Thank you Harniac for a rational, well-conceived roadmap.

This kind of comment is much more constructive and positive than all of the spiteful NRC/CGI bashing that this forum is starting to turn towards.

I do not believe that Harn will survive if it ceases to be a commercial entity. Fandom, while excellent and in abundance, is not sufficuent to maintain or grow the existing audience. I hope that Robin and CGI can use ideas such as this one as a foundation for coming to a new agreement.

Cheers,
Brian

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Brian McNeilly
Burnaby BC Canada
bmcneilly@shaw.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/harngm/

I was asked to arbitrate this dispute a few months after the initial termination, but refused for several reasons. (1) I live in Australia, the dispute exists in the Pacific Northwest of North America. (2) I'm not a law professional; while I have done several university-level law subjects, the majority of my training has been in Australian law. (3) I wasn't convinced that I would find a resolution, based on the—admittedly informal level of—information I had at the time from both parties.

However, I'd be willing to play my part in The Hârniac's Roadmap, if asked by the disputees (both CGI and NRC).

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Cheers

Leitchy
List & Forum Admin
Admin FAQs
[Updated 25-FEB-2011]

With how many on this forum that have played or do play ( ) Rolemaster, and the number of people on the ICE forum that have played in Harn, that would definately be a possibility. Maybe through the Guild Companion?

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"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light."

I respect whatever decision you make Leitchy and I appreciate you stepping up and saying you'd accept that role if they asked. I don't know that it is a disadvantage on balance that you are not in the country, it might even help in avoiding any impression of bias. Further, with the Internet and Google I am sure you'd be able to quickly find ample arbitration firms and law firms that could do the job. If someone wants to nominate someone else too, that's great. But I think the next step is to make sure that we know that CGI and Robin are aware of this roadmap - unless there's a desire to alter it first?

If not, I'd be happy to email it with a delivery receipt and then the ball is in their court and that of public opinion (pun intended...).

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Björn

Mediation might possibly work. I, therefore, propose the following:

(1) Peter contact both parties and offers mediation.
(2) This forum be deleted and further public discussion of the dispute be halted.
(3) Peter solicits and receives whatever information he needs from both parties.
(4) Mediation happens.
(5a) Peter reports back to the HarnForum as to why a settlement could not be reached OR;
(5b) Peter and the parties jointly announce a new settlement.

How about:

1) Keep it private and do not involve the fan base or the public court of appeal
2) Not delete the threads that you yourself started by inflaming people and being accusatory. I can not accept an attempt to dissolve yourself of any blame for the turn of events on the forum. But it’s all of your doing. Your hubris in actuality.

3) Issue an apology to the general Harn fan base and not those few that you deem worthy of an apology because you value their contribution as superior to others. Your apology was not acceptable or sincere and you show no concern for those, like myself, who have quietly purchased and followed your works for 20+ years.
I am sorry I am not enough of a plodding sycophant to warrant your respect or apology and that is a pity for you.

3a) Open letter apology to the Harn community in general for drawing then into a personal dispute that is truly between you and CGI.
3b) An open letter of apology to all that you do not think we are thieves, liars and accountable to fraud ( that is libel by the way).


Since I doubt you will even acknowledge this post as I am not worthwhile to you. I will publicly state I will never purchase another product of yours or support you in any way until you at least fulfill issue 3 fully.

The best way to grow obsolete, or cease to exist is to have an ever increasing share of a shrinking market.

Until that time I will vote in the forum of public opinion by giving my money only to CGI until such time as you show concern for my money and interest.

Warning: lunch-spoiling imagery ahead!

Did lancing this festering boil help? I think this post is a sign that we're getting near the end of the pus. Hopefully there's not too much left. I'm still expecting one last glob of nastiness before we slap a bandage on it though.

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Cyril laugh at puny human!

Ug. I read this right in the middle of fettucine alfredo

I do agree with the hope that this is over soon.

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Brian McNeilly
Burnaby BC Canada
bmcneilly@shaw.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/harngm/

I hope your keyboard is ok.

Keyboard is OK, but the last half of my lunch was a *lot* less appetizing.

_________________
Brian McNeilly
Burnaby BC Canada
bmcneilly@shaw.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/harngm/

Far be it from me to try to dictate this process but I see a couple of pitfalls with Robin's proposal:

It puts, somewhat unfairly, I think, a very heavy burden on Peter. And it does not appear to have very sharp legal teeth - although I am sure any agreement would carry a lot of weight in this community. It has the advantage of being cheap and "easy" though. If it is more feasible this way than the way I suggested above, and therefore will happen, I am in favor of this very much as opposed to the status quo.

Those are my thoughts, I am open to being convinced otherwise.

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Björn

Yes, while Harniac's proposal is a very good one, I think it is extremely unfair to Peter. Further, unless it is ameanable to both sides, I think it is unlikely to be fruitful. A written agreement is certainly necessary, and the terms and conditions would need to be hammered out. That will be a very painful process as the mediator would need to dig through a lot of emotional baggage and pain on the part of both parties. (Not unique to this business problem... that kind of thing always happens when you have disputes like this. Rarely are the issues legal or even business related as much as they are personal and emotional.)

If both sides could get past this with Peter as mediator, he should be nominated for saint-hood.

Alas, gone are the days when dueling with swords or pistols would be preferred method for two gentlemen to settle their disputes....

Of course it's the way of those who sail under the jolly roger to put all gentlemen to the blade...

Yours in digital piracy
Nom de Plume

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A war-ferret on both your houses...

No saint, I.

I wouldn't/couldn't mediate myself, for the reasons I've already pointed out. I was volunteering for the role that Harniac spelled out for me, and that is to FIND an arbitrator that is mutually agreeable, and has the applicable legal knowledge, to carry out the mediation.

One problem I can see from this is the cost of the arbitrator; it would have to be borne by CGI and NRC equally. I certainly don't have the funds to sort out someone else's legal problems.

_________________
Cheers

Leitchy
List & Forum Admin
Admin FAQs
[Updated 25-FEB-2011]

I agree a 100% with you Leitchy. That was my basic idea, that you could help get the process started etc, but to place the mediation burden on you does not make much sense on any level. So back to CGI and NRC, why not use the roadmap orginally proposed?

Doing some fast and loose estimates, assuming 1,000 people spend $50/year on average on Harn, and a 50/50 split between CGI/NRC the income is "only" $25K/year. So I can see where several thousand dollars is a very big deal.

Would it be helpful if some more exact research into the price of this was done? The numbers for lawyers I quoted earlier I just made up, although based on my experience as a business owner they should be in the ballpark.

My opinion is that unless it is done the basic way I proposed (within the general realm of assuming an arbitrated solution should happen) I doubt any agreement will happen or much less stick.

That said, I don't really care about a roadmap, I care about Harn and any solution that keeps this community thriving and strong has my vote.

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Björn

Agreed!

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Hawk

Harn Website: http://www.boiseharn.us/

"Oh bother," said the Borg, "We've assimilated Pooh."