|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 7:04AM
#11
|
Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2011
|
Good work, Doug. I appreciated the straightforward explanation. Writing good stuff takes a lot of effort and I agree it's better to let it be then do it half-way.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 8:05AM
#12
|
|
|
If they wanted a good writer, they could find one easily enough - me, for example. But they don't want (or at least don't just want) someone who writes well - they want someone who writes what they're told, writes glad-handing syrupy stuff that will drive sales and further the The Company Cannot Fail image they are determined to create. They will never hire me again because I am not an obedient corporate shill. They don't lack for good writers; they lack for obedient corporate shills.
Yeah bro how dare these punk-ass employees try to sell a product.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 8:49AM
#13
|
|
|
"I'd rather stop than suck."
Not that I think you would, but I wish more people would take this advice (has-been NFL quarterbacks, I'm lookin' at you).
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 10:16AM
#14
|
|
|
I've been a fan of the flavor columns since the start of Daily MtG back during Torment's previews. Doug Beyer has been the best writer and Savor the Flavor has been the best column of all these, and the Planeswalker's Guide project is the best that I could ever have seen in the MtG publishing line. Being also a D&D DungeonMaster, I always used the contents from these to improve and enhance my campaign in some ways (most of them are based in a MtG storyline anyway).
Maybe we can replace a full weekly column for a few tweets? Think about it. And let me know to follow.
Well, Doug, in case you're reading, you're gonna be missed. Really missed.
"No curse we can't reverse; no spell we can't break; no demon we can't exterminate; no plane we can't reach"
- Motto of the Magnificent Order of the Planeswalkers, as said by the first time by Veritatis, its founder and the Grimmchester Brothers mentor
D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 11:33AM
#15
|
Date Joined:
Jan 11, 2010
|
March 2012
"I've learned by helping to create Magic, and about being a creative professional in general, is that you have to change things that are known to be working."
OMG! You have learned this? So it is time to unlearn it - and don' t forget to teach how to do it to your co-worker fellows.
How about now changing things that ARE NOT working - such as Dominaria's storyline - and make them working again once more?
Well, for example, that thing concerning Karn's heart leaking phyrexian oil is simply one of the biggest absurds ever! Please, stop doing things like that! With or without "Savor the Flavor", please!
"So why are you stopping?"
Because he knows how enormous is the mess left at story's continuity and he does not want to be part of it any more - specially after that piece of cr*p called "The Quest for Karn" and the creation of the "clockwork" ability (totally absurd power).
I may be a totally naive guy regarding WotC affairs but all I know is that the recent stories upset me to often and none of them compares to the good old ones.
I wish you luck, Mr. Beyer! All the best!
JV
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 11:43AM
#16
|
|
|
Honestly, I take Doug's reasons at face value. No shadowy conspiracy. No discontent. Nothing like that. But all I really have to say about his departure is: ;-;
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 1:15PM
#17
|
Date Joined:
Aug 20, 2007
|
And once more, one of the greatest weekly columns of the site falls on the wayside only to be replaced with some more organized play oriented, mostly standard format netdecking drivel aimed at Spikes.
But then, that's where they make most of their money, so I can't blame them as long as it means I still get some fun cards to play with without needing to conform to whatever restriction the DCI invents.
And thanks Doug for giving us so much over the years.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 1:44PM
#18
|
|
|
If they wanted a good writer, they could find one easily enough - me, for example. But they don't want (or at least don't just want) someone who writes well - they want someone who writes what they're told, writes glad-handing syrupy stuff that will drive sales and further the The Company Cannot Fail image they are determined to create. They will never hire me again because I am not an obedient corporate shill. They don't lack for good writers; they lack for obedient corporate shills.
You act like Wizards wanting to increase sales is a bad thing. If Wizards wants to increase sales, that means that they want to improve their products, so more people will buy them.
How could writing about the setting of the next block allow you to comment on the business practices of the company? What kind of flavour text could you write that would imply Wizards is going to fail?
I hope Wizards of the Coast sees the contradiction in putting the last weekly flavor column "on hiatus" at the same time that, as Doug rightly points out, the storyline and flavor are more important than ever before.
Best of luck to Doug in the future.
I hope Wizards of the Coast doesn't come to regret this.
Doug says that the decision was entirely his own and that he was not asked to step down, so your criticism does not make any sense. Wizards' management cannot regret the decision, because they did not make it.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 2:17PM
#19
|
Date Joined:
Jul 20, 2009
|
Doug,
You've always been one of my favorite columnists on the site, and I am very sad to see you go. While I am a big Rosewater fan, I always felt you were a better writer style-wise. You were more likely to make me smile and laugh, better at keeping my attention, and way less likely to repeat yourself. You are an awesome writer and I can't express the amount of joy your articles have given me over the years. I guess I can only be glad though if you stepping down means you get to focus more on your real job, and make magic more awesome for years to come. I'll be more than happy to see you around.
YMtC
Show
Contest Achievements
Show
I came in 3rd in "Butterside Down" #3 - http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/22060233/Butterside_Down_3:_A_Flavour_Contest?pg=1
I tied for first in a round of "Niklor's Art Down Speed Contest" (Round 27 ) - http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/25029389/Niklor%60s_Art_Down_Speed_Contest?pg=46
I got first for Round #1 of "You Make the Nation!" -
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/25560249/You_Make_the_Nation!GAME?pg=2
I got first for Round #1 of "MLSP" -
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/25581089/MLSP_-_an_Ongoing_GameContest_(Join_anytime)?pg=2
Winners of contests I have held
Show
The Zephyr won "Inspiring Design" - http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/22300009/Contest_Inspiring_Design
Game n' Watch's Super Short Mini Contest! (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/25532701/Game_n_Watchs_Super_Short_Mini_Contest!_(Ends_11:00_EST_TODAY)?pg=1)
1st - Niklor
2nd - XJacobX
3rd - A Tie between Pacific Ninja and TheDamned
"While Type Two, Limited, and Extended may be the money centers, Type One is the heart of Magic. It represents a spark of something original, the genius of human creativity. In spite of its gargantuan design flaws, perpetual imbalances, and powerful nature, it also demonstrates that chaos can be tamed. That the very nature of the game allows enough flexibility that nothing in Magic is so badly damaged it can't be addressed." - Steve Menendian.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 28, 2012 - 2:28PM
#20
|
Date Joined:
Sep 21, 2010
|
It's sad to see StF go on even a brief hiatus, and I'll miss Doug's writing, but I'm glad that they are at least devoted to still bringing us world-building feature articles to kick off preview seasons. They are articles I look forward to all year. I wouldn't have been playing Magic at all if it weren't for the articles describing the settings of things like Mirrodin and Kamigawa block, and Llorwyn wouldn't be one of my favourite blocks ever if it weren't for the compelling story behind the cards of that block.
Now, I am primarily a Johnny-Spike as a player, but the game wouldn't have the resonnance that it does without people like Doug writing articles and spinning stories that give blocks far greater meaning than simply a new batch of cards to play with.
|
|
|
] 
] Azorious Turbo Fog (Modern)