Over at ENWorld, author Ari Marmell laments another change in WotC policy: they are discontinuing their novel lines that do not relate directly to D&D or Magic.
A number of posters both on Wizards own boards and on ENWorld have noticed a distinct lack of activity from WotC Staffers on the messageboards in the past few weeks (especially compared to how prolific they were prior to 4e being releaed.) I’d say this does not bode well in a few ways, and all bets are off at this point. We’ll try to keep you updated.
Geez, I feel really bad for Ari. I think if I was writing I wouldn’t be putting any eggs in WotC’s basket. They do this far too often.
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Yeah, unfortunately, they’re one of the only games in town for certain genres (gaming fiction.) And getting fantasy published elsewhere isn’t easy.
I’d also worry if I were a WotC employee right now, since they have been known to clean house after a new edition comes out.
Perhaps this is also in internal reaction to the rather deep rift that has emerged between the 3.5 and 4e camps. Fans are drawing lines and third party publishers are as well. Obviously, Wizards feels/wants to get its house streamlined and in order perhaps in hopes of delivering its promised materials for its games. Considering the e-tools fiasco of 3rd edition and now D&D insider looking like the same sort of lame duck they could have a tall order ahead of them.