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Could we have a "content requests" or "commissions" section to the RW forums?

M

MNBlockHead

Well-known member
Could we have a "content requests" or "commissions" section to the RW forums?

Early morning, coffee not yet kicked in, thought...

It would be nice to have a section under RealmWorks where users could make requests for content. An example where this works well is the Cartographer's Guild "Mapmaking Requests" section on their forum. I've used that forum to commission maps for my campaign.

While I am interested in seeing what the RW marketplace will offer, it doesn't excite me much because it is rare that an adventure module fits well into my campaign setting. Add to that IP constraints and I find that it is often easier and more satisfying to commission content or to work out content-sharing deals with other DMs.

I suppose one could just post a thread making such a request in the general discussions, but if all such requests were put into on forum it would make it easier for content requesters and content creators to connect.

What is cool about this idea from RW's perspective, I think, is that it could turn RW in a kind of Guru.com/Elancer.com for gaming content. But, rather than having to create a whole new system for monetizing this, RW makes its money by selling licenses and cloud subscriptions rather than attempting to take a cut on every transaction.

Content consumers like myself would like this, because I can easily share my realm with a content creator who will develop content within RW minimizing the effort on my part. Also, I have a much more focused group of freelancers than I would using, say, Guru.com. Content creators should like it because they should make out better buying a RW license and subscription and arranging payment via (e.g.) PayPal than paying a percentage cut to Guru.com.

For content creators that are already using the marketplace to sell canned adventure modules, they could also offer service to customize their modules to other game systems or make other tweaks and customizations, within RW for a negotiated hourly/flat fee.

I think that this is one compelling use of RW that hasn't really been exploited yet by users or advertised by the developers.

Of course, as the coffee kicks in, I am reminded how cheap many of us tabletop RPG folk are. We like us some free content and tend not to appreciate that effort that goes into great adventure modules. Yet, enough people must be buying content to keep sites like DriveThrough RPG running. In the fall last year, I spent more money than was probably financially healthy on craploads of content and even more time gathering free content, hoping to speed up my campaign creation. Very little of it could be used without significant tweaking on my part. If I would have spent the same amount of money working with one good freelancer, I would have been further along, I think.

Just an early morning thought.
 
Its a good thought.. and can see this as a "migratory" to the market place under "freebies" as another thread had hoped for, especially if there were IP concerns.

Now commission based, will certainly have to be approached differently.

But I like the possibilities of the concept... maybe a lack of coffee is a good thing??? ....... naaaaaa:D
 
Lack of coffee is only good insofar as the anticipation of coffee enhances enjoyment of the first sip of said coffee. Speaking of which . . .
 
I feel I need to point something out.

What you're asking for is pretty much the POINT of the Marketplace. It isn't limited to companies; anyone can self-publish material and distribute it as they wish.. within the bounds of Intellectual Property laws.
 
The difference is that the sites MNBlockHead is talking about let people request things (effectively posting open job reqs for freelancers), which doesn't appear to be a proposed feature of the Content Market.
 
I understand that.. and I am mostly replying to the part where MNBlockhead says he's not all that excited about the Marketplace because he doesn't expect anything there to be what he needs. It reads like he's dismissing the Marketplace and seeking an alternative.. but that alternative actually needs the Marketplace first.

That's where I see the disconnect.
 
If a forum is good enough a place to make the request (as suggested by the OP with other stuff) then all that is needed technically is the ability to import and export. The creator exports the realm, mails the files to the requester who imports it. You don't actually need some fancy 'RW marketplace'.

I believe the survey had some questions about import/export.
 
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However, from the survey and to me at least, it seems that the Marketplace is a much higher priority for LWD then import/export. I have a feeling there are other things also considered more important then import/export like custom calendars for example.
 
Silveras said:
I understand that.. and I am mostly replying to the part where MNBlockhead says he's not all that excited about the Marketplace because he doesn't expect anything there to be what he needs. It reads like he's dismissing the Marketplace and seeking an alternative.. but that alternative actually needs the Marketplace first.
That's where I see the disconnect.
Click to expand...

Sorry if it read as if I was dismissing the marketplace. I'm not and am looking forward to what it offers. I've been spending far too much money at sites like Drive Through RPG, so I know I will use it.

What is missing from such sites, though, is that it is just me searching, selecting, and buying a product. I would be interested in a way to buy services. That could include reaching out to a developer who has a great pathfinder adventure and ask how much s/he would charge to convert to D&D 5th ed., commissioning completely original content, or (most likely for me) asking GMs if they have any material like X and if they would be willing to share with me and maybe tweak it a bit for an agreed-upon sum.

I'm not sure that the marketplace will facilitate this. If it will, that would be great. Also, there is nothing, I suppose, preventing someone from posting a request to the RealmWorks discussion forum right now, I just thought it would be nice to have a "Content Request" section to the forums or something like that.
 
