TRAGEDY HAS STRUCK! (Possibly.)

[Hazrond]

I just went to go find the Mind's Eye articles on the D&D 3.5 archives and from what ive seen Wizards has deleted the whole archive, i cant get any of my old links to work and the search engine is drawing a blank, if they are still there can someone give me a link?

[eggynack]

I have just faced the same error in a search of Wizards' online archives. I'll probably give it a day or two before considering it a state of emergency though, despite the fact that I'm pretty sure Wizards doesn't have the best history with this stuff.

[jiriku]

Bits and pieces are stored in many places. What do you need?

[Hazrond]

Bits and pieces are stored in many places. What do you need?

i was about to go on a spree reading through the Mind's Eye articles for options regarding psionics:smallfrown:

[jiriku]

Via con dios, my friend.

[BowStreetRunner]

First, Google "Mind's Eye 3.5" and choose Cached from the little green drop-down arrow of the entry. Once you get the title of the article you want to read, Google that and do the same thing to look at the cached copy.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Savage Progressions: Transition Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:iVwrDhs-PFoJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20040319a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Level-Adjusted Races (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xLybhKaeHn8J:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20040213a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Ghost and Werewolf Template Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:JUyG87h55tEJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20040117a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Lich and Weretiger Template Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1EDXynNPQCcJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20031212a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Fiendish Creature and Werebear Template Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1Tl_svy7A9cJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20031114a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Half-Fiend and Wereboar Template Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:eYsPRqx3JpMJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20031010a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Half-Dragon and Wererat Template Classes (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:51dSYsa7_x0J:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20030912a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)
Savage Progressions: Gaining a Template Midcampaign and Vampire Template Class (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:PLjYUKxOg8YJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/sp/20030824a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)

The Mind's Eye Archive (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:76pwfhSgVVEJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/arch/psi+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) - right-click a link, copy link address, paste it into a google search. Click the little down-arrow to the right of the url, select Cached. Here's a picture:
http://i.imgur.com/866AeBw.png

3.5 D&D Archives (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:IRCJqC35GBAJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/archives+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) that has all the article categories, all the yearly archives, all the brand archives. Don't click the links directly, right-click and paste it into a google search and go to the cached page per the above picture.

If someone can save all those pages while google still has them and rehost them somewhere, preferably with working links within the pages, that would be awesome.

[Grod_The_Giant]

There's also the Wayback Machine.

[Hazrond]

If someone can save all those pages while google still has them and rehost them somewhere, preferably with working links within the pages, that would be awesome.

How do i save the pages? i have tried before with other things in the past but it just becomes a link (maybe im just bad at figurin things out on my own? :smallconfused:)

Edit: i havent mentioned this before anywhere but i have a little flashdrive that i have been trying to gather ALL of the official 3.5 content on, if you have links to various sourcebooks and such it would be appreciated, also i will try to download the web archives if somebody explains how to do so

[Ellowryn]

Perhaps wizards is removing all its old 3.0/3.5 support to make room/shove players towards 5e?

[Hazrond]

Perhaps wizards is removing all its old 3.0/3.5 support to make room/shove players towards 5e?

Seems rather heavy-handed to me, also incase anybody is wondering im currently saving PDFs of all the articles that google cached in the WoTC 3.5 archives

[Graypairofsocks]

I checked with some other online features and I think all of the 3E/3.5E stuff is gone(other than the pictures).

[Hazrond]

I checked with some other online features and I think all of the 3E/3.5E stuff is gone(other than the pictures).

Im using the google cache's to save it as PDFs, do you think i should put the races under the bestiary folder like they did in the articles, or make a seperate Races folder?

Edit: btw if anybody ever wants copies of these PDFs just ask and ill find a way to send em :smallsmile:
Edit 2: i get the weird feeling like im using this thread as a chat or something, if i am sorry

[Ellowryn]

Im using the google cache's to save it as PDFs, do you think i should put the races under the bestiary folder like they did in the articles, or make a seperate Races folder?

Edit: btw if anybody ever wants copies of these PDFs just ask and ill find a way to send em :smallsmile:
Edit 2: i get the weird feeling like im using this thread as a chat or something, if i am sorry

Umm, yeah if you could find a way to post a link to place to download them than i think everyone would love you (or at least throw a cookie at their screen for you).

[AuraTwilight]

From what I can tell, Wayback Machine has everything saved.

[Hazrond]

Umm, yeah if you could find a way to post a link to place to download them than i think everyone would love you (or at least throw a cookie at their screen for you).

I will totally make a post with all the links somewhere when i finish, though im gonna feel stupid if in 3 days all the 3.5 content is back up :smallbiggrin:

[Hazrond]

From what I can tell, Wayback Machine has everything saved.

I am just gonna continue on since i have no clue what the "Wayback Machine" is.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

http://web.archive.org/web/20140714091811/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd
The links on the pages even work.

[Ellowryn]

I will totally make a post with all the links somewhere when i finish, though im gonna feel stupid if in 3 days all the 3.5 content is back up :smallbiggrin:

You shouldn't, cause having everything saved to a comp means that you wont need an internet connection to look at everything. Plus this is wizards we are talking about, even if this whole can't load anything is just a problem on their server who's to say that this wont happen again? (And again, and again, etc...)

[Hazrond]

http://web.archive.org/web/20140714091811/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd
The links on the pages even work.

GAH, now i am torn, if i use this i can save all the pages without the annoying "Google cached this page on X date" thing at the top of the page, but at the same time i will have to delete the 15-20 pages i have already saved:smallannoyed:

[Rubik]

Fear not, brave forumites, for I have already downloaded The Mind's Eye articles and am storing them here (https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8JVtBCPcSIoVTBoZHVnRkV1ME0&usp=sharing).

