So there's a 'rage' (and argument) thread, but I thought people might appreciate something a bit more focused on discussion of 'achieving outcomes' rather than 'debating principles'. I will just say at the outset that in practical terms of influencing change, I believe people should continue to:
Unsubscribe from DnD Beyond.
Stay unsubscribed until such time as a final, executed OGL is in place which you consider acceptable.
The flip side of that is:
Keep your expectations realistic and reasonable, and engage in a constructive manner. The CEO is not going to be fired, and Hasbro is not going to put out some kind of grovelling press release. Likewise, simply ranting at WotC about what they did wrong isn't going to get you heard, you need to also offer constructive solutions about moving forward.
If WotC does put a final OGL in place that you consider acceptable, rewarding that via resubscribing sends the right message and will influence behaviour in the future.
However the 'maintain the rage' crowd are correct when saying that corporate decision making is influenced by actions, not words. Ceasing 'industrial action' now will send the message that PR statements and surveys are sufficient crisis management. Continuing public criticism is important - people are right to say that opening a survey is (may be) largely an attempt to 'muzzle' the community.
The furor has had a measurable impact, and giving up the momentum now would be a mistake. All of the other press was fine, but this is the one which really matters: https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/17/big-change-coming-for-hasbro-should-investor-worry/ . Their readers do not care in the slightest about D&D, matters of principle, corporate integrity, etc. They care about one thing - stock prices - which is also the thing the Hasbro Board and executive are most concerned about. The Fool is a serious, trusted investment site, and I would not be surprised if that article all by itself causes a dip.
While the statement just made may be entirely genuine, it is also the exact same action that I would recommend, even if corporate plans were largely unchanged (I have worked in the communications department of a billion dollar company as well as the even more cutthroat field of politics, and my specialty is stakeholder relations, political communications and advocacy, and media liaison).
This is where so much change advocacy stumbles after a strong start. People see some 'concessions' being given which seem like they're heading in the right direction and they back off to an extent that they cease to be a significant problem, which then vastly reduces their 'bargaining power'.
To see the outcome you want, you continue the actions which have meaningful consequences, until you get a meaningful result.
So there's a 'rage' (and argument) thread, but I thought people might appreciate something a bit more focused on discussion of 'achieving outcomes' rather than 'debating principles'. I will just say at the outset that in practical terms of influencing change, I believe people should continue to:
Unsubscribe from DnD Beyond.
Stay unsubscribed until such time as a final, executed OGL is in place which you consider acceptable.
The flip side of that is:
Keep your expectations realistic and reasonable, and engage in a constructive manner. The CEO is not going to be fired, and Hasbro is not going to put out some kind of grovelling press release. Likewise, simply ranting at WotC about what they did wrong isn't going to get you heard, you need to also offer constructive solutions about moving forward.
If WotC does put a final OGL in place that you consider acceptable, rewarding that via resubscribing sends the right message and will influence behaviour in the future.
However the 'maintain the rage' crowd are correct when saying that corporate decision making is influenced by actions, not words. Ceasing 'industrial action' now will send the message that PR statements and surveys are sufficient crisis management. Continuing public criticism is important - people are right to say that opening a survey is (may be) largely an attempt to 'muzzle' the community.
The furor has had a measurable impact, and giving up the momentum now would be a mistake. All of the other press was fine, but this is the one which really matters: https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/17/big-change-coming-for-hasbro-should-investor-worry/ . Their readers do not care in the slightest about D&D, matters of principle, corporate integrity, etc. They care about one thing - stock prices - which is also the thing the Hasbro Board and executive are most concerned about. The Fool is a serious, trusted investment site, and I would not be surprised if that article all by itself causes a dip.
While the statement just made may be entirely genuine, it is also the exact same action that I would recommend, even if corporate plans were largely unchanged (I have worked in the communications department of a billion dollar company as well as the even more cutthroat field of politics, and my specialty is stakeholder relations, political communications and advocacy, and media liaison).
This is where so much change advocacy stumbles after a strong start. People see some 'concessions' being given which seem like they're heading in the right direction and they back off to an extent that they cease to be a significant problem, which then vastly reduces their 'bargaining power'.
To see the outcome you want, you continue the actions which have meaningful consequences, until you get a meaningful result.
To be honest, the best thing to do now is to maintain the status quo.
To make an analogy with a war, when the enemy waves a white flag and asks for a truce so they can discuss terms, you don't carry on shooting at them. If the peace treaty is signed, anyone you killed, indeed any ammunition you fired, during that time is a complete waste. If the negotiation is a failure...then your gains are marginal to nil anyway. So you hold fire, and wait to see what happens.
WotC has already conceded. They're waving the white flag and offered initial terms, with a promise of a fuller set of terms in the near future. There is nothing to be gained by dropping subscriptions or deleting your account at this stage. Their loss of your revenue will just be merged with the initial loss and then ignored.
