From: [w w games] at [aol.com] (WWGames)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.storyteller
Subject: WHITE WOLF ANNOUNCES LAY OFFS (WWGames)
Date: 4 Jan 1996 02:56:47 -0500

I had hoped to have the luxury to wait until tomorrow before posting, but
I think I need to write all this tonight.

White Wolf laid off about 15 employees today, from all sections of the
company.  The situation is rough, but let me settle a few things.  White
Wolf is not going under.  White Wolf is not being bought out by Wizards of
the Coast or any other company.  (I've had this question sent to me a lot
today - just a weird rumor.)  We made some mistakes in 1995, and now we're
paying the price for them.  We over estimated sales in some areas, tried
to grow too fast and over-hired in others.  We had a crash of our
accounting system and some problems with racks to hold our product which
cost the company a lot of money, and a lot of opportunity.  

My own job was cut, as was Jennifer Hartshorn's (Vampire Developer) and
Tim Byrd's (Rage Internet Rep.).  The choice was horribly difficult for
the management to make, I know.  Steve Wieck, White Wolf's President,
called us all to a meeting this morning and went into detail about company
financials to explain the reason for the cuts. Losing my job does suck, no
doubt about it, but understanding why it was done, and *agreeing* with
that choice made it a lot easier.  Our jobs weren't cut just to "trim the
fat" or to make other areas of the company look more profitable on paper -
they were cut to preserve the stability of the company.

I still think White Wolf is a great company, and I hope that I'll be able
to find another job within the company.  I have very marketable job skills
and can find another, much better paying job in corporate Atlanta, I have
no doubt.  I want to stay at White Wolf because I believe in the company,
though.  White Wolf grew very fast and when you get too big for your
breeches, you're bound to split a seam - they're always a little smaller
when you sew them up.  8) WW will be around for awhile, though.

I know a lot of you are angry and will want to respond to this action.  If
you want to do something about this, please have sympathy for those of us
who lost our jobs, but remember the people who still work at the company. 
Support them and support White Wolf.  It's not just the employees, but the
fans - you guys who buy the books - who made the company.  You're the ones
who will save it now.  It's not easy to be positive about this, but that's
the way to get through it.  If you want to make a statement, send a
message to White Wolf and its management, please make it a *positive*
statement that you care about the products and the people who make them. 
Believe me, we can generate enough anger and despair on our own!  Now it's
us who are turning to *you* for support!

Thanks very much for reading my blathering.  It is tough to hold it
together, but I'm doing okay so far.  We'll see how that holds through
tomorrow.  I'll be in my office through Friday, and I have no clue what
happens to me or my email access after that.  I don't believe anyone will
be picking up my duties as Internet Rep. for the Game Studio.  Tim Byrd,
the Rage Internet Rep. ([R--e--m] at [aol.com]) and Todd Mayville, Rage Dept.,
are also leaving.  I'm not sure who, if anyone, will assume their duties.

Thanks, everyone for your support.  It means a lot right about now.

Trace o'Connor
Former Editing & Development Coordinator
White Wolf Game Studio