Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Clansmansix Sep 16, 2013 19:50:26	Well, there goes the remaining avenue for new 4E material. Official support of any kind is dead as dead gets. It's likely we will never see "official" material filling in gaps in class builds (Transmuter Mage, Winter and Fall Sentinel, etc). Anyone care to take bets how long the Character Builder and Adventure Tools remain up? As of the 1st of January, my subscription dollars go bye-bye WotC! I'm sure I can find other options...
#2 thespaceinvader Sep 17, 2013 0:59:00	Source for this?
#3 Plaguescarred1 Sep 17, 2013 2:04:49	Dragon 427 Editorial by Chris Perkins
#4 CUBPHILDND Sep 17, 2013 2:05:11	Dragon 427, Editorial (page 3).
#5 frothsof Sep 17, 2013 6:05:33	Does it say for how long? Surely you can copy/paste the important bits without it being a paywall issue?
#6 Artifact Sep 17, 2013 7:09:57	The *service* side of D&D Insider was the worst thing for me (auto-renew was my personal pet peeve) but looking back, the good out-weighed the bad.  Many, many thanks to the writers, artists who worked on the articles.  Some of my favorite articles -ever- appeared during this run. If I could make a wish, it would be to see the return of the print mags ;).  Still, whatever form they may take, Dragon and Dungeon have always added to my enjoyment of the game.  I'm already anxious to see what's in store for them with the release of DDN.
#7 MalakLightfoot Sep 17, 2013 15:05:36	To the writers who have had submissions accepted, but the articles have yet to see print, can you reveal the subject matter of the articles? Or are you bound by NDA until the article is published? My subscription runs out in a few days, I wondering if it is worth renewing for the last few months.
#8 CoeusFreeze Sep 17, 2013 18:52:10	How could you betray your faithful writers like this, Wizards? I worked all summer on a number of articles to submit to dragon, and this is what you do? Canceling all 4e content just weeks before the submission date? I spent countless hours trying to perfect my submissions, and now here I am with almost a dozen obsolete articles sitting on my computer. Content and creativity that has all been squandered by your asinine move. Tell us what we writers, who have held your magazine afloat for so long, are supposed to do with the fruits of their labors now that this door has been closed. This is a slap in the face to all of your writers, one that we may never come to forgive you for.   If there is anyone else out there who knows of another place where I can get my articles published, I would appreciate knowing.
#9 svendj Sep 18, 2013 0:42:27	CoeusFreeze wrote:
(Reply to #9) hunterian7	Not surprised about this move. What I'm surprised about is that they continued to produce 4th edition material throughout 2013- for that I'm thankful. However, with D&D Next (just 1 calorie!) coming out at gencon 2014 we COULD have had eight more issues of groovy 4th edition content. I want Asmodeus stats! Thankfully, I have only 3 more months of DDI to pay for and then I can sit back and watch D&D Next flop next year. Viva 4th!!
(Reply to #5) Jaxair	Froth, Chris doesn't say how long they will be on hiatus, merely they will be dark for a few months. Jax
#12 Style75 Sep 21, 2013 12:52:12	This is definitely the end of official 4e content. When Dragon and Dungeon come back after their break I expect them to have a new look and be packed full of D&D Next articles and exclusive previews. Think about it, they need to get that ball rolling before the big release of Next at Gen Con 2014. When you think about it, this is exactly what they did in the transition from 3.5 to 4e. The only surprise for me is that they waited so long to end 4e content. I like 4e and I like D&D Next (I'm currently running a game of each) so I win regardless what they do. But I do feel sorry for all those writers whose hard work on articles and proposals will feel like wasted effort. Fanzines everyone, send your proposals to Frothsof. 4e will live as long people are playing it.