[Lord Haart]

Some of them (namely, those i've visited over the course of last half a year — since i've adopted the "archive EVERY SINGLE WEBPAGE, dammit, you value information enough for its disappearance to hurt you emotionally" policy) should also be avaiable on archive.today (which, incidentally, is among the list of archives compatible with Memento Time Travel plugin for easy browsing of saved pages).

[Yael]

I just happened to search the Cityscape's Web Enhancement (Cityscape, Part 1) and faced the same problem, immediatly came here to see what's going on xD

[nedz]

Well the SRD is still there (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35).
But the archive index in 404.

It could be a server issue — I'd try again in a few days.

[Psyren]

I don't mind them coming out with new editions, but why do they always have to put the older stuff to the torch when they do? We went through this exact same thing with the epic warlock and epic binder articles when 4e came out, except those are all but gone. Now they're erasing mind's eye. The least they could do is acknowledge the 3.5 fans and give people a heads up about this stuff.

RIP Spell to Power Erudite.

[Hazrond]

I don't mind them coming out with new editions, but why do they always have to put the older stuff to the torch when they do? We went through this exact same thing with the epic warlock and epic binder articles when 4e came out, except those are all but gone. Now they're erasing mind's eye. The least they could do is acknowledge the 3.5 fans and give people a heads up about this stuff.

RIP Spell to Power Erudite.

Dont worry, i have the STP Erudite in PDF form, if you want i can send it somehow :smallsmile:

[Hazrond]

Whoa thats weird, i just found the Epic Warlock (http://web.archive.org/web/20130531124141/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ei/20061027a) i think. :smallconfused:

[Psyren]

Whoa thats weird, i just found the Epic Warlock (http://web.archive.org/web/20130531124141/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ei/20061027a) i think. :smallconfused:

Is Epic Binder there? And hopefully Wild Cohort.

The 3.5 update to Getting Wired (Getting Re-Wired) is probably gone too.

[Svata]

Forget the StP Erudite, nowanyone who wants to play a psionic sneaky-type and/or skillmonkey has to play a Lurk. Poor Psychic Rogue, you truly were the best at what you did.

[Psyren]

Forget the StP Erudite, nowanyone who wants to play a psionic sneaky-type and/or skillmonkey has to play a Lurk. Poor Psychic Rogue, you truly were the best at what you did.

There's always rogue/psion. Sigh.

(Or Cryptic. DSP to the rescue!)

[Hazrond]

Is Epic Binder there? And hopefully Wild Cohort.

The 3.5 update to Getting Wired (Getting Re-Wired) is probably gone too.

Nah the Epic Binder wasnt there, im trying to hunt it down though because binder is my FAV class

as for those two articles ill grab them :smallsmile:

[Hazrond]

Nah the Epic Binder wasnt there, im trying to hunt it down though because binder is my FAV class

as for those two articles ill grab them :smallsmile:

I DID IT! I ACTUALLY FOUND IT! (http://web.archive.org/web/20100817084532/http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/drfe/20080407a)

PS: for some reason people kept mentioning the link in chats all over the place but never actually PUT the link anywhere, took some searching to track down but i managed to get wayback machine to get it working! :smallbiggrin:

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Well the SRD is still there (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35).
But the archive index in 404.

It could be a server issue — I'd try again in a few days.

The SRD is at wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35, whereas all the stuff we're missing is at wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd, all of which is missing.

[Irk]

Oh, this is actually really bad. I'm gonna run around and save everything that everyone else already saved I think, just in case. If anyone has anything, please feel free to PM me.

[nedz]

The SRD is at wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35, whereas all the stuff we're missing is at wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd, all of which is missing.

Well the link I used which went 404 was http://dnd.wizards.com/go/archives

This page might offer a clue though http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/news/welcome-new-dd-website

[Psyren]

Well the link I used which went 404 was http://dnd.wizards.com/go/archives

This page might offer a clue though http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/news/welcome-new-dd-website

"The new website is your hub for all things D&D."

Well, unless by "all things D&D" you mean "an edition we don't care about anymore," in which case you get to take a flying leap! :D

[Irk]

I am currently in the process of downloading all of Mind's Eye (I know Rubik has them as well), I have all the Savage Progressions, the Epic Binder and the Epic Warlock, but I still need Wild Cohort, StP Erudite, and Cityscape stuff.

EDIT: what other things do people want? I know that there are web enhancements for Secrets of Xen'Drik and Dragons of Faerun, but I;m not sure if people are interested. I( found the Maneuver cards, so I'm doing those as well.

[Amphetryon]

I am currently in the process of downloading all of Mind's Eye (I know Rubik has them as well), I have all the Savage Progressions, the Epic Binder and the Epic Warlock, but I still need Wild Cohort, StP Erudite, and Cityscape stuff.

EDIT: what other things do people want? I know that there are web enhancements for Secrets of Xen'Drik and Dragons of Faerun, but I;m not sure if people are interested. I( found the Maneuver cards, so I'm doing those as well.

I think - assuming I'm reading things right, which is a dangerous assumption - there was some online content for Secrets of Sarlona, as well? If you could find and nab that as well as the Xen'drik material, that would would be groovy.

[Irk]

I think - assuming I'm reading things right, which is a dangerous assumption - there was some online content for Secrets of Sarlona, as well? If you could find and nab that as well as the Xen'drik material, that would would be groovy.

