Any news from Hunter?

[merlin]

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.

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.

Yep I posted here, free of charge... not because I wanted to piss and moan as you so elegantly put it about those who wish to contribute to "keeping CotI afloat" - if it was a fan funded forum then that would be a noble endeavour - but to, as a concerned customer, state some concerns that I thought needed to be raised. None of the concerns I mentioned in my previous posts are "flash in the pan" incidents either. These issues have been going on for YEARS and everytime people keep making excuses "oh it's because of this, or that", "give Hunter a chance" and you know what? for a long time Hunter has had a lot of community support but after a while it wears a bit thin you know?

As shown on other threads people do have concerns and many are not informed or are reluctant to complain or state their thoughts. The fact is that QLI still "appears" to be operating as a legitimate business publishing Traveller material not a fan funded project to keep CotI open. I sure as hell don't want to purchase another Moot/TA subscription only to find that what I have paid for never arrives (and before you ask I was stung by the TA subscription debacle). How many of those who have purchased Moot/TA subscriptions did so to obtain the products offered as part of the arrangement for purchasing the subscription? rather than a donation to keep CotI going in lieu of what is advertised/offered? The fact is that any other company operating like this (for example Mongoose) would have been hung out to dry by now and this is the point.

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.

What about the customer who purchases something - do you suggest they google for Hunter's home phone number or rake the CotI boards for every complaint and resolution before making any purchase - what about those constantly told that "everything will be ok" only to be faced with what is happening at the moment? What sort of state do you think things must be at for those closely involved in QLI to start airing their dirty laundry out in public?

As stated before it is these issues that have caused a lack of confidence in QLI for myself and I would guess a good number of other people. Until these are rectified then QLI is missing out on a whole bunch of sales that could be the difference.

The fact is that QLI and by extension CotI is a business - I won't give my money to a business like this as long as I have such unanswered concerns (even if it did mean the lost of a potential publisher of Traveller material and a very well populated web forum) - if CotI was a fan-funded operation or was pitched in such a manner then you know what I would be sad to see it go (and may even give some of my hard earned to save it) but it isn't...

 

[Odegra]

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.

Well what else are they going to do? I think its better that they talk in public about it and steer other people away from dealing wit Hunter.

And i think by implication you were saying that they were unprofessional to do so. Do you expect them to just shut up and stew on it if they've tried everything other way they can think of to contact hunter?

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.

Do you think everyone who is complaining about Hunters absence is a "sock puppet"? Fact is, QLI *is* sinking and it should be abandoned (if CotI goes down with it then that's unfortunate but fact is that they are linked). A lot of people can see that - Colin has jumped ship, the artists for 2320AD have also left, Martin left long ago. How can you honestly think that everything is OK given all that?

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.

Its the current focus of discussion and I thought I would chip in. I joined in May and had a look around and didn't like what I saw (largely due to hunter's absence), and now those things have come to a head. I'm entittled to voice my opinions about what is going on with QLI as anyone else is. But the bashing is certainly deserved. Meanwhile I don't really see much point in talking about Traveller here, there's better places to do that like the Mongoose Boards.

 

[casquilho]

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.

Let me second this Roger. Good Mods are not a common find. You offer a very valuable service here and it would be a loss if you left.

Daniel

 

[Roger Calver]

Well until Hunter or Bruce come back online I am stuck with my mod status.

So until that time I will be around and be of assistance, what that maybe we will see.

 

[Colin]

Let's be clear.

I just want to be clear on my motives for posting my withdrawal from 2320AD, for there seems to be some confusion. I wanted people to know that I was no longer involved.

I also wanted them to know why.

I've stuck with it as long as I have because I am a fan of 2300/2320AD, and there was more I wanted to do. I kept hoping that things would pan out, and I would finally see a print version. Maybe it will happen, and I sincerely wish Hunter the best. But I'm tired of it, of not being able to answer questions about it's status, of being the only one who would answer questions, of just not know what's going on. I have people sending me PMs about other issues as well, simply because they cannot get in touch with Hunter by any other means. And I do my best to help them.

And for the record, I do not have a phone number or address for Hunter. I did, but since he moved, it's no longer valid, and he has not provided a new number. Email is the primary method of contact I have with him, and aside from a few phone calls early on, ALL business has been by email.

I have no desire to impugn Hunter, and I've stood up for him over the last several years, whenever there was a break-down on the 2320AD project. I like Hunter, and I appreciate the opportunity he gave me with 2320AD, even if things eventually didn't work out. He has other priorities beyond 2320AD, and I can understand that too. I bear him no ill-will. However, I have my own priorities, and I can no longer keep hoping that 2320AD will work out. Despite my wishes on the matter. I have never offered any comment (other than the one above) on the operation of QLI. Not my concern. I have never made any comments against Hunter personally, not would I. He's great to work with, when he's available. But that's the rub, and that's why I'm moving on.

 

[MJD]

I suppose I'm one of those people who should be able to contact Hunter and should do so elsewhere. Only, I can't. It's been like this every month, chasing him for royalities, until recently when he just stopped responding altogether.

I tried other methods among other things I mailed via Marc and asked him to pass messages along. That's worked before.

I'm out of options now.

Posting publicly on COTI or elsewhere isn't something I wanted to do but I need a response on this. The only recourse I have left is to require that my work be withdrawn from sale until the situation is resolved. I don't want to do that because it robs Hunter of income that could be helping him sort out his own problems and get QLI back underway again.

