Originally Posted by SveNitoR (Post 1061680449)

Ok. So this is more your backup plan if other good options fail?

And for you to do that, you'd go that route to protect yourself and others who are responsible for the site?

Originally Posted by Ripper (Post 1061680444)

Well, it's probably easier to explain what I will actually do if this isn't sorted out in a more official way, and the Watch is going to die.

I already have a couple of VPS running various services, and I've tested some forum and CMS solutions, just out of interest and to see if I like them.

I would acquire a suitable domain, but I would maintain my anonymity that has always been important to me. That makes me the legal entity responsible for any issues, and I am then fine with that risk.

But, being anonymous doesn't do a great deal to inspire trust. So, I would invite trusted members of the community to help with the backend - partly to help with the chores, but also to confirm the integrity of what we're doing.

Initially I'd pay for it myself, but in the future I would have nothing to do with the money. I would ask a highly trusted member of the community to act as bursar, and any fundraising and its usage would go purely through them, with transparent accounting, and nowhere near me.

There would be a policy of no adverts, trackers, or data-dealing shenanigans of any kind.

I would consult the community on what our rules of conduct should be, and I'll bear whatever vanishingly small legal risk there is after whatever we agree.

I would set up the news site and a forum separately, as I see an advantage in them being independent entities. In part, it's a case of Keep It Simple Stupid - running services as close as possible to what they provide out of the box is what keeps maintenance headaches to a minimum. Then, depending on whether people get on board and want to take it forward, the news site could developed with as much or as little fancy Watch database stuff as we care to do.

First, I'd see if I could get some newsposters on board, because there's no site without them, and I would see if I could persuade people to be moderators, because that's a pain in the arse. [emoji14]

And then we'd see what happens.

But, as I say, I'd like to see if there's an official solution first, as I think it's overwhelmingly likely that the community would go with that option first, and I would have wasted my time, weeping in an empty forum. [emoji14] And I don't think it would be good to create a schism between competing options, if that can be avoided.

Originally Posted by Redglyph (Post 1061680420)

Just to be sure, what would be still left for us to do, in that case? I mean in our to-do list to transfer the site (choice of software, custom code, transfer the the db, …)? I suppose they wouldn't handle everything themselves?

Originally Posted by Myrthos (Post 1061680466)

In this specific case everything would be taking care of. Transferring all the files of the site, the database and getting it operational. RPGWatch would be fully operational, but hosted by someone else. In this case I would probably assist with the transfer to make it more efficient.


There are still discussion topics though and nothing is certain.

Originally Posted by Pladio (Post 1061680465)

So we have a volunteer? [emoji14]

Originally Posted by Ripper (Post 1061680472)

I might do it anyway, and keep it in reserve, just in case our new overlord turns out to be a wrongun'. :p

Originally Posted by Couchpotato (Post 1061680486)

That rules me out. Anyway just be careful with that slang term.:p

It just doesn't mean what people reading it think it means.:biggrin:

On a side note I'm starting to think your someone high on the command chain. I remember you alluding to this when talking about the English Government.:salute:

Originally Posted by Ripper (Post 1061680487)

Lol. Over here wrongun' is fairly common slang that means a dodgy person, or sometimes, literally a rectum. Is there some worse version I should know about? :p

Originally Posted by Couchpotato (Post 1061680488)

Check the urban dictionary for slang use of the word.:biggrin:

Link - https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wrongun

Originally Posted by HiddenX (Post 1061680505)

Who is this?
http://rpgwatch.net/

Originally Posted by henriquejr (Post 1061680506)

Ripper, are you already working on the new site? :)

Originally Posted by Ripper (Post 1061680489)

I'm kind of curious, though, who is considering taking on the whole old codebase, which Myrthos said had no future. The amount of hassle and resources involved would make me wondwr if it's someone who sees an opportunity in monetising the Watch.