I doubt anyone here will pay much attention to thoughts of yet another lurker and irregular, but as someone who has over the years come to depend on the Codex for interesting CRPG content and discussions, I feel obliged to comment on recent developments. As the occasionally disparaging tone of my post is bound to offend someone (likely the individuals disparaged), I'd like to state that I have a great deal of respect for nearly all people mentioned in my post, though after what transpired my respect for some of them has understandably decreased. I'd also like to note that as I'm not privy to what occurs in admin forum and private correspondence, my perception of certain elements of this situation may be skewed or plain erroneous due to incomplete information.
First of all, I'll make an effort to describe what the situation appears like to an outside observer like me. Bluntly put, it appears like a coup on part of DarkUnderlord and with reluctant participation of other admins against VD, motivated by DU's personal dislike of the latter, with spacemoose's ban, Naked_Lunch fiasco and VD's vague mentions of hiatus used as feeble pretext.
Why this impression? For starters, the fact that VD was removed from power while still in discussion on what should be done in reaction to the recent "disturbance" indicate that the putschists (for lack of a better word) were never really interested in persuading VD to mellow on the issue of forum-wide crackdown, but rather intended to overthrow him regardless of his position. The swift, furtive manner in which the overthrow was done shows that the putschists had no pretenses of their coup's legitimacy. This is further confirmed in the despicable character assassination campaign launched by DU hours (if not minutes!) after the coup. The tone of DU's posts reflects a personal animosity toward VD, clearly resulting from some unresolved issue or other, while the coup pretext outlined in the posts is weak at best. Even if we go by the assumption that VD's banning of spacemoose was an error of judgement on his part, simple fact is that VD was in the process of working things out with spacemoose and fixing that error. Subsequent mayhem inflicted by Naked_Lunch is no fault of VD's - rather, it is the fault of Naked_Lunch first and whoever entrusted someone as obviously untrustworthy as him with admin access second. DU also cites that VD has mishandled several such situations months prior, thus attempting to present the spacemoose incident as last straw rather than the sole, weak reason for VD's removal; yet according to VD, neither he nor any other admin ever made a serious attempt to discuss these mistakes with him, let alone warn him that he might be stripped of his power because of them. DU furthermore claims that VD has been unwilling to compromise on his plans for a crackdown, but as I understand it, the matter was still being discussed when the coup happened. Finally, we are left with the assertion that VD was planning to resign anyway - I don't think it's necessary to explain how pathetically weak a justification that is.
I truly want to believe that no sinister byzantine plot occured and my impression is merely a consequence of DU and Calis handling this delicate situation with finesse and tact of drunken lumberjacks, but surely everyone can understand that available information indicates otherwise.
However, it's ultimately irrelevant if VD's removal resulted from an unfortunate set of circumstances or if Darth Underlord and his apprentice Calis Skywalker executed Order 66. Whichever scenario is true, I'm certain of one thing - loss of VD will be a disaster for the Codex. Ever since Saint faded into obscurity, VD has been practically the sole contributor of news and content. More importantly, his efforts have afforded the Codex an unprecedented amount of recognition. His reviews of Gothic 3 and Oblivion are often cited in the gaming community as the most informative and analytical on the Internet. His prolific contacts with both mainstream and indie developers have spawned many exclusive (not to mention damn interesting) interviews. The biting tone of his newsposts is what gives the Codex frontpage its notorious edge. Last but not the least, some of the publicity surrounding AoD has undoubtedly rubbed off on the Codex.
With all that in mind, the following quote comes to mind: "I am ignorant, sir, of your motives or provocations; I only know that you have acted like a man who has cut off his right hand with his left." (Sidonious Apollinaris addressing emperor Valentinian III regarding the latter's murder of his best general.) Seriously, how is VD anything but indispensible for the Codex? Who will replace him? Saint and Role-Player, who have left and will probably never return? DarkUnderlord, who has no qualms about publicly belittling and disparaging him despite not having a fraction of his dedication? Calis, who is, by his own admission, a programmer rather than a journalist/writer? Shagnak and baby arm, of whom newer people probably don't even know that they are Codex admins? The newly enlisted newsposters, who have neither VD's contacts nor his experience and are likely to get bored a week from now? What will the Codex look like in a couple of months? Will all newsposts, interviews and reviews be as dry and trite as those on RPGWatch and RPGVault? Will there even *be* newsposts, interviews and reviews? Or will there only be a forum, devoid of anything worthwhile to discuss and filled with juvenile retards wallowing in their precious "LULZ" without the evil Nazi VD to disturb them? Is the moronic idea of requiring a full staff consensus before a decision as basic as banning a troublesome user can be enacted indicative of your plan for the post-VD Codex? Do you actually *have* anything resembling a plan, or is this a matter of your egos being so inflated that it doesn't matter if you destroy the Codex in the process of indulging them? I'm talking to you, admins!
Finally, to everyone stupid enough to suggest that VD should return as an editor without admin powers: 1. The forums are as integral part of the Codex as news and other content. Forum discussions where content is analysed and dissected over twenty pages by the likes of Section8, David Gaider, Saint Proverbius and Volourn (...) have always been the staple of the Codex and lack of ability to administer the forums would at the very least be a handicap for VD, especially since other admins seem to drop by about twice a year. 2. Any man willing to return after being unceremoniously deposed and under humiliating terms specified by the very people who threw him out and then devoted a dozen or two pages of forum posts to flinging mud at him would have to be completely devoid of self-respect. I would sooner kill myself than acquiesce to such undignified treatment, and I doubt VD's sentiments are considerably different.
There you have it. An average assessment/appeal to common sense by an average Codex viewer, submitted for your ignoral.
Sincerely, as always,
Ratty
