The Book Publishing Department of Wizards of the Coast has decided that as of January 23, 2004, the company will no longer provide message boards for novels on our web site. The message boards relating to roleplaying games and other Wizards of the Coast products will continue to be supported. There are many other sites that provide forums in which fans can offer their opinions of our products. We encourage you to take advantage of them. To facilitate this, during the next few weeks we will be providing links to author sites with and without message boards.
(smacks himself in head) shoulda thought 'bout that
Originally posted by Webster
When you send letters, be sure to keep it polite. Run it through a spelling checker.
I would agree with the above if you feel the need to send an email to WotC showing your displeasure.
I also agree that keeping the boards separate is a good idea.
However, in light of the current publication set up for DL (ie, WotC has the novels, Sov Press has the games), it makes sense for them to keep the focus on DL novels.
Why they are doing this for *all* boards? I have no idea.
It can't be that hard to monitor and maintain a few extra boards.
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Dragonlance.com Message Boards
You should all be proud, though. I was informed that the Dragonlance novel boards were considered a shining example of what a novel board could and should be. Alas, WotC has decided not to continue with novel boards, and this decision must apply to all novel boards. We may disagree with WotC on this, but it is their decision to make. Their reasons are their own.
Rather than feed off negative energy, I’d rather we put that energy to positive use. Please be sure to e-mail WotC customer service (e-mail addy in WotC Mel’s post). Let them know your feelings, and how important the Dragonlance novel boards are to you. Don’t yell at them. That won’t accomplish anything. Rather, approach them in a professional manner, and list why you think the novel boards should continue.
I hope to see you guys over at Dragonlance.com’s forums for some great novel discussions, and I hope you guys give the Book Club a try. We’ve got Jeff Crook slated for Dark Thane in February and I believe Nancy Berberick is slated for The Lioness in March.
So what happens now? Are the moderators going to start locking threads about novels on the Dragonlance board, and threads about other things that at some point might become novel discussions?
And what about the DiN list? Can I move it to the main board without fear of having it locked?
(I can easily see FR board members starting major riots in FR general now)
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
I hope to see you guys over at Dragonlance.com’s forums for some great novel discussions...
Hmm...we'll see, we'll see. I became a member there the minute you got the boards going, but the whole 'fifth age sucks' attitude I've witnessed has kept me from posting much.
Ah well...like Jonesy said, are we going to be able to discuss DL Novels on the DL General Board? (since it is a DL General board and not a DL Gaming board)
and i read on the FR boards that discussions will only be allowed to reference novels tangentically when discussing game concepts, and posts solely about novels won't be allowed.
Originally posted by WizO_BigSister
* It will be allowed to make references to novels when it is appropriate to the topic being discussed (e.g. If you are discussing “The Origens of the Moonblades” of course you will be able to mention “Evermeet: Island of the Elves.” As another example when discussing the nature of Cormyr as a campaign setting of course you can refer to the Sembia novels.)
* It will also be allowed discussion of the iconic characters who appear both in novels and supplements.
*It will not be permissible to post literary criticism of any novels in any thread.
* It will not be permissible to post a thread started specifically to discuss a novel.
Which would mean that even the other Other Worlds forums would become novel thread witchhunts...even though no information of this has been posted on them.
Which leads to the question: why are the novel boards getting closed on such a short notice? What's the sudden hurry to get rid of them?
Anyway, I don't see why the DLMB would become the witch hunt for novel posts like on the FR boards (which already has a problem with people getting pissy about posting novel threads anywhere but in the Novel Boards). I don't see that happening on the "Other World" Boards...including Dragonlance's.
But I may be wrong.
I feel a whole lot better now.just to say it again wotc can
kiss me bloody arse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally posted by talinthas
hey now, don't do that. Mel is one of the sweetest people i know. She wouldnt do this if someone above wasn't pressuring for it.
It wasnt Mel it was the web master. now im trying to get kicked
off of this web site HE HE
Every message board or forum has their own feel. You have a different feel on the DL-L than on the AFDL than on DL.com's boards than on these boards. I post on the WotC boards the most as these are the boards with the feel I like the best. I rarely visit the AFDL as I don't care much for its feel.
What makes up the feel of a message board, though? Is it the location on the internet, or the people involved?
It's true that DL.com's boards does have a "younger" crowd. The same could be said here as well. I think many of us would rather discuss specifics about novels and games, rather than have threads on "favorite character" or "least liked book".
If there are threads or tendencies on DL.com's boards that are disconcerting, please let me know. I wish I could read every thread, but I honestly don't have time. Also, lead by example. If you do nothing, then the negative qualities will remain. If you do something, then you can be a positive force for change.
While it sucks that this board is being closed, there are options out there. Dragonlance.com has a novel-specific board. The Dragonlance-L mailing list is also a great resource. There are other Dragonlance forums out there as well.
I wish you all the best of luck finding the forum that works best for you.
Originally posted by talinthas
hey now, don't do that. Mel is one of the sweetest people i know. She wouldnt do this if someone above wasn't pressuring for it.
This wasn't Mel's doing. As a matter of fact, she fought very hard to keep the novel boards going. Alas, management will be management.
And yes, she is very sweet.
I guess times are changing.
After the Novels closure, would threads in the Dragonlance board focused on the novels specifically be considered 'off-topic', or can we just view the Dragonlance-main and Dragonlance-novels boards as being merged together?
Originally posted by carteeg
Question then:
After the Novels closure, would threads in the Dragonlance board focused on the novels specifically be considered 'off-topic', or can we just view the Dragonlance-main and Dragonlance-novels boards as being merged together?
