Securing The Future Of OnTableTop [Radio Show Discussion Added]
October 13, 2020 by warzan
Click Here For The Recorded Cult Radio Discussion (Warning: Strong Language)
2020 didn’t quite turn out to be the year we had all been expecting, did it? It has been a year that would stretch the innovation and resources of any small business. Like many, we have seen aspects of our organisation surge in growth and other aspects slow down.
The last six months have been an eye-opener for myself and Lloyd as business owners as we look at the possible lay of the land including its risks and more importantly its opportunities.
Over the last few weeks, we have been in close contact with the management team at Wayland Games Ltd. and have as of yesterday reached an agreement to sell OnTableTop and merge it into the much larger organisation.
During this process, we have met some wonderful and caring folk within Wayland’s management who share our passion for innovation, community and just trying to get better at what we do!
As we worked with them it became clear that we all had an opportunity to bring the best of what we have together and really do some great things in the gaming industry. Wayland Games have become an absolute powerhouse over recent years and have stepped in with resources, infrastructure and scale to allow us to take the platforms we have been developing to the next level. Ultimately, they have also provided our gaming communities with the best tools, content and community platforms we can create.
By joining this larger family we are being given the opportunity to create all manner of things to help improve your gaming lives and provide even more fun and innovative opportunities for amazing companies and game designers we work with.
I’ll be honest. Lloyd and I have some mixed emotions about the whole thing. We have worked our little socks off to build and grow this platform, and packaging up that ten-year labour of love to a new owner does leave a little lump in the throat.
However, both Lloyd and I have a 360-degree view of the business, the industry and its community. We see the infrastructure required, the industry trends and the opportunities appearing plus the costs and risks involved in attempting to seize those opportunities.
This then was an opportunity we decided to seize. It not only secures the long term future of the platform and community but the opportunity to bring forward some of the exciting projects and ideas that we have been sitting on was irresistible!
Going forward there will be a relatively short period of integration where we can capitalise on the significant and well-oiled infrastructure the team at Wayland has built. This will heavily free up the time of myself and other key team members, to turn our sights to the future.
So yes, Lloyd myself and the team are all sticking around and will continue to be completely involved. Securing the future of our team and community during these troubled times was a decision we did not take lightly and we are looking forward to the journey ahead with you guys and gals!
This is another milestone in the "Beasts Of War" project. Many of you have been on this journey from the start, and we look forward to many more years with you both online and at events all over the world.
Join Us For A Discussion On The Future
I (Warren) will be hosting a live "Town Hall" in the Discord Server during the Live Cult Radio Show (8pm BST Wednesday 14th October) to chat about all of this and answer any questions I can. You are all very welcome to tune into that or even call in to ask questions.
Click Here For The Recorded Cult Radio Discussion (Warning: Strong Language)
Join Us On Discord
New To Discord? Check Out This PDF Guide
I’m sure we will talk about the last time we tried this and what has changed since then!
OK, folks, onwards and upwards!
Did not see anything like that coming ?But as long as it’s the best thing for everyone involved it makes sense. I’ll really have to try and get up early to listen in this week…..
oh.
Think that sums up my thoughts!
lol
“I heard you struck my son”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“May I ask why?”
“yeah, well, because he stole John Wick’s car, sir, and killed his dog.”
“oh.”
I know it can’t have been an easy decision but given everything that 2020 has thrown at us and the uncertainty for the future, this is the right thing to do. I’m proud of you for having the courage to take this step. Very best wishes to Warren, Lloyd, everyone at OnTableTop and Wayland Games. Onwards!
Thanks @greywulf really appreciated 🙂
Cheers @greywulf
Despite my personal grievances with Wayland and how they treat their customers / suppliers, I do wish you all the best. OnTableTop has been a fantastic website to check in on for new content.
Thanks @isinfier and both us and the management team at Wayland see this as an opportunity to try and get the best of both of us – and build from there. I’ve been working quite closely with their management team over the last weeks (last couple of years in fact but very intensively recently) and I have found them to be really genuine people who want to do a great job and are very diligent. Hey, they (and definitely US!) make mistakes, but there is a definite commitment among the folk I’ve been dealing with to do the right thing… Read more »
Could have been worse,like GW taking over!?
