| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CorellonsDevout |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 03:59:30
How many of you are also on the WotC website? I'm a registered user, but I don't go on there much. Honestly, I find it somewhat hard to navigate the site and forums, in part I think because my experience is limited mainly to the Realms. There are some other reasons I don't go on more, but I won't go into them.
I was wondering if I should go on there more, though. WotC designers/employees/etc seem more likely to pay attention to their own site, though I know some check here too. All gaming aside, what are the benefits of posting in the WotC forums? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dark Wizard |
Posted - 01 Apr 2013 : 02:14:24
I'm among those WotC failed to convert in the initial transition, however, going on five years, that's all in the past now. I'm not strongly against 4E (never was, actually wanted to try it at one point, but never found a group interested), and the 4E Realms do not bother me as much as they used to. In fact, I know the DDI Dragon and Dungeon have lots of material for general fans of the Realms.
Why haven't I signed on for DDI? No reason really, there just hasn't been much buzz or hype to make me say to myself "I've got to subscribe to get this or that article."
The transition to 4E came at a weird time for me. I had finished college and worked for a couple of years at that point. My financial situation stabilized greatly. For the first time, I actually had disposable income. In the initial dislike of the direction WotC headed in for 4E, I switched to other companies and products.
For that reason I stuck with Paizo (from print Dragon and Dungeon) and I have most of the Pathfinder stuff, all the hardbacks, setting supplements, Adventure paths, most of the modules, some of the novels.
I even have hardcopies of some OSR material or retro games (C&C, S&W, DCC RPG, ACKS, AGE). Occasionally, I go on used book/ebay binges for 2E and older FR materials. Heck, I'm even grabbing 3E OGL stuff, like most of the Green Ronin historical setting books, and several of the 3rd party settings of the era (Midnight, Dawnforge, Kingdoms of Kalamar, etc.).
I'm not limited to 3E style material either. I at least try to get a hold of any newer or indie style RPG if it strikes my fancy (Fate Core, Dungeon World, 13th Age, Savage Worlds, Marvel Heroic).
Maybe I'm hanging in different circles and those circles are excited about these other games. The drop in products over the last year or two hasn't helped. In 3E, FR and Eberron had a setting supplement every quarter. Between those and the core books, there were at least a few items every year that caught my attention. Aside from the initial setting books, there hasn't been much for me since I don't play 4E, thus less reason for me to play attention to WotC's site, forums or advertising.
Thing is I want to like the D&D strain of RPGs. I tuned in to the livestream announcement of 5E. That was a big enough announcement for me to "sign on" but it was two years away at that point, so my attention just went elsewhere. It also means there's less of a reason to invest in 4E at this point. The coming of 5E means 4E is a "dead" system. I may pick up some of the books in the fire sale of 4E when 5E arrives.
What else stirred the people I follow on social media/blogs? The return of TSR/WotC PDFs on DriveThruRPG/RPGNow. That got people talking for a while, but that died down after a bit. |
| Razz |
Posted - 31 Mar 2013 : 20:24:52
I used to be on the boards until 4E came along. The minute they lumped everyone's complaints, worries, and anger at the the way the new edition was unfolding into one single thread was my last straw. It was a method of deceiving the public that 4E was going to be the greatest edition ever and, if you happen to look on the boards, seeing so much discussion and positive feedback would definitely make you think this. Unless you happened upon the 100+ page thread on all the negative feedback on 4E. But chances of that were thin considering where they placed it. And anyone starting a thread on complaint with 4E were warned or banned and redirected to that one thread. It made anyone angered, with logical reasoning, look like a bunch of fools for clinging to the edition that was, well, actually doing extremely well by collecting them into a dustpan and flung under the carpet. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 31 Mar 2013 : 17:44:39
I have said this before: If they did a buck-an-article thing, I think they would make far more in the long run, and also convince folks (who are buying many articles a month) to simply sign up for the DDi.
They need to produce MORE articles, split the profits with the writers (50/50), and let US decide what we want to buy, a'la cart. The writers make more, they can truly see what (and who) sells, and it cost them NOTHING (aside from a few minutes of an already-employed webmaster to simply post the articles). There is absolutely NO downside to that, for anyone. Everyone wins. Writers write what they want, Fans buy what they want, and Wizbro just sits back and rakes in the profits with almost no effort on their part.
