D&D's new Open Gaming License

[m7600]

Critical Role's stance on the situation:

 

[Antimatter]

Still a tad weak there from Critical Role, but at least they said something.

 

[m7600]

 

[shmity72]

good interview. I wish I still had my advanced dnd near mint condition original dungeon modules from the 70s I sold off on ebay in the late 90s!

The Temple of Elemental Evil - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Antimatter]

Turns out, actions have consequences. But these consequences affect normal people working in the company that made bad decisions.

Hasbro Layoffs Affect Wizards Of The Coast

Hasbro, parent company to Wizards of the Coast, announced that it would be laying off 1100 staff members in an internal company wide email on December 11th.

www.forbes.com

1100 (!) people laid off. More than the number from Epic Games earlier this year (900).

Key DnD and MTG staffers laid off despite Wizards’ success

Despite raking in profits, Wizards of the Coast was hit hard by the Hasbro layoffs, with lots of DnD and MTG workers losing their jobs.

www.wargamer.com

 

[OrlonKronsteen]

@Antimatter That's terrible. I think this forum needs a 'sad' reaction button.

Is this one of those layoffs that's really about maintaining grotesque profit margins, rather than maintaining solvency?

 

[Zaxares]

Is this one of those layoffs that's really about maintaining grotesque profit margins, rather than maintaining solvency?

Almost certainly the former, yeah. And it's a decision that will almost certainly come back to bite them in the rear. D&D is on a high right now given the positive reception it's had in things like Honor Among Thieves and (much more broadly) in BG3, but Hasbro looks to be canning a lot of the team who actually KNOWS what they're doing. It's a bit like firing all the knowledge experts in your business who actually make the products you sell because "grunt level workers shouldn't be paid that much".

 

[OrlonKronsteen]

@Zaxares I had a feeling that would be the case. It seems that the stupidity of management defies comprehension more often than not. Couple that with greed and the erosion of antitrust law and enforcement, and we have a world that's going to hell.

 

[Cahir]

I wonder how it will impact Larian plans. I guess, it depends if their initial contract with WoTC was to make just BG3 or more games in FR setting. Getting to terms with new guys from WoTC may be something Swen won't have the will to do, especially if someone decides that it would be a bright idea to stick their nose into Larian's creative design process.

 

[OrlonKronsteen]

There are hints of new games, as @Antimatter has alluded to, so one assumes there would have been a provisional contract of some sort.

Getting to terms with new guys from WoTC may be something Swen won't have the will to do, especially if someone decides that it would be a bright idea to stick their nose into Larian's creative design process.

That would truly be a disaster. Let’s hope Hasbro/WoTC are at least smart enough to understand that. Larian is the goose that laid the golden egg here.