What to do with the PBEM archives?

A thread of 3 messages, 10 May 1991 to 13 May 1991, in the order they were sent.

#2343 What to do with the PBEM archives?

Richard Johnson · 10 May 1991

I have received numerous suggestions and requests that we consider
publishing the Mega-PBEM.  I have been thinking about this now, and
have a few ideas I'd like feedback on.

1.  Desire:
	Do we really want to put the effort into it?  Such an
	undertaking would cost those involved even more of that
	irreplaceable commodity - time.  Think about it.

2.	Format:
	We really have three good vehicles for the endeavor.
	1. We can publish a novel (actually, probably a series)

	2. We can do a campaign materials package with adventure
   	   supplements, pre-gen'd characters, deck plans, maps, etc.

    3. We can (maybe) do a computer game based on the Aclyon
	   adventures.

	So, thinking this over, we could do one, two or all three of
	these.  I personally think the first would be the most
	financially rewarding, but we have some hoops to jump through,
	and it's got the smallest chance of finding a publisher.  The
	second would be the most fun for us collectively (I think) but
	have minimal return.  The third would be the hardest to do, but
	the most fun for us individually later.

3.  Return:
	I think it's _possible_ to make money from this.  If it happens
	it won't be much.  Well, more properly don't expect much.  The
	chance of return goes down exponentially with the size of the
	return.

	I think if we do wangle a deal for whatever, we should put the
	money in escrow for either a PBEM/TML convention somewhere
	someday (if it's a lot), a subsidy for TML'ers who *need* public
	access but can't afford it, or a fund for miscellaneous things
	like disks, postage, or whatever.  Or...  My idea is that
	*really* any reward that happens to come out of a mutually fun
	project should benefit us all.


I think we have the muscle, training and talent to do all three
vehicles.  (Great from a marketing standpoint.)  I'm not sure we
have the will power.  (I doubt my own, too.)

I invite your comments.
- - --
I cannot and will not cut my conscience      //      Richard Johson
to fit this year's fashions.                //
                                        \\ //   [email removed]
			   Lillian Hellman           \X/ [email removed]

#2345 Re: 2343: What to do with the PBEM archives?

Bertil Jonell · 11 May 1991 · reply to #2343

Richard Johnson [email removed] writes:

> 2.	Format:
> 	We really have three good vehicles for the endeavor.

  General comment: A plot suitable for a PBEM might not be suitable for a
book, a plot suitable for a book might not be suitable for a module, and a plot
suitable for a module might not be suitable for a computergame.

> 	1. We can publish a novel (actually, probably a series)

  The best variation on this would probably be a book *based* upon the story,
and even that might have to cut down heavily on some areas, since a book that
had everything that everyone did would be a trifle scattered. (Unless we'd like
to do the Piers Anthony thing and publish one book for each character, with
their special POV on the events:)

  Btw, there have been loose rumours on the TML about GDW/DGPs plans for
MegaTraveller novels...

> 	2. We can do a campaign materials package with adventure
>    	   supplements, pre-gen'd characters, deck plans, maps, etc.

  Probably a smaller market. Traveller isn't the biggest system around. And I
shudder to think about the page-count if done with the visual nugget format.
It would probably require some heavy clerance from GDW/DGP with demands for
conformance to canonical traveller.

>     3. We can (maybe) do a computer game based on the Aclyon
> 	   adventures.

  Extremely heavy work input required. Uncertain return. Uncertain market.
I've also noticed that a lot of the computer-games-based-on-stories/adventures
that are out today hashes the plots and characters to unrecognizability.

> 3.  Return:

  Think about the rules for US Federal employees and payment for writing or
speaking. It would not be worth it if we'd have to retire people from the
PBEM on the off chance that there might come some money trickling out of it
sometime.

- - -bertil-
- - --
"Some people almost never think. They just reshuffle their prejudices."

#2348 re: What to do with the PBEM archives?

Fiver Toadflax · 13 May 1991 · reply to #2343

Subject: re: (2343) What to do with the PBEM archives?

> 2.	Format:
> 	We really have three good vehicles for the endeavor.
> 	1. We can publish a novel (actually, probably a series)
>
> 	2. We can do a campaign materials package with adventure
>    	   supplements, pre-gen'd characters, deck plans, maps, etc.
>
> 	3. We can (maybe) do a computer game based on the Aclyon
> 	   adventures.

Personally, I would like the novel the best, but it would take the most
ammount of time.  The easiest part would be the gamming matereals.  Since
you (richard) have done most of that already/are doing it.  I personally
never really liked most computer games that were based on a game.

Personally speaking, I think a combination of those should be done.  The
play matereals could have plots/subplots that never enter into the story,
or are not important, but the players may think are important.


> 3.  Return:
>	I think if we do wangle a deal for whatever, we should put the
>	money in escrow for either a PBEM/TML convention somewhere
>	someday (if it's a lot),

I like this idea, it could also be used to help defray the costs of running
the TML (but it is currently running thanks to the generosity of Tektronix)
if it came to that.  Or to help defray the costs of mailing out disks of
TML archives.  The only question I would have is who keeps the books?  But that
is not important right now.  First lets get the money.

>	a subsidy for TML'ers who *need* public
>	access but can't afford it, or a fund for miscellaneous things
>	like disks, postage, or whatever.  Or...  My idea is that
>	*really* any reward that happens to come out of a mutually fun
>	project should benefit us all.

I don't know about that, since all you need to get TML is a computer w/ a
modem, and a local FIDONET BBS.  From there you can easily get in.  Yes its
a bit harder for those not in the USA.

                 Dave

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