Anyone have any news about the new Amber RPG that's supposed to be coming out?
Sadly, no. But I sure hope you stick around here anyways and chat about all the good amber-related discussion we have going on in this forum!
RPGPundit
I wish one of the guys running it would post something here to let us know what was going on. Its been over a year and we've still heard nothing. No I know that contractual negotiations are often long and protracted, but it'd be nice to have an update on their plans.
Yeah, I don't know. I'm starting to think they have personal issues with me or something. You'd think that the fact that Erick was my friend, and supported this place, would be enough to let them get past that and at least make an appearance (not to mention that this is the Official Amber RPG forum, as sanctioned by Erick Wujcik).
Its either that, or for some reason they literally CAN'T say anything, or they have abandoned the project and don't give a damn anymore... I'm as clueless as you guys on this one.
RPGPundit
Some stuff came up on the Amber mailing list...
According to Edwin Voskamp:
Look for a website update with an FAQ this week.
Legal things in the works.
Real life things getting in the way of progress, but still in the works!
Pundit, you might want to approach them again and invite them to post news here again once they have things to update fans on.
It sounds like they've been busy and that Erick's illness and legal things got in the way of progress.
I've approached them many MANY times, they've never even given me the dignity of a reply. Not once.
If you are actually on a list where they frequent, you may want to let them know that. I'm sure it'd be nice for all concerned if the OFFICIAL Amber DRPG forum were not in a spat with the official heirs to the Amber RPG license. But I've gotten sick of trying to email them, to post about them, to blog about them, all inviting them to come and talk to me, with them not even acknowledging my existence.
RPGPundit
I can do that...
Sucks to hear the connection isn't there and we can only hope they begin manifesting in the eager Amber community present here.
It does sound like things are finally getting into place on their side so maybe they'll start making announcements on here too. I'll certainly probe them to do so.
I'll note again that if there's a lack of connection, its not for want of my trying. I have repeatedly offered them the opportunity to use this, the Official forum, to promote their game, and even suggested that they could make it the forum for their game, period, going as far as to offer them the same moderator status that I had given Erick.
RPGPundit
Quote from: Nihilistic Mind;229153Some stuff came up on the Amber mailing list...
According to Edwin Voskamp:
Look for a website update with an FAQ this week.
Legal things in the works.
Real life things getting in the way of progress, but still in the works!
Pundit, you might want to approach them again and invite them to post news here again once they have things to update fans on.
It sounds like they've been busy and that Erick's illness and legal things got in the way of progress.
So, no update yet. Just what is going on?
... Wish I knew.
As usual, we will complain about delays, then we will get hopeful as soon as we hear back from these guys, then be disappointed again.
Quote from: RPGPundit;229516this, the Official forum
The thing is, those guys might not consider this to be the "official" forum whether Erick approved of it or not. I mean, if I was going to make a game I'd be interested in running my own boards for that game and it's possible that this is their plan as well.
Or, they may simply be getting nothing accomplished. With nothing to report, what would be the point of posting and getting fans irate. "Sorry, folks, but we've been sitting on the franchise for about a year now and haven't quite gotten underway..." just doesn't come off well.
Sadly, this seems to be the Amber curse. Erick couldn't keep making new product, Guardians of Order sank once they acquired Amber, and now Diceless By Design vanishes in the Amber void.... :(
I would understand if they'd want to have their own boards; which would obviously become the official "D by D" boards, while this forum would maintain its status as the official Erick Wujcik Amber RPG board.
That said, I've been nothing but inviting to them, and want to help in whatever way is possible, but they've given me no communication whatsoever.
RPGPundit
I wonder if the delays are another case of "game company vs. Zelazny estate lawyers" as we were led to believe was the case with the GoO problems, or whether there is something else at stake?
Quote from: Trevelyan;237310I wonder if the delays are another case of "game company vs. Zelazny estate lawyers" as we were led to believe was the case with the GoO problems, or whether there is something else at stake?
Well, it should be noted that Zelazny was adamant about not wanting anyone other than himself to write Amber. That's why Gaiman refused to touch it, which is good from a moral standpoint but still sucks in my opinion, because I'd probably cut off a nut to see what that would have looked like.
Still, I think Betancourt's a dirty hack who will burn in a particularly nasty hell for actually doing that Dawn of Amber crap. But that's me, and not particularly relevant.
Pathar, I'm not sure if it was what you were suggesting, but I'll note that while Zelazny was absolutely explicit about no one else writing more Amber novels, he was very enthusiastic and personally approved of the Amber RPG.
So if there's a problem with the estate its probably along the lines of either:
a) they want more money
or
b) they want to force the RPG to include crap from the Betancourt Books, and the designers (quite rightfully) don't want to do that.
And not that they're somehow claiming that an Amber RPG is not what Roger would have wanted; which would be utterly ridiculous given that the Zelazny estate (ie. his bitch of an ex-wife) has shat all over what Roger really wanted all this time.
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPundit;237792Pathar, I'm not sure if it was what you were suggesting, but I'll note that while Zelazny was absolutely explicit about no one else writing more Amber novels, he was very enthusiastic and personally approved of the Amber RPG.
So if there's a problem with the estate its probably along the lines of either:
a) they want more money
or
b) they want to force the RPG to include crap from the Betancourt Books, and the designers (quite rightfully) don't want to do that.
And not that they're somehow claiming that an Amber RPG is not what Roger would have wanted; which would be utterly ridiculous given that the Zelazny estate (ie. his bitch of an ex-wife) has shat all over what Roger really wanted all this time.
RPGPundit
I'm not in any way an official source, but I am occasionally in touch with the guys from DbD. When they acquired the license from GoO, we talked about working on the new edition and bringing
Rebma finally into print.
The last contact I had with them indicated that they basically needed to take the time to get things hammered out legally with the Zelazny Estate. Erick/Phage had signed all legal documents required to transfer the license, and I think it's mostly a matter of making things official.
Two guys make up Diceless by Design. One is a lead developer on a little-known computer game called
Spore. The other is a computer consultant who in the last year or so moved across the country and started a new business. Both have had their hands full with that.
Again, I'm not a spokesman for them, but I think the only holdup is that getting things going takes time and attention, both of which are in short supply.
If there were some onerous demands from the Zelazny Estate regarding the Betancourt novels, I imagine it would have been mentioned.
Well, I certainly understand that they are busy and that they are a small company, but it does seem like they should give updates at least occasionally so that the rest of us don't totally forget that they are still out there.
Even to say "nothing new, but we're trying" or something like that.
Yeah, I agree. The thing is that given the opportunity I would love to support this project to the hilt. I so want to love again but at the same time I fear being hurt once more… *sniffle*