William Ronald said:
Congratulations from a fellow Chicagolander!!!
Any thoughts on how what has happened in the last 11 years differed from your expectations back then? What were some of the things that were surprising or you wish you had known back then? Also, what are some of the proudest moments for the company? Or the most amusing?
Any thoughts on the next 11 years?
First off, thank you everyone for the kind words. The 11 years sure went a lot faster than we ever thought.
Hmmmn, reflections on the last 11 years...
Well, for starters, I'm pretty surprised (and pleased) that we're still writing RPG stuff after all these years. I never would have guessed that we'd have the rights to make official D&D stuff without actually buying TSR (I figured they'd go under, but didn't figure on being in a position to acquire the rights and/or get a license).
Proudest moments include:
Our first GenCon booth (1994)
Acquiring KoDT and creating the longest-running monthly gaming comic (1997 and still going strong!)
Making our first product (Kingdoms of Kalamar 1994 "for use with AD&D")
Acquiring the rights to the Monty Python and the Holy Grail CCG plus designing & releasing it (1996)
Being able to pay someone full-time for the first time (VP & shareholder Jolly Blackburn, 1996)
Opening our first out-of-the-home office (in Mundelein October 2000)
Releasing our first official D&D product (Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting 2001)
Releasing the HackMaster PHB and GMG (both 2001)
Winning the Origins award for Best magazine (1997-1999 and giving the award to our summer intern)
Winning the Best Game of 2001 (2002 -- and sending random fans up to accept the award on our behalf)
Buying our own office building (2003)
I'm sure I left some off the list...but we really have had a great run and hopefully more to come.
I'll try to post moe on the subject later (particularly the "most amusing question), but I have to run right now...
Dave