It's not a bad idea, but in the end, I think it will end up going through the marketplace. If for example I create a world or setting with a complete campaign using the Pathfinder rules and you decide you like it but want stat blocks for a different game system, maybe those stat blocks could be added to it with some kind of relationship link or game system notes. Notes could also be added to change certain monster for another monster based on the game system, just in case the original monster isn't available in the proposed game system
 
One thing that is an issue no one has brought up, and that's the trading of IPs here.

Asking me say to build a new campaign world with races and everything my own imagination is one thing, but asking for say "Iron Gods" AP from Paizo in RW is illegal. Even if you and I both own it.

Offline however If I put Iron Gods into RW and was pretty damn sure you owned it, I would consider giving it to you. But that can't be done via the market place, even if we both own it, it is illegal, not that Paizo could ever sue us, but they could however end the relationship with LWD over it. That's bad news.

LWD has to stay on the straight and narrow, it has a lot to lose as their livelihood is based on license and protection of others IP. Even on the forums they have to be careful.

Players who own the APs can easily trade them, and really no one will say much, if you have both paid for it, and each took the time to put it in RW and trade it with another who owns the AP its no treally a big deal. but it can't facilitated thru the marketplace.
 
Shouldn't be an issue if you are commissioning original content or tweaks from the creators/IP holders. But yes, I could see how it would raise issues if someone had WoTC or other TP adventure material in paper format and wanted to pay someone to enter into RW for them. What I'm looking for is the former--commissioning original content.
 
I am not a lawyer, but from the many discussions I've read on copyright in regards to RPG's, it seems that Names that were made up for a particular RPG world or campaign that don't have any basis in history are what is copyrightable. So, you can't use Elminster or Drizzit, but you can use Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Merlin, and Hercules... not sure about Halfling or Hobbit. Also, you can't copyright game mechanics although you might be able to copyright a stat name if it isn't already in use in the real world.
 
Viking2054 said:
I am not a lawyer, but from the many discussions I've read on copyright in regards to RPG's, it seems that Names that were made up for a particular RPG world or campaign that don't have any basis in history are what is copyrightable. So, you can't use Elminster or Drizzit, but you can use Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Merlin, and Hercules... not sure about Halfling or Hobbit. Also, you can't copyright game mechanics although you might be able to copyright a stat name if it isn't already in use in the real world.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much my understanding, too.

However.. while you cannot copyright game mechanics, the specific combination of them that makes up a character for a game system, and the specific format of any stat-blocks, are both Intellectual Property that can be protected.

Even then, agreeing to a specific license (such as the OGL) may indicate you accept additional specific limitations other than copyright; the license is a contract allows use of some otherwise-protected elements, but it also means some things that are not copyrighted are protected under the terms of the license.

Paizo is a good example of the difference. Close to all mechanics are open content under the OGL, but all story-elements (Names of characters, places, or things, and plots ) are protected content.
 
Silveras said:
However.. while you cannot copyright game mechanics, the specific combination of them that makes up a character for a game system, and the specific format of any stat-blocks, are both Intellectual Property that can be protected.
.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that. Several game systems use Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma as well as a list of skills in their character descriptions. There may be minor differences, but if any of it was copyrightable, then the only ones that would be able to use it would most likely be Wizards of the Coast for D&D. As far as stat blocks go, it's usually plain text with not much formatting thrown up in a specific order and I'm not sure the order of common words and numbers can be copyrighted.

Anyway, I've never seen an argument over a stat block unless it contained a unique name that could be copyrighted. Change the name to something generic and the rest of the stat block should be good to go as far as I know. My understanding is that the name is what companies send out cease and desist orders over and not the stat block.
 
Here is a hypothetical question. I could see a lot desire for data entry. Could someone legally get paid for their time? Say person A buys Buys Iron Gods from Paizo in PDF. Sends it to person B as proof of ownership. Person B does the data entry into RW, and returns the PDF and Realm. Could he be compensated for his time?
 
tough question. I would suppose that if they came to your house, and worked on your machine logged in under your account that they could do the data entry for you. Where it becomes questionable is when they do it on their computer logged in under their account and then try to transfer it to you. Who's to stop them from reselling it to others that may not have the module.
 
Viking2054 said:
tough question. I would suppose that if they came to your house, and worked on your machine logged in under your account that they could do the data entry for you. Where it becomes questionable is when they do it on their computer logged in under their account and then try to transfer it to you. Who's to stop them from reselling it to others that may not have the module.
Click to expand...


Thats true. How dose that work now when I download a PDF of an AP from Piazo. I assume that if my watermarked copy ever appeared on the web paizo would contact me about it.
 
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