Yup, no problem

EDIT: I'm at work right now, so it's a bit difficult to fit this all in, but the Xen'Drik Jungle Secrets download does not work anymore, and the other websites on which it could be found are probably not permitted by my workplace. Minds Eye, Savage Progressions, Clockwork Wonder, Secrets of Sarlona, ToB Maneuver Cards, Epic Warlock, Epic Binder, Cityscape, and Wild Cohort will probably be prepped by around 2:00. I accidentally downloaded A LOT of things as word documents instead of pdfs, so I have to go back and redo it, but I'll get it done. *All Archives restored next day*.

[ddude987]

If anybody wants to send me pdf(s) of the minds eye, and other things if any, that would be swell.

[Irk]

Er - this'll actually take a bit longer than expected. Sorry, about that, but it will get finished!

[Rubik]

Would it be possible to download everything in those archives and put it up on a website of our own? Or is that breaking copyright laws?

[nedz]

Would it be possible to download everything in those archives and put it up on a website of our own? Or is that breaking copyright laws?

I could be wrong, but I suspect that it would be a copyright violation.

[Rubik]

I could be wrong, but I suspect that it would be a copyright violation.What if we do it explicitly as an archive, similar to the Wayback Machine?

[Amphetryon]

What if we do it explicitly as an archive, similar to the Wayback Machine?

I suspect speculation on this would run afoul of the GitP policy regarding offering legal advice.

[OldTrees1]

I am currently in the process of downloading all of Mind's Eye (I know Rubik has them as well), I have all the Savage Progressions, the Epic Binder and the Epic Warlock, but I still need Wild Cohort, StP Erudite, and Cityscape stuff.

EDIT: what other things do people want? I know that there are web enhancements for Secrets of Xen'Drik and Dragons of Faerun, but I;m not sure if people are interested. I( found the Maneuver cards, so I'm doing those as well.

Would you please be willing to capture the Rules of the Game Archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20130220115131/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg) too? The majority of it is repeat information from books but it is sprinkled with exclusive content (like how combat maneuvers act differently against aerial opponents).

Thank you for capturing these just in case WotC does not restore them.

[Psyren]

I suspect speculation on this would run afoul of the GitP policy regarding offering legal advice.

Agreed, going down this road will just get the thread locked.


Would you please be willing to capture the Rules of the Game Archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20130220115131/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg) too? The majority of it is repeat information from books but it is sprinkled with exclusive content (like how combat maneuvers act differently against aerial opponents).

Thank you for capturing these just in case WotC does not restore them.

Save My Game has good stuff too.

Sage Advice I think is mostly in the 3.5 FAQ.

[nedz]

Swiftblade, various web enhancements, Godsblood Spellthief, ...

I hope that this is a temporary issue due to them relaunching their web site, but who knows ?

[Psyren]

The stuff we lost during the 4e launch are now only accessible via Wayback Machine so make of that what you will.

[DeAnno]

EVERYONE, EVERYTHING IS A-OK!

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/we

Just replace "www" with archive in all the old links. I discovered this by going here (http://community.wizards.com/forum/4e-character-optimization/threads/4118731), noticing the 4e community was also affected, and realizing the 3.5 stuff was probably in the same place.

Anyone who wants to make a huge private archive of it just in case though, probably should.

[Rubik]

EVERYONE, EVERYTHING IS A-OK!

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/we

Just replace "www" with archive in all the old links. I discovered this by going here (http://community.wizards.com/forum/4e-character-optimization/threads/4118731), noticing the 4e community was also affected, and realizing the 3.5 stuff was probably in the same place.

Anyone who wants to make a huge private archive of it just in case though, probably should.That's GREAT news.

I'm still downloading everything, though.

[nedz]

The web articles are still gone. Try http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archives or hit the link from the Web Enhancements page.

Anyone got any ideas for this ?

[Psyren]

The web articles are still gone. Try http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archives or hit the link from the Web Enhancements page.

Anyone got any ideas for this ?

For Mind's Eye, I took your URL - http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/we - and replaced the "we" with "psi." So, http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/psi.

The links there seem to work.

Would be really great if they made a statement about this stuff instead of leaving us to fumble with all these workarounds...

[Thiyr]

You mean these ones? http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd

(i just clicked the "more" button at the bottom of the web enhancement page, where they had article listings)

EDIT: Also, rather than try to remember which articles have useful content in them (Like, I completely forgot about godsblood spellthief and that super important factotum feat, but I remembered the Ardent ACFs, soul manifester, and the freakin' arcane duelist), I'm gonna be going through every article for the next few days and downloading anything that seems like it has content in it. Because that sounds a hell of a lot better than losing stuff that slipped through the cracks.

[EccentricCircle]

The D&D collectors guide on ENworld has a list of all web enhancements and online adventures, but the links don't work.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showwiki.php?title=3rd-Edition-D-and-D-Collectors-Guide#Electronic-releases
I don't know if that helps at all.

Edit: Sorry, links to web enhancement pdfs work, but to the adventures don't.

[nedz]

I was using the button in the top left corner of the page — which is broken.

The really annoying thing is that all the search engine results are going to be broken for an indeterminate amount of time.

[DeAnno]

I was using the button in the top left corner of the page — which is broken.

The really annoying thing is that all the search engine results are going to be broken for an indeterminate amount of time.

Search with google, copy link location of what you want, replace "www" with "archive"

[Rubik]

I just saved all the Rules of the Game articles to my computer. I have a sudden urge to run a STD virus scan.

I feel dirty.

[Aegis013]

Search with google, copy link location of what you want, replace "www" with "archive"

This isn't working for some web enhancements like Swiftblade and Kobold stuff. Any solution there?

[Rubik]

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd

[nedz]

This isn't working for some web enhancements like Swiftblade and Kobold stuff. Any solution there?