And if we find ourselves buying more then 9 articles a month (and we probably will), then the DDi membership becomes a no-brainer at that point. Not sure how they'll do the profit-sharing with writers concerning members... maybe the writers will just have to accept that as part of the bargain (unless it proves extremely unfair, like nearly everyone eventually just being DDi members, in which case there should also be a flat-rate attached as well). Or maybe a sliding-scale depending upon the popularity of the writer's articles (which means there should be a 'rate this article' button somewhere after its read).
The only reason I can see them not wanting to do that is if in-house guys feel they won't sell enough articles, but they are employees and therefor should have to write articles outside of the profit-sharing mode (which does indeed mean freelancers could potentially be making more then in-house, but that is as it should be - it should be based upon TALENT, not who you know). |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 30 Mar 2013 : 19:48:01
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
Consider: for most of their existence, the online versions of Dragon and Dungeon magazines have been set up by WotC to allow people to download articles individually from the two magazines (only within the last five months have they started combining each month’s articles into single-issue downloads).
That's not what I want. I want to pay only for articles, and not access anything else. I don't need their character builder, or the online ruleset, or any of that other stuff. But if I want the articles, I've got to pay for it.
Look at the music industry: since music went digital, people can pay for an entire album, if that's what they want. Or they can pay for just a single song, if that's all they want. That's the option I want WotC to give me, with their digital content.
And I'm sorry, you may be loving the online magazines, but from what I saw before they put up the paywall, the online magazines offer less than the online content they used to give us for free, and that's after taking away the print magazines. WotC was offering less, but asking for the same amount. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 30 Mar 2013 : 14:20:30
I am not disagreeing with you. 
What I am saying is that many of the people who 'may have' jumped on-board with 4e/4eFR were greatly disappointed initially by what they saw, and now WON'T even consider anything being produced as something they might want. That's a very hard thing to fix, people's perceptions.
So yes, the current crop of articles ARE indeed being reviewed in terms of desirability, and people who are reading them are getting precisely what they want... but that does absolutely NOTHING to attract new people to the DDi and get them to read them (unless those articles are so damn good those people who ARE on-board are illicitly sharing them with friends... which in this case would be the best thing that could happen for WotC.
You can't know if you'll like something if you are not willing to try it - that's the whole problem at this time. Many of the folks that would have been pleased have already moved on.
What they need to do is create another 'first impression', and they'll get their chance with 5e. Ed's current articles are going a long way to helping that along, but its probably not enough. What they actually need to do is make the DDi free again for three months or so, and make sure that during that time the articles are amongst the best ever written - the kind of material folks will be talking about for years. You know who buys crack? Crack-addicts, thats who. You are not going to sell some soccer-mom housewife crack... unless you first get her to try some.
They need to go free for a while again, and NOT blow it this time. People are NOT going to pay for something they've already decided they don't like (except for caviar... I still haven't wrapped my mind around why anyone would even eat that for free). Think Woolly - he is the PERFECT example of the kind of person who's mind we need to change. You aren't going to do that by begging him to pay for something, you are going to do that by allowing him to see just how good it is. Ed's articles are good, but not enough - they need to do more. they need to show everyone that FR is a great setting once again (and I am not saying it was ever not a great setting, I am just stating how a lot of folks are seeing things right now).
They need to do something BIG, in a BIG way. The RPG fans are there... I met a bunch of them at Gencon. There are a great crop of gamers just coming into the hobby that know nothing about FR - thats our target audience. Right now Paizo is wowing their socks off. WotC needs to 'out-wow' them. How a billion dollar toy company can't do that up against what amounts basically to a 'garage start-up' is beyond me.
They put up a beautiful 20' tall Lolth statue at Gencon that everyone wanted to see, which was brilliant. Then they made people go through this 'hallway' to get to it, wherein you were shown glimspes of the up-coming video game. WTH did that have to do with FR or D&D? Where is the common sense? Paizo is running an entire floor of games (that people werestanding in line for hours just to play), and people were sneaking past the video-game preview just to look at the Lolth staue... and then walk away. In fact, even one of the guys working the booth couldn't understand why the WotC booth wasn't selling any WotC products. 
