WotC Ex D&D Beyond Staffers Criticize Relationship With WotC

Ex D&D Beyond Product Manager Andrew Searls and co-founder Adam Bradford have both publicly denounced a detetoriation in the platform's relationship with Wizards of the Coast.

Searles, who left DDB in December tweeted publicly, seemingly in support of the OGC community, following the recent Open Gaming License news, that "IMHO, D&D is successul because of the entire community not just because of those that legally own it."

The OGL -- Just What's Going On?

D&D fandom is in uproar again about purported upcoming changes to the Open Gaming License, and rumours are flooding social media regarding WotC's intentions to 'de-authorize' the existing Open Gaming License in favour of a new one. What's the OGL? The Open Gaming License is a share-a-like...

www.enworld.org

Speaking of his departure, he said "December 16th of 2022 was my last day at Wizards of the Coast and working on D&D Beyond. This was a change for the better. It is hard to describe the feeling of working your dream job and being crushed by it at the same time. But, it is bittersweet. I will miss the people I have worked with day-in and day-out. Despite what it may seem like at times there are really good people at Wizard of the Coast that are working on D&D and D&D Beyond that love the game and the community. For my next adventure, all I can say now is that I’m more excited than I’ve ever been and I’ve wanted to work with these folks for a LONG time. One thing I know for certain, for the rest of my career, I will use technology to make ALL tabletop roleplaying games easier to play. I love this industry and I love these games."

He later went on to comment on WotC itself -- "Quick story. When DDB was first acquired by WotC, I had a conversation with someone on the WotC side. They told me that DDB was only successful because of the D&D logo and not the work we had put into it for 5 years. It’s a culture of arrogance."

He also revealed that many of WotC's staff are against the current OGL situation. In reponse to a tweet which suggested that, Searles responded "I know must of them and I can tell you everything in this statement is true."

D&D Beyond co-founder Adam Bradford, who now works for the Demiplane online tools suite, responded "This was starkly evident well before the acquisition. In the early days of the partnership, things went about as well as you could imagine, and something truly special was created as a result of that. Some top level leadership changes later, and it all took an abrupt nosedive."

D&D 5E - Hasbro Acquires D&D Beyond For $146M

D&D owner WotC and D&D Beyond have announced that the online tools platform is being acquired by WotC. DDB’s (former) owner was Fandom, which acquired it in 2018, and which also acquired the Cortex Prime TTRPG system recently. Fandom is producing a range of licensed games using the Cortex Prime...

www.enworld.org

D&D Beyond was launched in 2017, and was acquired by WotC in 2022 for $146M. Bradford left DDB in February 2021, along with various other staff including lead writer James Haeck, Community Manager Lauren Urban, and Creative Manager and co-founder Todd Kenrick (who now works for WotC).

D&D General - Adam Bradford, Lauren Urban, Todd Kenrick Leave D&D Beyond

They join lead writer James Haeck, who left a couple of weeks ago. Adam Bradford is the D&D Beyond co-founder, and VP of Tabletop Gaming at its owner, Fandom. Lauren Urban is DDB's Community Manager. Todd Kenrick is the company's Creative Manager. D&D Beyond, launched in 2017, is currently...

www.enworld.org

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I'd have been here all day going over the MTG and video game side of things. I just shot for the immediate ancestors of D&DB.

I wish I could put 3 emojis on that post... laugh cry and heart.

Like that is the sum of it

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

A brand is a powerful hook, but it is not enough. In the last years we have seen several examples of famous IPs from Hollywood productions or videogames didn't work too well.

And here we are talking about the TTRPG industry, where the consumer is different. They have to understand our mind to can know what type of products we want to buy.

And in the age of internet and pirates files they have to offer an interesting product to be bought by collectors.

This seems as if the top of the megacorporations were chosen among psycopaths and toxic bosses and not people with traits of true leadership. As if you weren't allowed to ente into the top if you don't sacrifices kitties in the name of Chulthu or something like this.

 

[Dausuul]

This seems as if the top of the megacorporations were chosen among psycopaths and toxic bosses and not people with traits of true leadership. As if you weren't allowed to ente into the top if you don't sacrifices kitties in the name of Chulthu or something like this.

I know a guy who reluctantly agreed to be CEO of his company (after the previous CEO ran it into the ground and there was no one else who could right the ship), and who is now counting the days till he gets to step down. His theory, only half joking, is that anyone who isn't a sociopath and/or narcissist cannot last as CEO of a large company -- the stress and the responsibility will crush your soul, particularly when you have to do things like layoffs.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I know a guy who reluctantly agreed to be CEO of his company (after the previous CEO ran it into the ground and there was no one else who could right the ship), and who is now counting the days till he gets to step down. His theory, only half joking, is that anyone who isn't a sociopath and/or narcissist cannot last as CEO of a large company -- the stress and the responsibility will crush your soul, particularly when you have to do things like layoffs.

