Quote from: Jaeger on October 15, 2021, 10:28:07 PM
UPDATE: Ruh RoH!

https://twitter.com/doctorcomics/status/1449126582937808898

Quote from: BAIZUO Contractors of the World UNITE! on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM
Today I want to shine a spotlight on UPW's secret weapon: freelancers. Paizo's freelancers are our ally in this fight and we're helping each other. Here's how: 1/11
Paizo's business model is built on freelancers. Very few of the words in our publications are written in-house by full time employees on the clock. Instead, we outline projects, hire freelancers to execute those outlines, and develop and edit those manuscripts. 2/11
This allows a relatively small number of people (about 35, including art directors, editors, designers, developers, and more) to produce, well, everything. Have you seen our publication schedule lately? It's LONG. And Paizo must publish new books to pay its bills. 3/11
Well, about a month ago, about 40 of Paizo's most reliable, prolific, and skilled freelancers simply stopped working. In official parlance, this is called "concerted action." In layman's terms, it's a strike without a union. 4/11
https://twitter.com/DavicTheGrey/status/1449044546969608195/photo/1

Some of these freelancers were in the middle of projects, with upcoming deadlines. Some of them had completed manuscripts they refused to turn over. Some were people we need to hire, to get scheduled books underway in time to publish. All of that FROZE. 5/11
Folks, Paizo can't operate in that environment. We can't just assign 10,000 word Org Play scenarios, 35,000 word SF adventures, 50,000 word P2 adventures to new, untested freelancers. And for many projects, it's too late in the schedule to do that anyway. 6/11
Now, this group of freelancers had a specific list of demands. They wanted Paizo to hire a diversity officer, for example, and investigate recent terminations. But yesterday, they updated their demands: they'll all come back to work if Paizo recognizes United Paizo Workers. 7/11
This is an enormous lever, and we at UPW are incredibly grateful to have it. Paizo can't make its publication schedule without freelancers, and it can't pay exec salaries without publications. But if they recognize our union, freelancers come back to work TOMORROW. 8/11
Sure, yes, contract negotiations will be long and trying for all involved. But Paizo will still get books out the door, it'll be able to make its commitments and pay its bills and salaries. And during contract negotiation, we, the people who hire freelancers, can pay back. 9/11
In contract negotiation, we can fight for better pay rates for freelancers. We can get more time in the schedule, so writers have time to do their job right. We can get playtesting built into these schedules, which not only helps freelancers but creates better books. 10/11
Paizo's freelancers and United @PaizoWorkers are working hand in hand. And I am so grateful, honored, and humbled to have that partnership. @tectonomancer, we will not let you down! 11/11

If true...

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! ROTFL!!!

And so goeth the house of Baizuo publishing...

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM
...
Those figures seem strange, is Cthulhu really that popular?

CoC is crazy popular. #1 RPG in Japan, it is the 800,000lb Gorilla of the hobby over there... (I'd imagine the royalties from that alone would put Chaosium higher on something like ICV2's listings if they were able to capture it.)

At times the CoC corebook it even beat out the PF2 corebook in sales rankings on Amazon this past year.

I think it could be even more popular if Chaosium was willing to try a different take on a few things.

CoC sales basically let Chaosium indulge in the fantasy that people actually like Gorlanthia.

Wait, aren't those freelancers in breach of contract?

I imagine Baizuo is fucked either way but if I were in control I wouldn't give them any work in the future, and would make sure their names are known.

Quote from: Horace on October 15, 2021, 09:58:42 PM

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM

Quote from: Horace on October 15, 2021, 09:19:02 PM

Quote from: gawdsofwar on October 15, 2021, 04:27:33 PM
Pathfinder 2 was unnecessary and uninspired

I think it could have been done well (i.e. successfully), but it's apparent now that Pathfinder 2E is not a great success. Two years after its release, it is still trailing behind 1E in the number of players on Roll20, with roughly twice as many 1E games as 2E. That's not what Paizo was hoping for, I'm sure. Oh, and Starfinder is doing even worse.