Ball, dropped... once again. Lots and lots of great ideas that somehow get run through a meat-grinder of stupidity. You gonna shell-out big-bucks for a 20' Lolth, at least try to sell somebody something, instead of showing them a video game... something that most attendees were NOT there to do. No-one was playing or selling anything at the WotC booth... even the guys working it thought that was odd as hell.
You want to sell 5e and the 'new' Forgotten Realms? Chain Ed Greenwood to a chair in that booth (probably the biggest 'booth' on the floor... more like a huge room) and have him run games and talk to folks for four slid days. tThats solid gold right there. A half-dozen bored looking* employees standing around a big statue with nothing much to do (except talk about a video game at a convention for people who want something MORE) is not going draw crowds... people just take pics with the statue and move on to things more entertaining. Could they possibly make it look less fun? When there is an ENTIRE FLOOR above them filled with Pathfinder players hootin' & hollerin' because they are having the time of their lives?
I've gone quite a bit off-topic, and I apologize. I get kinda worked-up when I see people making mistakes like this. Since the release of 4e what I haven't seen on anyone's part (at WotC) is an ounce of business-savvy, and my mind reels at the opportunities lost. Did anyone (other then me) actually 'work the floor' at the con? Do they even know what that means? Its sad... really. Ed does that naturally... just let him run wild. A ten minute talk with him will have most of those pre-25 year olds buying an FR book, or at least looking forward to one when it comes out.
Its about more then just producing a great product.. its about getting the word out. Right now the only people that folks who love FR are talking to are other people who still love FR. |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 17:52:31
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
While I agree with Jeremy's summation of what the DDi IS, here's the problem with all of that: When they first announced the DDi, they gave us a few months of free content... which was absolutely ABYSMAL.
So you thought the free Backdrop: Cormyr article, with the awesome map by Mike Schley and the timeline and a rundown of Cormyr’s history through to 1479 DR sucked?
Damn, tough crowd.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
2) Although I agree that what they are producing now is worth the price, the problem is that most of the 'volumes of Realmslore' you speak of pertain to an era most of the fanbase has no interest in.
Assuming you’re talking to me here.
First, how do you know “most of the fanbase” has no interest in the content produced?
Consider: for most of their existence, the online versions of Dragon and Dungeon magazines have been set up by WotC to allow people to download articles individually from the two magazines (only within the last five months have they started combining each month’s articles into single-issue downloads).
Ergo WotC has been able to track on a per-article basis what’s popular and what isn’t.
Of the various articles, the Eye series that “most” of the fanbase isn’t interested in have been going since about November of 2009, i.e. three years and four months.
It’s easy to assume anything post-Spellplague will automatically be dismissed by anyone who was introduced to the Realms before 4E, but I have a hard time believing only post-Spellplague Realms fans are downloading the Eye articles. This is because good Realmslore is good Realmslore. For people who enjoy imersive, Volo’s Guide-style writing, the Eye articles are right up their alley.
This naturally includes people who came to the Realms before 4E. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 16:56:26
While I agree with Jeremy's summation of what the DDi IS, here's the problem with all of that:
1) When they first announced the DDi, they gave us a few months of free content... which was absolutely ABYSMAL. It wasn't just minimalist... it was like they were scrapping the bottom of the barrel (ie, 'the headless Zhent'). Here they were trying to prove it was worth buying, and then they show us something we could not run away from fast enough. Their marks: I give them an 'A' for the concept of the DDi, but they failed miserably on delivery (initially). That first few months should have left us eating out of their hands, and instead it left most of us with the impression that the DDi was something we would never, EVER want. You can never make a second 'first impression'. They blew it, end of story.