I grabbed Swiftblade some hours ago by this method, look here http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qJ7NCN9XOWYJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/prc/20070327+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

[Aegis013]

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/dnd

I'm not finding Swiftblade and other PrCs in there. What category are they hidden under?


I grabbed Swiftblade some hours ago by this method, look here http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qJ7NCN9XOWYJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/prc/20070327+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Thank you. I'm sure there are other things I'll want to find later to. This turn of events really is disappointing.

[DeAnno]

I'm not finding Swiftblade and other PrCs in there. What category are they hidden under?

Swiftblade: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327

Kobolds: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060127a and http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a

[Thiyr]

Progress on Operation Download All The Things:

Web enhancements done, gonna be going over the articles over the next while. a few enhancements were unable to be found. I didn't start taking notes on them, but the first few didn't seem terribly consequential, and "White Plume Mountain Revised", the Stormwrack WE, and the Secrets of Xen'Drik WE were unable to be found.

Next up: Getting the articles from 2009.

[Hazrond]

Progress on Operation Download All The Things:

Web enhancements done, gonna be going over the articles over the next while. a few enhancements were unable to be found. I didn't start taking notes on them, but the first few didn't seem terribly consequential, and "White Plume Mountain Revised", the Stormwrack WE, and the Secrets of Xen'Drik WE were unable to be found.

Next up: Getting the articles from 2009.

I got the Stormwrack enhancement, we need a dropbox or something where we can put all these PDFs

[Agrippa]

Fear not, brave forumites, for I have already downloaded The Mind's Eye articles and am storing them here (https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8JVtBCPcSIoVTBoZHVnRkV1ME0&usp=sharing).

I'm sorry Rubik, but your links don't show up properly when I click on them.

[Irk]

We will probably have several individuals with copies of everything by the time this is done. I might do a Mind's Eye Handbook. If I sat down for 2 hours, I bet I could do it just in that span of time. This weekend, despite others having already finished by then.

[Rubik]

So far, I've got Characters with Class, D&D Alumni, D&D Fiction, D&D Fight Club, Design and Development, Elite Opponents, Map-A-Week (including all the available maps), Product Spotlight, Rules of the Game (eww), Save My Game, Steal This Hook, Tactics and Tips, The Mind's Eye, Use This Book Tonight, and Web Enhancements.

Starting now on Vicious Venues.

[Hazrond]

So far, I've got Characters with Class, D&D Alumni, D&D Fiction, D&D Fight Club, Design and Development, Elite Opponents, Map-A-Week (including all the available maps), Product Spotlight, Rules of the Game (eww), Save My Game, Steal This Hook, Tactics and Tips, The Mind's Eye, Use This Book Tonight, and Web Enhancements.

Starting now on Vicious Venues.

wait you have EVERY article from those? O.O i may need you to send me some zips with various Article Sets so i can finish my collection, so far i only cherry picked taking 95% of the Minds Eye articles, a bunch of the Web Enhancements, the savage progressions articles, Random Encounters articles, and the Long Lost Epic Warlock and Binder

[Rubik]

wait you have EVERY article from those? O.OEeeyep. I've now got Vicious Venues, Consolidated Lists, and most of the Tools Archive. There are a few that aren't available (unfortunately), but I'm getting what I can.

[Hazrond]

Eeeyep. I've now got Vicious Venues, Consolidated Lists, and most of the Tools Archive. There are a few that aren't available (unfortunately), but I'm getting what I can.

Would you mind putting these in a dropbox, preferably seperated by Article Series name? (i mean like the PDFs all gathered into a zip file named "Mind's Eye" or something if you would be so kind :smallsmile:)

[Hazrond]

Eeeyep. I've now got Vicious Venues, Consolidated Lists, and most of the Tools Archive. There are a few that aren't available (unfortunately), but I'm getting what I can.

Also what are you missing, i seem to have copies of stuff some people cant get ahold of :smallcool:

[Larkas]

I went on a backuping spree some time ago when Wizards announced 5E. I have most, if not all, of the articles backuped in two computers, and can make them available if anyone needs them.

[Rubik]

Would you mind putting these in a dropbox, preferably seperated by Article Series name? (i mean like the PDFs all gathered into a zip file named "Mind's Eye" or something if you would be so kind :smallsmile:)I've already got everything separated into separate folders. I'll have to .zip them up once I'm finished and toss them on, say, G.Docs. I'll make a dedicated account just for them, I think, and leave them there.


Also what are you missing, i seem to have copies of stuff some people cant get ahold of :smallcool:Oh dear. I've spent all day saving them (seriously, there are a LOT of articles), and I didn't take the time to note which ones are missing. Sorry.

[Larkas]

Oh, and this (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/features) might be helpful.

[Rubik]

Oh, and this (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/features) might be helpful.Could someone else download the podcasts, please?

[Larkas]

Could someone else download the podcasts, please?

Like I said, I'm pretty sure I have them stashed away somewhere.

[Irk]

Rubik, you are a GREAT person, thanks SO much for saving all this stuff. If you could post a link to the G.Docs spot where you have it all saved when you're done, that would be wonderful.
I can't get the PodCasts to download, though, so Larkas, you may be the only source for those...

[Curmudgeon]

I've corrected a lot of my saved links using the www->archive substitution, but that's not fixing everything.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080428
"Epic Destinies in D&D 3.5"

The Wayback Machine either gives a 302 error for the recent years, or
"Dragon articles require that you sign-in to D&D Insider to view the content."
for the first entries (in 2008).

Is this still available somewhere?

