I'm sure it's legal to advertise new forums in this forum, but it still feels kind of wrong. You could've advertise this on EDHREC, which I'm sure many of us visit anyway, at least then it would be a neutral ground for people to pick and decide. Posting it here, alongside with a negative outlook, you're actively contributing to the "last gasp" by luring people away, while benefiting your new home.
Fair enough. I still won't take back anything I said, because I genuinely believe that MTGNexus will provide a better experience for the MTGSal community and because of the reasons that ISBFinder states below.
I'm sure it's legal to advertise new forums in this forum, but it still feels kind of wrong. You could've advertise this on EDHREC, which I'm sure many of us visit anyway, at least then it would be a neutral ground for people to pick and decide. Posting it here, alongside with a negative outlook, you're actively contributing to the "last gasp" by luring people away, while benefiting your new home.
Technically promoting Nexus goes against the rules of the site. The issue is in part that almost the entire moderator team is transitioning off. The fact that we were told that the site would be entirely shut down the moderator team started making plans to replace salvation. The announcement that was made came well after Feyd our technician started making nexus well after we had ourselves attempted to purchase salvation to keep it going and were told that would not be possible.
Its actually kind of *****ty to tell everyone that the site is closing, make alternative plans, and then say its all good its going to continue. The point being that they have created a fractured community with how this was handled. I am not on staff anymore and am not in the loop but the last I heard the new owner had not really done much communication with the staff about plans and how to continue and replace the staff that were leaving.
So, yes technically everything about this thread should not be allowed but the staff that would normally stop this from happening have all been burned essentially with this transition. I have no idea who plans to still be on site working as a staff member but I have already seen several step away. If you look at the commander forums you will see that only two of five moderators are still listed. I believe wildfire is an admin on nexus as well so I don't know what his plans are but I think bob had intended to remain here (not really sure though).
So, yes its kind of *****ty but lots of people feel burned on this and the advantage of moving is mostly that Feyd (who was our technician here for the last several years) is essentially the sole owner of the new site and he is making huge changes and improvements all the time where salvation has been limping along for years now from a development standpoint.
100% agreed. This transition was handled in an embarrassing fashion and I don't feel any qualms about my thread. The sudden feeling of sickness in my gut was awful as is the sense of outrage that MTGSalvation's regular staff were sidestepped for some random Curse dude for acquisition.
I genuinely believe in the sentiment and thread that I've posted here, no matter how disingenuous or cutthroat it may feel. I'm sure it will be taken down eventually, but I have no desires to remain active on this site.
Hey there, benjameenbear, here. I was a member of the Primer Committee and a Moderator on MTGSal for quite a while and I was responsible for the creation of the cEDH forums here on this site. I've been an active member on this site since 2010/2011 under the gamertag benjameen790 or benjameenbear. I've been playing this format since it was called Elder Dragon Highlander and have been almost exclusively a Commander player since I discovered the format.
With the formal launch of MTGNexus, a project started by some of the more influential Moderators and Administrators of MTGSalvation, I want to share something really important with you.
You, my friend, are MASSIVELY missing out.
The changes to MTGSalvation that have occurred since the beginning of this year and with the sudden closing announcement that came earlier this year, my confidence in this site has been shaken. I remember the gut wrenching sadness I felt when the announcement of MTGSalvation's closure posted on the banner. I'd been an active part of this community since 2014, and the time and energy I had invested in writing Primers, helping fellow MTGSal users, and the support I had received from other users has shaped my MTG skillset in profound ways, making me better.
There was a true sense of despondency that came over me when I processed the realization that this site, of which I'd spent so much of my life frequenting and contributing to, was dying.
And there was nothing I could do to save it.
The decision was being made way over my head and the only thing I could do was sit by its bedside and stoically watch its last gasps.
To tell you a little bit of my story, and give context as to why I love MTGSalvation so much and why its closure was so devastating to me, I need to take you back to my personal hell, one I have struggled with for years, and one that I couldn't have gotten out of without MTGSalvation.
