Rhialto the Marvelous
SOC-13
I'd say the reason is very simple. He got himself a real job or two. There's no money in RPGs, certainly not in our little niche.
Any news from Hunter?
- Thread starter MJD
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In that case why is he running a company which makes RPGs?????!!!!!!
<slaps forehead>
He may have a "real job" but what about the Artists, Writers and other staff owned royalites by QLI?
Writers write and expect to get paid so they can pay their mortgages - or do their efforts equate to "not a real job"?????
What about the customers?
QLI - Zero Confidence...
<slaps forehead>
He may have a "real job" but what about the Artists, Writers and other staff owned royalites by QLI?
Writers write and expect to get paid so they can pay their mortgages - or do their efforts equate to "not a real job"?????
What about the customers?
QLI - Zero Confidence...
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Roger Calver
Guest
Hell yeah, theres the money shot for you !
Thats the crunch if hes not giving QLI the resources that it needs then maybe he should make the decisions that effect it - as customers past/present & future who come onto CotI just see negative everywhere, come on find me a positve post about product or customer service in the last few months to start with.
If Hunter cant/won't come in here and even answer this many pressing questions then whats to be done for QLI ?
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Odegra
Guest
I agree with merlin, if that's the reason then he really should either sell QLI to someone who does have the time and inclination to operate it responsibly, or to shut it down completely. At the very least he has an obligation to tie up all the loose thread (money owed to people etc). Though personally I am surprised that Marc miller hasn't pulled QLI's licenses because of all this.
I really doubt that this is because of a "dead hard drive" either - it really doesn't take two months to replace one, and there's certainly no excuse to not contact anybody at all in the interim. This seems to be abandonment, pure and simple. And as others have pointed out, even if family members have died, or are in hospital, or whatever, responsible people can still find a way to get a message out even just to say "sorry, I can't do anything" - but at least that's something. He hasn't even managed that.
Personally the impression that I get is that Hunter is simply incapable of running QLI. Even if he were to come back tomorrow, like merlin says, there's no reason for anyone to believe he won't just vanish again without explanation. The best thing for everyone would be to move on and just let QLI die - as it is it's a dead company anyway.
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Roger Calver
Guest
Just try telling Mongoose that theres no money in Traveller, really please do Im guessing Matt's would say different £££££ !
There *IS* money to be made from Traveller all right if you go about it the right way. Mongoose seem to be making a very impressive go of it.
Other than the fact they've got a leg up from being well established with a good fan base of their own, I can't see anything unusual in what they're doing and it's working pretty well... well enough to hire external freelancers. Perhaps there's a critical momentum neccesary to make it all work or something, but whatever it is Mongoose seem to be doing it.
The games industry can be a tough place to make a living - I know I get paid a LOT more in almost every other industry I write for, and the amount of times I've not been paid for work is truly laughable (as opposed to twice ever in all other industries combined)... but it would seem that it can be done.
Other than the fact they've got a leg up from being well established with a good fan base of their own, I can't see anything unusual in what they're doing and it's working pretty well... well enough to hire external freelancers. Perhaps there's a critical momentum neccesary to make it all work or something, but whatever it is Mongoose seem to be doing it.
The games industry can be a tough place to make a living - I know I get paid a LOT more in almost every other industry I write for, and the amount of times I've not been paid for work is truly laughable (as opposed to twice ever in all other industries combined)... but it would seem that it can be done.
Rhialto the Marvelous
SOC-13
Note that what I wrote is pure speculation. It's not extravagant, though. I also don't mean it to disparage Hunter.
Re. Mongoose, sure. That's an actual company with several full-time employees that has been consistently churning out stuff across the whole range of RPG genres for several years now. They've negotiated major licenses, and I don't mean Traveller by that, they had a minis line...
QLI, meanwhile, has always been a one-person-plus-freelancers, Traveller-only thing. I'm sure that, like many other comparable companies post-2000, that model was fun and sustainable for the first three years of the d20 bubble. After 2005, not so much.
Above all, there are no prospects. With 4E out now, d20 games will be taking another, final dive, leaving only posters on this board as buyers of a non-Traveller d20 scifi game.
