years, and often there was a chance that I would be taken on full time. When it did not happen I moved on to the next contract. Owen Stephens (I hope I got the spelling right) has that as one of his truths about the TTRPG rants which is also on the front page right now.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I see that Orion has addressed this for now: doesn't mean I can't be sad to see self-immolation that can't be taken back in a different frame of mind at a later time.

It’s not self immolation. It’s choosing to not be silenced by the specter of industry blacklisting in an industry they don’t want to be part of anymore, anyway.

 

[Todd Roybark]

So someone with almost zero professional credits and a very short work experience with a company?

Sounds like someone just looking for attention, especially after quickly reading said persons twitter.

Tyler, you joined ENworld two years ago and have 14 posts. So based off the principle, you evinced in the post quoted above, can anyone with more posts then you, just dismiss whatever you write, out of hand, a priori?

I think it looks mighty suspicious that these ENworld members, with low post counts, never post in threads about D&D that deal with rules, products, game ideas, or game history, but now, Only Quite Recently, show up in droves to opine in any thread that might deal with race or politics.

Indeed, these folks, who can't be bothered to post about quotidien D&D matters, swarm these threads like hungry ghosts, yearning for goats blood in Hades, as depicted in the Odyssey.

Out of principle, I presume people are earnest in what they write, I do not doubt the intentions of the poster. Enough evidence has mounted over the last few weeks, I think, that amply demonstrates, these are not good faith posters. (It pains me to write this).

These low count posters are acting like the monster on page 291 of the 5e Monster Manual.
They are proving they operate on this board, betwixt the Troglodyte and the Umber Hulk.

edited word choice to be more inclusive. All persons posting on this forum, have a right to exist, a right to their views, and the right to have their posted views examined by their fellow posters and humans

 

[Panda-s1]

I lived in China and have a Chinese wife. What I saw on regular Chinese TV shows (historical dramas) made for Chinese in China goes well beyond any complaints about OA I have seen. I asked my family and colleagues in China about this when I was there and after this came up. No one cared. I have seen more people express the desire that OA not be removed from sale than I have seen complaining about it.

OA had Japanese playtesters, you can see that by the credits where it is specifically mentioned that their input was valuable in creating the book.

I can both recognize your discomfort and not think that banning the sale of the book or profiting on it is a good idea.

I talked to another Chinese origin friend (a Singaporean) that recently moved to Europe. She said is feeling it somewhat herself now, an extra sensitivity to the way she is perceived that was different when she was part of the majority. I felt it the two times I lived in Asia as I was a minority there.

I find it disingenuous to say go watch many, many hours of Youtube videos where some guy from Toronto will get paid for the views, when a quick "top 5" complaints list could be made. I watched some of a few of them and they are more reaction videos where the reactions seem like badly acted takes. The one thing I did get a reaction to from some Chinese colleagues was the use of the word "oriental" as they think they are in the middle and that is their long term historical view. But they were not offended by it. More recent history around the end of the last dynasty and being kicked around by European powers at the time will get a reaction as will discussion of the Japanese occupation.

The sales of OA are tiny compared to the newer 5e books. A better reaction would be to make a superior modern book. And concentrate on one region, Asia is pretty big. Heck, China is pretty big and people from one region do not even necessarily like each other.

---

I am not 100% certain why this discussion here is in a thread about what Orion posted. I don't even think it will impact their employability that much. Jessica Price publicly trashed her last 2 employers and still was hired to work on the just released book. She named names, Orion talked about the culture.

I also find many comments about working in a larger company and what it means to be a consultant somewhat misinformed.

 

[ZeshinX]

Tyler, you joined ENworld two years ago and have 14 posts. So based off the principle, you evinced in the post quoted above, can anyone with more posts then you, just dismiss whatever you write, out of hand, a priori?

I think it looks mighty suspicious that these ENworld members, with low post counts, never post in threads about D&D that deal with rules, products, game ideas, or game history, but now, Only Quite Recently, show up in droves to opine in any thread that might deal with race or politics.

Indeed, these folks, who can't be bothered to post about quotidien D&D matters, swarm these threads like hungry ghosts, yearning for goats blood in Hades, as depicted in the Odyssey.

Out of principle, I presume people are earnest in what they write, I do not doubt the intentions of the poster. Enough evidence has mounted over the last few weeks, I think, that amply demonstrates, these are not good faith posters. (It pains me to write this).

These low count posters are being the monster on page 291 of the 5e Monster Manual.
They are proving they operate on this board, betwixt the Troglodyte and the Umber Hulk.

So you use the tactics you abhor? You dehumanize them and equate them to a troll? I'm sure your pain is genuine....but I suspect it is not for the reason(s) you claim. I suspect it is indeed painful to become that which you so poignantly rail against, especially when you don't even seem to be aware of its source.

 

[Parmandur]

It’s not self immolation. It’s choosing to not be silenced by the specter of industry blacklisting in an industry they don’t want to be part of anymore, anyway.

Orion doesn't want to be part of it today, but that doesn't speak to future feelings. Feelings change, social media posts are forever. It's a sad situation all around, really.