Is Now the Time to Send WOTC a Real Message?

[National Acrobat]

My two cents on this, I agree with DonAdam on his points and I agree with most of the other people who believe that the creative minds who have been laid off will now be able to create as they wish. I believe we will see that thanks to the OGL/D20 system. While they may not be able to make the kind of salary they used to, now they will be able to creatively do whatever they wish and those of us familiar with their work will gain much enjoyment out of it I believe. I know I certainly have enjoyed Monte's stuff a lot since he started Malhavoc Press. As an employee of a large, corporate entity I am a fish in a barrel. Unfortunately, that is how it works these days, recessions don't help. I don't think boycotting WOTC is the answer, possibly sending correspondence to Hasbro might be, but in truth, corporations do what they do to bring profits to their shareholders. That is the reality of the situation. I think the OGL/D20 system will keep the game going regardless of what happens, there will be plenty of stuff out there to use.

 

[brak1]

The toughest thing about this is that we're talking about one of the few industries where product is directly relatable to the people who created it. We're bitter and angry because we associate these names with superior work. Hasbro fires them and we can't help but think "well damn, I KNOW those folks produced good stuff. I knew them and their work and I liked it. I have no idea what will come from this company next. Back to square one - I can't just pick a book up based on the names on the credits page." That, and when you know a person's work and like it, some of that like is bound to be transferred to the actual creator. This doesn't happen with stuff like, oh, say... toilet paper. ("Joe Smith made the softest, most absorbent tissue paper EVER. And they just let him go! Now what will I wipe with?")

So, bitterness and acrimony is expected and understood. Wanting to "make things right" or "make your voice heard" is also understood. We want things to be fair, and this doesn't seem fair. In fact, it seems stupid and short-sighted. But corporations in general are often both.

But that's why I think a boycott won't work. Because nobody at Hasbro is looking at reasons. If they were looking at reasons they would have kept a lot of the people they fired. They look at the bottom line and have meetings about what the problem is. We have no idea what happens in those meetings, but we do know what they're response is: cut. So if their sales drop sharply on D&D are you absolutely sure they'll get the message? Or will they just cut again? And are you absolutely sure they'll just sell WotC or D&D in the end? Or will they chunk up the properties individually and try and make more money that way? Can you see FR being sold to a TV production company? We'd never see RPG books from it again.

Okay, that's totally alarmist. And I have probably less idea than most what the future holds. All I'm saying is that boycotts work on big "money maker" items. A company will change Barby so she doesn't say "Math is hard!" because Barby makes money and they don't want to lose those bucks. They're cutting staff because WotC is NOT making money, or at least not what they expect.

I guess if we're going to do anything I'd rather see a petition. One that clearly outlines our concerns, our gripes and explains (in simple terms) why D&D is a good thing, why it will always make them money (if not scads) and why if they continue down the course they're on they will be strangling the goose that lays the golden egg. If we got just the people who sent into the Setting Search to sign it, that's a lot of pressure - and one that corporations are used to seeing. I mean, 11,000 people saying "we will buy your product for the foreseeable future if you change your ways thusly" is going to have more impact than a general scream of rage and a drop in sales.

Anyway. Just my opinion. We welcome yours.

 

[Ravellion]

"Job security as a whole is a thing of the past. People can click to it, or we can embrace the inevitable advent of economic flexibility. There will be bad decisions made (this is one) but on the whole very few jobs will be secure as the economy involves."

The problem with this is that you might hurt Average Worker Productivity. Most workers won't feel for their company or their product, since they know they are dispensable anyway.

Layoffs like these aren't possible everywhere in the world. (as in the "social democracies" of Scandinavia). (note to those who don't know - The Netherlands is NOT a scandinavian country *)
Of course, this kind of freedom does stimulate starting ventures a lot. Still, I think most people want stability in their lives, and job security (here in the Netherlands it is also slowly becoming less of a sacred cow) is important to them. I am very curious to see how these developments pan out.

This brings me to the WotC lay offs. I hope the people find something new soon. I hope they knew beforehand they were being sacked. I hope they don't have to move halfway cross the US for a new job. They are, for a large degree, responsible for some of the fun I've had in the last 7 years or so. I think voting done with yuour wallet should be done vice versa: not dismissing WotC products, but buying their (almost undoubtedtly good) products if they choose to enter D20 publishing.

Rav

* OT: I've met several well educated, intelligent, gaming Americans who thought otherwise. European topography isn't something tought in certain US high schools?

 

[Storm Raven]

The problem with this is that you might hurt Average Worker Productivity. Most workers won't feel for their company or their product, since they know they are dispensable anyway.

Or they might work harder to make sure they are not someone who is deemed expendable when the review comes down the pipe. It could work either way.

[snip]

* OT: I've met several well educated, intelligent, gaming Americans who thought otherwise. European topography isn't something tought in certain US high schools?

Oh, it's there, but probably focused on less than it is in European schools. Do you know where Okeefenokee, the Red River, the Black Hills or the Painted Desert are?

