Quote from: Gene Weigel;637129This just goes to show that you can't trust people on the internet.

When I showed up at the Lake Geneva convention in 2007 some people at that time couldn't believe that I actually existed! I don't believe I've established that 99% of the "people" on the internet aren't the same people over and over. Years ago on my forum I was getting avatar IPs that were talking to each other.

If this "Grognardia" guy is the same person as his "burned" associate then I would not be surprised!

Its all publicity if you look at it.

Take your goddamn medication, Gene.

Quote from: Gene Weigel;637129This just goes to show that you can't trust people on the internet.

When I showed up at the Lake Geneva convention in 2007 some people at that time couldn't believe that I actually existed! I don't believe I've established that 99% of the "people" on the internet aren't the same people over and over. Years ago on my forum I was getting avatar IPs that were talking to each other.

If this "Grognardia" guy is the same person as his "burned" associate then I would not be surprised!

Its all publicity if you look at it.

I heard if people disbelieved you, that you disappeared.  Some others said you remained but they could see through you.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;637074Do you honestly believe there are enough people out there clamoring for *ack!* product for this to be remotely feasible?


Only if you're dealing with utter morons, but hey, way to look for a way to profit off this unholy clusterfuck.

I just gotta say that half your posts rub me the wrong way, and then I look at your avatar and I nod and think, "Yeah, OK, coming from that pirate, can't fault the guy for being true to himself."

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;637027JMal has a history of producing stuff in the past.  He's got a couple published adventures and a full game (Thousand Suns) to his credit.  However, unless I'm mistaken I think those previous items were produced solely of his own volition according to his own time table.  There was nobody holding him to any specific production schedule.  It sounds to me like Dwimmermount became something much more "professional" than that.  I know for myself, as soon as something becomes "work" I start procrastinating.  Due dates suddenly become "the day when I need to really get down to work on that project thats been due for 2 months."  I was a poor student.    That may have contributed to JMal's problems...

Google: Petty Gods

Speaking of Petty Gods, since it was a user-contributed volume with James acting as an editor, and was essentially ready with cover art and stuff, couldn't someone from the team seize it and get it published? I hardly believe binding contracts would have been involved.

Quote from: Gene Weigel;637129This just goes to show that you can't trust people on the internet.

When I showed up at the Lake Geneva convention in 2007 some people at that time couldn't believe that I actually existed! I don't believe I've established that 99% of the "people" on the internet aren't the same people over and over. Years ago on my forum I was getting avatar IPs that were talking to each other.

If this "Grognardia" guy is the same person as his "burned" associate then I would not be surprised!

Its all publicity if you look at it.

A bit of a disclaimer.  I have no idea who you are, and never heard of you until just the past week or so.  But I've seen you mention how some really big names in the industry have approached you to help do work for them.  At the same time, I have a really hard time trying to follow any of your posts in any comprehensive way.  So knowing the latter, it really would surprise me that the former had occurred.

Hey, take a big 'ol chill pill there Black Vulmea.  I'm not making any excuses for the guy.  I don't know him, and like I said, I don't have any skin in the game.  You otoh obviously hate the guy and everything he stands for.  Understood.

Really, all I'm trying to do is present some sort of rationalization for why things might have gone this way.  People do desperate things in desperate times and a sick family member could cuase a person to make some poor decisions.  I have no inside info at all, and I forgot JMal is in Canada so take my thoughts for what they are worth...essentially nothing.

My choice of words was poor though.  By "moral" I didn't mean to imply that using the money for health care expenses would make it "right."  I just meant that it would be somewhat understandable...not justifiable mind you.

But, its entirely possible he just took the money and ran.  I don't know.  It just seems like a strange turn of events for someone who has been doing this stuff for years and has actually produced material in the past.

Oh, yeah and I forgot about Petty Gods.  I've read about it over the years but am not really up on what its all about...

Quote from: K Peterson;637101Do you have a source or link for this (the pissing on old school games in the past)?

He writes in a number of his posts on his blog about how he quickly grew disenchanted with D&D in the early Eighties - typical bullshit like hit points suck! classes suck! falling damage is broken! - before having a come-to-Gygax epiphany.

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;637154I'm not making any excuses for the guy.

Actually, all you're doing is making excuses for the guy.

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;637154You otoh obviously hate the guy and everything he stands for.

