Quote from: jadrax;537287The slight difference to most industries is that freelance writers only get paid based upon their published word-count. So the guy is not getting paid a penny for four years of work.

This I didn't read: if this is actually what's haoppened, for whatever reason, then that is beyond inexcusable. The amount of work Angus is claiming to have turned in (two core books amounting to at least 500 pages afaict) deserves some recompense. This sets a dreadful standard - if true. What Redbrick choose to do with his work is entirely their business, but if he isn't going to be paid then they can go to bloody hell. I certainly won't support a company that behaves like this.

Quote from: Dodger;537289Bring in the lawyers!

That won't help. I doubt Redbrick will have the wherewithall to stump up any legally compelled compensation. They are a small time rpg publisher. Good luck seeing the money!

Sounds to me like Angus should just side-step the issue. Convert what he has into the Traveller OGL and release it himself with a name that ever so delicately implies Fading Suns.

OTOH, 2 500 page books?  Way too big for my tastes....

Quote from: The Butcher;537301I see no reason Traveller can't handle the Fading Suns setting as well as, or even better than the original system.

Speaking of which, don't you have a Traveller game to run?

Work related issues are interfering, sadly.

Pity.  Kind of smells like the "Dead Reign," hoo-hah from a couple of years ago.

Best of luck to you Angus!

Quote from: BillDowns;537310Sounds to me like Angus should just side-step the issue. Convert what he has into the Traveller OGL and release it himself with a name that ever so delicately implies Fading Suns.

OTOH, 2 500 page books?  Way too big for my tastes....

This would be my response if it were me. Do a vaguely similar setting with the rules already written and either approach other publishers or self-publish. Would be a shame to waste all the time and effort.

Quote from: jadrax;537287The slight difference to most industries is that freelance writers only get paid based upon their published word-count. So the guy is not getting paid a penny for four years of work.

That sucks, but didn't he make mention that he signed something stupid off the top? I say never sign anything without a lawyer present if it concerns some kind of contractual agreement for work product. Or get EVERYTHING in writing, whatever works best for getting paid for your work.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;537305That won't help. I doubt Redbrick will have the wherewithall to stump up any legally compelled compensation.

I doubt that would let them off the hook. The LLC has assets that could be liquidated and/or handed over to Angus in lieu of monetary compensation.

Incidentally, it's worth noting that James Sutton has gone on record as saying that "Angus McNicholl, FS3 Line Developer, and his team have persevered and produced what we think is an excellent incarnation of Fading Suns..."

So, it's not that Angus's work wasn't up to scratch. There's definitely something incredibly fishy going on here.

I had been thinking about adding Earthdawn to my collection but I think I'll hold off making that particular purchase for now.

Quote from: jadrax;537287The slight difference to most industries is that freelance writers only get paid based upon their published word-count. So the guy is not getting paid a penny for four years of work.

That's his stupidity.  For all we know, he only did maybe 10% of the writing, but was acting like he was the main hotshot. Or he did a lot of writing, but it was mostly crap.

Quote from: Dodger;537338Incidentally, it's worth noting that James Sutton has gone on record as saying that "Angus McNicholl, FS3 Line Developer, and his team have persevered and produced what we think is an excellent incarnation of Fading Suns..."

Standard news release from a business, which really means nothing.

Quote from: Dodger;537338I doubt that would let them off the hook. The LLC has assets that could be liquidated and/or handed over to Angus in lieu of monetary compensation.

Incidentally, it's worth noting that James Sutton has gone on record as saying that "Angus McNicholl, FS3 Line Developer, and his team have persevered and produced what we think is an excellent incarnation of Fading Suns..."

So, it's not that Angus's work wasn't up to scratch. There's definitely something incredibly fishy going on here.

I had been thinking about adding Earthdawn to my collection but I think I'll hold off making that particular purchase for now.

Don't know what the law is in the states, but over here, while Redbrick might be found guilty (if that's the case, of course) of not paying him, if they don't have the money there ain't much that can be done since we don't have a debtor's gaol anymore. I doubt they could go after the owner's personal assets and if Rebrick ain't making the money they can't pay what they haven't got. Even if they do getting around to actually paying up could take an entire epoch to much the same effect. Meanwhile Angus has to pay for all this legal movement himself, at least initially (I assume).
Perhaps he should talk to Judge Judy; after all Johnny Rotten sued his drummer on tv. I often wonder what a reactionary right wing jewish lunatic would make of such a dispute.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;537363Don't know what the law is in the states,

..or in the UK, for that matter...

Quotebut over here, while Redbrick might be found guilty (if that's the case, of course) of not paying him, if they don't have the money there ain't much that can be done since we don't have a debtor's gaol anymore. I doubt they could go after the owner's personal assets and if Rebrick ain't making the money they can't pay what they haven't got.

In the UK, if a court orders a company to pay someone money and they fail to do so, the person who is owed money can apply to have the company wound up.

Quote from: danbuter;537359Standard news release from a business, which really means nothing.

Actually, what it means is they can't now claim that his work wasn't up to scratch.

Quote from: Dodger;537374..or in the UK, for that matter...
In the UK, if a court orders a company to pay someone money and they fail to do so, the person who is owed money can apply to have the company wound up.

And how will that help Angus if he hasn't been paid? Are Redbrick rolling in it?

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;537416And how will that help Angus if he hasn't been paid? Are Redbrick rolling in it?

I don't know. My point is that an LLC can't just walk away from its contractual responsibilities without fear of any comeback.