Quote: Captain Sammitch said: Just like that? No brief preliminary discussion so everyone doesn't step all over each other's groove?
If you must. Why not? Vanguard Classic is shot to hell, and you finally get to romp in a new playground. Go at it!
Gee, I'm glad you're not bitter... especially seeing as how you were one of the first ones to stop writing in the ongoing Vanguard threads to write your own solo story that still isn't finished. Yeah... your being bitter would be absolutely ridiculous...
First of all, before you attempt to disparage my ability to work and write in a group, I would encourage you to head over to the RDCW (it's another forum on these boards) and take a look at what's been accomplished over there. That said, I'm going to attempt to clarify what's being said on both sides here.
If we're cutting Vanguard Classic off because nobody wants to do it anymore, then kindly dispense with the pretense of making it easier for the noobs (literal or practical) to join in. Let's see... No streamlining when I joined. Sonhaven and CJ? No total restart for them. Notwedge? Bruteforce? We forgot to cut down the universe to make it easier for them to jump in!
I somehow doubt that you'd be willing to gut an entire continuity just so a couple of newbies don't have to leave their comfort zones. Maybe it's to placate a couple 'regulars' who made a habit of outright "leaving" the series a la rex every other month, only to come back and suggest a new continuity (which coincidentally enough they'll have the chance to conform to what they want to write, instead of the other way around)? You didn't seem that intent on keeping the story open to everyone when snubbing me and several other quite capable posters from Vanguard Europe.
You definitely pinpointed what's going on here. Congratulations! You detected the overwhelming evidence of bitterness! Forget that I was willing to relearn how to write, or that I was willing to take correction from people like Doc or Grimm or Pro (very useful correction), or that I did some of my very best work in the continuity you're advocating abandoning. And I seriously doubt I'm the only one who can say that. You're damn right I'm not happy about ditching Vanguard Classic!
Oh, and I was the first one to leave? I believe I said I wouldn't be able to contribute quite as often while working on Identify (how many solo stories have actually been finished again?). I continued to post all the way through Issue 19, albeit not as often. (When exactly did I commit to being an integral part of the Murder Mystery again?) If you're accusing me of starting the chain reaction that brought things down, that's an awful lot to attribute to someone you've essentially been calling inconsequential.
The poll, like the previous two Presidential elections, forced everyone to choose the lesser of two evils - starting from scratch or fast-forwarding through a potentially vital year of continuity. I advocated neither of those, but for some reason my opinion doesn't count. The fact is, it's all the forced changes - changes intended to make VC more efficient and easier to write in - that added up and made everyone bail out in the end. Had things been left alone - with adequate aid given to help the newbies get started - we would probably be writing Vanguard International Issue 25 right now.
To be honest, I would rather vent my own opinion and be truthful about it than bottle it up until I have a good idea what everyone else will want me to say. (When exactly did you weigh in on this, Stephen? With one very well-put exception, most of your opinions in this thread have been one big .) I'm aware that most of the people who will read this post don't care what I think about this. I'm aware that there's very little chance anything good will come out of this post. But I don't have to like what's being done to our work, and I don't have to just sit there and pretend I'm happy with things when I'm not. I'd rather be bitter than a bandwagoner.
If you can make something good out of what you're going to do now, more power to you. Writing in general is not a huge priority at this moment, being knee-deep in grad-school materials. But I'm not as eager to let go of what's been accomplished just because there are a few delays. I'd much rather occasionally write something great with a few people.
Once things die down for me and I have more time, I am going to write some Vanguard Classic stuff, and I'm going to enjoy it. I may even contribute a little to whatever this new continuity is, depending on how everyone feels at that point - and if it lasts that long. Anyone who wants to write with me is more than welcome. In the meantime, Stephen, do what you're gonna do, try learning to form your own opinions, and don't fault me for having my own.
.) I'm aware that most of the people who will read this post don't care what I think about this. I'm aware that there's very little chance anything good will come out of this post. But I don't have to like what's being done to our work, and I don't have to just sit there and pretend I'm happy with things when I'm not. I'd rather be bitter than a bandwagoner.