But right at the moment my work is making money for someone else, who is not paying me what I'm due. And I cannot afford to just let that pass becuase I need to make a living too,

 

[far-trader]

How about a blanket apology from me to anyone who feels wronged by any intentional, implied, or perceived ill in my rant?

I'm sorry.

Any specific apologies would probably just make a bigger mess as someone not apologized to would take it as intentional. It was a long time coming and not directed against anyone in particular. And like most rants it misses the mark and probably served little good purpose and should have been left unsaid for the 100th time but I broke.

Now, it's a beautiful day here so I'm going outside

Have a good day/evening everyone whatever the weather where you are, inside or outside.

 

[MJD]

What makes me think I'll have any more luck by posting here than I have with other avenues? Actually nothing. I'm prepared to give it a go but I don't hold out much hope.

That's one reason - the slim chance it might make actually get me a resolution to the problem.

The second reason is that if I can't resolve the royalties issue I'm going to have to require that my work be removed from sale until the issue is redressed. No doubt that will make me the bad guy in many people's eyes, so perhaps it might be useful to be able to point to the long history that led to the decision.

There are still those who will assume it's because I'm a jerk (well, I am, but not for that reason...) and maybe some of them will undertand my position if they know what's going on.

Third reason? Basically because this it's true.


I have nothing to lose here and a chance to get my problem sorted out, so why not go for it? I've been the victim of unfounded allegations recently and I want the truth out there for all to see. Because even when I do things aboveboard and professionally I still sometimes get clobbered...

 

[aramis]

Since I can't find the post hunter made, and there are only two areas I can't read (T5, and PM's), his last post had to have been in one of those two areas.

Martin: The only people with the access to pull stuff down are Hunter and Bruce.

 

[Kharum1]

I have a suggestion for all those that are owed money. The last time I suggested this I got a email from Hunter not to do it again. I also want to make it know that this is just me talking and I am not telling anyone to do this. However, it did get his attention and I got an email within a few hours. Start talking about taking legal action. There I said it and I might get banned for it but, at this point and time it really doesn't matter. Hunter pretty much gave up on the TA project I was working on. Hunter please do not use my images I sent you. Please delete them from you hard drive or anywhere else you may have them stored. Your inaction is the cause of this.

 

[MJD]

Yes, I'm aware that only Hunter can withdraw the players book from sale. But given the circumstances I'm reliably informed that if I make 'all reasonable efforts' to get a request through to Hunter and he continues to sell my work without sorting out the royalty issue, then it becomes a very simple legal matter.

I do NOT want to do this. I just want the situation resolved. Even a couple of emails would be a good start. But if goodwill and good faith won't work then what else is left?

 

[aramis]

Bruce is also an admin. Bruce is also "in charge" until hunter's return, according to hunter's last post.

 

[Odegra]

Can this Bruce guy pay people the money they're owed? It's nice that there's another admin (if thats what he is) but unless he can pay people it's not going to help Martin and Colin and the others is it.

 

[MJD]

I don't care who is in charge (that's not meant to be snarky in your direction Aramis). What I do know is that unless Hunter gets in touch with me Real Soon with an explanation of why he's been silent for 2 months about royalties, and some sort of movement towards catching up what's owed, then I'll have to ask that my work be withdrawn from sale.

Nobody wants that, least of all me. I just want to make a fair return on my work.

Apparently Hunter was 'around' a few days ago. Yet I see no movement towards resolving this issue. A message via a third party would be an acceptable starting point.

Obviously, I'm less than receptive to altered arrangements - back in feb Hunter asked me for a deferment on payment which I agreed to. He didn't meet the altered arrangement and I had to jump through various hoops to get some contact 3 weeks later. His reason was - he was going to tell me I wasn't getting paid on the deferred date but he forgot.

I let that go at the time, but this is all adding up to intense frustration on my part. The time is fast approaching when I'll want to stop wasting my time chasing this. At this moment there is a chance to sort it out amicably. If that can't be achieved then I'll have to try something else.

 

[aramis]

Can this Bruce guy pay people the money they're owed? It's nice that there's another admin (if thats what he is) but unless he can pay people it's not going to help Martin and Colin and the others is it.

Not as such, no. But in the realm of IP, being able to take it down from sale amounts to a lot in terms of remedy.

Martin's probably got grounds for legal action, but quite likely as well, he'd spend more than he'd recover. (Sad facts of US litigation.)

Martin needs to PM Bruce to get a message to hunter. THat's the last instruction in the open.

I also just tried the QLI phone number listed in the DNS registry: disconnected.

 

[MJD]

I do NOT want to go sueing anyone, but if I did do it over a writing related issue, that would probably come under NWU (National Writers' Union) jurisdiction so chances are it would not cost me much.

That said, it's about the last thing I want to do.


I've taken various measures to get a response. I'll see if I can get something on a suitable time frame and at that point I'll issue a notice to withdraw through every available channel.


There's still time for Hunter to get in touch and start talking.
At this point that's all it will take.

 

[Border Reiver]

Has anyone tried snail mail?

 

[aramis]

Snail Address is listed in the DNS entry.

 

[Border Reiver]

Not always accurate, you might want to try white pages too.

 

[Antony]

This horrible though struck me, is QLI actually a solvent business? I don't know, I don't need to know since I'm not financially involved, others may need to know however. If it is insolvent though is it illegal for it to be trading. I don't know business laws vary greatly from place to place. Hopefully that thought was just a bad dream.