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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mynex" data-source="post: 1232680" data-attributes="member: 2136">Some things to consider (Long post)1) PCGen wouldn't be around to argue about if not for Bryan and Jonas who started the SF project.2) The 3 of us that own CMP have worked for a very long time on PCGen, we know how it works and how to specify exactly what's needed to support something.     a) Any feature request we make are geared to enhance the entire project of PCGen, not just for CMP.  The more features CMP needs, the more of those that get added into PCGen, the more functionality PCGen has.            i) Given that line of thought - it seems almost stupid for CMP to make feature requests to support data sets we sell, why should we if the users can enter their own with the enhanced functionality?  So why would we then?  Our service is that, a service, a time saver for the users, nothing more.3) If Joe Publishers comes in and say "I want my book 'Y of Z' put into PCGen, that doesn't indicate any possible data creation issues - If CMP puts in a feature request for something, it's going to be spefic enough for the data folk to work from immediately instead of getting started and then having to stop and wait for a code request.4) CMP requests have not taken any resources away from PCGen development.  In fact, the code, the docs, and the output sheets have been developed at an impressive rate while data has stagnated over concerns of 'data creation theft' by CMP... which leads me to point 5.5) CMP uses _NOTHING_ from free volunteer work.  EVERTHING is done from the ground up, game mode, bio settings, kits, classes, etc... This point has been made repetedly and often, yet no one seems to want to believe it.  *shrug*  Not my problem if you don't believe it.       1) It is the PCGen communities problem that it's not believed.            i) Why theirs?  Because no new sources get into PCGen for them to use.     2) It is the publishers problem that it's not believed.          i) Their material isn't added to PCGen for the users to experiment with and possibly go buy.6) It's been stated that CMP and PCGen are at cross odds because we both produce data sets, one for free and one for pay.  It's been said that because some of the sets we have on pre-order are OGC only that that something fishy is going on here.     1) Yes there are some agreements we have with publishers that cover OGC only products.  Why?  Because with an agreement we can do additonal things with that OGC material that PCGen can't.  Like Help files with the book contents.  Like tying the material in PCGen's GUI to said help files for quick lookup on something.  Because of said agreements, we can (in some cases) include portrait art for people to select in their character descriptions.There are a lot of reasons why PCGen and CMP can do the same sets, none that I can see (and please correct me if I am wrong) that they can not.7) The Board of Directors of PCGen tried to steal a data monkeys work!  *sigh* This is a long one to go over, so I'll try to summarize;  AEG has specific items that are IP of WotC, used with WotC's permission.  Since hese items belong to WotC, WotC can decide what is allowable with them.  It was determined that either the publisher or CMP could host them, since both had permission to.  Since the items were not OGC they could not be released in the PCGen official releases.  Conversations ensued, lack of communication happened, and the BoD demanded that the (at the time) Data Team Lead turn over said files to the BoD so we could get them hosted on CMP in the free file section to get them out to people.  The basic confusion came down to 1 conversation at GenCon that said AEG would host em, another that said they wouldn't, and yet more communication behind the Boards back that came back to yes they would.  This last communication was _never_ told to the BoD, so there was no way to verify, we had no knowledge of, so could do nothing about.  The other issue was the data monkey that had worked on the files.  the (at the time) Data Team Lead made claim that the data monkey  that worked the files did not wish them release on CMP's site.  There was a level of mistrust of the (at the time) Data Team Lead that could not be surmounted, the data monkey could not be reached (And how we tried), and another Board member that had been there for the conversation with the data monkey didn't think to pipe up that he'd heard this (he had also missed several meetings where this came up, real life duties and all that).So the Board demanded that the (at the time) Data Team Lead turn over the files, that we'd post them to the CMP site so people could get to themand we would continue building new versions of the sets.  If at any time the original data monkey popped back up and let his wishes be known, we would honor those wishes.The reason that came to a head was the publisher asking frequently when the files would be released and the fact we couldn't get a hold of the original data monkey for nearly 4 months (Real life got him as well).There's a lot more, but my fingers are tired.  If people want to know more, I'd recommend wading through the posts on the main Y! PCGen boards... Or ask specific questions and I will attempt to answer them.</blockquote>

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