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Dragonmount Year 20 Upgrade

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To my Dragonmount and Wheel of Time family,

Update: You guys are AMAZING! Thank you for your donations. I have some stretch goals. Please read the campaign updates for more info. Donations are still welcome and will be put to good use. 

Next year, 2018, marks Dragonmount.com's 20th anniversary. I know, it's as insane to me as it is to you. Probably more.  It's going to be a big year for our community: the Wheel of Time TV show is finally making progress. We'll be helping to celebrate JordanCon 10.

We all know that DM, in its current form, is outdated. The site loads poorly on mobile devices, and it has annoying quirks and bugs everywhere. The version of software we're running on was designed nearly 10 years ago. It's been patched and well-maintained, but, ultimately, it's just.... well, old.


It's time for an upgrade, and that's where I'm asking for your help.

I have a quote from a developer to upgrade the site to the latest major version of our forum and blog software. This upgrade will ensure the site is modernized, including becoming fully mobile-friendly. Unfortunately, I cannot afford it on my own. 

The quote is for $880, which is more than fair, and in fact, includes a discounted rate because the developer and I have done business in the past. The upgrade requires significant work and testing. DM also has a lot of specialized needs (such as our online ebook store) that require special attention. I've set the campaign goal to $1,200. I did this because I'd like a reasonable buffer of additional cash in case there're other parts of the site that require additional work not included in the original quote. Experience has taught me there's always something.

Why I Need Help
It humbles me to share this with you so publically, but I need financial assistance to afford this upgrade. I've been out of work for nearly 7 months after being part of my former tech company's large-scale layoffs. For nearly 20 years I've gladly taken on the financial burden of running Dragonmount. Our banner ad and other revenue income streams have always supported the site just fine. But now that the Wheel of Time book series is complete, our traffic has understandably waned.  Ad revenue is a fraction of what it once was. Because I have no stable income at the moment, I cannot justify the cost of paying for this out of pocket.


(Wow, look how young I was in 2012!)

Why Now?
I've put this upgrade off for a while, but I feel strongly that this is the time to do it. We need to be ready for the increased traffic that the TV show will bring.  And I'd like to have a "Fresh coat of paint" ready for our 20th anniversary. Plus, you just never know what the future might bring and I'd like to be ready?

The developer is ready to begin the upgrade at any point. He requires half of the money ($440) to get started. 

How You Can Help
The best way to help, of course, is to donate any amount to this cause. But if you are unable to do so, please consider spreading the word about this campaign to your family and friends who have enjoyed Dragonmount or the Wheel of Time over the years. 

Incentives
I may currently be short on money for a website upgrade, but what I do not lack is Wheel of Time and other memorabilia.

$5: At this level and above, you'll receive a special forum badge for your Dragonmount.com account. 

$30: At this level, you'll receive the forum badge, as well as a $5 gift certificate to Dragonmount's online DRM-free eBook store after we've launched the new website.  

$200: At this level, you'll get the forum badge, a $20 gift certificate to our new ebook store, and receive a signed copy of Mystic, as well as a digital beta copy of the forthcoming sequel Mystic Dragon. (Limit 3. [ALL GONE NOW, sorry!] Estimated delivery for the digital beta file: summer 2017)

$300: At this level, you'll receive the forum badge, a $30 gift certificate to our new ebook store, a digital beta copy of Mystic Dragon, and a Wheel of Time novel from my personal collection that was signed by Robert Jordan. The specific WoT book you receive will be based on what I have available. (Limit 2. [ALL GONE NOW, sorry!] Estimated delivery for the digital beta file: summer 2017)

Thank you
Words cannot describe my gratitude for your assistance and consideration. Once I'm back on my feet financially, I will gladly resume full responsibility for the website, as I always have. I also anticipate that with a cleaner, better website, our traffic will pick up and the site will become more self-sufficient.
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Donations 

  • Andy Holderny
    • $10 
    • 7 yrs
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Organiser

Jason Denzel
Organiser
Elk Grove, CA

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