[Updated] Chris Sims & Jennifer Clarke Wilkes Let Go From WotC

The details are unclear, but D&D editor Chris Sims has reported that he is now in need of a job, and is willing to relocate. He was hired by WotC in 2005 after working for them as a freelance editor. Part of the D&D 5E launch, he was one of the editors for the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, and was responsible for stat block development in the Monster Manual. The reasons have not been revealed, nor is it clear whether he left or was laid off.

Whether this is an isolated thing or part of more layoffs if unclear right now. More if I hear anything! In the meantime, if you can hire an excellent writer and editor, please do!

For more on ex-WotC employees, please check my list here!

UPDATE: Jennifer Clarke Wilkes is also in the same boat. She has worked on both D&D as an editor and on Magic: the Gathering, and has been working for WotC for many years.

UPDATE 2: Chris Sims confirms here that he and Jennifer were both laid off.

 

[Gecko85]

Here's another way to measure success of a product. Sure, it's only one of many virtual tabletops, and many people don't use virtual tabletops, but it's also one of the largest (might be *the* largest, but I don't know for sure) virtual tabletops out there with lots of games going on:

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/the-orr-group-reports-on-most-played-rpgs-on-roll20-for-q4/

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I agree. I would like to see more adventure support but I guess I can convert for now.

Sure, but adventures are a different thing. Tons of stand alone adventures would be good. I just hope WOTC avoid their old model and Paizo's. "Complete Book of stuff IV coming soon!" Some new books are cool, but in moderation and only when they aren't just a power up. We played 1e for a decade with only one real expansion, Unearthed Arcana, which was a prime example of power bloat when I think back on it.

 

[Morrus]

Here's another way to measure success of a product. Sure, it's only one of many virtual tabletops, and many people don't use virtual tabletops, but it's also one of the largest (might be *the* largest, but I don't know for sure) virtual tabletops out there with lots of games going on:

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/the-orr-group-reports-on-most-played-rpgs-on-roll20-for-q4/

You know I report that stuff each quarter right here, right?

http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?2265-5E-Rises-But-Still-Trails-Pathinder-For-Online-Games

 

[Gecko85]

You know I report that stuff each quarter right here, right?

http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?2265-5E-Rises-But-Still-Trails-Pathinder-For-Online-Games

Sorry, missed that. Did a Google search and the other one popped up.

 

[Mirtek]

I guess that's the magic question then. Because if they only take official WoTC products into account, you'd be technically right. But it would be an awfully silly way to measure the success of a product.

Not really. Frog God's and Co sales are so little compared to official WotC sales, that it had to be a really, really, really close tie for them to matter as far as the ranking is concerned.

 

[Staffan]

Sure, but adventures are a different thing. Tons of stand alone adventures would be good. I just hope WOTC avoid their old model and Paizo's. "Complete Book of stuff IV coming soon!" Some new books are cool, but in moderation and only when they aren't just a power up. We played 1e for a decade with only one real expansion, Unearthed Arcana, which was a prime example of power bloat when I think back on it.

That's why I think one or two "player option" books per year are right. One should be a "grab-bag" of stuff a la Unearthed Arcana - or the old-school Rolemaster Companions. I think it's a lot easier to make a high-quality player-focused book when you can make it with whatever ideas you fancy, rather than only those on a specific topic. I mean, if you'd take the actually useful and balanced spells, feats, and prestige classes from the four first Complete X books for 3.5e, that'd probably make one really amazing hardback.

The second, which maybe should only be made every two or three years, should expand the game in new directions. This is the slot I'd put things like Psionics in.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Not really. Frog God's and Co sales are so little compared to official WotC sales, that it had to be a really, really, really close tie for them to matter as far as the ranking is concerned.

Hoard of the Dragon Queen seems to be pretty big, and it's not a product that was written in house, but by Kobold Press.

 

[Mirtek]

Hoard of the Dragon Queen seems to be pretty big, and it's not a product that was written in house, but by Kobold Press.

It's an official WotC D&D product, no matter who they hire to write it. These outsourced books seem to be the only official WotC D&D products we'll be getting for a long time.

 

[Sacrosanct]

It's an official WotC D&D product, no matter who they hire to write it. These outsourced books seem to be the only official WotC D&D products we'll be getting for a long time.

But I thought the context of this discussion was around WoTC laying people off. So WoTC doesn't need to retain staff if they outsourced their work.

 

[Sailor Moon]

Which is fine with me to be honest. I don't approach an RPG like a CCG where you need to keep buying boosters or anything like that. For me there is enough in the 3 core books to game until the cows come home.

I don't like bloat, but I do like to have books that I can plunder through and take bits and pieces to use in my games. I'm the kind of person that doesn't become paralyzed with fear when I see books.