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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 14:38:49
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Steven Radney-McFarland, Rob Heinsoo, Chris Sims and Logan Bonner, along with several unnamed publishing and artists have been laid off by WoTC. Must really, really suck to get fired just before Christmas. Apparently WoTC are taking A Christmas Carol as a manual on how to run a business.
Rob Heinsoo designed a lot of stuff for WoTC, not least being lead designer on 4th Edition itself. He's also named on the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting.
Chris Sims worked as a game designer and web specialist for Wizards of the Coast. His recent credits included the 4th Edition Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide, as well as the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide.
Logan Bonner also worked as a game designer, most recently on Dungeon Tiles, D&D Miniatures, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, and Adventurer's Vault.
Stephen Radney-McFarland used to be content manager for the RPGA, and later worked as a developer for WoTC. Not sure of any direct writing credits, so if anyone does know, do share.
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 14:52:14
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Yes, Its most unfortunate.
I "heard" about it last night. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 15:02:33
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This is indeed unfortunate news, as I'm quite the fan of Heinsoo's work -- both Realms and non-FR alike. 
Here's hoping they find productive employment elsewhere. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36874 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 15:04:57
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Alright, before this gets started... Yes, it does very much suck for those who just lost their jobs. I've been in that position myself, so I know firsthand just how much it sucks.
But keep in mind that WotC is a business, and makes decisions from a business standpoint. This decision is one that looks bad for them, and it's the latest in a string of decisions that many people would find questionable, at the least. But it was a business decision -- not a personal one. So we don't need to resume (yet again  ) the aleady worn out "WotC is t3h evil!" chorus.
I'm not defending them, far from it. I'm just saying to keep things in the proper frame of mind. We've already had way too much random WotC-bashing in these halls.
Now, that said, I'm taking the mod hat back off. That thing always messes up my hair!
As I said above, I've in the past also found myself unemployed right before Christmas. In my case, though, I was the only one shown the door, and it was directly due to having a painfully incompetent manager. I fully sympathize with these former WotC employees and their families, and I wish them much luck and hope their unemployment doesn't last as long as my recent one did. Hopefully, Paizo or one of the other gaming companies will be quick to snatch these guys up.
There are also some interesting implications of this manuever. Though many individual anecdotes have suggested otherwise, there's been little concrete evidence that 4E wasn't doing wonderful things for WotC's bottom line. But layoffs generally indicate that a business isn't doing as well as hoped, and that -- coupled with them letting go of the top 4E guy -- really makes one wonder just how well 4E is truly doing. You put this together with Paizo's current success, and it doesn't paint the rosiest picture of either 4E sales or WotC's future. The next couple years are going to be very interesting to watch, thinks I. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2009 : 15:17:13
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Yeah it doesn't look good....layoff of the top 4e guy and a mutual parting with who I thought probably would have sold as many or more 4e novels as any author(besides RA), Paul S. Kemp......things are starting to look bad on the novel and game side.
Hope all those guys find a new home somewhere and can take care of their families. That's whats important. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 05 Dec 2009 15:18:22 |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 02:05:32
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| SRM's being laid off??? if SRM is going, something is utterly, completely wrong, and maybe the ship is sinking... |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 05:32:01
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It is end of year, Budget needs to be presented to the "overlords" for next year.
The quickest way to budget is to cut costs and hope revenue meets estimates. Often the best way to cut costs are to reduce high paid employees and replace with lower cost replacements.
We have seen this years past from WotC, the end of year contracts. We also have seen other companies do the same thing - automobile dealerships have been canceled on December 24th.
All in all it appears to comes down to "bean counters" looking at what the cost is.
Perhaps that is a little unfair as they need to guess how much income will be produced as well.
Termination of the respected names, however would appear to me to reduce estimated income for the next year. There after all is a reason CEOs get paid 1 USD a minute (if not more), that being they make more then they cost. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 06:43:24
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| Wow. Is there anyone from the 4e design team left? I find it weird that they keep laying off the people who made their shiny, new game system. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 07:21:43
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Y'know what's funny?
I had to open Internet Explorer on my laptop for the first time in MONTHS (I'm a Firefox fan), just so I can log in to the WizBoards to see what the chatter is on this. I don't check the boards much anymore since they are Firefox incompatible.
After looking through a dozen (!) technical issues/complaint threads, I finally found the thread that discusses it. Which, turns out, is basically saying "Check out what I found out on ENWorld!".
Oh, and to answer your question, Hawk: Peter Lee, Matt Sernett, Steve Schubert, Peter Schaefer, Mike Mearls, Bruce Cordell, James Wyatt, Rich Baker and Rodney Thompson |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 08:39:42
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Unfortunate to hear. I wish the best to the former employees and their families. Hopefully the news doesn't weight on their minds too much during the holidays.
It does sadden me even more to know that the primary in-house designer responsible for both the 3e and 4e FRCS books is no longer with the company, and included with him the other designers for the 4E FR books. I think that is consistent with the company's much greater focus on other aspects of the game, with settings relegated to one offs and freelance written articles as necessary.
With the series of layoffs this year and last, I think WotC is running on a much slimmer set up, given the times and the already freelance heavy nature of the industry. |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 14:12:11
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I have found the threads at enworld very revealing.
Paizo has had to lay-off workers before.
None this year, but it happens to even the best. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Neil Bishop
Learned Scribe
Singapore
100 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 14:33:57
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I sincerely wish them all the best finding new jobs.
I just hope we never see Rich Baker's name in that list. He is by far and away the best designer WotC has, IMO, and the only one who is a competent author as well. |
Regards
NXB |
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Cleric Generic
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
565 Posts |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2009 : 17:28:53
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| Always sorry to see someone loose their jobs, especially before Christmas. |
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WoTC Christmas Layoffs 2009