It was 2010, and I was vomiting outside of my apartment for the second time that night.
And yet I still wanted to go back inside and taste that vodka.
Burned to taste it again, actually.
Yes, I was an alcoholic at the ripe old age of 20.
And the only thing that got me through the addiction recovery process was Magic: The Gathering and this site.
You see, like many of you, I had come to love Commander as a format and I had gotten that bug to optimize my decklists and check out new ideas, constantly finding new strategies, combos, playstyles, anything that would help me improve and win more Commander games. I was part of an active playgroup that met 2-3 times per week to play Commander and I was obsessed with trying to be the best player in that playgroup. This desire was so powerful that it led me to scour the internet for "EDH" content. When I first discovered MTGSalvation, I thought I had stumbled on a treasure trove and immediately dived in. I lurked on the site for years before finally making the commitment.
And I discovered a community that felt the same way I did.
I had found a community that I could emotionally connect with, one that wanted the same things I did.
And this connection was what finally lifted me out of my head and the environment I was drowning in. Posting on MTGSalvation and checking what people had said to my posts and threads became more important than finding the next drink. Taking the suggestions and strategies I was learning on MTGSalvation and implementing them in my games eclipsed the desire to taste alcohol.
I still went through craving and withdrawal hell, but I could NOT have done it without the medium that was MTGSalvation, MTG, and my playgroup.
MTGSalvation was a community that engaged my creativity, helped me to overcome what could have been a deadly addiction, and has provided a form of entertainment and sense of importance that I have cherished over the years. It helped me to feel part of something greater than myself, a chance to participate, help, and encourage other players.
But in recent months, I've found this feeling regarding MTGSalvation fading. Requests that I've made as a Moderator have not been recognized or acted on. Other Moderators and Admins had a pessimistic attitude about the wellbeing and direction of the site as a whole. The sudden and completely paralyzing announcement of MTGSal's closing shocked me, and my faith in the site has been shaken irreversibly.
Did you notice how the site just simply stopped working on 7/11/2019? How you couldn't access the forums for nearly the whole day? When was the last content rich article published on MTGSal? If you've had ideas on how to improve the MTGSal experience, have you received any feedback beyond the "we'll request it from our developer team"?
I'm sorry to inform you that this site has stagnated, and I don't see any signs of it improving in the near future.
But, you no longer need to miss out, wishing you had a better experience to belong to. There is a new site that has been developed by the most influential and tech savvy segment of the MTGSal staff, and they (along with myself) have committed ourselves wholeheartedly to this new site.
And we want you to be a part of our project and share the passion and dedication that has made you a member or lurker of MTGSalvation!
The differences between MTGNexus and MTGSalvation are notable and very visible to me, and I'll try and communicate them to you, dear reader, so that you can make an informed decision.
First, MTGNexus is owned and hosted as its own domain. While this may seem inconsequential to you, this means that the site itself is able to be accessed by most computers, whether or not they're part of a corporate network or your personal laptop. This means that you WILL be able to access MTGNexus regardless of where you are or what type of network you're interfacing with. This makes your involvement with the MTGNexus community much more reliable and intuitive, helping you to stay engaged and participatory throughout the course of a day. Look, when you post something you want to see the feedback on it or be able to quickly look up a decklist while you're on your lunchbreak at work. With MTGNexus being its own domain, it is much more likely that you will be able to stay active and involved with the community and friends that you've made on MTGNexus while staying up to date with your favorite decklists/threads.
The primary users that made MTGSalvation as a site function have already left MTGSal. Feyd_Ruin, the chief CTO-like guy on MTGSal, is now the principal operator and owner of MTGNexus, and he doesn't have the time to support two different sites. Who will be doing the tech stuff and troubleshooting for MTGSalvation now that he's gone? There has been no formal announcement, posts, or threads as to the direction of MTGSalvation since its 11th hour purchase and I am currently unaware of how and who is going to run this site. Do you really want to stay with MTGSal as it rides the waves of tech developments and difficulties that are sure to come with the loss of Feyd-Ruin's massive experience and knowledge?