Good luck with this. Hopefully it works out well. I believe you used to work with them in the past so hopefully everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect from each other. I hope you are allowed to maintain your independent opinions and aren’t encouraged to focus on their products or give biased reviews. I’ve never been to their store before, but don’t they have a venue, or at least a good sized play space? Might it be possible for some future boot camps to be set in the mainland, or possibly hosted at both sites?… Read more »
Thank you @lawnor! Really appreciated.
Yeah, bootcamps and physical events are still on the back burner while we deal with this whole covid thing, but certainly, the plan is that when they return we have a lot of options to expand how we host them.
Also being part of the larger group opens the opportunity for us to send the team to more events and run more activities at those events. So we hope to be able to get closer to the action with a lot of the community 🙂
If I understand whose who, didn’t some of the Wayland staff you used to have on BoW help work at BonesCon/Smogcon? That ended last year forever. Perhaps in a post covid world this new merged company could look in to resurrecting smogcon in its newer game agnostic format? I suspect Jon Webb still has a garage full of tables etc he wants rid of. I know post covid could be 203x for all we know and theres a lot to deal with first. I know you’ve got other things on the brain and this doesn’t matter, but as I’m already… Read more »
Wow.. no way that was an easy decision. I’ve watched the BOW project grow now for many many years, and you’ve been willing to take big chances before. Always, you’ve stayed true to what you believed was right and best for .. I hate to say the “Brand”.. more like the entity that BOW/OTT has been. I truly wish Lloyd, Warren, and the whole crew all the best and hope this ends up being just what you need to grow to the next level.
Cheers @hearne thanks for supporting the team here at OnTableTop over the years!
It’s people like you that have made BoW and then OTT possible 🙂
Thank you @hearne we really appreciate that mate 🙂
Future, huh…. Who can foresee it….
This is very true @shingen mate – so we can only do our best 🙂
Selling out (in purely business terms) and effectively taking on an employer means that you are sackable, and my concern is that BeastsofWar without Warzan et al is not a desirable outcome. I’ve seen mergers before, and they always quite sensibly result in duplicated roles being axed.
In terms of viewership and events, we turn on, and turn up because of you guys, and I dont see what Wayland are going to bring to the table in terms of the consumer.
This is my initial gut reaction, and I’m a bit concerned.
OTT is the team. Get rid of them and it becomes something else. I come for the people, even when they are talking about something I don’t care about I still enjoy it because of them. Wayland would be fools to change staffing.
“even when they are talking about something I don’t care about I still enjoy it because of them”
Like SAGA!
You’ve actually gotten me interested in trying it, even though I’m not usually in to my historicals. I hope you one day actually do the fabled playthrough. Given its not supposed to be the simulation, so much as the version told down the pub later, it might be cool to see you and Gerry narrate your own game dressed as Vikings down the pub, after the end of the game? If I was capable of getting games in I’d be looking at saga. If I ever catch up on my painting I might assemble a characterful saga force just in… Read more »
One of us!!!
Hey @intelligentmistertoad / Michael,
The two teams actually complement each other and there’s not much overlap in job rolls.
If anything this will help fill a few holes here and there, and allow individuals to be more focused on important rolls they have, so that’s great.
Cheers
Lloyd.
Ohh I think they are on the same page as you mate, a huge part of the agreement was based on us making a long term commitment to the project. Which we agreed to do 🙂
So unless I’m a total arse, you should be seeing plenty of me 🙂
Naturally, I hope that it all goes brilliantly, Any concerns I have are based around you chaps continuing doing a splendid job, with OTT and the Bootcamps.
Hey, we enjoy you being a total arse! That’s what I pay my sub for 😉
Agreed
I second that vote… I think.
Me too…
This channel needs more arse, it’s a winning formula :-). Hope Wayland realise how lucky they are to have all of the OTT team on board and doesn’t mess with the formula too much. Congratulations all and very best of luck in the future. Looking forward to seeing more great content!
Though not a business owner I am head of operations for my company so can understand and appreciate the many issues you have struggled with while coming to this decision. I have no doubt than any decision made in the spirit of BOW/COG/OTT that you’ve all worked so hard to achieve will only be a benefit for the hobby on the long run. This is a real opportunity for all involved. It won’t be easy, but when I’ve had tough times I’ve watched XLBS and just escaped into some hobby. I am sure that the community will do the same… Read more »
Thanks for supporting us @brewer1980
We think just like you, that this is a real opportunity and are excited about the future.
It’s tuff to implement plans far into the future when your a small team of people and especially now with what’s been 2020.
