Hey there folks,
So, my original purpose, joining this EA and participating in the forums here has always been to give feedback, assessments and to contribute as much as I could in a useful and constructive manner; to do everything that I could with my single pair of hands and eyes, to help this game be the best game it could be. I've been excited for it; I've longed and hope for a true D&D game in the 5e ruleset for many years, and I've given willingly everything I could spare to help that end.
As we draw close to final release, and as the hype train churns into overdrive bringing crowds of new people from other sectors, I feel that I've reached the end of my ability to do so meaningfully. There are a lot of rolling topics and a lot of fresh hype now, but I don't feel as though any contribution I might make to them now is really capable of having any further beneficial impact.
I'm going to be stepping away from these boards at this point; the way I'm feeling about this game and its development these days is... it's not great. I'm sad, and a bit bitter about a lot of things, and I just don't think that I'm in a position to contribute in a way that isn't coloured by those feelings – nor is sharing my perspective likely to improve or benefit anyone else's experience at this stage; examining problems, failings or negative elements constructively is only beneficial when there's time and space for those things to be addressed... otherwise all it can do is bring down folks who might otherwise enjoy it without those thoughts or highlights; as dissatisfied as I am, I don't wish to do that, and there is no more time or space.
I don't feel as though I have succeeded in what I set out to do; I feel, quite truthfully, that I have failed to achieve anything substantial, but, that's okay in the end... I've done the best that I could do, and those labours are finished now. That's the reasoning; it's not what I want to focus on, however. I'd rather not step away on a bitter note, after all.
Instead, what I'd like to take this space to do is to say thank you to the others in this community who have helped and supported, shared my goals or even sparred with me in contrast to them. Over the time that I've been active here, I've received a great many messages and private communications from others showing support for my work, or appreciation for it; people glad that I put in the work that I did, or grateful that I brought up things that they weren't managing to. I've also had many messages from people who wanted to ask questions, clarify details, improve their own understanding, and even those who disagreed and wanted to engage me in further conversation on different matters. I want to thank everyone for keeping things civil and constructive, positive and more or less friendly, even when we disagreed, and I truly hope that as the wave crests and the hype bubbles over, that you can all keep true to that, and keep this place somewhere positive and open to honest discussion.
I'm stepping away from engagement here; I'll probably still glance in, but I'm calling a close on any bodies of work that I myself have contributed, at least in terms of my own input on them. I'm going to put some links here just as a poster board reminder, for anyone who still wishes to examine any of the work I've done – some if it is a bit outdated now, but much of it is still relevant.
Thanks again to everyone who has shared kind words with me and supported my efforts. I know that I can be a bit... intense at times, and overly direct when I've got the bit between my teeth; I hope that most of you have been able to take my occasionally visceral incisiveness in the most well-intended of ways. Best of luck, and I hope that as many folks as possible truly to enjoy the game that is delivered.
-Erica
