GSL questions for Scott Rouse and Mike Lescault

[BryonD]

So I am being a jerk when I point out that the "past" was more than a decade ago

If that was all you had done the answer would be no.

We are still talking about something that DID happen. So it isn't simply paranoid to be concerned that history could repeat itself. Is it at all likely? I personally don't think so. But thinking it may be is well more justified than calling that thought paranoid.

perpetrated by a management team long gone

Again, I agree. It isn't going to happen. But, then again, this same point applies to the pro-OGL side also.

 

[AZRogue]

Dang AZ, I think this is the strongest negativity I've heard you towards WotC/4E.

As to Orcus' whereabouts, I offer the following logical speculations to help calm nerves:

-He's busy. He is a lawyer after all. I don't know alot of lawyers with alot of free time. And he has commented in the recent past that he was trying to quickly post during his lunch.

-He's secretly discussing with Wizards about some kind of license (GSL or private). If that were the case, it would not be prudent for him to discuss much publicly regarding licenses. Who knows, maybe Wizards is discussing with Orcus to have him draft the GSL. I mean, who is better to write Legal licenses then a demon lord.

-He's interviewing for the open Sr Lawyer position (or whatever it was) at WotC that we hard about recently. Making public comments would not be prudent here either.

Just some thoughts. I hope this helps to calm fears.

Yeah, I know. The game, 4E, still excites me but the GSL situation just really annoys the hell out of me. I think it's because they gave a date, then couldn't keep that date, then said "soon", then gave us silence, then said they were now "vetting their policy", and now have gone back to silence. No updates, no reassurances, no new timetable, no new "strategy", no new anything.

If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you can't for some reason, apologize. Going all silent with your fanbase insults me, even if it probably is the best they can do at this point. Sometimes I just can't resist coming in and making sure they hold no illusions on how disgruntled the "corporate silence" is making me, that's all.

 

[Vigilance]

If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you can't for some reason, apologize. Going all silent with your fanbase insults me, even if it probably is the best they can do at this point.

Well, to be fair, while the delays are frustrating, it's not like they never apologized or made a statement on the delay.

By my count they have:

Apologized for the delay (which sent people into a tizzy).

Made a clarification comment (which sent people into a tizzy).

THEN went silent (which sent people into a tizzy).

So really, I don't blame them for the silence at this point, since we (as a group) seem to snap freak no matter what.

 

[2WS-Steve]

Made a clarification comment (which sent people into a tizzy).

THEN went silent (which sent people into a tizzy).

I don't think that's really an excuse.

If the only news you've got is bad news then, yes, when you tell people the bad news they're going to get upset. And, yes, if you duck the question because you don't want people to get upset at your bad news, they're still going to be upset.

An airline doesn't get let off the hook for delaying the flight simply because after hemming and hawing for 40 minutes they finally admit the truth.

And when they finally do tell people the bad news the people will be justified in being upset that the news is bad -- that's why it's called bad news and not called good news.

 

[Vigilance]

I don't think that's really an excuse.

If the only news you've got is bad news then, yes, when you tell people the bad news they're going to get upset. And, yes, if you duck the question because you don't want people to get upset at your bad news, they're still going to be upset.

An airline doesn't get let off the hook for delaying the flight simply because after hemming and hawing for 40 minutes they finally admit the truth.

And when they finally do tell people the bad news the people will be justified in being upset that the news is bad -- that's why it's called bad news and not called good news.

Right, but there IS no new news.

So they could either repeat the bad news, or wait until something changes.

Once you say a flight is being delayed indefinitely, I don't think you owe people weekly updates that in fact, it is still delayed.

They have said it will be delayed an indefinite period while they sort things out.

Really, what else is there to say after that?

 

[BryonD]

So really, I don't blame them for the silence at this point, since we (as a group) seem to snap freak no matter what.

I'd say that is a rather strongly slanted assessment. Everything that has caused a "tizzy" could have been handled in a better manner that would have either avoided or significantly reduced the response. Unless the supposed reasons for the way they choose to present things are correct, in which case they have done the best they could, but the tizzies turn out to be justified.

 

[Vigilance]

I'd say that is a rather strongly slanted assessment. Everything that has caused a "tizzy" could have been handled in a better manner that would have either avoided or significantly reduced the response. Unless the supposed reasons for the way they choose to present things are correct, in which case they have done the best they could, but the tizzies turn out to be justified.

I disagree.

As Steve points out above, they were delivering bad news, with no definite date on when they would have GOOD news.

This isn't something people want to hear. But at this point, we're in a holding pattern until something new develops, hence the silence.

I suppose they could come out and say "nothing has changed", but since they apparently can't say much more, what effect would that have?

I mean, what positive effect.

It might stir up another round of us being upset at the continuing delay, and asking the poster a lot of questions he or she can't answer, but what else would "nothing has changed" possibly do that was constructive at this point.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Well, to be fair, while the delays are frustrating, it's not like they never apologized or made a statement on the delay.

By my count they have:

Apologized for the delay (which sent people into a tizzy).

Made a clarification comment (which sent people into a tizzy).

THEN went silent (which sent people into a tizzy).

So really, I don't blame them for the silence at this point, since we (as a group) seem to snap freak no matter what.

Also in fairness, Liddy has done an EXCELLENT job of talking to people without spinning the whole comminity mad. Also, Rodney has posted a number of times on Paizo's 4E forums and no matter how negative the atmosphere was over there, things were just much nicer and calmer when he was around.

 

[AZRogue]

Also in fairness, Liddy has done an EXCELLENT job of talking to people without spinning the whole comminity mad. Also, Rodney has posted a number of times on Paizo's 4E forums and no matter how negative the atmosphere was over there, things were just much nicer and calmer when he was around.

Yes, I hold no ill will whatsoever towards the various designers, developers, and managers over there. They all seem like great people who are, I'm sure, in a bad situation. They're awesome and I have nothing but respect for Liddy, Rodney, Mearls, The Rouse, Chris Simms, and the rest. I've deleted several rant-like posts over the last few weeks just because I didn't want any of those guys to think that any malice was directed at them. I like it when they post so would not do anything to discourage them from feeling comfortable posting.

I do, however, have endless snap and snark on hand for the company, WotC, itself for the way things have been handled so far. There's no transparency right now so we don't know WHAT this latest long silence is all about. I don't know what it means, but I know that it FEELS like WotC, as a company, couldn't care less what we think and doesn't feel like it's worth its time to keep us informed and reassured. :\

 

[lurkinglidda]

I suppose they could come out and say "nothing has changed", but since they apparently can't say much more, what effect would that have?

I mean, what positive effect.

It might stir up another round of us being upset at the continuing delay, and asking the poster a lot of questions he or she can't answer, but what else would "nothing has changed" possibly do that was constructive at this point.

What you said!

Plus, it seems like my posts are usually thread-enders. It's in my best interest to watch the debates (both pro- and anti-WotC) so I can keep a pulse on the community. I don't want to be the cause for a discussion to cease.

A thousand apologies for not having additional information about the license. When I do have something to share I will.