Sudden as it might seem, I have decided to say goodbye to scenario designing. I could write an in-depth story about the how's and why's, but I think a simple explanation will suffice.
Look at it like this. I like the creative part: the initial creative splash, the developing of that splash into a solid storyline, the imagining of the landscape, the atmosphere... Etcetera, etcetera. I like the result - even though I have but one result right now (the teaser), I know what it would have become if I had finished it. The point is that I, over time, have developed a sincere hate for the designing itself. Not just a temporary "I'm-sick-of-it", mind you: I mean a total disliking. I've been trying the WarCraft III World Editor lately; it is superb, and the posibilities are endless. Yet, I cannot motivate myself to work with it...
The combination of my own sheer perfectionism, my lack of motivation to drag myself through the endless hours of fruitless designing after the creative part has passed, and my lack of time (new year, new jobs, new schedules) is lethal. I know that I will not be able to finish any campaign or scenario, even if I take fourty years to try and complete it; so it's for the better if I just call it a day. In spite of my skill and talent, there is no longer a future for me in scenario design.
There is, however, still very much a future for me in writing; and the odds of me releasing ATW as a I'll be still around, updating the Age of Kings Heaven, posting here and there and moderating some forums, but I'm afraid you won't be seeing my name in any Blacksmith anymore. Comments? Cries? Flames? Death-threats? Hit me.