I don't care for his blog and I don't share his opinions. Beyond that I have no feelings whatsoever twoard the guy.

This isn't middle school. 'Hate' is for juveniles.

Quote from: Mistwell;637138I just gotta say that half your posts rub me the wrong way, and then I look at your avatar and I nod and think, "Yeah, OK, coming from that pirate, can't fault the guy for being true to himself."

"You cheated!"

"Pirate."

Quote from: KenHR;637151Google: Petty Gods

At the time they signed the contract with him, it didn't look like Petty Gods was really off-track.  The bulk had been done, the layout was remaining, and it looked like people other than James had been the one to flake on the layout help, but it was moving along.  I don't think it's fair to imply that Tavis should have known Petty Gods was a dead project at the time they signed their agreement with James.

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;637154But, its entirely possible he just took the money and ran.  I don't know.  It just seems like a strange turn of events for someone who has been doing this stuff for years and has actually produced material in the past.

If I were a betting man -- And I apparently am as I have $60 in this whole mess! -- I'd wager that the following occurred:

James set aside the money for production costs. At some point, as the project began experiencing delays, JM began dipping into those funds to cover other expenses. Most likely he did so rationalizing that he would repay those funds closer to publication date. At first, it was probably quite difficult but became easier as time went by. In all probability, he drove the fund balance to near zero. At this point he panicked and began closing himself off from outsiders.

Sadly, this sort of thing is quite common among people who manage money and among people who receive large sums from inheritance, lotteries, legal settlements, etc. The temptation to spend the money, and the ease in being able to do so, leads one to rationalize all kind of behaviors that they normally would never engage in.

Now, this is not to apologize or justify James' behavior; he needs to pull his head out of his fucking ass and own up to the situation he placed himself in.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;637164Actually, all you're doing is making excuses for the guy.

No, really I'm not.  I'm presenting a possible explanation for what seems on the surface to me to be a fundamentally not very rational situation.  Even if what I suggested was actually what happened, I don't think it excuses him at all.  He still essentially stole the money and should be held accountable.  

QuoteI don't care for his blog and I don't share his opinions. Beyond that I have no feelings whatsoever twoard the guy.

This isn't middle school. 'Hate' is for juveniles.

OK.

Quote from: Jacob Marley;637170If I were a betting man -- And I apparently am as I have $60 in this whole mess! -- I'd wager that the following occurred:

James set aside the money for production costs. At some point, as the project began experiencing delays, JM began dipping into those funds to cover other expenses. Most likely he did so rationalizing that he would repay those funds closer to publication date. At first, it was probably quite difficult but became easier as time went by. In all probability, he drove the fund balance to near zero. At this point he panicked and began closing himself off from outsiders.

Sadly, this sort of thing is quite common among people who manage money and among people who receive large sums from inheritance, lotteries, legal settlements, etc. The temptation to spend the money, and the ease in being able to do so, leads one to rationalize all kind of behaviors that they normally would never engage in.

Now, this is not to apologize or justify James' behavior; he needs to pull his head out of his fucking ass and own up to the situation he placed himself in.

Yeah, thats pretty much in line with my thinking only I was surmising that the impetus for the initial dipping may have been health care expenses.  But thats all completely groundless conjecture on my part...

I have to say something. Probably not going to make me popular, but here goes.

I call bullshit on the grieving thing. BULL. SHIT.

I've been working in the professional computer nerd biz for 12 years now. NO ONE. NOT. ONE. of my colleagues who suffered a death in the family (wife, father, brother, CHILD!!!!) left work for more than two weeks, and it DID NOT effect job performance. These people stoically and professionally soldiered on through their grief. In fact, keeping to routines, completing deadlines, and what not actually helped them cope with the loss.

Folks, death is a natural part of life. As is divorce, break-ups, accidents, weather, illness, and a whole long list of "shit". Shit happens. Murphy rules, everyone gets their turn, and for FUCKS SAKE we all WE ALL have to fucking deal with it.

This DOES NOT excuse ripping people off. Period.

This ding dong needs to pull up his big boy shorts up, pull his head out of his grieving pucker hole, MAN UP, and get his shit done. GIT. IT. DONE. This isn't only a fucking travesty of justice but could harm future Kickstarters.

I really don't care about the particulars. Either this dude produces what he promised or he's a fucking douche bag. Period.

Just my two cents, sorry for the spit on the screen.