[Irk]

Is this still available somewhere?
Not exactly, but I managed to track down a link to the page and saved that as an html page.
Go here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?267623-Epic-Destinies-in-D-amp-D-3-5), right click the link and save it as whatever you'd like

Alternatively, someone saved it here (http://lonelygm.blogspot.com/2011/02/epic-destinies-for-d-35pathfinder.html) as "Epic Destinies FOR D&D 3.5"

I actually have some fun tracking these down, so if there is anything else, I can try going for those as well.

[Tvtyrant]

I just realized the Erudite is from the online expansion. So much lost (Or would be without Wayback Machine.)

Nevermind. I am a fool! It was also in the book of bad psionics.

[Rubik]

Okay, now I'm up to Bardic Knowledge, Battle Sheets, Behind the Screen, But What Do They Do, Celebrity Game Table, Characters with Class, Cliffhangers, Consolidated Lists, D&D Alumni, D&D Fiction, D&D Fight Club, Design and Development, Elite Opponents, Epic Insights, Far Corners of the World, Fey Feature, Gamestoppers, Map-A-Week, Monster Mayhem, Product Spotlight, Rules of the Game, Save My Game, Steal This Hook, Tactics and Tips, The Mind's Eye, Tools Archive, Use This Book Tonight, Vicious Venues, and Web Enhancements.

That's a lot of work, and I'm not done yet.

[Tvtyrant]

Okay, now I'm up to Bardic Knowledge, Battle Sheets, Behind the Screen, But What Do They Do, Celebrity Game Table, Characters with Class, Cliffhangers, Consolidated Lists, D&D Alumni, D&D Fiction, D&D Fight Club, Design and Development, Elite Opponents, Epic Insights, Far Corners of the World, Fey Feature, Gamestoppers, Map-A-Week, Monster Mayhem, Product Spotlight, Rules of the Game, Save My Game, Steal This Hook, Tactics and Tips, The Mind's Eye, Tools Archive, Use This Book Tonight, Vicious Venues, and Web Enhancements.

That's a lot of work, and I'm not done yet.

I thank you, and the world thanks you!

I must admit I got through Far Corners and Epic Destinies and gave up.

[Sith_Happens]

Speaking of which, are the free adventures saved anywhere? Because those have been gone from the Wizards website for a while now.

[Andion Isurand]

Im using the google cache's to save it as PDFs, do you think i should put the races under the bestiary folder like they did in the articles, or make a seperate Races folder?

Edit: btw if anybody ever wants copies of these PDFs just ask and ill find a way to send em :smallsmile:
Edit 2: i get the weird feeling like im using this thread as a chat or something, if i am sorry


Okay, now I'm up to Bardic Knowledge, Battle Sheets, Behind the Screen, But What Do They Do, Celebrity Game Table, Characters with Class, Cliffhangers, Consolidated Lists, D&D Alumni, D&D Fiction, D&D Fight Club, Design and Development, Elite Opponents, Epic Insights, Far Corners of the World, Fey Feature, Gamestoppers, Map-A-Week, Monster Mayhem, Product Spotlight, Rules of the Game, Save My Game, Steal This Hook, Tactics and Tips, The Mind's Eye, Tools Archive, Use This Book Tonight, Vicious Venues, and Web Enhancements.

That's a lot of work, and I'm not done yet.

Are you guys making PDFs of the "printer friendly" versions of these articles, or just the standard versions?

[Hazrond]

Are you guys making PDFs of the "printer friendly" versions of these articles, or just the standard versions?
ive been going full article, not sure about him

[Rubik]

Are you guys making PDFs of the "printer friendly" versions of these articles, or just the standard versions?I'm saving the full HTML version, just like the original webpages.

[Bullet06320]

I have printed versions in a binder of all the Dragons of Faerun articles, but I think all that was printed and updated in Dragons of Faerun books anyways
working on the spellbook archive now myself

http://web.archive.org/web/20130509051428/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/sb

[TypoNinja]

Would it be too greedy to ask for one of you fine people who have a complete collection to provide us with some kind of mega-archive?

Since storage space isnt that big a deal, complete copies for redundancy would seem to be best, regardless of how much or little of the content one plans on using.

[EccentricCircle]

Speaking of which, are the free adventures saved anywhere? Because those have been gone from the Wizards website for a while now.

I have most if not all of the free adventures saved and can share them if you like, alternatively it looks as though you can get them if you plug the links on ENworlds Collectors guide into the Wayback Machine.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showwiki.php?title=3rd-Edition-D-and-D-Collectors-Guide#Online-adventures

e.g. https://web.archive.org/web/20060719215017/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/Vessel.pdf

I'll also add my name to the list of people who would love a complete copy of everything.

[Rubik]

Would it be too greedy to ask for one of you fine people who have a complete collection to provide us with some kind of mega-archive?

Since storage space isnt that big a deal, complete copies for redundancy would seem to be best, regardless of how much or little of the content one plans on using.I had to sleep and such, so I haven't finished my archive yet, but I fully plan on doing this with all of what I nab.

[Psyren]

When WotC "accidentally" deletes their entire archive one day to pave the way for 6E, you will be our only hope Rubik.

[Rubik]

When WotC "accidentally" deletes their entire archive one day to pave the way for 6E, you will be our only hope Rubik.Actually, I want to encourage everyone to download the archive I collect for themselves and store it in a safe place.

Redundancy can be useful, remember.

[EccentricCircle]

Actually, I want to encourage everyone to download the archive I collect for themselves and store it in a safe place.

Redundancy can be useful, remember.

Ideally we should engrave a copy on metal sheets and bury them beneath a massive stone monolith on the Moon, just in case. We'd need to include all the rulebooks as well of course...

[Rubik]

Here's a list of everything I've got. If someone notices something I don't have (other than the news posts and the podcasts), please let me know where to find it.