Cryogen, one of the Moderators here who has personally built real relationships with the founders of Commander and has a real, working relationship with Sheldon Menery himself (sorry if I misspelled your last name, Sheldon!) is now an Administrator of MTGNexus and has already brought Sheldon on board with MTGNexus. Who is going to step into cryogen's role now and make MTGSalvation a legitimate forum of discussion for the RC and CAG? I don't know, and that uncertainty is deeply troubling for me and should be for you too.
Airithne, one of the hardest working Mods on the site with an awesome personality and dedication for Commander that is irrefutable, is a key member of MTGNexus and will be personally overseeing many of the changes and updates that you have probably WISHED MTGSalvation would do. Wildfire, another member and Moderator from MTGSAl, has also become a key member of MTGNexus and is using her influence to make MTGNexus the premier Commander content site on the internet. The majority of the Commander Primer Committee, including the diligent toctheyounger, darrenhabib, Guerte, Kelzam, and others, have already made the jump to MTGNexus and have no desire to come back and actively participate on MTGSalvation. Who will be maintaining the Commander Primers that you enjoy reading and reviewing?
In short, who is going to be stepping up to fill the gaping hole of talent that has now formed MTGNexus? There has been no announcement, and I'm not certain one will be coming any time soon. Feel free to "stay with the devil [you] know" but I'd rather trust the people I DO know that you may not be aware of as being the critical volunteers that have made MTGSalvation as a site function.
The coding features and customization available on MTGNexus are, quite simply, leaps and bounds better than what is currently offered on MTGSalvation. Stop reading this message and check out the following Primers:
Kelzam's Ayli Primer, found here.
Darrenhabib's Will & Rowan Kenrith Primer, found here.
Rumpy5897's Feather, the Redeemed Primer, found here.
MTGNexus has a degree of customization and coding flexibility that is superb and, in my opinion, superior to what MTGSal has available to it. Are you looking to be a legit content creator for MTG? I believe that Nexus has the best tools available for your content and ideas and I'm excited to invite you to see what you can do on the beautiful, new platform. With Feyd-Ruin's expertise and personal commitment to the site, I can confidently assure you that the site will continue to get better and better until it becomes THE destination for any type of MTG focused content or MTG aggregation.
But most importantly, our community has already proven to be supportive and inclusive of its current members. And we want you to be a part of MTGNexus and make it your MTG based home on the internet, the spot where the best of the best reside. Let your voice be known and you could even have an impact in the way that MTGNexus develops as a site! We can't grow MTGNexus into the best MTG site in the world without your participation and support.
Fair enough. I still won't take back anything I said, because I genuinely believe that MTGNexus will provide a better experience for the MTGSal community and because of the reasons that ISBFinder states below.
100% agreed. This transition was handled in an embarrassing fashion and I don't feel any qualms about my thread. The sudden feeling of sickness in my gut was awful as is the sense of outrage that MTGSalvation's regular staff were sidestepped for some random Curse dude for acquisition.
I genuinely believe in the sentiment and thread that I've posted here, no matter how disingenuous or cutthroat it may feel. I'm sure it will be taken down eventually, but I have no desires to remain active on this site.
UB Dralnu, Lich Lord
RBW [Primer]-Kaalia of the Vast
BUG [Primer]-Tasigur, the Golden Fang
GWU [Primer]-Arcades, the Strategist
WUB Primer-Aminatou, the Fateshifter
UBR Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
With the formal launch of MTGNexus, a project started by some of the more influential Moderators and Administrators of MTGSalvation, I want to share something really important with you.
