It's really not SO bad...

Well WotC has proven the DnGers right... A fact that does not surprise me in the least.

I've been a champion of the DnD-scape experiment for a year now, and I've done my very best to stay positive about the direction of the game, and to debunk the nay-sayers of the forums that just wanted nothing to do with DnD scape.

But the announcement today wasn't as shocking as I thought it would be. I knew it was coming the day the big box stores dropped the line. I had hopped that we'd get to see some of the gaps of "classic scape" filled in a bit more but that's life right?

The thing is, I always thought it would be a crushing blow. I assumed I'd read about it on the front page one morning and feel like I got punched in the guts, got dumped by my girlfriend and my dog ran away... but it just wasn't like that.

After my initial 30 seconds of shock, and about 5 mins of intense WotC hating (I still think this is an amazingly short sighted decision on their part... Heroscape is the only game worth playing that they have produced this year) I just hit the forums like I always do. I was confused by the lack of emotional collapse I was experiencing, but then I realized what this news adds up too

Not a whole hell of a lot.

Really, what I'll be missing out on the most is official unit previews. Preview Wednesday and the pre-release threads and the sweet speculation threads are all a thing of the past, and I'll miss em. But that's not what makes the game so great, nor this community. I realized that Scape has brought me and my friends countless hours of fun and with or without new releases will continue to do so. The reason I love this game has not changed at all. My Thursday game nights will be no less epic or enjoyable because WotC can't handle the product line.

Sure, it's a sad day. I wish the amazingly cool and creative level of design over the past year could continue forever! But I understand that this is simply not the realty of the world we live in, games come and go and that's that. I find myself not in morning of the loss of my very favorite board game, but looking fondly upon the past and brightly towards the many scapes of the future.

It's kind neat to know that I'm just two figures (Massa Woo and Agent Bunjee) away from a complete collection. The idea of custom figures and terrain seems so much cooler to me now, because I know there's nothing else new coming out. I've got my games budget still in place, and now I can branch out to some new titles instead of just saving up for more scape. (I've had my eye on summoner wars for ages now... I think it's time to pick up a starter set!)

Do I wish that scape was still being officially worked on? Of course I do! But the simple fact is this game is fantastic with or without new waves of figures. The dropping of the line does nothing to change how much fun I derive from playing it.

I'd like to personally thank the design team for their efforts over the entire life of the game, particularity the DnD scape era. I think you did an incredible job with it all and deserve a lot of props for putting up with all the crap you did, and in such a classy fashion. I really hope you guys stay active around the forums and keep us abreast of any game projects you get involved in - I'm positive that anything you guys touch will be solid gold!

Remember everyone, Scape is not dead as long as YOU still have fun playing it.

Keep on Scapein'
~Steve