Source: https://blog.roll20.net/media/orrreport-2021-q2-long-2.pdf

Those figures seem strange, is Cthulhu really that popular?

It has been consistently near the top of the list the past few years. You can find past reports here: https://wiki.roll20.net/Orr_Industry_Report

Of course, I'm not sure how closely Roll20 reflects the general gaming population. But I think it's a pretty good reflection of general trends.

Its just that it never shows up on the top 5 RPG list

https://www.enworld.org/threads/top-5-rpgs-compiled-charts-2004-present.662563/

Quote from: Hakdov on October 15, 2021, 06:15:32 PM
If we're really lucky, this sort of thing will catch on and wotc employees will try to unionize.  I'm pretty sure Hasbro would shutter wotc before they would allow that to happen.

Psst. All Hasro-branded games and toys are union-made.

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 10:36:39 PM

Quote from: Horace on October 15, 2021, 09:58:42 PM

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM
Those figures seem strange, is Cthulhu really that popular?

It has been consistently near the top of the list the past few years. You can find past reports here: https://wiki.roll20.net/Orr_Industry_Report

Of course, I'm not sure how closely Roll20 reflects the general gaming population. But I think it's a pretty good reflection of general trends.

Its just that it never shows up on the top 5 RPG list

https://www.enworld.org/threads/top-5-rpgs-compiled-charts-2004-present.662563/

Huh. Yes, that's quite a discrepancy. I went searching for an explanation, but couldn't find one. And when I did a search on Roll20's LFG just now, I saw that there are actually more listings for Pathfinder 2E groups than there are for Call of Cthulhu, which is not what you would expect from the Orr Report numbers. Strange.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 15, 2021, 10:34:51 PM

Wait, aren't those freelancers in breach of contract?

Probably...

But Baizuo has pushed themselves forward for years as being the "community friendly company", and given the way they fell all over themselves to apologize to Miss Price's twitter feed; I seriously doubt that they have the balls to call these guys down on their shit.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 15, 2021, 10:34:51 PM
I imagine Baizuo is fucked either way but if I were in control I wouldn't give them any work in the future, and would make sure their names are known.

Oh yes, this is going to be fun to see! Even though I think we will have to wait a few years to see the real fallout from all of this.

But if I were made Ceo of Baizuo tomorrow?

The Purge movie franchise would have nothing on me...

At this point the cancer has spread so thoroughly through the company that only a series of emergency amputation's will do. Followed by a complete restructuring, and move out of Washington state.

Anything less is merely putting off the inevitable.

Quote from: Jaeger on October 15, 2021, 10:28:07 PM
UPDATE: Ruh RoH!
https://twitter.com/doctorcomics/status/1449126582937808898

Quote from: BAIZUO Contractors of the World UNITE! on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM
...a specific list of demands. They wanted Paizo to hire a diversity officer, for example...

Ah yes, because nothing benefits workers more than adding another overpaid sinecure to the management bureaucracy.

Quote from: Horace on October 15, 2021, 09:58:42 PM

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM

Quote from: Horace on October 15, 2021, 09:19:02 PM

Quote from: gawdsofwar on October 15, 2021, 04:27:33 PM
Pathfinder 2 was unnecessary and uninspired

I think it could have been done well (i.e. successfully), but it's apparent now that Pathfinder 2E is not a great success. Two years after its release, it is still trailing behind 1E in the number of players on Roll20, with roughly twice as many 1E games as 2E. That's not what Paizo was hoping for, I'm sure. Oh, and Starfinder is doing even worse.

Source: https://blog.roll20.net/media/orrreport-2021-q2-long-2.pdf

Those figures seem strange, is Cthulhu really that popular?

It has been consistently near the top of the list the past few years. You can find past reports here: https://wiki.roll20.net/Orr_Industry_Report

Of course, I'm not sure how closely Roll20 reflects the general gaming population. But I think it's a pretty good reflection of general trends.

While I have no doubt that CoC is reasonably popular, I've always guessed that its Roll20 numbers are so high because it's good for one-shots, and if you're trying to play online with randos then often you're better off not trying for a real campaign.