To add some speculation, again not extravagant, re. why Hunter didn't pull the plug a long time ago: it's tough to destroy something you built. Selling the place or shutting it down would be irrevocable. He's probably long moved on, job-wise, but he may be keeping it for some pie-in-the-sky better times.
Re. Mongoose, sure. That's an actual company with several full-time employees that has been consistently churning out stuff across the whole range of RPG genres for several years now. They've negotiated major licenses, and I don't mean Traveller by that, they had a minis line...
QLI, meanwhile, has always been a one-person-plus-freelancers, Traveller-only thing. I'm sure that, like many other comparable companies post-2000, that model was fun and sustainable for the first three years of the d20 bubble. After 2005, not so much.
Above all, there are no prospects. With 4E out now, d20 games will be taking another, final dive, leaving only posters on this board as buyers of a non-Traveller d20 scifi game.
To add some speculation, again not extravagant, re. why Hunter didn't pull the plug a long time ago: it's tough to destroy something you built. Selling the place or shutting it down would be irrevocable. He's probably long moved on, job-wise, but he may be keeping it for some pie-in-the-sky better times.
Rhialto the Marvelous
SOC-13
Re. why no 2320, that seems clear also: he's got no advance cash for the print run. That too would be a reason to disappear until said cash has materialized. Or that may have been the plan initially. Perhaps by now he's just abandoned it.
When I was apartment hunting in NYC a few years ago I was shown an apartment whose tenant had simply left. Leaving all furniture behind.
When I was apartment hunting in NYC a few years ago I was shown an apartment whose tenant had simply left. Leaving all furniture behind.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
I doubt Hunter has simply bugged out. However, it is terribly disconcerting to have this silence - again. I renewed my Moot sub (and, yes, FT, I'm a Marquis now 
) because I want this place to survive and thrive. But, yeah, it really needs another person running it because of the problems Hunter has had. 
Hunter... get back to us, huh? We're concerned and want to know everything is alright.
) because I want this place to survive and thrive. But, yeah, it really needs another person running it because of the problems Hunter has had. Hunter... get back to us, huh? We're concerned and want to know everything is alright.
See the thing is when I part with my cash with any company it's for a service, be that dry cleaning, groceries or traveller materials. That's the definition of a company they provide something which is then sold to a customer who wants to purchase that product.
Why should I donate my cash to a seemingly dead company in the hope that the forum will survive? If I want to spend my cash that way there are better charities on the list.
And as far as CotI goes, there are a number of well maintained forums run by companies that are actually producing Traveller product.
Ah yes... I should try that with my creditors - disappear until the cash has materialised. If QLI is in financial difficulties - and it appears that it maybe - doesn't the owner have a responsibility to both those he owes money to, the writers and artists of the material that has been left hanging in his absence as well as the customer who may be buying something on the promise of future product (ie. a moot/travellers aide subscription) to inform them?
Just a thought...
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Roger Calver
Guest
Hang on with 2320 he should have some money for an advanced run (also some of the POD's are free) as peolple had to buy the early PDF, and he promished that a final version would be coming soon - that was over a year ago.
Moot subscriptions, now what do you get for them ?, the same old materials apart from sci20 and the revelation station book, and think about it say at $20 a year per person with say 50 people is a spare $1000 hanging around, web hosting isnt that bloody expensive now is it.
Customers have the right to be heard, and I will do my part to make sure they are.
Rog.
Moot subscriptions, now what do you get for them ?, the same old materials apart from sci20 and the revelation station book, and think about it say at $20 a year per person with say 50 people is a spare $1000 hanging around, web hosting isnt that bloody expensive now is it.
Customers have the right to be heard, and I will do my part to make sure they are.
Rog.
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Odegra
Guest
Aramis claims that Hunter posted in the private section of this board on June 24th. That makes me even angrier because if Hunter can do that then he sure should have been able to get in touch with his authors and sort other things out and post updates here too, but he didn't.
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Roger Calver
Guest
Hunter profile shows this....