This is really a step in the right direction for solidifying the OnTableTop community and allows us to work towards even more cool stuff for the platform in the future 😉
They are out of stock for their Saga 2nd Edition rulebook though… you may want to sort that out as a priority..
lol Saga books always go out of stock, they sell themselves.
I should have pre-ordered, oh @avernos you still reading yours 🙂
Thanks @brewer1980 really appreciate the kind words mate
I’m sure this was not an easy decision and that it has been made with everyone’s best interests. I look forward to seeing how it goes and seeing you guys on my screen each week.
Also for all these troubles to be over so I can fly over for another boot camp (The wife wants to do a tour of Ireland as is so perfect excuse for another!)
When we get out the other side of this we will have to do the Bootcamp of a lifetime lol
As long as the team is staying to deliver the content then I wish you well … if you leave though, I will hunt you down, I will find you and I will kill you 😉
But have you the particular set of skills?
Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you!
lol
I am sure that you guys know for sure, what is the best for your company and employees. Be yourselves and
be as good as always and you will have my humble support. I think one of the first BoW videos I have seen, was a co-op
with Wayland for Dystopian Wars back in the day. So I hope you will cover that game again, when it hits the shelves. Best wishes to the entire team, as always!
Cheers @masterdwalin that was way back in the day.
i’m crying, still trying to digest the loss of “beasts of war” name and now this.. hope it works out, meanwhile i’ll fill my nostalgia cup with some very old BOW videos and read some Re roll magazine.
@wazarov – we all have your back mate 🙂
as long as we can still see all of you, our favorite characters i’ll be fine 😉
Given the uncertainty of the times and the fact that both of you are family men, having some sense of security must take a great weight of your minds. How you two managed to run a business, provide that much online content and remain married is a miracle. All the best for the future.
lol – we have very understanding partners lol
Personally speaking, I’m looking forward to throwing myself into the areas I love of content and platform development for the community, and I’m happy to leave behind some of the stress of the bit that’s not a lot of fun – running a business. The management team will have folk that relish that stuff and I’m only too glad for them to fill their boots! lol
Warzan,
It’s probably too late … but have you properly thought this through? Now that you are an employee you may have to finally take that DIY manual out of its (dust covered) case. The ‘Other Halves’ always find ways of taking away any ‘spare-time’ gained 🙂
F**K that didn’t occur to me, @lloyd is it too late to pull out of this now – @athelstane has a point here!?!?!? 😉
Oh bollocks.
It needed a particular set of skills 🙂
This is a shame to hear. Glad you guys are sticking around though. Hopefully you can secure your future and that’s the main thing 🙂
Unfortunately Wayland have a terrible reputation in the industry at the minute and there are always plenty of replies from gamers who have had issues with them, regardless of where the post is, and advising to stay away whenever someone asks about buying minis from them.
Like everything time and effort are the only solutions to that. We will do our best to help where we can. But I’ve got to say the difference we have seen in that company in terms of scale and systems implemented over the last couple of years has been pretty astonishing.
I think most folks don’t actually realize how much they have developed. But again maybe this is a chance for us to show some of that – and lift the curtain a bit.
Talk about big changes and major news hitting me first thing in the morning. Wow, that is a big deal and I congratulate you on making it happen. I applaud Wayland for seeing what an incredible community and resource OTT has really grown into but I really respect Warren and Lloyd for making hard choices to keep said community not only alive but hopefully multiplying. I have really enjoyed watching this grow and have found it to be one of my key sanctuaries in these crazy times so I am very happy to know you all are doing everything you… Read more »
Crazy times indeed, glad we could be a fun place for you 🙂
We have always leaned towards fun in everything we do and we will keep you covered @144artist 🙂
Thank you for the very kind words @144artist – very very much appreciated 🙂
So, back home now. (Of course Warren needs to break such news at that exact moment when I’m about to leave office to go home! Why do you hate me so much!??!11? *g*) As I said in the discord: Me, the grognard: CHANGE SUCKS! I WANT EVERYTHING TO STAY AS IT IS! Me, the realistic one: yeah… we will see what will happen Me, the romantic one: This will be great! Everything will be bigger, better and more awesome…. AND WE WILL HAVE WAFFLES! I’m torn. Mainly because to me personally Wayland is an unknown entity in this whole equation.… Read more »
We licked a lifetimes supply secretly before we signed 😉
“does that mean no more licked candy in the parcels?”
