The Campaign Builder's Guild

To the CBG community and staff,

I don't think there's very many of you who haven't seen me post, or haven't at least heard of me. Many of you know me even closer, either as a long-time correspondent or even a friend. For the past (nearly!) 3 years, the Guild has meant so many different things to me, has been such a monumental influence on my life and writing, and has provided me with numerous challenges, joys, pains, and insights. I would like to take this moment to commemorate all the friends I have made, especially Luminous Crayon, nastynate, Natural 20 (I still refuse to call you by that Shakespearean nom de guerre), Raelifin, brainface, Ishmayl, and Kalos Mer. If you were omitted from this list, please take no offense.

There have been many times when the course of discussion within the community has been entirely off-track from its original purpose. I am as responsible, if not more so, as anyone else for this, but during the earlier days the tenor of the conversations was one that burst with a dynamic energy that I felt kinetically linked to. Unfortunately, that bond has dissolved over time, and a process that began with my resignation from the administration is finally reaching its conclusion. Increasingly, I find myself frustrated and morose when viewing the boards, and I have taken an introspective glance to discover the reasons why. The reasons are as follows:

I no longer play tabletop roleplaying games, and thus have no contribution to make with regards to one of the primary topics these forums are geared toward.

I have never contributed significantly to the criticism or review of others' settings, and this trend will not change. Thus, I cannot provide feedback to others' settings, striking another point against my utility to the site's intended purpose.

Despite several faltered attempts at working on and fleshing out my own settings, I have neither desire nor capacity to work on my own campaign setting. Strike three for relevance.

I no longer feel connected to the primary user base of the site, in part for the reasons above. Although we have more members, the forums have been grinding to a halt for a while now, with activity that is sporadic and outside my scope of interest. Many of the members who I had the strongest connection to have left the site without word or warning, and I have failed to connect with many of the newer members.

I could continue this list ad infinitum, but those are the primary reasons. I am placing no blame upon myself or others for this course of events, and I harbor no ill will toward anyone on the site, no matter how much I disagree with them. I have been treating the Guild as something to routinely visit, without purpose or cause, for quite a while now, and I feel it is time to break the cycle.

If the following sounds extreme, forgive its dramatic implications. I am, as of now, requesting that the Elven Doritos account be banned from the forums, so as to enforce my decision to leave the community. This isn't a decision I've made in haste or will regret, and I want my account status to reflect the finality of my choice. If anyone wants to contact me, for whatever reason, you will be able to reach me at elvendoritos(at)gmail(dot)com.

I wish you all the best of luck with your lives, your gaming, and your writing, but I think it's time that I moved on. The CBG has meant so much to me and influenced my life in so many ways that I can say with certainty one thing:

I will never forget you.

With the utmost sincerity,
Elven Doritos

While I respect your decision, I imagine there's probably less extreme alternatives to an all-out ban. Maybe a frozen account, or something like that. I hope you at least consider something like that.

I know you and I haven't always gotten along as well as we possibly could have, but I still consider you a valuable member of the community, a talented individual, and a really nice guy, to boot. I'd probably even consider you a friend.

All that said, I've noticed many of the symptoms you've mentioned (even if we aren't affected by them to the same degree, or in the same ways), and I've noticed your growing frustration for some time. If this is what you feel is best for you, then I respect that. I hope things get better for you.

Quote from: Halfling FritosWhile I respect your decision, I imagine there's probably less extreme alternatives to an all-out ban. Maybe a frozen account, or something like that. I hope you at least consider something like that.

I've thought this through, the ban is my preferred solution.

QuoteIf this is what you feel is best for you, then I respect that. I hope things get better for you.

Things are not bad for me as it is, and I'm in a place in life where I'm happy and becoming the person I want to be. This is not a decision made out of misery, but out of mutual respect. I want to tell the Guild why I'm leaving, rather than just vanish. But my decision is permanent.

Of course, I'll be sticking around for a few more hours, cleaning out some threads and making my last few rounds.

Quote from: Elven DoritosI no longer play tabletop roleplaying games, and thus have no contribution to make with regards to one of the primary topics these forums are geared toward.

Shouldn't let this bother ya in my opinion, I've never played a table top game, probably never will.

But I understand where your coming from having experienced something along similar lines with other communities in the past, best of luck and I'm sure I won't be the only one to miss your Nonsense Notes.

Best of luck yourself.

Just as a forewarning, I've copied what files I needed and I'm not going to be checking in on this thread anymore. You're more than welcome to leave comments and such, but anything addressed to me should be sent to my e-mail. Best wishes.

Yeah, ban's are a bit extreme. Why not just suspend your account and delete the CBG from your favorites.

Best o' luck either way! :)

Sorry to see you leaving. Your posts were always enlightening. Farewell and may you have fine weather wherever the road of life leads you ;)

So long and thanks for all the fish.

Fare thee well.

We'll miss you ElDo. I hope this doesn't signify a larger exodus.

What can I say... I think you're right, there's less forum activity, but... I still feel this is one of my favourite websites, and definitely my favourite community.

As for not playing anymore, well, neither do I, really. It's been a year, roughly, since my last tabletop RPG session, and over a year between that and the one preceding it... I still maintain an interest though, so I still feel I can relate and get involved... if you don't, fair enough, but, it's a shame to see you go.

Quote from: Kapn XeviatWe'll miss you ElDo. I hope this doesn't signify a larger exodus.

We can't be stopped that easily.

Good luck, Eldo!

[link=]Steerpike's thread[/link] has some good ideas for fixing the problems mentioned.  Maybe everyone should take a look?

I'm sorry to disappoint you Xev, but the exodus was just waiting to happen.  Keep the young'ns in line after I'm gone.