I watched a stream the other day with Erik Mona as the guest discussing the announcement of PF 2E Remastered. Wizards' involvement with the Pinkertons and the failure of 4e were both brought up during the first 30 minutes of a two-and-a-half hour stream. I understand that Wizards should not have hired the Pinkertons and intimidation is never the way to do business, but does it seem to anyone else that streamers are just trying to blow up anything that Wizards does anymore? It started with the OGL scandal, moved on to the movie not being a blockbuster, followed with the agenda of the Creator Summit, and now the Pinkerton scandal has started. The latest attack is Paizo blaming the OGL for needing to publish new books this year, even though Wizards walked back the OGL and they would suffer massive public outcry and brand damage if they renege on that decision.
Maybe it's just me, but I find Paizo and many of it's players using constant smear tactics to be objectionable. I'm starting to view it more and more as tearing down D&D and less as altruistic attempts to hold a large corporate entity to acceptable standards. The D&D movie is now closing in on $200 million globally, and it still may lose money, but it's been generating revenue for weeks now because word of mouth has kept the money coming in. Paizo-friendly streams or players aren't going to talk about that for sure.
I don't think it's a coincidence that Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford have ramped up their time in front of the camera recently. The orders to increase face time are probably coming down from the executives making these unforced errors, but I'm not sure they wouldn't revel at the chance to do it anyway. They have both worked tirelessly over decades and all these smear tactics are threatening the work they have put into the industry, their livelihood, and the designers they are working with now to produce D&D '24. It may not be the best strategy to light a fire under what may be the two most accomplished designers ever in the industry.
Two of Wizards' actions have been unexcusable this year-the hiring of the Pinkertons and attempting to revoke the OGL. Condem Wizards for these actions and move on. I would prefer not to have the game I enjoy playing most being attacked incessantly for years to come for anything it's detractors can spin, and I hope others will join me in condemning these actions.