How much more saliva do you have @warzan ?
I always thought that is Justins job?
Yeah, but don’t tell anyone.
I read this in a German Accent. It’s way better. VE VILL HAVE VAFFLES!
There is an idea for tonight’s show…
Crumbs I survived birth, then school, then basic, then combat in the Balkans and the Middle East, I then got through BoW becoming OTT, then COVID decided to put its nose in. I got to say I was initially shocked that OTT is joining forces with Wayland Games, as my personal experiences with them have been plain awful and their reputation is pretty low in the wider community. I hope the bad parts of Wayland are cancelled out by OTT and that OTT still functions at the rock face as normal, not withstanding what is happening in the background. I… Read more »
Thank you for those words mate. There is hard work ahead, but everyone I have dealt with has been really committed to making a success of this – we can only do our best 🙂
Does this mean that the Beast Store will close and everything go through Wayland in future?
I shop at both online stores (and others), so just curious what is happening about that side of the website.
No aside from benefitting from their scale, we continue as normal. We will obviously be looking at options to make things better but that will evolve over the coming weeks and months 🙂
Wayland has always been fine for me and Ironically discovered them through BOW so can see the connection! Hope that this is the start of something bigger and better. As long as OTT continues, I’m happy and wish you all the best going forward.
Oh and more Wild West Exodus!!
Thanks @hazyboy75 – we’ll see what we can do lol
Wayland have let me down several times over the years.
If the option to keep the store open and have it managed by Wayland or closed… Close it… so you can walk away with a clean 5 star rating and not have it tarnished.
Hope that this merger has given the team some stability and that any new changes will be measured and in the same tone and ethos of the great community built up so far.
Time will tell mate, lets see if we can get the best of both world out of this – none of us are setting out to have a worse service than before – we are genuinely hoping the benefits will flow both ways 🙂
Not trying to be negative. Joining with a big company will probably have plenty of benefits. Just I seem far from alone with not being impressed with Wayland regardless of their market share.
As long as the team feel the benefit we’ll be happy.
Well I’m a Polish Lancer didn’t see this one coming….but then neither did I see Covid (says he in quarantine again). I think My best comment is I’ll reserve judgement, think Sundancer summed up my thoughts.
I wish you all well and hope it works,with not too many changes as you have become friends amigos etc over the last couple of years and have often been the little bit of light in some dark years .
Hopefully the zany bootcamps and all the madness that is OTT will continue on for the better.
That’s our hope as well mate – we’re not making any flashy promises – just a commitment to continued hard work to get the best outcomes we can during these unpredictable times. 🙂
There is a program on Netflix about the people who did predict it. Worth the watch.
I was hoping that you guys escaped most of the issues this year has piled on us.
And I am sure this wasn’t an easy decision to make when you have poured your heart and soul into a project like this.
But as long as you guys (all of OTT) are here and can make the content you want, the way you want, the COG’s will be here to back you up. Because that’s what we are here for.
Thank you @caledor2 – really appreciated mate! 😉
Having been around since before 2012, when Backstage was first set up, this as a ring of familiarity about it…. I can remember the old NI studios with Andy and Daryl. Then came the move to Wayland’s offices in the UK. And then the move back to Ireland due to a “falling out” with GW. I can foresee a tension between the love of 3d printing and the corporate need to support the lines Wayland sells and even produces, presuming Warcradle Studios is still attached. Nice to see you take up that Town Hall suggestion, though it isn’t under the… Read more »
Feel free to jump in on that mate 🙂 – I don’t see an issue on the 3D printing side – but we will wait and see – Wayland happen to have some of the fanciest 3D printers on the market – so who knows maybe they will let me try it out lol
Well I did finally join the Discord.
When you put out the announcement for the Radio Show, NZ is now on summer time – not that today’s weather really reflected that – so we are now 12 hours ahead of you, not 11. So the Christchurch start time will be 8am.
And I do see the industry heading more to 3D printing, just not at the speed that you initially thought, all those years ago 😉
Well, that’s some sudden news to unpack. Have to say I’m more terrified than excited, but that’s only because I know very little about Wayland.
I’ll keep the faith as you guys never fail to deliver, I’d definitely prefer a little change than closed doors. Here’s hoping for a bright future for the team.
Thanks mate! – Should be a good ride from here 🙂