Like many of you I had mixed feelings with Wizards latest announcement regarding the future of a game that has brought out possibly one of the best gaming scenes I’ve ever had a chance to be part of. Yes, the game is a strong one and well designed, but also, the people its brought together has also been a big part of its strength. Reading the announcement, I took interest in this part in particular.

  Retailers will be able to sanction Dreamblade for 2008, and we will reevaluate at this time next year for 2009. We are also currently planning an Open Championship for Dreamblade in 2008 and will share more details as we get closer.

Jonathan Tweet
Lead Designer, Dreamblade

Yes they were announcing that they are stepping back. I ask you though, is this really a bad thing, or maybe, what this game really needed. Sometimes when one has really made a mess of something, its best if they walk away from it, let the dust settle and see what’s left there to work with in the end. I see wizards stepping away from this game as a plus at this time, yes I said a plus.

As the game sits right now. There have been enough sets and varieties put in market to keep game play alive for a long time. The price of product is at a level that makes the game affordable to everyone. Shopping around, I was able to purchased 5 cases of Dreamblade for $50.00 dollars each. That’s less then $5.00 a booster. Two of the cases are from the latest release to boot. Can you name a game at this going rate that’s better bang for the buck, think not? Even after support has been let go, this game has a player base that in numerous posting has made it quite clear that they will continue to play at there shops and homes with what they have been given in game pieces to do so. Watching the Ebays and such, it appears only the Retailers for the most part are trying to get rid of there game stock, its player base seems to be keeping it, again for the most part.

Now let’s eat into the bit of the release that I stated above.

Retailers will be able to sanction Dreamblade for 2008, and we will reevaluate at this time next year for 2009.

If we continue to hold our own events at our local shops and they continue to keep track of them. This gives us a year to show the powers that be at Wizards that this is a growing community and a strong one. Read through the many posts over the last little while and you will notice a large number of people telling how there shops events are growing. A lot of this is due to us taking control of the events and putting the fun back into this game. In a year, who knows, maybe the numbers will turn there heads enough to make them try to cash in on the growth of this community and they will release the next set hoping to cash in on it as well.

My sole question is what is to become of Serrated Dawn? As far as I knew, it was already in cases in warehouses.

Communism

If that’s the case Communism, lets hope that there profit interests get persuaded by our growing numbers to release it. And yes, we all know we want it, be honest here.

We are also currently planning an Open Championship for Dreamblade in 2008 and will share more details as we get closer

Isn’t this what the masses wanted to see in this game. A turnee that I’m assuming by its name, is open to ALL. No points to earn to be one of the special allowed to take part in. This allows the competitive players and the casual players the same chance to play in the big event. It’s the way it should have been the first time around and takes the “I need to win for points “out of the play at your local shop.

Yes, sanctioned events at our shops will have point given most likely as they are reported events. But the importance of the reporting will be to show numbers as the point will count for nothing.

So here we have a situation where Wizards has stepped back far enough that we can organize game play the way we feel it should have occurred at our local shop, but not far enough that a rise in player numbers won’t be noticed.�I like this situation, and am hoping to make something of it.

Even the rules still have support as Jeff has made it quite clear that he plans to still be part of this game and continue supporting it has he has in the past. If we have issues come up in the game, or new players have questions. We still have a trusted source that all have access too equally to resolve these issues.

For what it's worth, I have no plans to go anywhere. I'll still check these boards on a regular basis, keep the FAQs updated, and answer any rules questions anyone may have about the game. I'm as unhappy about this as any of you are, I've put more work into this game behind the scenes than most of you will ever know. I personally plan to continue supporting it for as long as I can, whether it's still being produced or not.

--Jeff Vondruska
WotC Dreamblade Rules NetRep
DCI Area Trainer / Level 2 Judge
RPGA Master GM
Elyria, Ohio

Again, where else have you seen people so committed to a game that has been shelved for the meantime by its producer?

So what’s the point of all this you say?

Wizards has created a situation that allows all the experts and “I could have done this better” people to show they are not all talk. And, yes, I consider myself one of those people. I’m really interested to see if “we” can do any better. Yes the game has had its worse day happen, but if you think about what has been said above. The chance for a strong grass roots player base is there for the taking. It’s just a matter of some of us experts putting our ideas to use and making something happen in the new players eyes that doesn’t seem to be Wizards lead. Those who have a good group going and growing, continue to do so and make an effort to post your successes on this site so all can see that the game still has life.

Side note on this site ……

Let’s stop using this site to post the negative and use it for a positive. Really, what’s left to say that hasn’t been stated already? And if you still need to be negative, what’s the point. You were right, the game has been put aside and support has been withdrawn. Wizards failed again… blah blah blah. Please go find another site for a game struggling for life and relive your glory there. Please let those who want to try to save the game and more importantly, this awesome player base a tool that will be useful in doing just that.

So I put the challenge out there to see who can actually figure out�how they can keep this game alive or recreate life in there area, possible even cause a little growth and bring a strong group of regular players to the table. If everyone who is into this game can figure out a way to get a simple group of four playing regularly at there local shop and have the shop sanction the games. Wizards will notice the growth, don’t think there eyes won’t be watching and at worse, we may get the Serrated Dawn set released if nothing else.

I wanted to end by saying that I am one of those who tried to keep things alive in my area and failed to do so. I also want to say that as word of this recent announcement of Wizard stepping back gets around, I can see a lot of the player base coming back to play for the value of the game. Remember that it wasn’t the game per say that caused players to drop away, but the way it was managed that did so. If you feel that your shop may not want you holding events at there location or are willing to help sanction them. Remember that they are there for you and what gaming you want to play. Suggest using the moneys they collect for the weekly events to pay for prize handouts using other game products that they may sell.�My plan is going to be that simple. Organize a weekly game day at my fav shop. Have 3 events based on play with just common and uncommon builds for fun. One day a month will allow all pieces to be used. I plan to build a pool of pieces that anyone off the street can dig through and put something together to play in the common / uncommon games. I plan to start small and aim for four players and just go from there. I think that now the pressure to win the big bucks is gone, I can use the community that supports this game and the game itself to build a player base in my area.

What do you think? You already have the pieces; enjoy the game and possibly a few buddies that play. What’s there to loss when all you’ve got is to gain?