Scarred Lands Question
- Thread starter helium3
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Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
*thanks Two wolves and Thornir for the help*
Voady,
You're close about the reason for no magic item prices, but honestly it was because someone in the development department (IMO), didn't read the rules for creating magic items that closely.
That coupled with what Two mentioned (the Divine War using a lot of the magical resources), tended to make it so that magic items weren't just "dime store candy."
VictorC and Flynn,
This is something I've been working on, in my own time, to help Scarred Lands fans with the various "conundrums" that have been present due to the following: bad layouts, some misses in editing, various out of game thinking that should have been a tad better thought out, and of course, some peoples (including the people doing the submitting) rules mis understanding and/or inaccuracies that have led to some rather...unique things occurring.
My goal is to indeed have this in some electronic format. (If only cause I don't have any means of large scale printing). I don't plan on selling it as I'm not looking to make a profit, nor do I have to worry about paying people. (I'm doing this without art folks. Sorry but I can't afford to pay the people I want, especially since I don't have the money do so.) Is this a professional thing? In terms of me doing in a professional manner, yes. I also believe it to be as much an "official" thing as the Dragonlance Nexus or the Kargatane. However unlike those sites, it's just me. So in that sense it's just 'my' interpretations but with community insight/support and also the occasional "thanks to "insert name"" deals.
I also want to state this: as I've been/am a SL NPC, I consider the Scarred Lands my own "personal" homebrew. I just happen to share it with you guys.
Thus this is kind of a "homebrew" but with an eye for detail, trying to get it to be as professional as possible.
I'm looking at releasing it in late 2009/2010. (I have A LOT of material to cover folks. So it plans on being a VERY large endevour.) Now how I will do that and if I can depends also on WW, but I'm less concerned about them stopping me in some ways other than they might try to shut off my internet access. (Well that or ninjas...) But I do hope to ask them for permission so that, perhaps, as people read it and want more of it, I can do a more professional looking electronic format version. (Like say, a world map!)
Voady,
You're close about the reason for no magic item prices, but honestly it was because someone in the development department (IMO), didn't read the rules for creating magic items that closely.
That coupled with what Two mentioned (the Divine War using a lot of the magical resources), tended to make it so that magic items weren't just "dime store candy."
VictorC and Flynn,
This is something I've been working on, in my own time, to help Scarred Lands fans with the various "conundrums" that have been present due to the following: bad layouts, some misses in editing, various out of game thinking that should have been a tad better thought out, and of course, some peoples (including the people doing the submitting) rules mis understanding and/or inaccuracies that have led to some rather...unique things occurring.
My goal is to indeed have this in some electronic format. (If only cause I don't have any means of large scale printing). I don't plan on selling it as I'm not looking to make a profit, nor do I have to worry about paying people. (I'm doing this without art folks. Sorry but I can't afford to pay the people I want, especially since I don't have the money do so.) Is this a professional thing? In terms of me doing in a professional manner, yes. I also believe it to be as much an "official" thing as the Dragonlance Nexus or the Kargatane. However unlike those sites, it's just me. So in that sense it's just 'my' interpretations but with community insight/support and also the occasional "thanks to "insert name"" deals.
I also want to state this: as I've been/am a SL NPC, I consider the Scarred Lands my own "personal" homebrew. I just happen to share it with you guys.
Thus this is kind of a "homebrew" but with an eye for detail, trying to get it to be as professional as possible.I'm looking at releasing it in late 2009/2010. (I have A LOT of material to cover folks. So it plans on being a VERY large endevour.) Now how I will do that and if I can depends also on WW, but I'm less concerned about them stopping me in some ways other than they might try to shut off my internet access. (Well that or ninjas...) But I do hope to ask them for permission so that, perhaps, as people read it and want more of it, I can do a more professional looking electronic format version. (Like say, a world map!)
Thornir Alekeg
Albatross!
And here I thought you had won the lottery and managed to buy the rights to the setting from WW. Here's hoping they don't send the ninjas after you and that this labor of love will be able to be enjoyed by many.
I don't have much skill in areas of game design and balance and all that, so I don't think I could offer too much insight into improvements, but I have some background in editing and proofreading that I'm sure could be put to use if you need it at some point.
I don't have much skill in areas of game design and balance and all that, so I don't think I could offer too much insight into improvements, but I have some background in editing and proofreading that I'm sure could be put to use if you need it at some point.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Thornir,
Sadly no. I had contacted them about a year or two after Ari Marmell announced WW wasn't going to continue the line. However they wanted a complete story bible and other examples before they'd sign it over to me.
That said, I'm hopeful with the changes WW is going through, they'll not notice me that much online. (Hell it's not like they come around their own websites that much. I doubt En World rates anything either to them.)
I'll keep you in mind if I need additional editing.
Sadly no. I had contacted them about a year or two after Ari Marmell announced WW wasn't going to continue the line. However they wanted a complete story bible and other examples before they'd sign it over to me.
That said, I'm hopeful with the changes WW is going through, they'll not notice me that much online. (Hell it's not like they come around their own websites that much. I doubt En World rates anything either to them.)
I'll keep you in mind if I need additional editing.
Mouseferatu
Hero
Nightfall said:
Very, very bad idea, NF. We're talking about a major company, with a major legal department.
I'd strongly suggest you get permission first. Otherwise, you're going to put in years'-worth of work, have it up for a few weeks, and promptly receive a "cease and desist" order.
It's not about whether you're trying to make a profit, it's not about how good a job you do. It's about legal protection of Intellectual Property. If you want to do a Scarred Lands fan site, hey, great. Lots of fan sites out there, for lots of settings. But trying to put together a new "Campaign Setting," even if it's free, even if doesn't claim to be official, is asking for trouble in a big way.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Ari,
*sighs* Fine. But at this point I'm not sure I want to deal with them. That said, I'll keep what you said in mind for the fact I got a future investment to protect. I just hope they appreciate the fact I'm not out there to make a profit.
*grumbles if they cared so much about intellectual property they'd treat it better, especially with the way d20 is going...*
*sighs* Fine. But at this point I'm not sure I want to deal with them. That said, I'll keep what you said in mind for the fact I got a future investment to protect. I just hope they appreciate the fact I'm not out there to make a profit.
*grumbles if they cared so much about intellectual property they'd treat it better, especially with the way d20 is going...*
Mouseferatu
Hero
Nightfall said:
That's exactly the point. They're holding onto it in hopes that, at some point in the future, the maket will be able to support it again. It's in their best interests not to let someone else play in that sandbox, until/unless there's no more chance of it ever being profitable again.
And don't forget, you're not just dealing with the company that created Scarred Lands. WW merged with CCP, remember? So now you're dealing with a company accustomed to handling online/electronic IP, which is even more valuable.
If you don't want to deal with them, that's up to you. But I would bet hard currency, right now, that if you did this without permission, they would eventually order you to take it down.
You might be better off just building a traditional fan site, with a section that suggests your own interpretation of how to solve the various problems you see in the setting. It is, as I said, a lot safer than trying to market (even for free) a product claiming to be an update of the setting.
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