What do you really hope to gain by dropping your sub? No, really, think about it. WotC is already coming to the table. Losing another sub now won't change that, or the new OGL in any way. You've already achieved the maximum that can be achieved at this point. If the new OGL is acceptable to you, all you'll have done is waste your time and energy unsubbing and then subbing again. If it's not acceptable...what are you going to do? Unsub again, but louder this time? You've got s single shot at voicing your displeasure, and you'll have wasted it in a pointless but perhaps cathartic display of frustration...but displaying it at a licence that was already rescinded.
That doesn't mean those that have unsubbed should resub now. That would send a message that merely going through the motions of saying they'll do something is enough to regain the subs.
The best course of action at this point is to maintaining the status quo. If you have a sub, keep it. If you don't, then stay unsubbed. When the new licence is make available for reading, decide then if it is acceptable or not. If it is acceptable to you and you still have a sub, rejoice, no action is required. If you cancelled your sub, you can reinstate it as a message to WotC that they're now heading in a direction compatible with your feelings. If it is not acceptable and you have a sub, cancel it then as a message that WotC is driving you away. If you have no sub, stay unsubbed so WotC can see that they have reconciled.
Unsubbing now is just cutting your nose to spite your face. Be smart about how you handle your negotiations. Unsubbing now is the worst time to do it, if you're at all interested in holding WotC to account.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
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So there's a 'rage' (and argument) thread, but I thought people might appreciate something a bit more focused on discussion of 'achieving outcomes' rather than 'debating principles'. I will just say at the outset that in practical terms of influencing change, I believe people should continue to:
The flip side of that is:
However the 'maintain the rage' crowd are correct when saying that corporate decision making is influenced by actions, not words. Ceasing 'industrial action' now will send the message that PR statements and surveys are sufficient crisis management. Continuing public criticism is important - people are right to say that opening a survey is (may be) largely an attempt to 'muzzle' the community.
The furor has had a measurable impact, and giving up the momentum now would be a mistake. All of the other press was fine, but this is the one which really matters: https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/17/big-change-coming-for-hasbro-should-investor-worry/ . Their readers do not care in the slightest about D&D, matters of principle, corporate integrity, etc. They care about one thing - stock prices - which is also the thing the Hasbro Board and executive are most concerned about. The Fool is a serious, trusted investment site, and I would not be surprised if that article all by itself causes a dip.
While the statement just made may be entirely genuine, it is also the exact same action that I would recommend, even if corporate plans were largely unchanged (I have worked in the communications department of a billion dollar company as well as the even more cutthroat field of politics, and my specialty is stakeholder relations, political communications and advocacy, and media liaison).
This is where so much change advocacy stumbles after a strong start. People see some 'concessions' being given which seem like they're heading in the right direction and they back off to an extent that they cease to be a significant problem, which then vastly reduces their 'bargaining power'.
To see the outcome you want, you continue the actions which have meaningful consequences, until you get a meaningful result.
They never had a right to challenge OGL 1.0a, they still don't, and until they concede that, the negotiation doesn't even begin.
To be honest, the best thing to do now is to maintain the status quo.
To make an analogy with a war, when the enemy waves a white flag and asks for a truce so they can discuss terms, you don't carry on shooting at them. If the peace treaty is signed, anyone you killed, indeed any ammunition you fired, during that time is a complete waste. If the negotiation is a failure...then your gains are marginal to nil anyway. So you hold fire, and wait to see what happens.
WotC has already conceded. They're waving the white flag and offered initial terms, with a promise of a fuller set of terms in the near future. There is nothing to be gained by dropping subscriptions or deleting your account at this stage. Their loss of your revenue will just be merged with the initial loss and then ignored.
What do you really hope to gain by dropping your sub? No, really, think about it. WotC is already coming to the table. Losing another sub now won't change that, or the new OGL in any way. You've already achieved the maximum that can be achieved at this point. If the new OGL is acceptable to you, all you'll have done is waste your time and energy unsubbing and then subbing again. If it's not acceptable...what are you going to do? Unsub again, but louder this time? You've got s single shot at voicing your displeasure, and you'll have wasted it in a pointless but perhaps cathartic display of frustration...but displaying it at a licence that was already rescinded.
That doesn't mean those that have unsubbed should resub now. That would send a message that merely going through the motions of saying they'll do something is enough to regain the subs.
The best course of action at this point is to maintaining the status quo. If you have a sub, keep it. If you don't, then stay unsubbed. When the new licence is make available for reading, decide then if it is acceptable or not. If it is acceptable to you and you still have a sub, rejoice, no action is required. If you cancelled your sub, you can reinstate it as a message to WotC that they're now heading in a direction compatible with your feelings. If it is not acceptable and you have a sub, cancel it then as a message that WotC is driving you away. If you have no sub, stay unsubbed so WotC can see that they have reconciled.
Unsubbing now is just cutting your nose to spite your face. Be smart about how you handle your negotiations. Unsubbing now is the worst time to do it, if you're at all interested in holding WotC to account.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.