2) Although I agree that what they are producing now is worth the price, the problem is is that most of the 'volumes of Realmslore' you speak of pertain to an era most of the fanbase has no interest in. They could produce an encyclopedic amount of fluff each month, and it still wouldn't change people's minds, simply because the fluff they are producing is not what most folks care to see. If I weren't running a completely Frankensteined version of the Realms ATM, I would probably dismiss most of it myself. Its only because I've completely walked away from the canon Realms (and the novels) that I can now enjoy the material they are currently producing.
So here is the the problem in a nutshell - Who are they producing the 5e Realms for? Do they even know? When they split the fanbase with the timejump, they separated the novel fans from the gamers (for the most part). As many of us who game can attest to, we can use anything from anywhere and make it work; not just other eras, but other settings and game systems entirely. But the people who follow the STORY that is the Forgotten Realms, they need continuity and consistency, otherwise the immersion factor gets broken. There is this huge gap - the 'Grand Canyon' of lore - that needs to be back-filled in now, and I just don't know if it can be done. At least, not in a way that will please everyone.
I am not taking any sides here - I actually hope they do make it work. I daresay I will be amazed if/when it does. In fact, the only reason I am still holding out any hope at all is because the the guy who built the ship is steering it again, and if anyone knows what she can do, its him.
On Topic:
So if you are a gamer, then the DDi is worth it. If you are a fan of the 4e realms, then it is worth it. If you are both, it should be a no-brainer. If you are neither a gamer nor a fan of the current era, then I am just not seeing the DDi being a viable option. Unfortunately, there are a LOT of people in that category - people who buy setting material but don't play. Far more then they used to realize (Ed ALWAYS knew... and I think they see it now to). |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 20:02:19
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
Re: Wooly and "the n-word"
That's awesome!
|
| BEAST |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 19:56:53
Re: Wooly and "the n-word"
That's awesome! |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 17:54:38
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The material that would be of interest to me is now almost entirely behind the paywall, and that material is stuff they used to give us for free, in addition to print magazines.
I’m pretty sure none of the series of free Realms material were continued in (online) Dragon or Dungeon. Nor did they continue on some sort of WotC-created web page of Realmslore that only paying users could access. (If they did, somebody show me a link because I missed out.)
Instead, WotC started regular article like Eye on the Realms and the Backdrop series (that cover nations and places). I consider these as magazine and sourcebook level content.
Paying a subscription rate for online access to content like this is a good value (to me at least) because that cost would otherwise be spread out amongst sourcebooks and a regular paper magazine subscription.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'll prolly look more at the site then, but I expect a lot of "this new edition rocks, and here's why!" like we saw on previous updates.
Take a look. It's a whole lot more interrogative. They're asking questions and looking for feedback.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I hate to be part of the "things were better in the old days!" crowd, but when I compare the print magazines and the free online content we used to get to the virtual magazines and the dribbles of free content they now offer, the difference is quite notable.
You’re right, the difference is noticeable: we’ve gotten more regular Realms coverage in the online magazines than we did in the print magazines. 
It’s unfortunate WotC didn’t produce any regular free Realmslore content for a few years after 4E hit the shelves, because it’s a great way to hook people and bring them back to the website, but as I mentioned earlier what we’re getting for free now via Ed’s Forging the Realms articles are about the same size as the one or two overlapping articles per week we used to get from 2000 to 2007.
Where I think we really missed out was on the print sourcebook side of things.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I still love the updated Wyrms of the North articles, and the Waterdeep News, and Mintiper's Chapbooks, and Perilous Gateways -- all great stuff they offered for free, alongside the print magazines.
I like all that stuff too and I’m glad it’s all still available for free online at the WotC website.
Here’s how I look at it: I'm more interested in enjoying Realms content and having a good time than I am in taking a hard look at what WotC is doing and deciding whether or not I like their approach as a precondition of me enjoying the Realms.
I appreciate free content, but I believe good Realmslore has value and it shouldn’t, as a rule, be free.
WotC produced something like 25 Realms sourcebooks and adventures over the life of the 3E Realms (I purchased all of them), but only four true Realms sourcebooks for 4E (I purchased 3 of these). Free content makes sense for 3E, but in the 4E era WotC isn’t taking in nearly as much money from the Realms as it used to because the Realms wasn’t their focus. It makes sense that they wouldn’t be budgeting money and resources to produce free content.