The changes to MTGSalvation that have occurred since the beginning of this year and with the sudden closing announcement that came earlier this year, my confidence in this site has been shaken. I remember the gut wrenching sadness I felt when the announcement of MTGSalvation's closure posted on the banner. I'd been an active part of this community since 2014, and the time and energy I had invested in writing Primers, helping fellow MTGSal users, and the support I had received from other users has shaped my MTG skillset in profound ways, making me better.
There was a true sense of despondency that came over me when I processed the realization that this site, of which I'd spent so much of my life frequenting and contributing to, was dying.
And there was nothing I could do to save it.
The decision was being made way over my head and the only thing I could do was sit by its bedside and stoically watch its last gasps.
To tell you a little bit of my story, and give context as to why I love MTGSalvation so much and why its closure was so devastating to me, I need to take you back to my personal hell, one I have struggled with for years, and one that I couldn't have gotten out of without MTGSalvation.
It was 2010, and I was vomiting outside of my apartment for the second time that night.
And yet I still wanted to go back inside and taste that vodka.
Burned to taste it again, actually.
Yes, I was an alcoholic at the ripe old age of 20.
And the only thing that got me through the addiction recovery process was Magic: The Gathering and this site.
You see, like many of you, I had come to love Commander as a format and I had gotten that bug to optimize my decklists and check out new ideas, constantly finding new strategies, combos, playstyles, anything that would help me improve and win more Commander games. I was part of an active playgroup that met 2-3 times per week to play Commander and I was obsessed with trying to be the best player in that playgroup. This desire was so powerful that it led me to scour the internet for "EDH" content. When I first discovered MTGSalvation, I thought I had stumbled on a treasure trove and immediately dived in. I lurked on the site for years before finally making the commitment.
And I discovered a community that felt the same way I did.
I had found a community that I could emotionally connect with, one that wanted the same things I did.
And this connection was what finally lifted me out of my head and the environment I was drowning in. Posting on MTGSalvation and checking what people had said to my posts and threads became more important than finding the next drink. Taking the suggestions and strategies I was learning on MTGSalvation and implementing them in my games eclipsed the desire to taste alcohol.
I still went through craving and withdrawal hell, but I could NOT have done it without the medium that was MTGSalvation, MTG, and my playgroup.
MTGSalvation was a community that engaged my creativity, helped me to overcome what could have been a deadly addiction, and has provided a form of entertainment and sense of importance that I have cherished over the years. It helped me to feel part of something greater than myself, a chance to participate, help, and encourage other players.
But in recent months, I've found this feeling regarding MTGSalvation fading. Requests that I've made as a Moderator have not been recognized or acted on. Other Moderators and Admins had a pessimistic attitude about the wellbeing and direction of the site as a whole. The sudden and completely paralyzing announcement of MTGSal's closing shocked me, and my faith in the site has been shaken irreversibly.
Did you notice how the site just simply stopped working on 7/11/2019? How you couldn't access the forums for nearly the whole day? When was the last content rich article published on MTGSal? If you've had ideas on how to improve the MTGSal experience, have you received any feedback beyond the "we'll request it from our developer team"?
I'm sorry to inform you that this site has stagnated, and I don't see any signs of it improving in the near future.
But, you no longer need to miss out, wishing you had a better experience to belong to. There is a new site that has been developed by the most influential and tech savvy segment of the MTGSal staff, and they (along with myself) have committed ourselves wholeheartedly to this new site.
And we want you to be a part of our project and share the passion and dedication that has made you a member or lurker of MTGSalvation!
Come and Join Our Home at MTGNexus!
The differences between MTGNexus and MTGSalvation are notable and very visible to me, and I'll try and communicate them to you, dear reader, so that you can make an informed decision.
