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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5428827" data-attributes="member: 82106">And on the contrary view we have nothing but vague speculation to say that 4e sales aren't good. We've really not heard anything to suggest it is at all bad. Supposedly PF and 4e sell at roughly equal rates. Paizo certainly doesn't seem to be dying, so I would say it is quite feasible that 4e is doing fine too. WotC has been hiring and firing RPG game devs since long before 4e was even conceived. The place has a rotating door. Half the people doing RPG development on a serious basis have worked there in the past dozen years. I don't know what the size of the staff in the D&D department is now, but I'd imagine it was ramped up for pumping out the last 3 years of 4e stuff. Is it now more or less than it was in say 2005? I really don't know. This might be something one could deduce, unlike sales, but I haven't actually seen where anyone has made that comparison. I'd say staffing levels are a good indication of where things are at, but even if they are just back to what they had in 3.x days that just means they have what they need to cruise along. Times are hard too, companies are running lean and mean. Far and few between are those that are adding lots of staff.And really, what does all this talk of sinking ships and desperate times really rest on? It rests on the cancellation of TWO (possibly 3) books. It is an interesting event, but hardly unprecedented or earth shattering in its implications. It could represent a desire to shift more to digital content, a difference of opinion between managers, or just an indication that these products are no longer considered important for some other reason or a combination of multiple reasons. Sure, it is possible that things are all to hell over there, but if so then why no layoffs this year? Why no change of management. If it is really that bad I'd think you'd lay someone off and go ahead and put out the books you have in the pipeline. Obviously things aren't THAT desperate. Chances are really it is a mix of things and the truth is somewhere in between awesome and disaster. We'll no doubt find out at least what products they will be concentrating on at DDXP soon. I'm curious, but hardly alarmed.</blockquote>

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