So I’m glad that things appear to be changing: they’re much more focused on the Realms and we’re getting free content again. This is a good thing. |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 17:52:19
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I have looked. Considering what they used to offer for free, I am quite underwhelmed by their current offerings.
In terms of quantity of Realmslore, sure it's not as much as the near-library of old material, but then that material built up at the rate of about two small articles per week over a seven year period of time.
To me what's important is that they're releasing free Realmslore on a weekly basis and adding to the already existing library. The size of one of Ed’s Forging the Realms articles is about equal to any two older articles from back in the day. In terms of word count released on a weekly basis, we’re getting about the same as we used to.
In addition to this the new-edition related material, D&D material in general and the amount of daily offerings are quite considerable. They're also asking a lot of feedback. Many an article asks the reader polling questions, which help to shape the new edition.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And I remain unwilling to pay for online content when I have to pay an all-inclusive price for that which I have no use for.
How is this approach any different than charging a subscription rate for print magazines?
I'm like you in that I don't (currently) use the 4E rules. I hardly read anything in either Dragon or Dungeon that's not Realms related, but I do read the online free content in the regular columns (Dragon's Eye View, Wandering Monsters, DM Experience) and answering the polling questions when I feel compelled to.
I could see where you're coming from if WotC price gouged their users, but the price they charge to access the online Dragon & Dungeon Realms content is a paltry amount. If they sold their articles piecemeal, I'd expect to pay about what I'm paying now just for the Realms content.
Non-Realms material never kept me from purchasing the paper versions of Dragon and Dungeon magazines and it doesn’t now. And I get a better deal anyway since my subscription allows me full access to back issues.
|
| Thauranil |
Posted - 27 Mar 2013 : 12:36:41
Frankly I didnt know that WOTC even had proper forums until I joined Candlekeep. I just visit to check out the latest novel launches and maybe download a sample chapter or two. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 20:13:54
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Have they increased their offerings of free content?
Check the Daily D&D section and see for yourself.
I have looked. Considering what they used to offer for free, I am quite underwhelmed by their current offerings.
And I remain unwilling to pay for online content when I have to pay an all-inclusive price for that which I have no use for. A lesser fee for just the online "magazines" or even a pay-per-article approach would be acceptable to me, but all-or-nothing means I choose nothing.
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I rarely saw anything more than previews, and the regular updates that were previously free became for-pay only.
The Gleemax debacle coupled with WotC trying to get the paid content portion of their website going (Dragon, Dungeon, character tools/character builder and rules compendium) didn't seem to leave much time for creating free online content.
That said, WotC didn't put everything behind a paywall. To me it seemed like for awhile they just weren't producing anything extra while they sorted out their (online) mess.
The material that would be of interest to me is now almost entirely behind the paywall, and that material is stuff they used to give us for free, in addition to print magazines.
I was already banned from their forums, at least a couple years before the Gleemax debacle. I was aware of Gleemax, but not affected by it, and therefore can't say much about it.
It's like the novels ban that was in place when I first went there -- I will readily comment on how they enforced it, because that affected me. It's part of why I later made jokes about "novels" being the "n-word" -- because they came down on novel discussions so harshly, even with something as simple as saying "no, this person has not written a novel."
But I can't say as much about the ban itself, because it was there when I first signed up. I wasn't affected by not being able to discuss something I already wasn't discussing.
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I used to go there daily, sometimes more oft, when I was expecting new Realmslore.
I can't imagine you're unaware of the Forging the Realms articles. The previews for Ed's Elminster's Forgotten Realms were pretty good too.
I am only aware of the Forging the Realms articles because the links are being shared here.
Previews are all well and good, but I don't want those previews to be in place of exclusive content.
I would have prefered it if the previews we got of El's Realms were actual extracts, instead of "here's the content on this page!" with the text cut off at the page break.
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
Of course there's always buzz and activity on their website before a new edition comes out. I'm curious to see the rate of content updates and production for their website once 5E hits the shelves.
I'll prolly look more at the site then, but I expect a lot of "this new edition rocks, and here's why!" like we saw on previous updates. And while that might be of interest, it's the lore that I want. My interest in rulesets has greatly diminished, and it appears that WotC's online offerings have similarly declined.
