Charles Ryan (and others) out at WotC?

[Kid Charlemagne]

In this case the restriction is a self-imposed one, from within Hasbro. As a matter of policy they can not hire "freelance" someone they just layed off. (I don't know the genesis of that policy.)

I am not certain, but I think that the duration of this "probation" extends to the limit of the severance package.

I used to do freelance camerawork for Sears, and they had the same policy - which came up because they laid off a bunch of staff video technicians and they couldn't hire them back as freelancers until their severance package ran out. When it did, they did hire back a bunch of those people on a freelance basis.

 

[WizarDru]

I think A+A was really in response to Mem44 to be honest, but I personally see a future in board games were the pieces are more important than the board game.

Ah, interesting to know. I thought the tanks seemed a trifle on the small side. Oh, well. I like Memoir '44, too, for wholly different reasons. I guess I'm just to busy/lazy to consider something like FoW (which I've heard many good things about) because of the whole painting and terrain building thing.

To bring this back to being on topic:

what does this mean for the D&D brand, in general. Does someone take over being its sheperd? Is it all freelance, now, and will the quality of publications and editing plummet back to 3.0 splatbook days? Does WotC simply have that much material stored up, or do they see the brand as so static now that this is a workable position?

 

[Pramas]

what does this mean for the D&D brand, in general. Does someone take over being its sheperd? Is it all freelance, now, and will the quality of publications and editing plummet back to 3.0 splatbook days? Does WotC simply have that much material stored up, or do they see the brand as so static now that this is a workable position?

There is a new D&D brand manager. I have never heard of him, so I can't speak to his qualifications or temperment. WotC has already been working with more freelancers and I'm sure that'll continue, but they also still have a big staff of designers, developers, and editors so I don't predict much change. WotC is a big company and it does not turn on a dime. Even if the new brand guy instituted sweeping changes his first day on the job, they wouldn't be noticeable to the consumer for at least a year anyway.

 

[nerfherder]

Best wishes and hope you find new employment soon, Charles.

When I asked on another thread when Millenium's End 3.0 was coming out, I swear I had no idea...

Cheers,
Liam

 

[WizarDru]

There is a new D&D brand manager. I have never heard of him, so I can't speak to his qualifications or temperment. WotC has already been working with more freelancers and I'm sure that'll continue, but they also still have a big staff of designers, developers, and editors so I don't predict much change. WotC is a big company and it does not turn on a dime. Even if the new brand guy instituted sweeping changes his first day on the job, they wouldn't be noticeable to the consumer for at least a year anyway.

Well, that's good to know...I guess. Frankly every time I get used to someone of talent at WotC, they end up getting fired. It's not a trend I think I ever really want to get used to. Having no idea of WotC's size, I wasn't sure if this meant that they'd gutted their creative divisions or not. Still stinks to lose your job, especially at this time of year.

Except for when 500 coworkers and I got laid off from Lockheed. I hated that job so much, I was relieved to be fired. Hate those guys. [grumble, grumble]

 

[Muddyboots]

Charlie! Contact me!

Charlie,

I'm sorry to hear the news!

If you see this, contact me via E-mail

WEB from The Rock

AKA Muddyboots

 

[William Ronald]

Charles, I wish you, Michelle Lyons, and the other people fired from WotC the best. I have enjoyed many of WotC's releases in the past few years, and I wish all of you the best. I hope that we will continue to see you on the boards, and that you and the other employees will find good jobs soon. Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your second child! You are handling this bad news with a great deal of class.

I am trying to recall how far WotC is from its top number of employees. I can't recall, but a layoff around the holidays is always rough.

I can's say what this means for the Dungeons and Dragons line, as it seems that Hasbro has been making cuts in many areas. As for Hecatomb, I was not really aware of the product. We should remember that Hasbro is a large company, and the the decision to get rid of many of the big salaries could not only reflect issues beyond the D&D line.. The firings could reflect cuts throughout many divisions of Hasbro. (I have little insight into how Hasbro is doing as a whole, but I have seen companies make cuts in all divisions because of problems in a few subsidiary companies.)

There is a new D&D brand manager. I have never heard of him, so I can't speak to his qualifications or temperment. WotC has already been working with more freelancers and I'm sure that'll continue, but they also still have a big staff of designers, developers, and editors so I don't predict much change. WotC is a big company and it does not turn on a dime. Even if the new brand guy instituted sweeping changes his first day on the job, they wouldn't be noticeable to the consumer for at least a year anyway.

I have worked for some large companies, and will testify to how hard it is to make sweeping changes. Projects can be in development for months, or years. So, based on what we have seen on these boards about releases going into September, I agree that we would not notice major changes for another year. (Who is the new manager? I am slightly worried about someone managing the D&D line who may not be familair with gaming.)

Siran Dunmorgan and Muddyboots: Welcome to the boards! I wish it was under better circumstances.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Well, that's good to know...I guess. Frankly every time I get used to someone of talent at WotC, they end up getting fired. It's not a trend I think I ever really want to get used to. Having no idea of WotC's size, I wasn't sure if this meant that they'd gutted their creative divisions or not. Still stinks to lose your job, especially at this time of year.

Agreed. What stinks about this is that, in my ever so humble opinion, Charles was doing an awesome job, and him getting canned has nothing to do with his abilities as a brand manager. Ditto for Peter Archer, who should be getting more attention in all this.

 

[William Ronald]

Agreed. What stinks about this is that, in my ever so humble opinion, Charles was doing an awesome job, and him getting canned has nothing to do with his abilities as a brand manager. Ditto for Peter Archer, who should be getting more attention in all this.

I agree about the job that Charles was doing. As for Peter Archer, I am not familiar with the sales of WoTC's books. However, they do take up several stacks of the science fiction section at a local Border's. I am not familiar with all the names mentioned in the Gaming Report article but it does seem as if many of the most prominent people at WoTC were fired.

I wish we had more of an idea if the firings were due to problems with the D&D line or other factors.

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Because of the Microsoft Permatemp lawsuits, I think they're prevented from laying someone off and then turning around and hiring them back as a "contractor" to do the same job.

When I was laid off back in 2001, that was true. There was a 6 month minimum wait before that department could offer me any work.

Having been in exactly this situation -- laid off a year after moving my family across the country to take the job, my heart goes out to all affected. And that's not just those laid off. Their families, friends and coworkers all pay a price for this kind of thing.

My opinion of the kind of corporate planning that has people in the same department, in some cases the exact same people, hired and laid off in alternating waves over a 5 year span can't be stated on a family-friendly messagebaord, but be assured it's negative.

Owen K.C. Stephens
Alumnus, WotC school of hard knocks.