Ema's RPG Sheet Website down...

[Morrus]

, but then they take down a longstanding fansite. That's just not cool guys.

They didn't "take down a fansite". They sent a C&D regarding something which, if I were to guess, was the Character Manager.

 

[francisca]

You know,

I was livid when they killed Dungeon and Dragon. But this just elevates me to a level of disgust that I just can't verbalize on this site with out breaking the rules. I can say I'm officially done with EVER purchasing anything from these sanctimonious pricks.

JoS - D&D is dead to me.

OMG! Call Olbermann! WotC is clearly the worst person in the world!

BTW, can I have your D&D books?

 

[ferratus]

What I find troubling is this happened right on the heels of releasing the Character Builder, which generates a character sheet.

I don't know their true motives, but the timing makes this look like WotC didn't mind Ema's site while they didn't have their act together on their DDI software. In other words, this looks like a management decision rather than just someone from legal trying to look busy.

With the GSL still not finished 9 months after the release of 4e, people have largely been playing it by ear as to how much reference to 4e will be tolerated. If Ema's site is problematic, it is getting hard to see what 3rd party published works would be safe from censure.

I was considering working on coding an app for my new Iphone for displaying 4e power cards, but I sure as heck won't now. I'm wondering if I can contribute to fan sites with 4e monsters and classes for old campaign settings (in my case Dragonlance) as well.

 

[Jack99]

They didn't "take down a fansite". They sent a C&D regarding something which, if I were to guess, was the Character Manager.

For 3.x?

 

[Sammael]

This is low. Low low low. I'm sure someone from WotC will be around soon for some light damage control, as usual.

 

[Shadowsong666]

[just deleted all the insulting stuff prior to posting]

wtf, great move wotc. *claps*

So now its time to get a fanmade 4e hero lab module out and no farting way to stop us from using it.

 

[chriton227]

Someone probably got upset that a single fan managed to produce something useful in a small fraction of the time it took WotC to get anything up even with the massive head start WotC's internal development should have had. If WotC would have had their stuff together at launch time, there really wouldn't have been much need for a site like Ema's.

Maybe they'll realize that Ema has some skill and accomplished much more in less time than their internal team and entertain the thought of making him an offer. Or maybe their ego is just too big to accept that someone might do something better than them. After the debacle of eTools, the 3.0 character creator, and the laughable delays for DDI (how bad does your project management need to be to not know your flagship electronic product is running months if not years behind schedule in time to pull the ads from the books?), my money is on their ego, not their rationality.

 

[jaerdaph]

First WotC gets us attacked on 9/11 for releasing the Book of Vile Darkness, then cut gnomes from the PHB, and now this. When will the madness end?

Seriously though, thanks for the great character sheets over the years, Ema!

 

[Khairn]

I wish I could say that I was shocked. But I'm not. This is the type of activity I expected once I saw how WotC was handling the GSL and their relationship with 3PP companies. EMA's is a great site, and this truly does suk.

I wonder when the spin and damage control will start.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

They didn't "take down a fansite". They sent a C&D regarding something which, if I were to guess, was the Character Manager.

Well, actually:

I'm sorry to inform you that this site is no more.
Wizards of the Coast asked me to take it down, and I complied.

I'm sorry for all the fans who will miss it - I will miss it, too - but it was the right thing to do.

Time to move on...

Ema.

According to the site operator, WotC made him take down his fansite. I think it's safe to assume they threatened legal action in the event of non-compliance. That means that they literally did "take down a fansite."

edit: Fortunately, his character sheets are still available elsewhere on the internet, and will continue to be available until people lose interest in them.