Last Activity: June 25th, 2008 06:09 AM
Last Activity: June 25th, 2008 06:09 AM
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
So have you ever bought a gym membership? Why? You can walk around outside free all day
But inside the gym you get extras and no rain or snow.What does CotI provide you? You posted here. Free of charge. Others want to keep the gym open for the extra features so they buy a membership.
Sure there are other Traveller forums, but in my opinion none as good by far. Even without Hunter posting regularly. And when he was active here it was light years beyond what anyone had done for the community for free. EVER. The GURPS forum (the paid subscription access one) was close but I found it too restrictive (too GT focused, nothing against it, just not my preference) and a bit awkward (primitive) to use.
You want to put your money somewhere else? Donate it to a charity of your choice? Good. Excellent even. That's your choice and freedom. I certainly wouldn't be questioning your choice or freedom to do so if you make it an informed one. So why are some questioning the same informed choice and freedom of those who decide to put some money into CotI? Give me a break.
<rant>
I wish Hunter had been able to better handle things through the troubles for everyone's benefit but I'm sick and tired of all the public pissing and moaning and disparaging of Hunter and those who actually want CotI to survive because we like it a lot, on this forum and elsewhere.
Some of you have serious issues. I get that. I got it the first time and it was none of my business then anymore than it is the 10th time. I feel for you and want it to work out.
But shouldn't some of you have better means of contact than open posting on this forum when you can see nobody here seems to be getting answers either? I mean if I was in a business relationship with someone I'd want their physical mailing address and phone number. And I'd keep it current. That's how I'd want to handle any business matters. Sure email and the forum/PM would be the quick day-to-day but if that flaked out, and in cases of private matters, especially business, I'd want a more secure method, a surer method.
And before I simply buy a product online I look and see how they handle customer service. Sure Hunter should have shut down the store if he can't process orders but how many times have I seen posts here along the lines of "I ordered this and this, where is it?" while the hot topic in the forums is "Hunter is missing and stuff isn't working right." Again, I feel for the people who didn't get the stuff they wanted and hope it all works out for them. And the citizens and mods have always tried to help them too.
</rant>
Good, I've got that out of my system. Let's get back to some Traveller now ok?
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far-trader
SOC-14 10K
I take it then you have changed your mind about leaving for now?
If so then let me thank you for the change of heart. I'm sure it wasn't an easy call.
If not then let me ask you to please reconsider leaving for as long as you can. A level headed moderator is valuable and much appreciated here, especially at the moment.
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Odegra
Guest
I think its sad that people keep making excuses for Hunter. Though I really don't think you have any right to question how people have been managing their business affairs with Hunter. I'm sure Martin and Colin and the 2320 artists are a lot more professional than you think they are, and that the only reason they are posting here is because they have exhausted all other private avenues of communication and are sick of facing a wall of silence.
At the end of the day I don't think that throwing money at QLI is helping, if there's nobody at the helm then the ship is still going to run aground regardless of how much money it has. It's just throwing good money after bad in my opinion.
Finally I don't think Hunter has really had any part in making this community into something that you like. The people that are here are what's doing that, not the ones that aren't, and if you go to any other traveller board with those same people then you'll have the same standards to enjoy. It just looks like you are crediting him for things he has no part in.
At the end of the day I don't think that throwing money at QLI is helping, if there's nobody at the helm then the ship is still going to run aground regardless of how much money it has. It's just throwing good money after bad in my opinion.
Finally I don't think Hunter has really had any part in making this community into something that you like. The people that are here are what's doing that, not the ones that aren't, and if you go to any other traveller board with those same people then you'll have the same standards to enjoy. It just looks like you are crediting him for things he has no part in.
Rhialto the Marvelous
SOC-13
On the pressing issue of the domain expiry--if Hunter sold the boards to a trusted CotI member (e.g., any of the moderators), or if he made them admins (or whatever job it is that enables you to keep this thing running), I'd be happy to spend a tenner, if $$$ is needed to keep CotI afloat.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Odegra...
I'm not making excuses for Hunter.
I think it's my right to question how people manage things when they make it public.
I'm sure Martin, Colin, et al, are quite professional and nowhere did I say they weren't. Thanks for putting words in my mouth.