Quote from: Mistwell on October 15, 2021, 10:42:34 PM

Quote from: Hakdov on October 15, 2021, 06:15:32 PM
If we're really lucky, this sort of thing will catch on and wotc employees will try to unionize.  I'm pretty sure Hasbro would shutter wotc before they would allow that to happen.

Psst. All Hasro-branded games and toys are union-made.

Where do you get that idea? A lot of it's made in China, and China doesn't have unions.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 15, 2021, 10:34:51 PM
Wait, aren't those freelancers in breach of contract?

I imagine Baizuo is fucked either way but if I were in control I wouldn't give them any work in the future, and would make sure their names are known.

They are, but are you really going to take them to court?
The settlement would be pennies on the dollar, and you probably wouldn't even get manuscript's.

That said, I'd love to see Paizo take a page from Ronald Reagan: sack their asses, and just hire replacements.

Maybe the damn players need to form a union?  Then they can petition their DM / GM, for a redress of their grievances.

Quote from: Jaeger on October 15, 2021, 11:27:57 PM

Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 15, 2021, 10:34:51 PM

Wait, aren't those freelancers in breach of contract?

Probably...

But Baizuo has pushed themselves forward for years as being the "community friendly company", and given the way they fell all over themselves to apologize to Miss Price's twitter feed; I seriously doubt that they have the balls to call these guys down on their shit.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 15, 2021, 10:34:51 PM
I imagine Baizuo is fucked either way but if I were in control I wouldn't give them any work in the future, and would make sure their names are known.

Oh yes, this is going to be fun to see! Even though I think we will have to wait a few years to see the real fallout from all of this.

But if I were made Ceo of Baizuo tomorrow?

The Purge movie franchise would have nothing on me...

At this point the cancer has spread so thoroughly through the company that only a series of emergency amputation's will do. Followed by a complete restructuring, and move out of Washington state.

Anything less is merely putting off the inevitable.

Quote from: Novastar on October 16, 2021, 12:49:43 AM
They are, but are you really going to take them to court?
The settlement would be pennies on the dollar, and you probably wouldn't even get manuscript's.

That said, I'd love to see Paizo take a page from Ronald Reagan: sack their asses, and just hire replacements.

"You get a pink slip, he gets a pink slip, she gets a pink slip, everybody gets a pink slip!"

I think Air Traffic Controller requires a more specialized set of skills than "Starfinder developer" or "web developer". I notice the 30 signatures heavily favor those two lines.

Quote from: Shasarak on October 15, 2021, 09:37:36 PM
Those figures seem strange, is Cthulhu really that popular?

It's the top selling RPG in Japan so that probably boosts it's numbers significantly.

Quote from: GriswaldTerrastone on October 15, 2021, 02:18:19 PMMy father, who was decidedly anti-communist, was very pro-union.

He was old enough to remember the "bad `ol days," and understood that equality and justice come from a position of power, not wishful thinking.

Unions are (were?) an important counterbalance. Strong management and strong unions helped create the middle class too many took for granted in later years, because there was intelligent give and take. Both sides had something the other needed, so neither side grew too powerful. In some cases it was MAD, but since mutual destruction hurt both sides they would work out a rational deal.

But, as usual...and when communist infiltrators got ahold of too much of it, as they did the civil rights movement, something good was warped into a parody of what it was. Without sensible, intelligent leaders who are genuinely strong and dedicated, unions can only bring ruin as surely as greedy, callous management.

Yeah, this is more or less where I am at. In our day, there needs to be a check on runaway corporate, media and state power, and unions could be very useful for that. We are entering an age where powerful oligarchies have gotten it into their minds to disenfranchise the common man, and establish an unprecedented level of control over our thoughts and actions. Resisting that needs organisation, strength in numbers and all. So in theory, bully for them.

Except, for a lot of unions, the main objective does not seem to be the representation of employee interests, but "overthrowing capitalism / the Patriarchy / western civilisation". Curious how that seems to have become the end goal of so many social projects while abandoning the original platform (e.g. protecting workers' rights). Look at that tweet collection upthread.

