From: [t s rkeith] at [aol.com] (TSRKeith)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Date: 15 Dec 2000 08:16:17 GMT
Subject: WOTC Layoff Response
Message-ID: <[20001215031617 07533 00011019] at [ng-cs1.aol.com]>

   I posted a message to an industry mailing list regarding the WOTC
restructuring and its effect on the RPG business. I'm posting it here because I
think it will be of interest to you folks:

 I understand everyone's concern and speculation at this juncture, and there's
not a lot I can add to the larger discussion of Wizards of the Coast, but I
wanted to let everyone know that Dungeons & Dragons and the proposed D20
strategy are alive and well. Hasbro has on numerous occassions pointed to its
strong performing brands like Dungeons & Dragons. They have great respect for
the vibrant resurgence of D&D and continuaqlly talk about their hopes and plans
for D&D as it continues to grow.

   Specifically relating to the TRPG and Miniatures group, our corporate
restructuring has helped us focus on the strategies and product lines that are
the backbone of our business, and I urge you all to keep an eye out for the
plans we will unveil in the future.

   I have worked at Wizards of the Coast since they purchased TSR, Inc (where I
spent two years as an editor and a designer) and have worked on the TRPG
category team since 1998, when Ryan Dancey assembled a small group of dedicated
folks who labored hard to revive a dying business. I have been fortunate enough
to learn and grow under Ryan's tutelage, and on October 10th of this year, I
assumed his responsibilities, as well as the leadership of our miniatures
division. This leadership has not (and will not, at least for the forseeable
future) changed, and the team that I have been training and working with on the
TRPG and minis categories remains essentially the same. There has been no
corporate mandate or interference with the running of these categories, and we
are indeed looking forward to working with Hasbro to grow our brands and the
hobby industry as a whole. 

   The future does indeed look bright for the RPG category. Sales of Star Wars
and D&D continue to grow and the D20 strategy will officially see the light of
day (look for upcoming news about that soon). Restructuring and reorganizing is
always difficult, but the changes that have taken place at Wizards will only
enable us to perform even better as a company that produces quality game
products. 

   Please feel free to disseminate this email far and wide, to lists both
professional and fan-driven. It's past midnight and I, like many other WOTC
employees have had a long and tiring day, but I did want this info to
circulate.  I hope this helps clear up any initial confusion or questions you
may have.

Keith Strohm
Director
Tabletop RPGs and Minis
Wizards of the Coast