I have met good CEOs. I have met very bad CEOs. I have watched the two go into negotiations with teams behind both and felt sick that the good ones always lose.
There really are corps (mostly small ones) that are run for the emplyee and the customer. The thing is if you run that way you hit a wall. A time where if you want to grow you have to hurt one or both of those. When a good CEO refuses he is either replaced or the company slows down to 0 growth or even loses ground.
Interestingly enough though I have NEVER seen a good CEO drive a company to the ground... the same can NOT be said for bad ones.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

What's so great about growth?

I know that it's what capitalism is all about, but I would think (and I run my business this way) that sustainable reasonable profits should be a perfectly fine business goal.

The desire for growth is often what causes busts. It's often what causes mass layoffs. Essentially you've eventually got to screw someone over - either your customers, your employees, your industry, your society, and/or the entire world, to maintain continuous growth.

IMO it's a foolish goal.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I know a guy who reluctantly agreed to be CEO of his company (after the previous CEO ran it into the ground and there was no one else who could right the ship), and who is now counting the days till he gets to step down. His theory, only half joking, is that anyone who isn't a sociopath and/or narcissist cannot last as CEO of a large company -- the stress and the responsibility will crush your soul, particularly when you have to do things like layoffs.

Yep. The structure of publicly traded corporations basically demands a willingness to knowingly do that which is wrong for the company, employees, customers/clients, industry, and social order, in the pursuit of quarterly profit growth to serve the shareholders.

 

[Scribe]

What's so great about growth?

I know that it's what capitalism is all about, but I would think (and I run my business this way) that sustainable reasonable profits should be a perfectly fine business goal.

The desire for growth is often what causes busts. It's often what causes mass layoffs. Essentially you've eventually got to screw someone over - either your customers, your employees, your industry, your society, and/or the entire world, to maintain continuous growth.

IMO it's a foolish goal.

Indeed, almost like the pure expression of capitalism, unchecked, leads to abuses and negative impacts because literally all that matters, as you will see parroted around here all the time is...

"Its a corporation, it must maximize profit!"

Wont SOMEONE think of the SHAREHOLDERS?!

 

[doctorbadwolf]

What's so great about growth?

I know that it's what capitalism is all about, but I would think (and I run my business this way) that sustainable reasonable profits should be a perfectly fine business goal.

The desire for growth is often what causes busts. It's often what causes mass layoffs. Essentially you've eventually got to screw someone over - either your customers, your employees, your industry, your society, and/or the entire world, to maintain continuous growth.

IMO it's a foolish goal.

It’s built into the fundamental nature of the idea of shareholders. Any publicly traded company works for its shareholders.

The shareholder only make money if the company grows.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

What's so great about growth?

in the short term it means more jobs more production more input and more people helped by your product... it's only when growth is chased at crazy points that it is a problem...

IF I sell 2 apples today 3 apples tomorrow and 5 apples the day after that, the growth is great but if the day after that I sell 4 I should be happy to sell 4 not mad it wasn't the 6 or 7 I projected.
It only gets worse when you are selling so many apples you can't imagine more people wanting them... and you STILL want to find a way to do more the next day.

I know that it's what capitalism is all about, but I would think (and I run my business this way) that sustainable reasonable profits should be a perfectly fine business goal.

The BEST businesses I have worked with thought that way. Some times you grow sometimes you sustain and sometimes you fall a little behind. Its a marathon though not a sprint and I feel many (especially bigger) companies forget that.

The desire for growth is often what causes busts. It's often what causes mass layoffs. Essentially you've eventually got to screw someone over - either your customers, your employees, your industry, your society, and/or the entire world, to maintain continuous growth.

IMO it's a foolish goal.

yup... sooner or later you hit a wall. You have to decide if this wall is your growth ending, or if you want to hurt your customers or your employees or both (or worse do something illegal) in order to keep growing.
And every briskness hits the wall in different ways at different times. I am sure Amazon and Walmart could still be HUGE and not cut the corners they do, BUT they would be smaller huge companies...

sorry this will get political if I keep going, just know I am happy you run your company the best way,

 

[Lojaan]

One of them called me while clicking buttons in a jpg.

Oh man. This made me laugh and cry at the exact same time