 

[WizarDru]

Speaking as someone who's been unemployed for 9 months after his company (a division of a 50,000 employee company) laid off the entire 550 person staff, I can certainly understand how layoffs work (especially since it isn't the first time). Hasbro isn't a company based on creativity...they see the writers as just literary engineers, and one game designer is as good as another, whether or not this makes any sense. Why was one designer let go, while another wasn't? Budgetary reasons, most likely. Someone like Jeff Grubb, who's been with TSR since 1e days (and is one of the best writers around), has probably acrued more vacation, pay grades and benefits than someone like the author of Sword and Fist. I don't necessarily like it, but I understand it. I don't like it when anyone looses their job due to economic reasons, Period. Especially when WOTC was the Golden Child for a while, and seemed like they could do no wrong (Magic, Pokemon, reviving D&D). Now, they're just like everybody else.


Hasbro most likely has no idea who Malhavoc is, for a start. And let's be clear, Malhavoc isn't a competitor...all the print materials they've released has come from S&SS, and they barely register in sales. More importantly, Hasbro is rating against their own perceptions and profitability margin. Making D&D unprofitable will result in no new materials, but Hasbro won't likely sell the D&D name, it's worth too much in name-recognition. Everyone knows the D&D name, and that's worth a great deal, even if they don't utilize it except for licensing.

I'll still purchase the WOTC books that interest me. This is the third or fourth layoff WOTC's had in the last two years. Things are tough all over, as they say. Am I unhappy that Skip and Jeff are on the street? Sure. But I'm more unhappy that I'm on the street. Hurting WOTC more doesn't really accomplish much than put more folks out of work, which I'm not terribly fond of. They were paid for the work when they did it, and most of these works have been done for over a year, waiting for a space in the publishing schedule and budget. I don't know if they recieve royalties, though.

A petition might accomplish something, though I'm not sure what. But making Hasbro aware of the WOTC client base's feelings probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Blacksad]

Yeah, that's a great thing to do to WotC. Kick them where it hurts while they're still on the ground bleeding... Let's give them a chance to lick their wounds. As far as I can see, there are still several products that some of these people HAVE worked on that I want.

Monster Manual II
Book of Vile Darkness
d20 Modern
Savage Species
Fiend Folio
Arms & Equipment Guide (though Kenzer's "Complete Arms & Equipment Guide" in November may be more than enough, since it sounds like a combo of the original A&EG and Aurora's)

Of course, there's more coming out from 3rd party publishers that I'm getting, but that's besides the point. ;D

Chris

I will buy those products too, but after? I don't know.

If they use good freelancer, I might buy new WotC book, but if WotC doesn't produce anything good after that, I will gladly kick WotC on the ground while it is still bleeding, it will give more room for other publishers, and reduce the value of the D&D brand, so that if someone wants to buy it, he would have money left to pay editor and game designer.

 

[Psion]

Let the market tend to itself, I say. Is there really a need to do a conscious boycott? Ask yourself "to what end." Of course, you want the products to be the best. That sort of thing takes care of itself, IMO. You put out crap products, people won't buy.

I already think the quality of products from WotC has plummeted from the first round of layoffs... this year has had a lot of turkeys if you ask me (DDG, SBG, BoC, etc.) They are cutting deeper into the creative department.

Will this affect me? I don't know. Maybe some fat needs trimmed. But maybe next year will be more dismal than this year and I will see. But if next year is good, then a boycott serves no purpose.

So go out and buy stuff that interests you. Skip the stuff that doesn't. If by that formula, the D&D remains unprofitable, perhaps Hasborg will come to the conclusion that these offers to buy it don't sound so bad.

 

[Frostmarrow]

OT: I've met several well educated, intelligent, gaming Americans who thought otherwise. European topography isn't something tought in certain US high schools?

It's a common held belief in Europe that Americans are bad at geography. It's not correct but it's American media who have reported it to Europe. I can't remember what TV-show featured Americans who couldn't place America on a world map. However, I fondly remember a snippet of the Jay Leno-show where uneducated people competed in a ultra-easy quiz-show and got everything wrong.

On the other hand, there are some misconceptions about my country in America as well. For instance we don't commit suicide more than any other people. It was Richard Nixon who said something or other to that effect on national television in America. Sadly, he was misinformed at the time.

Still, it often surprises me how I have more in common with people on the other side of the planet than I have with my neighbours. But that's human kind for you.

I feel bad for the people who have been laid off today, it's sort of like 'save or die' isn't it? One day you have a job and the next day you don't. I wouldn't worry too much though as everything will work out in the end. Remember, the opposite is also true; One day you are unemployed and the next your back in the saddle. It happens so fast you won't know what hit you.

Good luck!

 

[Leopold]

i'm gonna voice this on here:

this was a business decision not a personal one.


Hasbro/WOTC had a reason to lay these people off, what that we can only guess upon.

So if anything protesting and buying NO books will cause more layoffs and more setbacks in the end hurting more people. Like someone already said, it's Hasbro you want to go for and not WOTC. Start writing letters to them about the recent layoffs and product quality, i am sure they will take notice if they start recieving a ton of PHYSICAL mail and not email as snail mail is 10X more powerful than a simple email.


It's a never ending vicious circle of death in corporate life but you gotta play the game to keep going.

 

[Leopold]

I think I'll continue buying WotC stuff, and boycott the REST of Hasbro.

smartest thing i heard all day..and it's only 830am!