Comedy Gold

It was brought to my attention that this was posted, sent to me by a friend at the server:

Jen Server Admin Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 2558 Location: Swamplands, Zone 9

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:48 am Post subject: Saying Goodbye to PaladinofSune, Sage, & Ravenof

I didn't want to do this, nor did the DMs. We had hoped the team could split in a mature fashion, lacking drama or unethical actions. Unfortunatly, as often happens in our NWN communities, this was not the case.

We were recently told of a server the three had been working on while still with our team. We also recently discovered that Sage has been openly recruiting WSI players for this other server. This is not the standards we held her to as a DM ,or a player, or a forum user. I feel that if she is bringing this issue to light to our players, the team should have a chance to let our playerbase in on what happened, instead of sweeping it under the rug and leaving it to general gossip.

I'll attempt to summarize the recent split with the following: After some questionable behavior on the part of PaladinofSune, his direct server access was removed temporarily. In disagreement with this action, Paladin, Sage, and Ravenof spent several weeks 'on break' as was posted, but actually started working on a new server. The trio returned to us with the following PM, informing us that they would be using our work.

From: PaladinOfSune

To: Jen
Posted: 21 Jan 2010 08:57 pm
Subject: PM Quote message
Hello,

As Raven, Sage and I are longer able to work on WSI on this server, we've decided the best option for us is to produce our own server using the current module as a starting point. As such, we're using the latest version of the module I have, while re-evaulating some key decisions we've made; such as removing Sigil and the World Serpent Inn itself to focus more on The Vast. Eventually, it should bare little resemblance to this server and this is our current focus before it goes live.

As we've all contributed towards the module in our own way, I feel that it's only fair that I claim part ownership of it. However, if there's any particular areas, items, and so forth you feel you would like removed (within reason), then we'll certainly see what we can do. As Jayna is not returning to The Vast, Sage would like her clothing store and all associated items removed. I'm not too concerned about my own work; do what you like with it.

Brett


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PaladinofSune, having made one dungeon himself and the rest of his additions being script based, claims the authority to use two year's worth of work from myself and Overmind ... without giving us the respect to ask permission. We were told outright that they made the choice to steal it regardless of our wishes. Having to ask them to remove our work (within reason?) is not respectful to our time, it's just theft. And this will be the third server he's stolen from. Check the login PaladinofSune on Arelith and Amia, where he was also a Developer. We just expected a friend of four years would never do this.

Sage's contribution to starting the "new" server has been to privately advertise on WSI as seen below...

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From: Sage
To: SEVERAL PLAYERS
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:00 am
Subject: Been fun Edit message
Hello folks!

I apologise in advance for using PMs for this, but I have no other way of contacting most of you, sadly.

Given recent unpleasant events, and since a lot of our own work has gone into making this module, a few of the staff are relocating to our own version of the module that is focused on the Vast alone. I’m sending you this PM because I’ve enjoyed playing with you and would like to extend an invite to you. Currently we’re working hard to edit the module enough to be comfortable hosting it, without being a direct copy of World Serpent Inn, and adding a ton of new content over time.

Looking forward to playing with you all again, and if not, I wish you all the best here; it was a pleasure spending time with you.

Sage

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This claim that Sage and Paladin put alot of work into the server comes up again and again. While we appreciate the work that was contributed, it does not add up to any sort of ethical claim to use our areas and simply edit them to look slightly different. Adding a few new placables does not make it their work. In addition, I offered to let them use some of my work with my blessing if they asked specifically about those areas and I agreed or disagreed on each area. No such list or request has been made...

So there it is. I apologize for having to bring drama to the community and exposing everyone to the dirty laundry. If our community is being thrust into this nonsense, we'd at least like to trust you guys with the details of the issue instead of ignoring it.

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Hot damn! There's going to be another, less idiotic WSI. I'll drink to that. Now! To my favorite part of my blog, the ripping apart of everything you have the audacity to post in your public forums.

1. If the DMs didn't want you to post it, why did you. Man, and I thought Liz was the vindictive one.
2. At least they told you. If it were me, I'd have kept quiet about it, because, after being your friend for four years (Kudos to PaladinOfSune for doing that, even if I have no clue why you would do it), I think I'd have an inkling as to how you'd react.
3. General gossip? Weren't you the one who started ranting at anyone and everyone? Even me!
4. Questionable behavior? Way to go for vague. For all I know, Brett could have high-fived the wrong person and irritated you to the point where you and Liz smacked him with the ban hammer. And from the bigger focus on how they 'went behind your back and started a new server' leads me to believe that he must have defied you in some way, or you felt that he was straying away from you, etc.
5. THEY TOLD YOU ABOUT IT AND YOU FREAKED OUT. They did a good thing and you responded with what can only be summarized as:

Seriously. It is, first of all, only a video game, and second of all, THEY TOLD YOU ABOUT IT.
5. Anyway, doesn't WSI only have one focus at a time, unless there's a DM quest? And if they're changing up the areas, so what? They got rid of Sigil, they got rid of the Inn that your server is based on (Which I would like to point out, is copyrighted material, anyway, so honestly, it wasn't your original idea to begin with. Examples: http://www.nwnthevast.com/
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InnBetweenTheWorlds
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/World_Serpent.pdf), so why are you continuing to yell stealing? Honestly.
6. Weren't you also a DM at Arelith and Amia, or some such thing? Hypocrite. How do you even know he stole anything, he could have just gone along with what you did, because he was your friend. Let's have a look-see...
O. Look.
7. Scripting. Hmm. Let's see. Doesn't that take hours? Not to mention that I'm sure you use several of his nifty scripts to keep your pretty, little inn running smoothly. He also had the graciousness to let you keep his scripts (Even though I have the feeling you'd have kept them anyway).
8. Invitations! Who doesn't love invitations.

...Okay, then! Come on, people--if you like a person, you're going to let them join you in something, or let them know what you're doing. How is that any different than that stupid 'HAY GUISE LOOK AT THIS SERVER I'M PLAYING NOW IT'S SO AWESOME' thread in the General Discussion by someone, I forget their name now...
9. And 'trust you with the details'? This isn't details. This is propaganda. Has no one else but me noticed that Sage and PaladinOfSune were banned after they told them this? That's like... Trying to reconcile with someone over a minor thing like a papercut and getting thrown out of the house for CLEARLY being an in-the-closet-homosexual-sex-crazed-fiend, and the whole thing was an ELABORATE PLAN to get to kiss your finger.

Not to mention some of the things you've said... But I'll let that go for now. I'm sure you have such a good reason to be driving your friend of four years away. Enjoy your relationship destroying, Jen.