I hate to be part of the "things were better in the old days!" crowd, but when I compare the print magazines and the free online content we used to get to the virtual magazines and the dribbles of free content they now offer, the difference is quite notable. I still love the updated Wyrms of the North articles, and the Waterdeep News, and Mintiper's Chapbooks, and Perilous Gateways -- all great stuff they offered for free, alongside the print magazines.
WotC, and TSR before them, has gotten a lot of my money, over the years. I'd be happy to keep supporting them, but I don't care for much of what they are offering now, and I'm unwilling to pay for the rest when it's coupled with things I don't want and that are useless to me.
I miss refreshing my browser, waiting for the new content to be uploaded... WotC just isn't offering me anything, any more. This will hopefully change with the release of the 5E Realms.
I don't check any other gaming sites, either, for the record. My interest in BattleTech has waned, so I don't check those sites any more. Beyond their weekly fiction, Paizo doesn't offer much online content (that I am aware of), and I don't like their forum structure. The Privateer Press site similarly has little online content, and I am 0 for 2 with positive experiences on their forums. |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 18:56:28
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Have they increased their offerings of free content?
Check the Daily D&D section and see for yourself.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I rarely saw anything more than previews, and the regular updates that were previously free became for-pay only.
The Gleemax debacle coupled with WotC trying to get the paid content portion of their website going (Dragon, Dungeon, character tools/character builder and rules compendium) didn't seem to leave much time for creating free online content.
That said, WotC didn't put everything behind a paywall. To me it seemed like for awhile they just weren't producing anything extra while they sorted out their (online) mess.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I used to go there daily, sometimes more oft, when I was expecting new Realmslore.
I can't imagine you're unaware of the Forging the Realms articles. The previews for Ed's Elminster's Forgotten Realms were pretty good too.
Of course there's always buzz and activity on their website before a new edition comes out. I'm curious to see the rate of content updates and production for their website once 5E hits the shelves. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 17:15:35
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I used to visit the WotC website daily, until 4E came out. Since everything was put behind a paywall, I don't go to their site unless someone here links to a free article.
I used to be active on their forums, but I was wrongfully banned from there years ago, and I won't go back. (Those interested can read the tale of my banning
here -- I've been asked about that more than once, so I just link to that version now.)
And I refuse to visit a site that bans my friend Wooly, so I haven't been there for years.
I appreciate that, but I've no problem with anyone else being on that site. I'd certainly hate to be the only reason someone missed out on some of the good stuff I saw over there, back in the day. I don't hold any particular animosity towards the WotC forums or anyone over there, it's just a matter of principle, to me.
Well...I'm not quite that narrow minded....I didnt like how they handled the novel discussions. And I do check Ed's Forging The Realms when I remember to. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 16:57:51
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
I still visit the FR forums.
Note: there's quite a bit of free content on the (non forum) space at WotC, some of it dating back several years, and free content in general is added to the website on a near daily basis.
Have they increased their offerings of free content? Before the put up the paywall, everything on the site was free, and they offered good Realmslore and other good stuff on a regular basis. When they put up the paywall, I rarely saw anything more than previews, and the regular updates that were previously free became for-pay only. Yes, the older content was still there, but I found nothing new of interest that was still free. It's why I now only go to their site when looking for specific content. I used to go there daily, sometimes more oft, when I was expecting new Realmslore. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 14:16:59
When Erik said they'd be “resurrecting” the Novels Book Club, I registered. But then I found myself not that interested. I even forgot my user ID and password. I only visit the site to check out new novel releases for Magic: the Gathering and Ebberon. |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 05:44:17
I still visit the FR forums.
Note: there's quite a bit of free content on the (non forum) space at WotC, some of it dating back several years, and free content in general is added to the website on a near daily basis.
Regarding novels, novel discussion does appear to be allowed on the regular forum space, but (at least on the FR Forum) it's not overrun with trolls like before. There's also the WotC Novels Book Club, which has its own space on the forums as well. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 03:38:50
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
It's too tough to navigate around there. I heard they frowned on discussing the novels a while back, and I never looked back. Even the few links I saved to articles over there are all busted. So there's little incentive for me to bother.