They want a "diversity officer". It is a bunch of cancer cells lobbying for more cancer.

So yeah, time to prepare the popcorn.

Quote from: Jaeger on October 14, 2021, 04:54:56 PM
BAIZUO Workers of the World, UNITE!
https://unitedpaizoworkers.org/

Jessica Price's Twitter feed... The gift that keeps on giving:

Quote from: unitedbaizuoworkers on October 14, 2021, 03:37:20 AM

Redmond, WA (October 14th, 2021) — Today, the workers at Paizo, Inc – publisher of the Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games – are announcing their formation of the United Paizo Workers union (UPW), with the Communication Workers of America's CODE-CWA project. This union is the first of its kind in the tabletop roleplaying games industry.

"Unions have helped build a stronger working class in America and I'm proud to stand with United Paizo Workers. I believe that when we all work together, we're better for it. Unionization allows workers to have a seat at the table and ensures that our voices and concerns are being heard and addressed so that all of Paizo can move forward for a positive future."

Shay Snow, Editor
"I love my job. I love my coworkers, and I love the company I work for. I get to sell a game that I love to a community that I love. I come from a pro-union family, and I believe that unionizing Paizo will be the best way to protect the people, company, and community that I love, for now and going forward into the future."

Cosmo Eisele, Sales Manager
"My coworkers are amazing and so are the games we make together. I want Paizo to keep publishing Pathfinder and Starfinder content for years to come. This is my way of helping management improve our company culture, and by extension, the content we produce."

Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
"I proudly stand with my coworkers as we strive to help improve our workplace, and I believe the UPW will amplify our voices and assist with the changes we feel are necessary in making Paizo a more positive space for its employees."

Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Paizo is one of the largest tabletop roleplaying publishers in the world, producing more than 10 hardcover books annually, along with numerous digital adventures and gaming accessories. Paizo also runs some of the most successful living campaigns in tabletop gaming history, with regular players in more than 36 countries. However, despite this success, Paizo's workers are underpaid for their labor, required to live in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, and subjected to untenable crunch conditions on a regular basis.

Though efforts to organize by the Paizo workforce had already been underway for some time, the sudden departures of several long-standing employees in September and the subsequent allegations of managerial impropriety by former Paizo employees threw into stark relief the imbalance of the employer/employee relationship. These events, as well as internal conversations among Paizo workers, have uncovered a pattern of inconsistent hiring practices, pay inequity across the company, allegations of verbal abuse from executives and management, and allegations of harassment ignored or covered up by those at the top. These findings have further galvanized the need for clearer policies and stronger employee protections to ensure that Paizo staff can feel secure in their employment.

Changes have been promised, internally and externally, by the executive team. However, the only way to ensure that all workers' voices are heard is collective action. It is in this spirit that the workers of Paizo have united to push for real changes at the company. The UPW is committed to advocating on behalf of all staffers, and invites all eligible Paizo employees to join in the push for better, more sustainable working conditions. The union requests the broad support of the tabletop community in urging Paizo management to voluntarily recognize the United Paizo Workers, and to negotiate in good faith with the union so that they may build a better workplace together.

For more information, please contact the Organizing Committee at committee@unitedpaizoworkers.org

Raychael Allor, Customer Service Representative
Brian Bauman, Software Architect
Logan Bonner, Pathfinder Lead Designer
Robert Brandenburg, Software Developer
James Case, Pathfinder Game Designer
John Compton, Starfinder Senior Developer
Katina Davis, Webstore Coordinator
David "Cosmo" Eisele, Sales Manager
Eleanor Ferron, Pathfinder Developer
Keith Greer, Customer Service Representative
Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Sasha "Mika" Hawkins, Sales and E-Commerce Assistant
Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
Erik Keith, Software Test Engineer
Mike Kimmel, Organized Play Developer
Avi Kool, Senior Editor
Maryssa Lagervall, Web Content Manager
Luis Loza, Pathfinder Developer
Joe Pasini, Starfinder Lead Designer
Austin Phillips, Customer Service Representative
Lee Rucker, Project Coordinator
Michael Sayre, Pathfinder Designer
Shay Snow, Editor
Alex Speidel, Organized Play Coordinator
Levi Steadman, Software Test Engineer
Gary Teter, Senior Software Developer
Josh Thornton, Systems Administrator II
Jake Tondro, Senior Developer
Andrew White, Front End Engineering Lead
In Solidarity,
Thurston Hillman, Digital Adventures Developer

So About 30 people already - close to half their workforce?

