WotC shutting down its community forum

[Dimitrios]

The only time I visited the WotC boards was around the time that Essentials was released because it seemed like something that I might be interested in and I was looking for more information.

The place was a toxic madhouse. :jaw-dropping:

[Omega]

So are they just shutting down the forums? Or are they deleting the forums? Should there be a scramble to preserve some of the good threads?

[ForthrightRay]

So are they just shutting down the forums? Or are they deleting the forums? Should there be a scramble to preserve some of the good threads?

The forums will be deleted as part of the shutdown on Oct. 29. Wizards is making the announcement early so users have time to copy or save content.

This also applies to the forums for Magic: The Gathering.

[thedungeondelver]

Ultimately the WotC forums were the comments section for a product announcement (or many product announcements).  And what's the one thing we all know about the internet, kiddos?  DON'T READ THE COMMENT SECTION.

[Mistwell]

I am slowly moving 5e character build guides over to ENWorld.

Someone asked me on the WOTC boards where they could find a good place to discuss RPG design, and I mentioned here.

[Moracai]

When they closed one subform over there about a year or so ago, En World got flooded with new posters who had a....unique posting style. I don't know how indicative they were of the whole forum, but it left me with the impression that the WoTC forums were probably best left unvisited.

Could you elaborate a bit? What was the subforum and what in their posting style made it....unique?

[Bedrockbrendan]

Could you elaborate a bit? What was the subforum and what in their posting style made it....unique?

I think it was off topic and they communicated like demented children.

[Saplatt]

Ultimately the WotC forums were the comments section for a product announcement (or many product announcements).  And what's the one thing we all know about the internet, kiddos?  DON'T READ THE COMMENT SECTION.

Aw man, some of the funniest stuff is there!  

[danskmacabre]

I never posted there and rarely visited it.
I frequent the G+ DnD 5E community a fair bit though.

And of course hang around here and rpg.net sometimes too.

[ZWEIHÄNDER]

Good. That means increased traffic to theRPGsite!

[Spinachcat]

Agreed. I'm very curious what "shitlording" is.

Worst.Prestige.Class.Ever.

I have heard from a number of publicly traded companies that they dislike hosted forums because it gives a way for outsiders to have a bit too much influence.

I can confirm that.

I have been on a consulting contract and its unanimous among the marketing team that forums are "negative assets" and even corporate Twitter feeds are battlegrounds for competitors (and naysayers).

I suggested a curated community wiki, and while many have liked the idea of the wiki, nobody wants the curating to come out of their budget. The end result may be a closed wiki.

[JamesV]

Good. That means increased traffic to theRPGsite!

As long as they've been at least slightly brushed by that thing we call civilization, I look forward to meeting them!

[Bloody Stupid Johnson]

As far as I'm concerned WOTC's forums died around the time of the Gleemax transition. Would've been historically interesting but what a mess. Shame really.

[Sacrificial Lamb]

This is bad news for me, as the forums still have useful information for D&D 3.5 that I use for my games. What a shame.

[Batman]

This is bad news for me, as the forums still have useful information for D&D 3.5 that I use for my games. What a shame.

Me too, I use quite a lot of the 4e Class Handbooks for ideas and options. I'll have to find another way to save the info....

Not only that but I've been a pretty active poster there since 2006 with over 20,000 posts and its a bit discerning to see all of that commentary go, not to mention the acquaintances I've met over the last 9 years.