Hi folks,

I wanted to evangelize for a few moments regarding the D&D website, as well as extend an invitation to the player community.

My name is Bart Carroll, one of the Online Media Producers here at Wizards of the Coast. For the past several years, I've had the challenging/hectic/blissful opportunity to help produce the D&D website. These days, 4th Edition is close on the horizon -- and fast approaching -- which means extremely exciting times for every aspect of the game, not the least of which (from my perspective) includes the official website. Just the other day a pit fiend broke loose and caused all sorts of commotion. I believe he has been safely contained for now, though we did lose several interns in the fight, plus a copier that was one day away from retirement (sorry, stolen joke).

Our website team has also expanded, and it now includes Chris "Conan" Youngs, who handles the Dragon and Dungeon magazine components; Steve Winter, who deals with the D&D Minis side; Jeff Simpson, the guy in charge of the RPGA fun; Stacy Longstreet, our art director; Chris Perkins, who keeps an eye on all of our shenanigans; plus our web developer, Mark Jindra. If you ever wish to send us comments, questions, or feedback, we constantly look for them in the dndinsider@wizards.com mailbox.

The Other Side of the Fence

Dragon and Dungeon Magazines have now been added to the site as D&D Insider subscription components, but -- as we originally announced at Gen Con -- the free component of the website will remain as well.

The magazines will add the excellent columns, departments, and features that have long been part of their print versions. On the other side of the subscription fence, the free component of the website will continue its mandate of -- in part -- introducing our current line of products. We believe strongly in our goal of producing the absolute finest roleplaying books and accessories for use in your game, and we need the website to do its job of best presenting our current releases. That's why we list them right there on the front page, host interviews with the authors, select excerpts, and preview what's coming up.We want you to know which supplements, adventures, and miniatures are coming out, we want you to know you can always find that information here, and we want you to be as excited about using these releases as we are about creating them.

But that being said . . . the D&D website (and here I'm primarily speaking of the free component) looks to be more than mere product endorsement. At least, we'll continue to strive to make sure it's more than that. In part, here's how:

1. This website is meant to make the products you buy as useful as possible for your game, whether by offering web enhancements, adventure hooks, or other tools to support them.



2. This website is meant to answer your questions about the game, through Ask Wizards answers, the FAQ, or more conversationally through the D&D Podcasts.



3. And, this website is meant to help celebrate the game, the gamers, and gaming lifestyle.

Gamer Lifestyle

All of which leads up to that invitation I mentioned in the first paragraph. As part of celebrating Gamer Lifestyle, we're planning a new column under that very moniker. In essence, the column should serve as a cultural report on things of potential interest to the D&D community. And we request your participation -- in fact, I don't really feel we could do it without you.

What kind of things are we specifically talking about? For the most part, those things beyond the D&D product line (since, as stated earlier, the website does plenty already covering them). In recent years, for instance, Dragon Magazine has run its First Watch column, largely examining products of note from around the industry. We're looking to expand on this idea.

Take movies, for instance. When it comes to those that might appeal to your fellow gamers or have elements they could adapt and incorporate into their games, which releases would you recommend? Or, since fair's fair, which movies directed at gamers might not be worthy of their ticket purchase? Same with DVDs. Looking back at old favorites or lesser known treasures, which movies from the dusty archives of your collection do you play for inspiration, use to set the right mood at the table, or simply show to entertain your friends?

The same goes for books, comics and graphic novels, video games, TV shows, podcasts, and blogs . . . the list goes on, and we'd ask the same question of any of them: What out there would you recommend to your fellow gamers -- whether to inspire or translate into their game, or simply for the sheer entertainment value?

And yes, when it comes to Gamer Lifestyle, we're also talking about gaming products as well -- those that go beyond the halls of Wizards of the Coast.

So How Can You Contribute?

The D&D website will collect and assemble, and oftentimes even contribute (since we're also an opinionated bunch) "lifestyle reviews" -- but we're very much interested in hearing what you'd recommend. What's more, we're willing to pay for your opinions. You can send your lifestyle submission to gamerlifestyle@wizards.com.

Acceptance and Payment
We are looking for completed works; when submitting, please submit your lifestyle review as a Word .doc or .rtf file. As with Dragon and Dungeon submissions, if we're interested in your review we'll let you know within 60 days. Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we are not able to send you a personal response for every submission. If you do not receive a response (other than a reply confirming receipt of the submission) within 60 days, your submission was rejected.

As opposed to a per-word rate, the website pays a set $35 for a review of 200-500 words.

In the event we buy your review, you will assign your rights to us. That means that once your contract is signed, we'll own all rights to your submission. The assignment contract (as well as applicable tax forms) will be sent out shortly after an article has been accepted. You'll receive the contract by email, and you'll be asked to sign a hard copy and return it to us, along with an invoice form. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must sign or co-sign your contracts. Once we have purchased a review, it might not appear on the website for several months, so be patient.

Thanks,
Bart