(Reply to #8) christopher_perkins	Thanks to everyone for their comments and conspiracy theories. Fun to read, as usual! I feel privileged to have worked with so many professional writers over the years. I've also learned to beware any writer who wields rhetoric like a greatclub and flaunts an unjustifiable sense of entitlement. If anyone needs a proverbial slap in the face, it's him. Take our submission guidelines, for example: They clearly state that we don't accept articles without first approving a pitch. If a writer isn't commissioned to write for us, he has only himself to blame for "countless" hours spent writing articles that might never see the light of day. To think that his work deserves to be published on spec reeks of arrogance, and I wish him the best of luck. He'll need it. I feel sorry for any writer who writes only for money and/or laurels. I have written thousands of words that will never see publication, and I don't remember ever thinking that my work or my creativity was "squandered." Every word makes me a better writer. To me, the craft has greater value and purpose, and that optimism has helped me immeasurably. I've been a writer and a publisher for almost 30 years, and the best advice I can offer to any writer, professional or otherwise, is this: Get over yourself. You'll be a happier person, and more people will enjoy working with you. Funnel the drama into your creative writing, where it belongs. Chris
(Reply to #13) _NewbieDM_	Epic smackdown. Hell yeah.
(Reply to #13) _NewbieDM_	Also, Perkins' avatar claims he only has two posts.... That can't be right.  "I don't post, but when I do is to lay down the law."
(Reply to #8) _NewbieDM_	Put it in a blog. WOTC doesn't owe any aspiring writers anything.
#17 Mommy_was_an_Orc Sep 22, 2013 6:23:40	_NewbieDM_ wrote:
#18 _NewbieDM_ Sep 22, 2013 9:23:42	That's a different argument. One which I agree with. I never said WOTC didn't owe paying customers anything, just aspiring writers.
#19 The_Jester Sep 22, 2013 15:47:23	Mommy_was_an_Orc wrote:
#20 Mommy_was_an_Orc Sep 22, 2013 19:23:38	The_Jester wrote:
#21 Alphastream Sep 23, 2013 13:54:43	If i had to guess, I would expect that the staff working on the 'magazines' could be put to better use on the development of D&D Next and other associated tasks. While the magazines are important, it is likely too early to convert to D&D Next (something they probably considered) and supporting 4E likely does not serve their goals. (4E remains my favorite edition, though I am having a lot of fun with Next. My saying this isn't bashing 4E or its fans at all. It's a reality of older editions usually fading in support). When it comes to writing, I think it's pretty typical for any writer to go through some ego checks during the process. We all have to figure out why we do it. Predicating enjoyment on having to be published is unlikely to pay off. Enjoying the journey and betterment of skill is likely to pay off beter over time. Even really great assignments can be difficult to write or can find us not producing our best work. Ideas we think are excellent can be ones of little interest to others. That's the nature of the beast. I generally write for a few reasons. First, because I would like to provide great content for others. I admire those that have given to me, and I like to give back. Second, I like being part of the game and furthering the type of play I like. My parents were teachers and I like to increase gamers' awareness to various aspects of the game. Third, I find it fun to create and get better at creating. All of these reasons are why I often have written for organized play, where pay is nonexistent and fame very low, but you really get to see what people liked and what they did not. I will miss DDI, though I have to admit that the change from weekly articles to monthly all-in-one pdfs left me far behind on reading articles. It was easier for me to set aside the time to read a few articles each week, far harder to sit down with an issue (or try to remember to devote the time and catch up). I do look forward to seeing the magazines return.   My thanks to all of the staff involved with DDI. There were clearly many challenges in going all-digital, and some of the folks at Wizards have been nothing less than heroes. Their effort brought us a ton of amazingly creative ideas, fantastically fun options for play, and wondrously imaginative adventures. My gaming life is richer and better for their efforts. As a writer, they took precious time out of their day to help me improve. I value everything, even (maybe, in hindsight, most of all) the rejections. Thank you.
#22 Style75 Sep 23, 2013 14:54:06	Wotc may yet drop the price of DDI. We will not know until the magazines go dark. Until then, they are still charging full price because we are getting as much value as we always have. If January rolls around and they dont discount DDI, then I think it will be plain to everyone whats going on. Until then I will give WotC the benefit of the doubt.
#23 hunterian7 Sep 23, 2013 16:08:40	Heh, looks like a nerve was touched.
