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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnRTroy" data-source="post: 5176014" data-attributes="member: 2732">I can understand that frustration.  I didn't say nobody shouldn't be disappointed about the situation.  Gail herself understands this.  Then again, regarding the CZ project--nobody expected Gary to get a health issue, Kuntz to leave, Jeff to be recruited and brought up to speed, and various other snafus.  There were decisions made I didn't agree with, such as "expanding" Yggsburgh because it was taking too long to get things into print.  And I can understand how the lack of communication can be disturbing.  I'm more concerned with HOW people behaved.  There are people who are disappointed, yet have been able to behave in a calm, resigned manner.  Grogdog, for instance, has been very respectful with his inquires.  But for every one like him, there are people who crossed the line, stuff like Michael Falconer's meme-like thread "Gygax Games a Total Failure", people accusing Spenser Wright of being the "devil behind the scenes" or "the Blume Bros. in disguise", people calling me a "Sock Puppet" (say what, I've been active on the Internet for at least a decade, I'm not some fake person), people saying Gail is "Lorraine Williams 2.0".  There was even paranoia about a poll on their web site, LA fans and C&C fans both got upset when some poll was made to vote on what system they wanted for CZ.I suspect even if they were pleading with Gygax Games for information, the rudeness and disrespect had the opposite effect.  Regardless of how people feel about the material, the simple fact is Gail still lost her husband of 25 years.  I wouldn't blame her at all if this soured her from publishing anything.  I think we owe her at least a level of respect--anything else comes across to me as selfish and thoughtless.  FYI, that's a direct reference to the memorial project.The former is true, the latter is not necessarily the case.Well, that is not necessarily the case, and I am only speculating.  (I don't ask Gail for details on this when I speak to her, as I don't want to pry into her privacy).  I think the computer game possibility is possible--but unlike your statements, I think it would be more prudent to try getting the computer game done first, and use the income that comes from that investment to push the tabletop RPG, as that seems to be becoming the norm this day.  (Look at Dragon Age for an example).It might be something else entirely.  There could also be legal reasons to hold back communications.  (Maybe there's already a deal in place and a NDA was signed, and maybe somethings holding that back from a quick launch).  I think Gail knows all the drawbacks you mentioned.  It looked like LA was going to be launched last year, but something happened in the pipeline.The way to look at it is this.  Gygax Games holds property and licenses it out, just like any other big name.  They have pulled licenses.  Its similar when a license runs out on some other IP.  It goes away for a few years, then comes back.Well, first of all, regarding finances, I don't think it's any secret that Gary's works in the last decade were undercapitalized.  Gary knew that, for these works he and others who worked with him took on the efforts in the hopes that by taking more on the "back end", it would eventually work out.  But that also lead to flaws--whether delays in the publishing pipeline, or people leaving projects.  It also led to reciprocal deals, etc.  I think one reason for putting projects on hold would be Gail being uncomfortable with this arrangement.  Maybe if it's not worth doing in a typical fashion it's not worth doing at all.  I think Gail is now in the hard place of making those types of decisions, even the difficult one of analyzing if continuing a project is worth it.A patronage project would, IMO, be a method of last resort.  First of all, by doing this I'll be there was an admittance of there not being enough people interested for this to be worthwhile from more traditional methods.  Secondly, taking on a patronage project instead of a typical one leads to a situation where you take money in advance, and if things don't work out you have to refund it.  Thirdly, this is usually a slow method of publishing.  Kuntz has gone that route, and it is a very slow method of getting product out there.  I suspect what you propose could be a "plan B", but I think whatever else, we'll just have to see if the "plan A" ends up working out.</blockquote>

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