I believe that have since re-allowed discussions on novels, but I am obviously not the best person to ask, on that one.
Novels can be discussed, yes, but under heavy regulation as I recall. Though, in the few times I've engaged in novel-based discussions on the Wizards boards, I haven't really noticed too much Moderator-oversight. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 03:25:34
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
It's too tough to navigate around there. I heard they frowned on discussing the novels a while back, and I never looked back. Even the few links I saved to articles over there are all busted. So there's little incentive for me to bother.
I believe that have since re-allowed discussions on novels, but I am obviously not the best person to ask, on that one. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 02:19:14
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
It's too tough to navigate around there.
I don't find it tough to navigate, but at the same time, the current forum architecture does have me waxing nostalgic over the "older, classic" forum structure Wizards used during the 3e era. Maybe it was just a consequence of my being more active over that during that time, but I really loved it. Aside from the "bump" in the road that was Gleemax.  |
| BEAST |
Posted - 26 Mar 2013 : 01:11:15
It's too tough to navigate around there. I heard they frowned on discussing the novels a while back, and I never looked back. Even the few links I saved to articles over there are all busted. So there's little incentive for me to bother. |
| Euranna |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 23:49:01
I poke around sometimes, but really, not a lot. It just seems often to be grump fest whenever I happen to head over. I might just have horrible timing.
I like it here much better.  |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 20:30:35
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I used to visit the WotC website daily, until 4E came out. Since everything was put behind a paywall, I don't go to their site unless someone here links to a free article.
I used to be active on their forums, but I was wrongfully banned from there years ago, and I won't go back. (Those interested can read the tale of my banning
here -- I've been asked about that more than once, so I just link to that version now.)
And I refuse to visit a site that bans my friend Wooly, so I haven't been there for years.
I appreciate that, but I've no problem with anyone else being on that site. I'd certainly hate to be the only reason someone missed out on some of the good stuff I saw over there, back in the day. I don't hold any particular animosity towards the WotC forums or anyone over there, it's just a matter of principle, to me. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 20:17:44
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I used to visit the WotC website daily, until 4E came out. Since everything was put behind a paywall, I don't go to their site unless someone here links to a free article.
I used to be active on their forums, but I was wrongfully banned from there years ago, and I won't go back. (Those interested can read the tale of my banning
here -- I've been asked about that more than once, so I just link to that version now.)
And I refuse to visit a site that bans my friend Wooly, so I haven't been there for years. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 20:13:32
Well I am AUG , 2005, became very active in some discussion talking about 4th Edition plans, then some about how 4th Edition rolled out - or not. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 18:41:51
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
I used to be active on the WotC boards. I started on the FR site, but left to come here just after the big novel dust-up back in 2003 or 2004.
I first signed up over there right after the banning of novel discussions. When I came over here, I used to joke about using the "n-word" on those forums, since they were strict to the point of overzealousness in quelling discussions about novels.
I still think it was ridiculous that the only one of my supposed three strikes that I actually earned was a discussion about a TSR/WotC person who did not write any novels! Someone asked if Skip Williams had written any novels, I said that he hadn't, but that I'd be interested if he did. And thus I received a strike for discussing novels.  |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 14:56:21
I used to frequent the WotC forums, until things went bonkers over there somewhere around 4E. I only come here now for forums but do go to the wotc site once a week for Ed's columns. :) |
| Diffan |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 13:28:03
Im a pretty current poster there, probably as much as I am here. Im often on the D&DN boards a lot and verh little on the FR ones. |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 25 Mar 2013 : 12:15:15
I used to be active on the WotC boards. I started on the FR site, but left to come here just after the big novel dust-up back in 2003 or 2004. Then I moved over to the old 309 board, the Character Optimization board where I spent a good deal of time fielding questions about the warlock. Which is ironic, since warlocks don't exist in my view of the Realms, but I find the class interesting. I haven't been back since 4e, and I've moved the warlock compilation I created to other boards, though I think it's still on WotC as well. |
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