Banned for mentioning CBLoader...

[Piratecat]

Let's put some things in perspective. A 24 hour suspension isn't a ban. A ban is "holy crap, they've shut down my user name, I'm not welcome back." Speaking as an admin here, a 24 hour suspension is how they say "hey, you've broken the site rules, this is a reminder so you please don't do it again." I'd really caution you against taking it personally or getting offended. Just take it as it is intended - a warning - and post accordingly.

But guys, ratchet down the hostility. Explaining the situation is one thing; being a jerk to the original poster is another.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Honestly, after LOOKING at CBLoader I think the complaints against it are harsh. It doesn't steal or copy data etc. All it does is let you MANUALLY edit the XML and extract parts of it into a separate file that you can maintain or add home brew stuff, then it merges your homebrew/modifications into the actual file that CB loads. That way when they update the file your changes don't get nuked. You can do exactly the same stuff without CBLoader, you'd just need some professional quality XML editing tools (you'd probably want these ANYWAY) and a knowledge of XSLT.

Of course WotC can make whatever rules they want for their forum, so in that sense the OP has little complain about. They don't like CBLoader, so you can't talk about it there. AFAICT without having actually run it though the thing is harmless and probably kind of handy.

 

[RangerWickett]

Hi guys, let me come onto your forum and tell people about ways of violating your IP. I totally expect that they are going to be totally fine with that and not in any way ban me for doing so.

Edit: Like I imagine if someone came onto ENWorld and said "Google X" to pick up stuff that ENWorld gives to community supporters (like their adventures and such) they would be similarly unimpressed.

To be fair, it is pretty easy to google "War of the Burning Sky torrent." Then again, one of the NPCs in the campaign is named Torrent, so that might give really amateur pirates a hard time. Maybe I should name the PCs' boss in the next campaign Download McPirateBay.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

To be fair, it is pretty easy to google "War of the Burning Sky torrent." Then again, one of the NPCs in the campaign is named Torrent, so that might give really amateur pirates a hard time. Maybe I should name the PCs' boss in the next campaign Download McPirateBay.

Sure, but AFAICT without actually running the program it is equivalent to someone putting out a program that can edit the WotBS PDF so people can customize it for their own use. Sure, the people doing that might have stolen the PDF to start with, but they are just as likely to be legitimate users. CBLoader doesn't make it ANY easier to steal the data files for CB. Beyond that anyone that stole the CB program itself will have gotten working versions of the files with it (at whatever update level they happened to be at). If you look at the thread on Google Code there's no mention of piracy etc. Just a few people asking about how they might go about getting their custom content to work.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sure, but AFAICT without actually running the program it is equivalent to someone putting out a program that can edit the WotBS PDF so people can customize it for their own use.

There are all kinds of ways one can modify Colt firearms, but that doesn't mean Colt will just let you post threads on their boards about those modifications. Its well within the realm of possibility that they would boot you, at least for a short time.

Not being a Colt owner, I couldn't tell you if they do or don't, but its within their rights, so you shouldn't be surprised if it did happen.

And the same goes for WotC.

 

[catastrophic]

It's not constructive at all to post about something like that on the Wotc forums, and i'm saying this as somebody who usually doesn't give a rat's ass about bans and probations. Lokiare, if you like CBloader and want people to have that option, then waving a red flag over it on the official forums is not a good way to go about that. As for being sick of D&D, what do the wotc forum mods have to do with your home game, or the games your friends play? Don't link forum policy to your enjoyment of the game, or evne the comunity, that's just going to ruin fun for you and stir you up.

 

[SoulsFury]

I must say that I am ashamed of this thread and almost every response in it. PirateCat hit the nail on the head. The OP is complaining he got a ban, but in fact he didn't and is definitely a bit, umm, over angry about it.

In the OPs somewhat defense, because IMO, he shouldn't have posted that, the cbloader isn't that big of a deal. I had not heard anything about it, and after five minutes of reading through the google, it isn't something I feel like using. But, like someone said above, the cbloader isn't anything terrible. I have often been frustrated with the cb that I can't create the homebrew stuff I would like. At least most of the users of cbloader downloaded the cb legally. The ones that are going to use it illegally, like rangerwickett alluded too, are going to do that anyway. The cb should allow me to introduce any number of homebrew elements I want. Isn't that what D&D is about?

Basically:
Is the WotC 24 hour ban justified? Yes, the OP should have used common sense.

Is some of your responses justified? No. Some (read: most) are coming off like pompous jerks.

Is the OPs anger justified? No, its only 24 hours. Grab a beer, enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and get on tomorrow... actually, maybe we should all think about our D&D addiction since we are on here on turkey day

Is the old downloadable Character Builder restrictive? Yes.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

To be fair, it is pretty easy to google "War of the Burning Sky torrent." Then again, one of the NPCs in the campaign is named Torrent, so that might give really amateur pirates a hard time. Maybe I should name the PCs' boss in the next campaign Download McPirateBay.

Hmm... That might not be a dumb move.

 

[Ryujin]

You pointed to how people could violate the EULA, on their own board, and got a 24 Hr. hiatus? Seems pretty reasonable to me.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

There are all kinds of ways one can modify Colt firearms, but that doesn't mean Colt will just let you post threads on their boards about those modifications. Its well within the realm of possibility that they would boot you, at least for a short time.

Not being a Colt owner, I couldn't tell you if they do or don't, but its within their rights, so you shouldn't be surprised if it did happen.

And the same goes for WotC.

Never said otherwise. I was only commenting on, or maybe it is informing people here, that CBLoader itself seems innocuous so it isn't necessary to come down on the OP about it.

Yep, WotC can have whatever rules it wants on its forums. I don't have a single thing to say about that, nor even feel the need to voice an opinion about what they do or don't want up there. Pretty much the same with ENWorld for that matter. If I didn't like it I'd just put up my own boards and make my own rules. So yeah, the OP complaining about his 'ban'? Not hearing any particular sympathy on that from me.