Dragon 315: "The Suits"

[Arnwyn]

Dragon #315 (with the previous campaign settings articles) was pretty darn good. One of my favorite parts was the little sidebar beside each article that talked about the history of the development of each campaign setting.

I noticed a slightly humorous trend - many of them mentioned that they believed that such-and-such campaign setting was successful because they flew under the radar of the "suits". This was mentioned more than a few times.

Does anyone have any conjecture/speculation/inside information of who these suits were? I found it mighty interesting these particular people were mentioned so often in regards to the development of new campaign settings...

 

[Henry]

I doubt it was specific individuals; "The Suits" is a catch-all term for the corporate brass whose primary goal is to ensure the company's finances are in the Black, rather than in the Red. As you know, they've been learning for a while that mechanics sell better than fluff, so anything that is primarily art for art's sake is less likely to go over well with said "suits."

Ryan Dancey was one of the few "suits" I've ever seen in the industry who proved his "geek-chops" to me. I can't even call Peter Adkison a "suit", because I can't ever remember seeing him wear one in a picture.

 

[Breakstone]

I really enjoyed reading those articles as well. I like how a bunch of different people had the same idea for Dragonlance at the same time in different places. Reminds me of how I've come up with campaigns before.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I doubt it was specific individuals; "The Suits" is a catch-all term for the corporate brass whose primary goal is to ensure the company's finances are in the Black, rather than in the Red. As you know, they've been learning for a while that mechanics sell better than fluff, so anything that is primarily art for art's sake is less likely to go over well with said "suits."

Ryan Dancey was one of the few "suits" I've ever seen in the industry who proved his "geek-chops" to me. I can't even call Peter Adkison a "suit", because I can't ever remember seeing him wear one in a picture.

he prefers pirate outfits.

 

[francisca]

Does anyone have any conjecture/speculation/inside information of who these suits were? I found it mighty interesting these particular people were mentioned so often in regards to the development of new campaign settings...

She who cannot be named?

 

[Dogbrain]

I can't even call Peter Adkison a "suit", because I can't ever remember seeing him wear one in a picture.

He wore a tie at the first GenCon that WotC appeared at. I'm sure he'll deny it, but he had it on when we got into the WW suite party and I had far too much of the worst pink wine I've ever tasted. At least Mistress Switch was fun company.

 

[Arnwyn]

I doubt it was specific individuals;

Oh, I think it was. Reading all those sidebars one after the other (which I did last night, because I found them intriguing), there definitely seemed to be certain individuals involved - made especially clear in the Al-Qadim and Planescape sidebars. There definitely seemed to be specific "management" staff who seemed to like the "hands-on" approach... I wonder who they were?

"The Suits" is a catch-all term for the corporate brass whose primary goal is to ensure the company's finances are in the Black, rather than in the Red.

I know what the term "The Suits" means, Henry. I'm one at the place where I work.

 

[Nightfall]

I like my sage suit a lot.

 

[romp]

this meme was something that definitely caught my attention reading all those sidebars. I think the "suits" referred to someone who constantly liked to change things to suit (pun intended) their whims and predictions of the market audience. I also began to wonder if it was She Who Must Not Be Named. But it might not be.

This is one positive offshoot of the d20 OGL. Settings that had/have more appeal with a niche market have a much better chance to appear with a small game company. Like Dragonstar for instance. I doubt very much that the "suits" at either TSR or WotC would approve work on a book like that. But it has its appeal.

The best thing about a company as big as WotC is being able to afford great art for its books. The right artist can easily make a book/setting like Brom and Dark Sun or Tony Diterlizzi and Planescape.

 

[Jody Butt]

The best thing about a company as big as WotC is being able to afford great art for its books. The right artist can easily make a book/setting like Brom and Dark Sun or Tony Diterlizzi and Planescape.

Where's the great art? All I see is Wayne Reynolds, Martin, and Cramer.

Where's the Brom, the Easley, the Elmore, the Parkinson, and the Caldwell?