Wil Wheaton Drops Dungeon Column

[satori01]

If Wil ever gets around to reading this thread, I have to say:

Dont let the bastards get you down, and thanks for all the fish!

I enjoyed Wil's column quite a bit. Sure it often only tangently was connected to D&D but I found the personal ruminations on someones experiences to be a nice change in the thick rules heavy atmposphere that is Dungeon.

I would much rather see Downer and all the comics leave Dungeon then Wil Save, (except Mount Zogon).

I wouldnt mind guest Authors reminicing about old killer dungeons, ala Roger Moore and a reprint of Tucker's Kobolds, or Gary Gygax doing whatever he pleases, but I seem to remember people not liking Gary's column in Dragon, so methinks any 'Celebrity' column is going to be short lived.

 

[johnsemlak]

I liked his column and I like his blog (though I can't see what he has posted on this subject since his site won't come up right now).

From Wil's blog:

# I have written my last column for Dungeon. When I started, I was under the impression that I could write whatever I wanted, as long as it was related to gaming. So I wrote about games I love, like Illuminati and Car Wars. I wrote about playing Magic with Nolan, convention gaming, and playing True Dungeon at SoCal GenCon last year. I really enjoyed writing the columns, but the feedback I got was largely negative (it's really time to just get the over Star Trek, nerds), so Erik Mona, my editor at Dungeon, asked me to write columns that were focused purely on D&D. I tried my best, but my life was just too full to put in the time that running or participating in a campaign requires. It was very hard to write a column about D&D when I couldn't play at least once a week, so I told Erik last week that I felt that I couldn't provide the quality and consistency that he and Dungeon readers deserve, and he graciously accepted my resignation. I loved working for Erik, who is a fantastic editor, and I will continue to read both Dungeon and Dragon, which I feel have improved tremendously under his leadership. I'm sad that I can't be part of it any longer.

 

[Agamon]

I liked the new direction of Dungeon, including Wil's column. Too bad a few idiots posting on the internet pushed him away.

 

[trancejeremy]

Not that I have anything against him (at least, until I visted his blog and saw his bizzare political rant. I'm sure GWB is shaking in his boots now that Mr. Wheaton is going to use his new blog to get out the "truth" about him. Mwhahahahahahahaha.). But I never understood the point of having someone write a column in a gaming magazine that really isn't a gamer.

I mean, does having a bit part on Star Trek qualify him to write about D&D? Maybe he played as a kid, but if he doesn't on a regular basis, then why have a column?

 

[billd91]

Not that I have anything against him (at least, until I visted his blog and saw his bizzare political rant. I'm sure GWB is shaking in his boots now that Mr. Wheaton is going to use his new blog to get out the "truth" about him. Mwhahahahahahahaha.). But I never understood the point of having someone write a column in a gaming magazine that really isn't a gamer.

I mean, does having a bit part on Star Trek qualify him to write about D&D? Maybe he played as a kid, but if he doesn't on a regular basis, then why have a column?

Isn't a really gamer? Have you really read his columns? He plays games when he gets the chance, including at conventions. Just because he isn't playing D&D every week, that doesn't mean he's not a gamer.

 

[billd91]

Add "elitist" and you have the majority (at least 51%) of the Dungeon subscriber base.

Hey, just because you ended up on the losing side of the Polyhedron debate doesn't mean you should sling barbs.

 

[Teflon Billy]

That's too bad. I enjoyed the column. It's kind of refreshing to read a column about gamer lifestyles and general gamer commentary rather than specific ideas on how to run your games, fluff, or crunch.

Exactly.

What a shame that the guy has left. I wish I had given some positive feeback to offset the Star Trek Nerds' negativity

 

[Frostmarrow]

Oh look! That's that kid from Stand by Me.

[heh, sorry, I just hadn't realised]

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Nuts, I was really enjoying reading his articles.

 

[satori01]

I mean, does having a bit part on Star Trek qualify him to write about D&D? Maybe he played as a kid, but if he doesn't on a regular basis, then why have a column?

Actually the fact that it was apparent that Wil was not playing D&D on a regular basis but trying to, part of the appeal of the column, to me at least.

Given the "graying" of the hobby, I do not doubt that a very common theme in people's playing life is trying to maintain one's identity as a gamer when on simply does not have either the time or the personel to play with.

From the demographic data we have been told, the "sleepover, all summer day and night" style of play is the minority. Most groups with gainfully employed adults probably average once a week play sessions at most.