Re: [dq-rules] Having recently been flamed...

[Todd Schreiber <todd.schreiber@platinumcrown.com>]

I converted 85% of the entire DQ 2nd edition with pictures into MS Word
format and gave it to the DQ community.  I have a website up that has some
rules and other crap that anyone is free to use.  I personally feel I have
done quite a bit for a game I don't even play, though wish I had the time
and the individuals to play with.  This game survives because I am not
nearly alone in doing things like this.  Some people want credit, others
don't.  I say create the stuff, give credit when you can, and if not, put
the material out there anyone.  The odds that you will face a copyright law
suit from using the material of fellow gamers are astronomically low.


----- Original Message -----
From: "jcorey30" <jcorey30@yahoo.com>
To: <dq-rules@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 1:34 PM
Subject: [dq-rules] Having recently been flamed...


> It got me thinking...
> I was flamed on another board (and perhaps rightly so, I am not sure
> yet.  I did not care for how it was done, but I am not sure I can say
> the person was wrong) and I had a thought.
>
> This community (DragonQuest) is very protective of private material.
> Now obviously, people don't want their hard work stolen, and credit
> taken for their work.  But I would remind everyone that it is a game,
> and one long out of print at that.
>
> Here are a few examples:
> About two years ago, I announced that I was trying to put together a
> compendium of rules.  I contacted several people, and asked if I
> could use their stuff.  The response was generally good.  Most people
> said yes.  Though many that said yes wanted to make sure they
> received proper credit.  I asked if a simple inclusion on the cover
> page was adequate, many hedged, and asked that they be included next
> to the items they included.  To sum up, the thought of keeping track
> of who sent all the things I had accumulated over the years was
> daunting. A lot of the stuff was gained from opinion posts... do I
> include all of those?  and who posted them?
>
> Sea Gate asked that a copy of the rules they had converted to
> electronic format be removed from this site.  (not the rules they had
> CREATED mind you.  just converted to electronic format with some
> house rule mods)
>
> What if someone whose material I had included made the same request?
> A lot of work for nothing.
>
> (for those of you wondering, my tech writer friend bailed, real life
> has intervened, and all of the above reasons have prevented me from
> completing the compendium)
>
> I have seen more than one flame war about stolen material over at the
> townhall.
>
> Now here is what I am NOT trying to do here:
> - Start a flame war
> - Suggest that anyone who wants to protect copyrighted material is in
> some way not being friendly, or not within his or her rights, or a
> valuable part of the community.
>
> Here is what I am trying to suggest:
>
> This is not the strongest online community... and it could be!
> Perhaps if we were all a little more communitarian, the game would
> benefit.  When I conceived a compendium (before I realized what I was
> getting into), I thought "wouldn't it be great to have something like
> this, for everyone to share".  I am not saying I am better than
> anyone, who choses otherwise (let me reiterate that as many times as
> needed).  But if we were more interested in the community, and less
> interested in ourselves, we might get far.  Perhaps I am wrong.  Call
> me a commie (or a hypocrite) if you like :-P
>
> Anyone else want to ring in on this one?  am I way off base?
>
> PS many people DO put the community very high on their list, and DO
> work their ass off for it, Rodger Thorm, Snarafu, John K and others I
> am forgetting... don't get me wrong.
>
>
>
>
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