Adventure Builder
Bardic Knowledge
Battle Sheets
Behind the Screen
But What Do They Do
Celebrity Game Table
Characters With Class
Cliffhangers
Consolidated Lists
D&D Alumni
D&D Fiction
D&D Fight Club
Design and Development
Dice Games
Elite Opponents
Epic Insights
Far Corners of the World
Fey Feature
Gamestoppers
Map-A-Week
Monster Mayhem
NPC Closeup
NPC Portraits
Product Spotlight
Random Encounters
Revision Spotlight
Rules of the Game
Savage Progressions
Save My Game
Spellbook
Steal This Hook
Tactics and Tips
The Mind's Eye
Tools Archive
Use This Book Tonight
Vicious Venues
Villain Builder
Web Enhancements

[...]

Do you know what we should do? We should get a mod on here to get all of these archives onto a link in the forums.

[Andion Isurand]

Wyrms of the North would be a nice set of articles to save.

Look under Forgotten Realms Archives > Retired Articles

[Rubik]

Wyrms of the North would be a nice set of articles to save.

Look under Forgotten Realms Archives > Retired ArticlesOh! I missed the Forgotten Realms, Eberron, and Miniatures articles.

Back to the grind.

Of course, I work long days on the weekends, so I probably won't get to it before Monday. I hope they don't delete them before then.

[Rubik]

Uploading everything I've got to here:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5Q9O1xtidQ5aVhaUXlZc1B3Zkk&usp=sharing

The link is also in my sig.

I'll add the D&D Miniatures, Eberron, and Forgotten Realms stuff once I get it.

[Thurbane]

Has anyone found the Psychic Rogue?

Also, this has (now defunct) links to a lot of the free online 3.X stuff: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=513.0

[edit]FOund the Psychic Rogue: http://web.archive.org/web/20130607100454/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b

[thethird]

I'll add myself to the chorus of people saying that Rubik (and all of you who are hunting down and making copies) is awesome. Thanks for doing this.

Link to free stuff (from brilliant gamelogist) it is probably the same that Thurbane posted, it might be helpful to hunt things down here (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=1109.80)

Among the weird stuff that that list gave me knowledge of is the prc eye of xanathar (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:p1wRlYk1wiIJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/prc/20061107b+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=es)

[Curmudgeon]

Has anyone found the Psychic Rogue?

Also, this has (now defunct) links to a lot of the free online 3.X stuff: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=513.0

[edit]FOund the Psychic Rogue: http://web.archive.org/web/20130607100454/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b
The Psychic Rogue is also here: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b. The only differences appear to be the site icon (Wizards banner instead of Mind's Eye temple facade) and the D&D Next Playtest box at the bottom of the page.

[Ansem]

Here's a list of everything I've got. If someone notices something I don't have (other than the news posts and the podcasts), please let me know where to find it.

Adventure Builder
Bardic Knowledge
Battle Sheets
Behind the Screen
But What Do They Do
Celebrity Game Table
Characters With Class
Cliffhangers
Consolidated Lists
D&D Alumni
D&D Fiction
D&D Fight Club
Design and Development
Dice Games
Elite Opponents
Epic Insights
Far Corners of the World
Fey Feature
Gamestoppers
Map-A-Week
Monster Mayhem
NPC Closeup
NPC Portraits
Product Spotlight
Random Encounters
Revision Spotlight
Rules of the Game
Savage Progressions
Save My Game
Spellbook
Steal This Hook
Tactics and Tips
The Mind's Eye
Tools Archive
Use This Book Tonight
Vicious Venues
Villain Builder
Web Enhancements

Clockwork Wonders is missing.
archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/cw

[Rubik]

The psyrogue is in The Mind's Eye article I've got archived, so it's already saved.

Not that I discourage anyone else from also saving it.


Clockwork Wonders is missing.
archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/cwI should be downloading that with the rest of the Eberron archives.

[Fizban]

I never finished my pdf archiving of stuff so I'll be watching here as well. To those with less lazy, I salute you.

[Rubik]

I never finished my pdf archiving of stuff so I'll be watching here as well. To those with less lazy, I salute you.It's not a matter of "lazy." It's a lot of articles and a lot of work.

[Psyren]

It's not a matter of "lazy." It's a lot of articles and a lot of work.

I think he was saying he was the lazy one and that he was saluting you.

[DeAnno]

People might want to save the errata and 3.5 updates from here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a) too, they are in the same boat as all the web enhancements.

[Rubik]

People might want to save the errata and 3.5 updates from here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a) too, they are in the same boat as all the web enhancements.*Sigh* There's more work in the works. :smalltongue:


I think he was saying he was the lazy one and that he was saluting you.Yes, and I said what I did so he wouldn't feel bad. I don't blame anyone for not doing all that work when others are busy doing it already.

[Phelix-Mu]

In addition to all the thoroughly deserved thanks, can I add my voice to any that have proclaimed this a douche act on behalf of WotC? I mean, I know I'm not their biggest fan, but I have bought their stuff and voted with my wallet on the value of their product as far as 3e is concerned. Is it too much to ask that such patronage be rewarded with a token effort on their part to acknowledge my existence as a patron by not removing materials relevant to my gameplay from their sites? Am I wrong in thinking that, once they establish the archives, they are pretty low-cost/low-maintenance?

I mean, this isn't exactly like Microsoft ending XP support or something. It's them pulling information down because, uh,...[reasons].

Or is it back up and y'all are just doing the responsible thing and backing it up anyway? I still tremble at the thought that my groups webpage go down, along with years of campaign synopses....

Speaking of which, can any of y'all point me in the direction of an easy-to-use (preferably free) way to back up a BB forum thingy? A friend of mine admins it, so it can be admin only stuff, I just don't know where to start in the looking (or how to know a crap program from the diamond in the rough).

