An Open Letter:
"The Difference Between Giving Warning
And Making a Threat"

--By Darren O'Riley

While hosting the last Quest in Crystal Shores, it came to my attention that someone in the world of gaming, a fellow owner, isn't too thrilled that I've chosen starchat as the server host of Broken Saga, the Crystal Shores Epilogue. While I know not the full extent of this game owner's dismay, I did have to laugh, and heartily.

I am a model tenant as a Head GM and game owner, for the following reasons:

1. I do not enforce standards on a whim; some standards are put in place by the Server Owner, and those standards were never compromised during our tenure in RPGworlds. Things will not change in our new home.

However, this person's dismay might lie within the fact that the staff at that game ran afoul of RPGworlds rules, as well as Crystal Shores RPG rules, too many times to count, and perhaps this person is fearful that retaliation will be the order du jour.

I assure you, it will not be. I am not -that- petty.

It is not our habit, common custom or practice, or even slightly tolerated behavior if my people were to spam, flood, or otherwise disrupt other rooms. My policy on this has been stated in the rules since day one, and that policy is not changing as we move into the Broken Saga. It's unfortunate that my policy wasn't adopted by this person as well; there could've been more harmony and less nonsense in the interim.

2. I don't tolerate plagiarism. This entails characters submitted with trademarked names, nor will I rip off others' games, by lifting content and pasting it here. Crystal Shores was victimized by this other game, in the form of some of the Bazaar's shoppes turning up repackaged (different colors, too-similar text), which added insult to the injury of their hosts trying to disrupt the chat server. In other words, not only were my rooms being screwed with, so was my website. When I appealed to that game owner to solve the problem, I was met with exasperated sighs, rapid blinking, and utter disgust. If someone had come to me with those problems, and with proof (which I provided), I would've resolved the problem on the spot, rather than letting the matter linger ad nauseum.

If this person feels as if there's going to be some sort of -problem- with our move, then that person should look no further than the people of that game. Because the problem won't be related to me.

3. RPGs on IRC are, generally, less well-attended than they were just a year or two ago.. Many rooms struggle to gain and retain a handful of devoted players. If this person feels that I am angling to 'steal' any of their existing players, again, I assure that this is not the case. I have been modestly successful here, and owe this to my hosts and following. The way things are run here, vs. the game in question, are night and day. I doubt the same dynamic would be attracted to both games. I am not courting those people to leave -that- room and join mine. I have never been big on 'numbers', for a full room of IRC chatters does not an RPG make. I would be more than happy to continue the current practice of pre-announcing quests and largely playing the game on the boards, while my hosts still wish a regular chat-based area. Therefore, the chat area will be offered. I cannot control people from choosing my game over another's, but I am not seeking this to happen.

In other words, if that person were a Wal-Mart, and I were a Target that built across the street..it's healthy competition, if you wish to look at it that way. There is no -threat-, though.

So, as it came back to me that there will be "problems" when I arrive on that server..I assure you, that this shall not be the case. Consider this fair warning that I will continue to be a model tenant in my new surroundings. I will work with the IRCops when server rules are disregarded and I am personally attacked, as thuggery seemed to be a strong suit of this person's 'goons'. Is this a threat? No. This is the difference between a warning and a threat..I make good on my words and promises, and conduct myself above reproach.

I do hope that the other person in the gaming world, at long last, follows suit. It would truly be a breath of fresh air.

If You Vote For Us

--By The Crystal Shores RPG Staff Team
Once more, we'd like to thank our players who deem us worthy of a great honor for visiting RPG Gateway and voting for Crystal Shores. To ensure that everything along the lines of rules of voting are clear, we wish to reprint the ironclad rules that appeared here Edition last.

1. Don't even think of voting more than once a day. That's cheating, and you'll be caught. RPG Gateway's system is set up to prevent cheats.
2. Don't vote maliciously against other sites to make us 'look good'. Just as we have zero tolerance with players who crash others' rooms and try to promote the game they play in, we also don't like to think someone would vote other sites as a "1", the lowest possible vote, if the other sites were undeserving.
3. Voting is a choice, not an obligation. You will not, of course, get bonus XP, GP or considerations because you wish to exercise your honest opinion. :)

Rate this site between one and five stars, where five stars is an absolute "Must See" web site that no one should miss and one star is a "Don't bother." 1 - Don't Bother2 - Might be Useful3 - Interesting4 - Try to Get There5 - Don't Miss!

NOTE To All Players:
A Pirates' site, specifically for the crew of the Prairie Oyster is completed. Please visit it at Its Own location.

In addition, the special site that pertains to all mages, called, simply and to the point, 'Magik for Mages', is still available. It is the Official Magic User's Guide to Crystal Shores Lost, and Broken Saga RPGs.
Please read up on the spells and rules at Magik of Mages.