First, MTGNexus is owned and hosted as its own domain. While this may seem inconsequential to you, this means that the site itself is able to be accessed by most computers, whether or not they're part of a corporate network or your personal laptop. This means that you WILL be able to access MTGNexus regardless of where you are or what type of network you're interfacing with. This makes your involvement with the MTGNexus community much more reliable and intuitive, helping you to stay engaged and participatory throughout the course of a day. Look, when you post something you want to see the feedback on it or be able to quickly look up a decklist while you're on your lunchbreak at work. With MTGNexus being its own domain, it is much more likely that you will be able to stay active and involved with the community and friends that you've made on MTGNexus while staying up to date with your favorite decklists/threads.
The primary users that made MTGSalvation as a site function have already left MTGSal. Feyd_Ruin, the chief CTO-like guy on MTGSal, is now the principal operator and owner of MTGNexus, and he doesn't have the time to support two different sites. Who will be doing the tech stuff and troubleshooting for MTGSalvation now that he's gone? There has been no formal announcement, posts, or threads as to the direction of MTGSalvation since its 11th hour purchase and I am currently unaware of how and who is going to run this site. Do you really want to stay with MTGSal as it rides the waves of tech developments and difficulties that are sure to come with the loss of Feyd-Ruin's massive experience and knowledge?
Cryogen, one of the Moderators here who has personally built real relationships with the founders of Commander and has a real, working relationship with Sheldon Menery himself (sorry if I misspelled your last name, Sheldon!) is now an Administrator of MTGNexus and has already brought Sheldon on board with MTGNexus. Who is going to step into cryogen's role now and make MTGSalvation a legitimate forum of discussion for the RC and CAG? I don't know, and that uncertainty is deeply troubling for me and should be for you too.
Airithne, one of the hardest working Mods on the site with an awesome personality and dedication for Commander that is irrefutable, is a key member of MTGNexus and will be personally overseeing many of the changes and updates that you have probably WISHED MTGSalvation would do. Wildfire, another member and Moderator from MTGSAl, has also become a key member of MTGNexus and is using her influence to make MTGNexus the premier Commander content site on the internet. The majority of the Commander Primer Committee, including the diligent toctheyounger, darrenhabib, Guerte, Kelzam, and others, have already made the jump to MTGNexus and have no desire to come back and actively participate on MTGSalvation. Who will be maintaining the Commander Primers that you enjoy reading and reviewing?
In short, who is going to be stepping up to fill the gaping hole of talent that has now formed MTGNexus? There has been no announcement, and I'm not certain one will be coming any time soon. Feel free to "stay with the devil [you] know" but I'd rather trust the people I DO know that you may not be aware of as being the critical volunteers that have made MTGSalvation as a site function.
The coding features and customization available on MTGNexus are, quite simply, leaps and bounds better than what is currently offered on MTGSalvation. Stop reading this message and check out the following Primers:
Kelzam's Ayli Primer, found here.
Darrenhabib's Will & Rowan Kenrith Primer, found here.
Rumpy5897's Feather, the Redeemed Primer, found here.
MTGNexus has a degree of customization and coding flexibility that is superb and, in my opinion, superior to what MTGSal has available to it. Are you looking to be a legit content creator for MTG? I believe that Nexus has the best tools available for your content and ideas and I'm excited to invite you to see what you can do on the beautiful, new platform. With Feyd-Ruin's expertise and personal commitment to the site, I can confidently assure you that the site will continue to get better and better until it becomes THE destination for any type of MTG focused content or MTG aggregation.
But most importantly, our community has already proven to be supportive and inclusive of its current members. And we want you to be a part of MTGNexus and make it your MTG based home on the internet, the spot where the best of the best reside. Let your voice be known and you could even have an impact in the way that MTGNexus develops as a site! We can't grow MTGNexus into the best MTG site in the world without your participation and support.
So Come and Join Our Home at MTGNexus and Help Shape the New MTG Destination site!
UB Dralnu, Lich Lord
RBW [Primer]-Kaalia of the Vast
BUG [Primer]-Tasigur, the Golden Fang
GWU [Primer]-Arcades, the Strategist
WUB Primer-Aminatou, the Fateshifter
UBR Nicol Bolas, the Ravager