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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Argyle King" data-source="post: 5981410" data-attributes="member: 58416">I think the situation is similar to how 'professional wrestling' was in the 90s.  There were two large companies - WCW and WWF (which is now WWE.)  They did not cooperate, and -in fact- were actively trying to put each other out of business.  In my humble opinion, that level of competition between the two companies caused both of them to up their game and provide a more compelling product. (Even if you're not a fan, you've probably heard of Stone Cold and The Rock.) Storylines became better; the in-ring product became better; everything was required to be better because one slip up could be the death knell for one company or the other.  Today, only one of those two companies remain, and -again, in my humble opinion- the product has suffered because of the lack of competition.  (Though, as a fan, I would also say that this year has been fairly good so far.  I've seen what I feel is an attempt to recover quality from a previous era.)Personally, I feel that has a lot of parallels with what is going on in regards to rpgs now.  I often feel as though WoTC comes across as WCW at times.  They have loads of talent, but the corporate management is somewhat unskilled at knowing how to use it.  While the creative team does a really good job at coming up with ideas, those ideas are not always well suited to the product they are trying to produce nor the fanbase they are trying to please.  It seems to be that WoTC is searching for an answer to these problems.  Perhaps what I listed aren't even the actual problems, but my perception as a fan is there are some problems within the company in the product.  I am glad they are searching for answers, but I am not currently convinced they are finding the right answers.  I would compare that to WCW trying to hire Vince Russo (who was part of the WWF creative team.)  They thought he would update their product and make it better, but -by most accounts- he ran it into the ground.  I do not have a desire for WoTC or D&D to fail.  As a fan of rpgs, my only desire is that my wallet reward products for being (what I feel) are good products.  To some minor extent, I understand the idea of brand loyalty.  I buy a lot of SJ Games products because I have become a fan of the company's work, and I trust that the brand produces things I will enjoy.  Likewise, I bought Elder Scrolls: Skyrim without much question.  At one point in time, I had no qualms about buying D&D products based on name.That being said, a company needs to earn loyalty from customers.  I became loyal to the brands I mentioned because they produced products I wanted.  Even the ones which were maybe a little under par were still enjoyable.  If a company starts to repeatedly violate my trust, and I feel that I am spending money on things I do not want nor enjoy on a regular basis, my loyalty can be lost.  I do not feel it helps me as a customer wanting a product I enjoy nor do I feel it helps the hobby as a whole to get better if I continue to buy products based on name while ignoring quality.  I feel it is far healthier to support brands which (I feel) are moving in a direction I generally feel is the right direction and brands which (I feel) are producing products of quality.  I'm ok with buying the occasional lemon now and then, but it shouldn't be a regular thing.  Don't place a bunch of banana stickers on a pound of lemons and expect me to continue making banana splits with your product.  Instead, I'll start buying my fruit somewhere else.</blockquote>

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