Lisa Stevens is functionally retiring, so she may not see this as her problem...

FWIW - Unions are not inherently bad for companies. But neither are they inherently good for companies, or the long term interests of their members/employee's.

It really depends how they are run. Especially in how the union will protect the interests of good employee's vs. its willingness to work with employers to cut bad hires loose.

The union contract that would come out of this would be a big tell for how this will go...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/12/17/how-the-unions-destroy-their-own-as-viewed-by-a-life-long-union-supporter/?sh=19e78c8643f8

No one knows the Baizuo internal financials. But they do employ more people than WotC's D&D division, and they do not do 5e sales levels.

If Baizuo goes union, the next few years will be very interesting.


Also; Not sayin' they're similar, but...




Yup, it's Commies...

I think it's really nice of these lads to post a list of all their names so Paizo know exactly who to sack.

Quote from: Melan on October 16, 2021, 04:14:21 AM

Quote from: GriswaldTerrastone on October 15, 2021, 02:18:19 PMMy father, who was decidedly anti-communist, was very pro-union.

He was old enough to remember the "bad `ol days," and understood that equality and justice come from a position of power, not wishful thinking.

Unions are (were?) an important counterbalance. Strong management and strong unions helped create the middle class too many took for granted in later years, because there was intelligent give and take. Both sides had something the other needed, so neither side grew too powerful. In some cases it was MAD, but since mutual destruction hurt both sides they would work out a rational deal.

But, as usual...and when communist infiltrators got ahold of too much of it, as they did the civil rights movement, something good was warped into a parody of what it was. Without sensible, intelligent leaders who are genuinely strong and dedicated, unions can only bring ruin as surely as greedy, callous management.

Yeah, this is more or less where I am at. In our day, there needs to be a check on runaway corporate, media and state power, and unions could be very useful for that. We are entering an age where powerful oligarchies have gotten it into their minds to disenfranchise the common man, and establish an unprecedented level of control over our thoughts and actions. Resisting that needs organisation, strength in numbers and all. So in theory, bully for them.

Except, for a lot of unions, the main objective does not seem to be the representation of employee interests, but "overthrowing capitalism / the Patriarchy / western civilisation". Curious how that seems to have become the end goal of so many social projects while abandoning the original platform (e.g. protecting workers' rights). Look at that tweet collection upthread.

They want a "diversity officer". It is a bunch of cancer cells lobbying for more cancer.

So yeah, time to prepare the popcorn.

Unions do not have the power you think they do. Even in the old days before SJW wokeness Unions were often rackets FOR the employer and used a lot of underhanded tactics to make money. The most obvious was paying a subscription to the Union. But it was timegated so you had to pay a certain amount over a certain time which was often ludicrously high even for the era. For example, if you didn't pay 3000 over a two year period you got no union protections whatsoever until you reached that milestone. Which unlocked basic privileges and not the full thing you have been paying full price for for over a year.

That's before we even get into construction unions and their ties to the mob.

You are correct in that we need some kind of organized group to keep the oligarchs in check. But it needs to be more watertight than a union.

Quote from: Charon's Little Helper on October 16, 2021, 12:37:51 AM
Where do you get that idea? A lot of it's made in China, and China doesn't have unions.

From UnionPlus: DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL HASBRO BRANDED GAMES AND TOYS ARE ALL UNION-MADE?

I believe Hasbro employees are mostly unionized under the AFL-CIO. For example, a lot is made in Pennsylvania, as explained by their AFL-CIO here.