I got this email:

White Wolf is excited to announce that the first wave of Chronicles of Darkness games are now available for content creator development on the Storytellers Vault.

Content creators can write, publish, and sell their tabletop RPG supplements, larp supplements, fiction stories, comics, and art for core "Mortals" Chronicles of Darkness, Vampire: The Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken, Mage: The Awakening settings.

Additionally content creators may produce products for the Dark Eras historical & Mirrors alternate universe settings. For more information and access to content creator resources including art packs, graphic design templates, symbols, and logos, and resource packs, check out the Storytellers Vault Creator FAQ and join the community content discussion group on Facebook!

Visit StorytellersVault.com for all of the latest new releases from White Wolf, Onyx Path Publishing, and community content authors!

I know we have several RPG authors among our members and many WoD fans. What are everyone's thoughts?

Anybody read through their 3PP agreement? Is it fair, or is it laughable?

Are you interested in 3PP stuff for WoD as a customer? Would you contribute? If so, which lines?

Don't do it they are going to rip you off and steal your ideas.  Just make up your own settings and rule systems.  Just don't feed the beast.

Quote from: Snowman0147;1067872Don't do it they are going to rip you off and steal your ideas.  Just make up your own settings and rule systems.  Just don't feed the beast.

Bollocks.

You get 50% of the proceeds normally. You get to write and produce for a brand name and market to their customer base with their help. A fantastic way to get into the industry, prove your chops. Also, if your writing for Content Creator program, why would you care if the company adopts your material into the "cannon"? I would think that was a solid step to freelancing for them (if that's what you want...).

I am not too fond of the license that lies behind Onebookshelf's Community Content Programs. They limit your right to reuse original content you contribute (stuff that not based on the shared IP).

Except in one specific instance, when there is a setting involved as well as a set of rules. Then I think it is somewhat reasonable. A little dickish but marginally OK given the range of IP they offer in return to play with.

So for the Storyteller's Vault with it focus on the World of Darkness AND the WoD rules it reasonable. Just like if I wanted to write something for the Third Imperium (as opposed to Mong Trav 2e as a ruleset) the terms of the TAS 3PP are reasonable. Personally the one I would jump on is anything using the World of Greyhawk.

As for the Storyteller's Vault just remember anything you contribute will locked up in the same way as a work for hire project. The creative freedom you will get will be better than working directly for the company and likely you will earn more due to the 50% royalty.

Quote from: trechriron;1067883Bollocks.

You get 50% of the proceeds normally. You get to write and produce for a brand name and market to their customer base with their help. A fantastic way to get into the industry, prove your chops. Also, if your writing for Content Creator program, why would you care if the company adopts your material into the "cannon"? I would think that was a solid step to freelancing for them (if that's what you want...).

Honest truth.

Why go for 50% profits when you can go for a near 100% (cause Onebookshelf wants their cut) with your own ideas?  Where you not lock down and you have the freedom to do what you want.

Your giving up freedom.
Your giving up on money as well.  The royalties should be at least 75% to be worth the risk.

Quote from: Snowman0147;1067974Why go for 50% profits when you can go for a near 100% (cause Onebookshelf wants their cut) with your own ideas?  

100% is a bigger slice than 50%, but they aren't being cut from the same pie. 50% of a dollar is worth more than 100% of a dime.

That makes DMs Guild, World of Darkness and Zweihander now w/ community content at DriveThru. How does money work for these publishers if I write something? Does DriveThru get most of it?

Quote from: FeloniousMonk;1067995That makes DMs Guild, World of Darkness and Zweihander now w/ community content at DriveThru. How does money work for these publishers if I write something? Does DriveThru get most of it?

You get 50% of the sale price. The rest is split between the publisher and OneBookshelf. If I had to guess I would say half (25%) goes to the IP owner and other to Onebookshelf. Or maybe a 30 (IP holder) - 20 split.

As for the number of programs
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/community_content.php

And again my recommendation is that if the CCP involves a setting then have at it. If it just rules like Cortex then you are surrendering too much of your rights.

Quote from: Xuc Xac;1067989100% is a bigger slice than 50%, but they aren't being cut from the same pie. 50% of a dollar is worth more than 100% of a dime.

You might have a point if World of Darkness was in its heyday.

Who keeps the rights to what you create, though?

Quote from: jeff37923;1068044Who keeps the rights to what you create, though?

Looks like they do?

Quote from: Storytellers VaultDoes White Wolf own the content that I create in my Storytellers Vault publications?

Content creators are not allowed to create new IPs under the Storytellers Vault program, rather every piece of content created uses the White Wolf IP. That said, if your work merits incorporation into canon, White Wolf will contact you.

The Storytellers Vault agreement will grant other Storytellers Vault authors a license to use your original content at any time from its publication date.

From here:  https://storytellersvault.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000957111-Ownership-and-License-Questions

Basically, you're not allowed to use this wonky license to publish your own non-WoD stuff using their system, but you can create new WoD stuffs (see the table in that link).  It appears that, from the moment you "publish" it on their "Storytellers Vault", anyone else using the license can use the content you published in their work, including White Wolf themselves.

Quote from: Snowman0147;1068043You might have a point if World of Darkness was in its heyday.

They don't have to be in their heyday. They just have to be 2x bigger than "Snowman0147's totally original IP that he doesn't have to share with anybody".

Quote from: Snowman0147;1067974Honest truth.

Why go for 50% profits when you can go for a near 100% (cause Onebookshelf wants their cut) with your own ideas?  Where you not lock down and you have the freedom to do what you want.

Your giving up freedom.
Your giving up on money as well.  The royalties should be at least 75% to be worth the risk.

You're joining a community as a freelancer, without reporting to a company entity, oversight, etc. So, you have more freedom that you might as a standard freelancer.

Do you have more freedom publishing your own stuff? Absolutely. This would make a great initial foray for someone who hasn't been published yet. Build up some cred before jumping into the deep end.

Quote from: Snowman0147;1068043You might have a point if World of Darkness was in its heyday.

Well, a company with several thousand fans is a broader audience than a new company with a dozen fans... If you really want a broad fan base, jump into the DM's Guild! :-D

Quote from: trechriron;1068089Well, a company with several thousand fans is a broader audience than a new company with a dozen fans... If you really want a broad fan base, jump into the DM's Guild! :-D

He's got a good point, here.

Except that there's the OSR.