D&D Tools is dead; long live the D&D Tools

[tacticslion]

Copy/paste from a different forum, because dang it, internet access, and tiny phone to type stuff whiff Izzy annoying and typo-prone.

From my post on Paizo

First: I know Paizo's policy of linking 'Pirated' material: you do not have to worry about that with the link below anymore. The only thing displayed in that location is an explanation of the site being taken down and a farewell address/open letter.

D&D Tools has received a Cease and Desist letter after five years.

While I accept that WOTC was entirely within it's legal rights to demand the removal of the page, I am also personally saddened by it's lost. As an owner of most of those books, I found myself using the site from time to time to know where to look, regardless of the situation, as well as an aide in those cases - like now - when I don't have access to my books*. What's even nicer is that, over the years, they're easy access and neat categorization and references allowed me to find and purchase a few books that I would never otherwise have acquired.

So it is for all this and more, I am grateful for the five years it's been running, and all of the great things they've done and, while I understand WotC's decision (both legally and, presumably, financially***), I mourne for the loss of a valuable community resource.

Pirating is not something I condone, personally, in the sense of "People should get what they want for free!" but I find it difficult to reconcile my own edperiences with sites and things that have been valuable to me, increased my purchases, and generally been an over-all boon to both enjoyment and business (from my perspective and experience) being taken down for those reasons. I understand them: I am not angry at WOTC, merely disappointed and frustrated by the loss of a great online community and a strong resource and tool that Inused to augment my legally acquired goods.

Though I know (intellectually) it is different, in some ways it feels (emotionally) much like the end of their d20 run with a slew of C&Ds for no discernible gain to the community or company****.

Regardless, I will be grateful for the benefits that I've personally had from D&D Tools over the years, will hope that the C&D comes because WOTC is planning on doing something similar themselves, and just wanted to share the unfortunate news.

Peace to you and yours, and let us salute a solid site and it's passing.

Mods, please feel free to move this to Gamer Talk or Gamer Connection, if you feel that's where it goes instead. I chose D&D 3.5/d20/OGL because that seemed the most appropriate. Thank you!

* Because, for example, my newborn is in the hospital, being premature, and we, forced out of town, are staying at the Ronald McDonald House** without most of our stuff. In fact, to be specific, with no access to my Dungeonscape (which is at home and which I lack room for, here), I was able to look up a few key class features from the Factotum class quickly on my iPhone (though it's hard to read a screen that tiny - also, REALLY hard to type this on a screen/with buttons that tiny; please forgive typos). Really helpful in running the solo game I currently am for my wife.
** An awesome place. They deserve your money and respect. They've earned mine! I never knew what they did until now.
*** I presume this hurt their sales somehow?
**** This statement refers to when they were not publishing that edition anymore; now, of course, the PH, DMG, and MM are once again for sale. It is a different situation, and a different time.