[cobaltstarfire]

This is really cool, I must give a salute to you guys for doing this. I've already copied what all is already up to my own google drive and also moved a few to an external HD.


I do have a question though, are all these articles a mix of 3.0 and 3.5? What's the easiest way to tell the difference? (like anything published after a certain year or anything like that?)

[nedz]

To be fair they are just revamping their website. They didn't delete these files so much as move them to a random folder, so they could have planned to recreate links to them or just wait for the web crawlers to find them again. It's a shame they kept quite about where they had put them though.

[Rubik]

We're basically doing it out of well-considered paranoia. The chances of the archives going down permanently is fairly high -- heck, I'm surprised they didn't pull them down pre-4e -- but they've just been thrown into a different place on the WotC site.

At first, we thought they were all gone, but then we found that they were just moved. It concerned some (all?) of us badly enough that we weren't willing to let it slip quietly into the night now that the thought has crossed our minds.

[...]

Well, where are they now?

Couldn't resist.

[Thurbane]

Has anyone found the new link to the Consolidated Lists Archive? I found that very useful for looking up materials (especially monsters)...

[Auramis]

Well, this is some scary news to wake up to. O.o Too everyone who's archiving these articles for everyone to use, thank you for all your hard work.

[Rubik]

Has anyone found the new link to the Consolidated Lists Archive? I found that very useful for looking up materials (especially monsters)...Yes. It's in the archive in my signature.

[otakumick]

Rubik, thank you for all your hard work on this. I for one will certainly be downloading the archives you are putting together once they are finished.

[TypoNinja]

Rubik, thank you for all your hard work on this. I for one will certainly be downloading the archives you are putting together once they are finished.

Ditto.

Rubik yer the man. If this board had some form of karma I suspect you'd be swimming in it.

[LordHenry]

I tried to find the half-fiend template from the online content with specific demons today and they were gone as well...

[nedz]

I tried to find the half-fiend template from the online content with specific demons today and they were gone as well...

Half-Fiend — Savage Progressions (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031010a) — is this what you were looking for ?

[LordHenry]

It's close, but not quite that. I remember stuff like half-succubus, half-marilith, half-glabrezu etc.

[Rubik]

It's close, but not quite that. I remember stuff like half-succubus, half-marilith, half-glabrezu etc.Was it this one? http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:JEYf22B9_1YJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/we/20060630x+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[LordHenry]

That one exactly! No idea how you managed to pull that one out of the infinite vortex that is the internet, but thanks a lot :smallbiggrin:

[Larkas]

For what it's worth, it's still online in the archive: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060630x

And I still have to check those two PCs to confirme if I still have the podcasts in addition to all the rest =/

[Talya]

Is there a way to make this searchable? I'm looking for Wild Cohort, as well as the druid spells article that included Splinterbolt, Deadfall, and Fey Ring.

[Curmudgeon]

You can find the Wild Cohort feat here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a).

[Talya]

Actually, Curmudgeon, it seems if you can locate the last part of the links, ALL the articles still exist. For instance:

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fw/20040710a

(the other one I was looking for.)


The archive links follow a pattern:

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/

followed by a two letter code that I think is the series of articles they are from. "fw" is from "Far Corners of the World." Wild Cohort's is "re" (random encounters). "we" is web enhancments.

After that, it's /YYYYMMDD (year month day) followed by a letter that appears random.

So basically, everything is still there, it's just the links have changed and they are not searchable.

[Larkas]

Awww, damn, the podcasts are the only thing I don't have. Looking at the Wayback Machine, they've been gone since at least 2008 too. Weird stuff... Check these two (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/mp3player/playlist.xsl) links (http://webcast2.wizards.com/fwstats/AudioContentHistory.html). All the other Wizards' podcasts are there but the D&D ones. :smallfrown:


Actually, Curmudgeon, it seems if you can locate the last part of the links, ALL the articles still exist. For instance:

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fw/20040710a

(the other one I was looking for.)


The archive links follow a pattern:

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/

followed by a two letter code that I think is the series of articles they are from. "fw" is from "Far Corners of the World." Wild Cohort's is "re" (random encounters). "we" is web enhancments.

After that, it's /YYYYMMDD (year month day) followed by a letter that appears random.

So basically, everything is still there, it's just the links have changed and they are not searchable.

Exactly!

[nedz]

Anyone know how we point the webcrawlers at these archives ?
Either the new WotC folders or the ones Rubic worked so hard to save — though the latter may be problematic ?
Google, Yahoo, Bing, ... ?

Or do we just have to wait ?

[Larkas]

FOUND THEM!!! I FOUND THEM!!! They moved all D&D podcasts and never updated any links!!!

Here are the working links!!!

Episode 1: Gen Con 2006 Revisited (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode1.mp3)
Episode 2: Complete Mage (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode2.mp3)
Episode 3: Ravenloft (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode3.mp3)
Episode 4: Adventures (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode4.mp3)
Episode 5: Baker and Blood War (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode5.mp3)
Episode 6: R.A. Salvatore (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode6.mp3)
Episode 7: The Nine Hells (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode7.mp3)
Episode 8: Dead Gentlemen Productions (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode8.mp3)
Episode 9: Dungeons (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode9.mp3)
Episode 10: Magic Items (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode10.mp3)
Episode 11: Drow (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode11.mp3)
Episode 12: Mailbag, Part 1 (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode12.mp3)
Episode 13: Mailbag, Part 2 (http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/DnD_Episode13.mp3)

[SiuiS]

Umm, yeah if you could find a way to post a link to place to download them than i think everyone would love you (or at least throw a cookie at their screen for you).


