Gloomhaven, Others Break Ties with Broken Token Due to Sexual Assault Allegations

Gloomhaven creator cuts ties with The Broken Token after a former employee accuses the CEO of “five years of sexual, mental, and emotional abuse.”

Content Warning: Discussion of sexual assault, emotional manipulation, harassment, and stalking.

The Broken Token is the company that makes organizational inserts for board games and other accessories. Late last week, former employee, Ashley Taylor, wrote a Medium article titled “Speaking up to Protect Others.” In the piece, she accuses Greg Spence, the CEO of The Broken Token, of years of abuse that continued after she left the company. It’s a powerful piece and one worth reading. It only takes a few minutes.

In short, Taylor tells the story of how she met Spence, how they would travel together, and how he would repeatedly attempt to pursue a relationship with her despite her not reciprocating his feelings.

“When I did not reciprocate the same feelings, he got upset and clearly agitated. He then angrily accused me of embarrassing him. […] It was at this time that I quickly learned I had to keep him happy in order to keep my job.”

She did leave that job for another, but the gaming world is small.

“I finally found a job at an amazing company that took me in. […] I was finally free from his grasp, or so I thought. I attended GAMA [a game manufacturer’s convention] a few years in a row and each show he would stalk me at my booth.”

Taylor mentions the reason she has chosen to speak up now is after hearing the same was happening to another woman.

“Then it happened… my worst nightmare came true and it happened to another woman. I am still devastated to this day that I didn’t come forward sooner to prevent this. So this is what I am doing now.”

In light of the Medium piece, Isaac Childres of Cephalofair, makers of Gloomhaven, had this to say in a tweet.

Similarly, Evil Hat Productions, makers of RPG systems like Fate, Monster of the Week, and my personal favorite, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, tweeted about the allegations as well.

The two were joined by more companies, including Grey Fox (makers of Bushido and The World of Midgard), Greater Than Games, and others.

Spence has denied the allegations in a series of tweets, starting with a letter.

Which are reiterated in later tweets, specifically denying the allegations.

But goes on to remark some “close and consensual interactions” did take place “in and outside the workplace.”

As of press time,  the community has come out in support of Ashley Taylor on social media , and many have expressed the desire to have Spence removed so that the company can continue without him.

More as this story developments.

Author: Matt Sall

Matt has loved games of all kinds his whole life: board, video, war, roleplaying, and card. He's worked as a writer for BoLS since 2017.