If they posted here because they exhausted all other avenues my question still stands. In fact that is what I presumed and that it was premised on. Why do they think they'll have any better luck getting an answer here than anyone else when the private, more secure, business contact info didn't work? All it comes across as is airing dirty laundry in some cases.
Who are you really Odegra? I sense a sock-puppet but I could be wrong and that some of your language is just coincidence. I'll go with that for now and simply say I've seen the same stuff before here. "QLI is sinking! Abandon ship!" Made me sick then and it still does now. You don't like it here, fine, there's the door. Thanks for visiting. But I'd rather you hang around and contribute to Traveller.
Yes it is the people that make the community here what it is. Hunter provides the room, rent free to any who don't want to chip in. It's entirely voluntary for any who want to throw some money in and not your place to judge those who do. And to a large extent it IS the room that draws the people and so Hunter is very much to be credited for his part in making CotI what it is. I am part of several other Traveller boards, but none are the same as the community here. Some of them have some of the same people, and still they aren't the same. Why is that then? Why do I not find the "same standards to enjoy" on any other Traveller board?
I thought your banning earlier was a bit heavy. It looked to me like maybe you were on the verge of joining in the bashing and I think aramis was trying to stop the dogpile before it got any bigger which it has in the past. Now I'm not so sure that isn't your whole point in posting on these forums. All but one of your posts isn't related to CotI troubles. I'd rather be wrong about that though and just put it down to coincidental timing of your joining.
I'm not making excuses for Hunter.
I think it's my right to question how people manage things when they make it public.
I'm sure Martin, Colin, et al, are quite professional and nowhere did I say they weren't. Thanks for putting words in my mouth.
If they posted here because they exhausted all other avenues my question still stands. In fact that is what I presumed and that it was premised on. Why do they think they'll have any better luck getting an answer here than anyone else when the private, more secure, business contact info didn't work? All it comes across as is airing dirty laundry in some cases.
Who are you really Odegra? I sense a sock-puppet but I could be wrong and that some of your language is just coincidence. I'll go with that for now and simply say I've seen the same stuff before here. "QLI is sinking! Abandon ship!" Made me sick then and it still does now. You don't like it here, fine, there's the door. Thanks for visiting. But I'd rather you hang around and contribute to Traveller.
Yes it is the people that make the community here what it is. Hunter provides the room, rent free to any who don't want to chip in. It's entirely voluntary for any who want to throw some money in and not your place to judge those who do. And to a large extent it IS the room that draws the people and so Hunter is very much to be credited for his part in making CotI what it is. I am part of several other Traveller boards, but none are the same as the community here. Some of them have some of the same people, and still they aren't the same. Why is that then? Why do I not find the "same standards to enjoy" on any other Traveller board?
I thought your banning earlier was a bit heavy. It looked to me like maybe you were on the verge of joining in the bashing and I think aramis was trying to stop the dogpile before it got any bigger which it has in the past. Now I'm not so sure that isn't your whole point in posting on these forums. All but one of your posts isn't related to CotI troubles. I'd rather be wrong about that though and just put it down to coincidental timing of your joining.
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Odegra
Guest
Why though? It's not our responsibility to keep this place going, it's Hunter's. And Hunter has to actually be around sell the boards to someone in the first place.
If the domain expires and he's not around to renew it then it's tough luck for Hunter. We know he can get access to a computer because he has posted in the past week, it's up to him to update the domain.
If you are that keen on having a place to talk about Traveller then why don't you pony up for an independent server and setup a new Traveller forum there (preferably with safeguards against Admins suddenly leaving) and tell everyone to move to it from here? If anything that'd be better because then it's not tied to any Traveller publishers (especially ones that are on the verge of collapse).
If the domain expires and he's not around to renew it then it's tough luck for Hunter. We know he can get access to a computer because he has posted in the past week, it's up to him to update the domain.
If you are that keen on having a place to talk about Traveller then why don't you pony up for an independent server and setup a new Traveller forum there (preferably with safeguards against Admins suddenly leaving) and tell everyone to move to it from here? If anything that'd be better because then it's not tied to any Traveller publishers (especially ones that are on the verge of collapse).
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