I will totally make a post with all the links somewhere when i finish, though im gonna feel stupid if in 3 days all the 3.5 content is back up :smallbiggrin:

Fair warning: linking these would be a violation of forum rules. These articles may have been offered for free but are still WotC property and if removed, are no longer free.

I got a reprimand for linking to the free playtest PDF of demon: the descent instead of the page with the link to said PDF.

[Curmudgeon]

Anyone know how we point the webcrawlers at these archives ?

Google, Yahoo, Bing, ... ?

Or do we just have to wait ?
I think we just have to wait. I did a search a few minutes ago:

"web enhancement" site:archive.wizards.com
Yahoo and Bing showed 0 results, but Google returned 8 hits. There should be many more D&D web enhancement pages; the search engines just aren't there yet.

[Skevvix]

I just tried for the Tomb of Horrors, but got the 404. Does anyone have the 3.5 Tomb?

[Curmudgeon]

The 3.5 Tomb of Horrors (Revised) page is here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20051031a); that's been free since 2005 (Halloween). The map links are good, but the PDF link is broken. However, I've found an alternate download link here (http://www.4shared.com/get/629-4HNs/dd_35_-_tomb_of_horrors.html). I've checked, and it's identical to the free Wizards of the Coast PDF I downloaded years ago.

[Hazrond]

Wow, this has to be the most productive thread ive ever started/participated in, :smallsmile:

[.Zero]

Is it possible to make something like an index for these things? And maybe stick it on the homepage.

Anyways, i was looking for two things: the zceryll vestige, and the Bone Talisman spell. Suggestions? Thanks!

[Curmudgeon]

Bone Talisman is here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20040721a). Zceryll, "The Star Spawn" is here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070718).

[Optimator]

I'm glad I saved the HTML files for a lot of the Wizards articles. I'll see what I can do about posting them somewhere. I suggest people scour the archives and save as much as possible for posterity.

[Southern Cross]

They had an article on the incantatrix PrC a while back, but I deleted my bad links recently and cannot find it.

[...]

The 3.5 Tomb of Horrors (Revised) page is here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20051031a); that's been free since 2005 (Halloween). The map links are good, but the PDF link is broken. However, I've found an alternate download link here (http://www.4shared.com/get/629-4HNs/dd_35_-_tomb_of_horrors.html). I've checked, and it's identical to the free Wizards of the Coast PDF I downloaded years ago.

Wait, there was a 3.5 tomb of horrors?

[Agent 451]

Does anyone know if nijineko over at minmax is still maintaining his archive? I know he had been working on archiving everything for the past few years.

[Thurbane]

The guys at CMG made a spreadsheet of the Consolidated Lists Archive that was really handy, but I can't find the link now.

[lytokk]

I apologize if this has been asked, but did anyone save a copy of the Tome of Battle maneuver cards for printing? preferably the black and white ones. I had been meaning to print these out for a game and now I can't find them anywhere.

[Skevvix]

I found them here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20061225a).

[Hazrond]

Anybody got a link to the archive where they kept maps for the first Eberron adventure?

Edit: Nevermind found it

[DeAnno]

This should maybe be stickied, and possibly also be named something more descriptive. The number of questions that have been popping up in the forum about the disappearing wizards content are pretty high.

[Optimator]

I agree; this has the potential to be an INVALUABLE resource. Ther was a mountain of cool and fun stuff on the website.

[Hazrond]

I'm all for it, it would be a first for me :smallbiggrin:

[Svm420]

:smallwink:Long lost secret wizard achieve of psionics! (archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/psi)

[Oko and Qailee]

Has anyone found a source for Hanks Energy Bow? I liked that bow... and it's gone.

[Thurbane]

I'm having trouble finding the original article in the archive, but this link (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=7072.0) has it's full stats.

I'm actually lucky enough to own the D&D Cartoon DVD Box Set, which includes a booklet with stats for all the characters and their items.

After much digging, found it in the archives! :) Link: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061227a

[Oko and Qailee]

GAH YOU'RE THE BEST. Thanks!

[macdaddy]

Swiftblade: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327

Kobolds: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060127a and http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a

Phew. Thanks so much. Was panicking on not being able to get the swiftblade class. now its downloaded and google drive-ified.

[Debatra]

Easy way to get most if not all** of the old stuff:

Old Link: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/XXXXXXXXX

New Link: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/XXXXXXXXX

** Works with every single link I've tested so far, but I haven't tested every single link.

[The Vagabond]

Alright, may I ask what all of this means here? What was so important about that?

[OldTrees1]

Alright, may I ask what all of this means here? What was so important about that?

During 3rd edition, WotC posted some free extra content online.
During the switch to 4th edition, WotC tried to make it hard for people to pick up 3rd edition.
Recently the webpages holding the free 3rd edition content disappeared (404 messages).
3rd edition players did not trust WotC would restore the content. So they made this thread and an effort was made to backup the free content for when WotC eventually does remove the content for good(did I mention not trusting WotC as much anymore?).
Then WotC restored the content under a slightly new URL.
The 3rd edition players feel better knowing it is back up AND backups are in trustworthy hands.

[nedz]

Actually the search engines are starting to catch up.

"web enhancement" site:archive.wizards.com lists the relevant articles in both Yahoo and Google

Swiftblade site:archive.wizards.com just gives you lots of MtG links still though.

[Optimator]

That's great news. The web enhancements are significantly more official than anything--even Dragon magazine stuff.

[Curmudgeon]

The web enhancements are significantly more official than anything--even Dragon magazine stuff.
Where do you get that idea from, other than the Iron Chef competition rules?