Basically, there's only going to be the general/main board. All novel-specific discussions will be considered a no-no and will be closed.
Originally posted by talinthas
and trampas, i really appreciate all you've done for the setting and dl.com and whatnot, but really, even you couldnt close every thread that wonders what the hell happened to DL in summer flame, or how chron/leg is the best, or who is your fave chara/book/kender hairstyle/whatever.
Nor would I want to. There will always be new fans to the setting, and even though you or I may be beyond subjects such as this, new fans have a right to post those (as long as they don't get into flames).
These days i frequent DL.com for the authors and the bookclub. the rest of the threads just don't do it for me. Maybe i've just progressed beyond being excited about sturm or raistlin. Maybe its that my favorite characters and plots are from books long out of print that no one has read (the black dragon onyx from kevin stein's short stories, or verden leafglow). Or maybe i'm just more comfortable chatting DL with people i've known for nearly 10 years now.
I guess times are changing.
I understand how you feel, my man. There are lots of threads I don't get involved in simply because they've been discussed time and again, or because I feel like I've progressed past a certain point.
Oh, and Raistlin rocks! ;)
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Basically, there's only going to be the general/main board. All novel-specific discussions will be considered a no-no and will be closed.
That's retarded. (no offense, Trampas...I know this isn't your doing) But seriously...that's retarded. There's going to be just one board, and as you said, it's a "general/main board" ("general" being the key word here). To me, that says anything Dragonlance related goes.
We don't have a "Dragonlance Movie" board...but we're allowed to discuss that. Why would this be any different?
Originally posted by Brimstone
We don't have a "Dragonlance Movie" board...but we're allowed to discuss that. Why would this be any different?
Because people don't bad mouth the DL Movie. :D
I believe this has something to do with the fact that they are trying to sell novels and when you have a thread like "Least Liked Books" where people tell you how terrible this or that book is it is not beneficial to WotC's sales of novels. Therefore they are not obligated to support bad reviews of their own novels. At least that is what I think this is all boiling down to. *shrug*
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Basically, there's only going to be the general/main board. All novel-specific discussions will be considered a no-no and will be closed.
I'm sorry, but that doesn't make the least bit of sense whatsoever.
I've been under the impression that the WotC website has been horrible for years, and they keep finding ways to reenforce that impression.
THEY PUBLISH THE BOOKS for crying out loud.
I'd be like the DL.com website suddenly saying that no more gaming discussion is allowed, EVEN THOUGH they are the official website for DL gaming.
What the...?
Watch these boards turn to dust overnight is what we'll be doing.
Originally posted by Kipper Snifferdoo
I believe this has something to do with the fact that they are trying to sell novels and when you have a thread like "Least Liked Books" where people tell you how terrible this or that book is it is not beneficial to WotC's sales of novels.
The board isn't dominated by such threads.
And if they don't like them, they can close those theads.
Similar threads exist on the DL.com boards, and as long as they are civil, they are not closed.
If they don't want people to have an opinion, well, this isn't the way to go about it.
Such discussion will just spread to the main board. And then what? Will they shut it down too?
Feel free to e mail me about it at [email]metallicats15370@yahoo.com[/email]
Just to tell you again THIS SUCKS!!!!!!
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Basically, there's only going to be the general/main board. All novel-specific discussions will be considered a no-no and will be closed.
Which would mean that the same will happen on the other Other Worlds boards? And the D20 boards? And the Star Wars board? And if this doesn't affect them, it's going to intentionally target DL, FR and Magic novels? Or if this does affect them as well all novel discussions are suddenly banned from the WotC site? What the hell is going on here?
Originally posted by [email]custserv@wizards.com[/email]
"The Book Department of Wizards of the Coast has decided to shut down the novels message boards for business reasons. There are lots of other sites on the web that support message boards devoted to novels in Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Magic: The Gathering, and other worlds. Over the next couple of weeks we'll be posting links to author sites, including some that support message boards. We appreciate your input on this matter."
Business reasons? How do business reasons relate to shutting down four small novel forums?
The most bizarre thing is that the novel threads are going to be locked or deleted on main boards. I can understand to an extent, because it might just be that the main boards will become jammed with spam (hmm... jam and spam... lunchtime approaches...) about favourite character etc - repetitive threads that add nothing to any discussion, really, but attract plenty of posts since it's so easy to reply to.
The thing is, those people that actually want to talk about the books will not be able to discuss the books period, which will only serve to drive people away to other websites, which I would have thought would be a bad idea. This board serves to promote all of WotCs products - other sites, that are DL specific for example, have no random parts that talk about Magic or Forgotten Realms or whatever, so the interest for such things from random people will wane. Perhaps only a little, but it again shows WotCs arrogance when dealing with its customers.
I think it's just getting more and more overconfident with dealing with role-players, since it knows we are drawn to buy all their stock, and Magic gamers, because an integral part of the game is getting more cards, which all cost a ridiculous amount. If it weren't for the fact that the DLCS came out with 3.5, I would certainly have never bought the 3.5 books, and I just can't understand those people that do actually buy all the books. You'll never use everything from the books, and barely use anything in most cases. If you want to have a prestige class or a magic item from a book, you don't need to buy it. For that little, you can either make it up yourself, or just scan the book in the local hobby store.
I know it'd be great to do some sort of mass walkout on buying WotC stuff, but I know it'd never happen. For some reason or another, all us gamers are addicted. That's what WotC knows and relies on, so it can quite happily treat us like
, because we still come back for more. I hope the quality of SPs stuff picks up a bit, because I think that's all I'm buying. I know that the editing in the novels won't improve.