News

[UPDATE] At the moment it seems everything is working again. Not that I did anything (and still haven't heard from my host). But maybe another site on the same host was causing problems. Since I don't know what happened or how it was (seemingly) resolved I don't know whether the problem will return again. I will keep an eye on the site (as always), but, fingers crossed, it seems things are operational again.


Since yesterday the forum's main index has been giving "Out of memory" error.

Last evening I've been trying to find a solution, Googling to see if anyone else has had the same problem, and tried a number of suggestions. But nothing made any difference. In the end the only suggestion left was "contact your web host", so that's what I did and now it's waiting for them.

So far I've managed to get to every forum both in the main board and the roleplaying board, except for the OOC forum. We'll see if this post goes through and whether it'll nuke the entire site or not.

Seriously though, there seems to be little more to do than wait for what my host tells me. I might try cleaning the search index (the search world list table is be far the largest table) and see if that helps, but beyond that I have no idea. But I'll do what I can to get the forums back.

My apologies for the troubles.


Love -x-x-x-

Shir'le


[EDIT] The link to the roleplaying board above was working before I posted but doesn't seem to anymore now.
[EDIT2] And after the previous edit was working again, so no telling when things do and don't work.

The Escapist posted an interview article with writer R.A. Salvatore titled "Most Valuable Dark Elf". Yes, this is about Drizzt. It talks about his latest book ("Neverwinter"), about the popularity of the character, about how he writes, etc. Here's an excerpt:

Staying motivated writing the same character for 24 years can be tough, but Salvatore said there's a simple reason he hasn't gotten bored with Drizzt. "Because of the journey I'm on," he said. "I'm walking down the road with him. After all these years the voice has become so familiar to me. It's like I'm going on an adventure with an old friend."

Despite his closeness to the dark elf, Salvatore remains humbly accepting of the love his audience has given Drizzt over the last few decades. "It seems like there's a renewed interest in the character; it just doesn't seem to be dying at all, which is awesome," Salvatore said with a laugh. "I'm surprised that anyone reads my books. I've been surprised by that since the first one came out. It's all been a surreal trip, I look back and I started writing Drizzt when I was 28, I'm 52 now. We're talking half my life almost. This is amazing."

In what I can only describe as a "wait... what?" move Turbine has announced that this summer its free-to-play MMO Dungeons & Dragons Online will expand into the Forgotten Realms, particularly (but not exclusively) The Underdark. Titled "Menace of the Underdark" it lists the following new features:

• Journey to the Forgotten Realms- Experience the classic fantasy and adventure of D&D's most imaginative and renowned setting. Arrive in the village of Eveningstar and adventure through the surrounding King's Forest wilderness area where the citizens of the nation of Cormyr must unite to face a new threat to the Realms.
  
  
• Brave the caverns of the Underdark- Come face to face with the Underdark Drow and Lolth, their Queen and goddess, as you explore this vast and twisted, subterranean world. Infiltrate the Drow stronghold of Shindylryn - the city of portals - where Lolth's forces work to further her schemes.
  
  
• Attain Epic levels to 25! Forge your Epic Destiny and create a unique Epic hero with powerful character customization options as you advance beyond level 20 to epic level 25.
  
  
• Play the Druid Class- Play as the all new shape-shifting Druid class! Wield nature's magic or transform into a powerful animal form with this classic D&D class.

I've just promoted Bhaern Quel to be moderator for the Chosen of Eilistraee Board forums (that's General Discussion, On Promoting Joy, etc). He was already moderator for the Roleplaying Board, but can now moderate the other forums as well.

I should've done this long ago. And was planning to before Christmas, but the Holiday season got away from me.

So join me in congratulating Bhaern on his increased responsibility, which I know he'll handle quite well.


Love -x-x-x-

Shir'le

Happy New Year!

I'm going to keep it short because I'm sure you've got time to spend with your family instead of reading forum posts, but I did want to take this time to wish you all a very happy 2012.

Though our little site is small, it always gladdens me to think that all of you find a bit of joy here. That, perhaps, this place truly has become a kind of home online that you can go to and feel safe, tell some stories together with friends.

2011 has been a trying year with the site problems. But I'd like to think that we've made a lot of new friends because of it. And if those new friends would do something other than leave spam I wouldn't have to ban them shortly after posting.

I kid, a little. It is unfortunate that the new forum software seems more vulnerable to spam bots. I'm not going to stop trying to make changes to halt them (though, admittedly, I did take a bit of time out... or rather got a bit addicted to Skyrim and The Old Republic). In the end though they're just a minor nuisance that can't get in the way of roleplaying and other legitimate posts. And that thankfully continues much more strongly still.

For that I have you to thank because, truly, without you this site wouldn't exist at all. As such I want to thank you all for coming here in 2011 and hope that you'll continue to visit and roleplay and relax here in 2012. Because as long as you do I'll keep this place here for you so that there might always be a safe haven for you all here.

Have a wonderful New Year celebration and a great 2012 together. And may Eilistraee always look over you.


Love -x-x-x-

Shir'le