ETools Data Sets

[silvermane]

So, if you don't want to enter _all_ of spell compendium, then you do the A's. Get a friend to do the B's, someone else to do C's etc.

In most jurisdictions, people you know from the Net only are not your "friends and acquitances" for the purposes of fair use.

Also, thinking that splitting this work (as indeed any) among many people will shorten the time required is fallacious; it may actually lengthen it, as several people can't synergize as effectively, introduce their own idiosyncrasies etc.

 

[TheYeti1775]

IIRC, the RIAA doesn't have as much of a problem with people recording off of the radio because there is a loss in audio quality (i.e., you will still need to buy the song digitially to get an ideal recording). With digital copies, there is no loss of quality no matter how many times it's copied (though the source recording can still leave much to be desired).

However, you cannot legally share *any* electronic copyrighted data unless the publisher gives permission. Do people do it anyway? Sure. But it's not the lawful thing to do.

Actually with the Radio over the internet nowadays you don't lose the quality either.

 

[TheYeti1775]

In most jurisdictions, people you know from the Net only are not your "friends and acquitances" for the purposes of fair use.

Also, thinking that splitting this work (as indeed any) among many people will shorten the time required is fallacious; it may actually lengthen it, as several people can't synergize as effectively, introduce their own idiosyncrasies etc.

But then again you have to think of 'shutins', people that have no physical contact with the outside world but what is absolutly necessary to surival. Or how about that guy that has a SatLink internet connection in the Outback of Austrailia / or the Wilderness of Alaska. So having 'friends' that are internet only is does qualify.

O and for splitting the work, with the Spell Comp it could be done easily. As splitting it by ABC's, each person creates their own dataset for it. SCAs / SCBs / SCCs / etc. Just be more datasets to load, but you get the picture.

Personnally I would love the idea someone else suggested of WOTC allowing the purchase of raw data in a set format. Let the third parties scramble for the money past that. Then the only thing WOTC would be spending their money on is a datamonkey for each new release. It would be on the Third Parties (PCGen / Herolab / RPGXplorer / etc) to make their programs use that data. WOTC could sell it direct to the consumer or through several licensed groups. If they did it direct they would have to worry about the DRM of it, but licensing to the vendors of a ETool / PCGen / etc would leave them to worry about protecting the data.

Personally I would prefer WOTC selling direct to consumers and then let me buy all the CG's seperately using whatever one I prefered at the time. Cause ya know each will have their own fan base and user inputs to them.

Just my 2 coppers.

 

[schporto]

I guess I am under a misunderstanding then. I know 1 person could legally type the whole thing in. I guess 2 people sharing the work then would be illegal though as each are doing so for profit (the profit being the other halves).
My suggestion would have been through email at most, not a web site post, or any thing of that nature. Then again it turns out that is probably not true anyways.
-cpd

 

[kingpaul]

I know 1 person could legally type the whole thing in.

For your own personal use, yes, absolutely.

I guess 2 people sharing the work then would be illegal though as each are doing so for profit (the profit being the other halves).

That depends on what your sharing. If the sourcebook in question is based upon the OGL, and you are following the OGL in distributing the work to each other, than there is no problem.

 

[rowport]

...WOTC allowing the purchase of raw data in a set format. Let the third parties scramble for the money past that. Then the only thing WOTC would be spending their money on is a datamonkey for each new release. It would be on the Third Parties (PCGen / Herolab / RPGXplorer / etc) to make their programs use that data....

This is a fantastic idea. I sincerely doubt that it will happen, as WOTC would likely see the third-party tools as challenging its own new electronic initiative, but I would like to see it happen. What is great about the concept is that WOTC still controls the creation process themselves, which would (should, anyway) dramatically reduce the turnaround and approval process that used to take (many) months for CMG data sets. And, it would allow an option for D&D fans who are stuck now, with no CMG sets nor WOTC alternative product.

 

[kingpaul]

CMG sets

Ummm...CMP sets. I don't think Creative Mountain Games wants to get involved in this.

 

[TheYeti1775]

This is a fantastic idea. I sincerely doubt that it will happen, as WOTC would likely see the third-party tools as challenging its own new electronic initiative, but I would like to see it happen. What is great about the concept is that WOTC still controls the creation process themselves, which would (should, anyway) dramatically reduce the turnaround and approval process that used to take (many) months for CMG data sets. And, it would allow an option for D&D fans who are stuck now, with no CMG sets nor WOTC alternative product.

I can't take credit for that Idea. Even as good as it is. It was brought up on the WOTC boards on this thread: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738998

 

[rowport]

Ummm...CMP sets. I don't think Creative Mountain Games wants to get involved in this.

LOL Thanks, KP! I have been e-mailing with Mark recently and have CMG on the brain. Yep, I meant "CMP".

 

[rowport]

I can't take credit for that Idea. Even as good as it is. It was brought up on the WOTC boards on this thread: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738998

It really is a great idea. Thanks for the link, Yeti, I will check it out.