#24 hunterian7 Sep 23, 2013 16:28:40	[quote="Alphastream1"] If i had to guess, I would expect that the staff working on the 'magazines' could be put to better use on the development of D&D Next and other associated tasks. While the magazines are important, it is likely too early to convert to D&D Next (something they probably considered) and supporting 4E likely does not serve their goals. (4E remains my favorite edition, though I am having a lot of fun with Next. My saying this isn't bashing 4E or its fans at all. It's a reality of older editions usually fading in support). When it comes to writing, I think it's pretty typical for any writer to go through some ego checks during the process. We all have to figure out why we do it. Predicating enjoyment on having to be published is unlikely to pay off. Enjoying the journey and betterment of skill is likely to pay off beter over time. Even really great assignments can be difficult to write or can find us not producing our best work. Ideas we think are excellent can be ones of little interest to others. That's the nature of the beast. I generally write for a few reasons. First, because I would like to provide great content for others. I admire those that have given to me, and I like to give back. Second, I like being part of the game and furthering the type of play I like. My parents were teachers and I like to increase gamers' awareness to various aspects of the game. Third, I find it fun to create and get better at creating. All of these reasons are why I often have written for organized play, where pay is nonexistent and fame very low, but you really get to see what people liked and what they did not. I will miss DDI, though I have to admit that the change from weekly articles to monthly all-in-one pdfs left me far behind on reading articles. It was easier for me to set aside the time to read a few articles each week, far harder to sit down with an issue (or try to remember to devote the time and catch up). I do look forward to seeing the magazines return.   My thanks to all of the staff involved with DDI. There were clearly many challenges in going all-digital, and some of the folks at Wizards have been nothing less than heroes. Their effort brought us a ton of amazingly creative ideas, fantastically fun options for play, and wondrously imaginative adventures. My gaming life is richer and better for their efforts. As a writer, they took precious time out of their day to help me improve. I value everything, even (maybe, in hindsight, most of all) the rejections. Thank you.     [/quote]     The move to release entire Dungeon and Dragon magazines was a good one. I love reading the entire magazine in one sitting (even though they can be small at 35-40 pages for Dragon). As I never have submitted pitches to WotC I'm neutral about their decision. Since D&D Next killed my favorite edition I can never get on board with it. I'm considered the acceptable loss part of their equation- those who don't move from 4th to D&D Lite (sorry, Next is a dumb name - walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it's 5th edition). Why is it that everything I've loved from WotC has been cancelled? publicly traded companies. Skirmish. DDM miniatures. Dungeon Command. 4th edition. Dungeon Tiles. Map Packs. Monster Vaults. Player's Handbook 4. Dungeon Master's Guide 3. D&D Adventure System. Dungeon. Dragon. As a fan since 2008 I've watched all the things I like end. Why should I venture out and support D&D next? Why jump on the treadmill again? WotC track record leaves a lot to be desired and I don't trust them. Paizo keeps releasing items for all its fans- they keep on releasing niche items for all their niche fan groups. There is continued support for fringe items. WotC is ultimately run by share holders. Paizo is run by the owners who are fans. I don't like Pathfinder but I envy the hell out of their fans. They have been treated better than 4th edition fans have been. 4th should have never been killed. D&D Next could have existed along with 4th edition.
#25 AbdulAlhazred Sep 24, 2013 17:03:39	The_Jester wrote:
#26 hunterian7 Sep 25, 2013 1:37:20	I specifically reduced my DDI subscription to monthly. I didn't trust WotC to keep producing 4th content and I planned on ending my subscription once the material switched to Next. I didn't count on them ending the magazines- what about those whose subscription carries over beyond December? I think instead of beating down a disgruntled poster (misguided fan?) perhaps a more professional post would have addressed some of the concerns. A simple 'we only accept pitches and not entire articles, thank you' would have sufficed instead of what ugliness happened above.
#27 svendj Sep 25, 2013 5:39:15	hunterian7 wrote:
#28 Medriev Sep 27, 2013 10:08:33	Style75 wrote:
#29 Damon_Tor Sep 27, 2013 11:06:51	Style75 wrote: