From: drew@snow.geology.wisc.edu (Drew Novick)
Subject: Re: rec.games.frp.campaign
Organization: Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 06:02:16 GMT

In article <BxBLtM.H60@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu> cbnorman@cayley.uwaterloo.ca () writes:
>                      Revised Proposal (November 6, 1992)
>
>                            rec.games.frp.campaign
>
>Proposed Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.campaign
>
>Type: moderated
>
>Charter: 
>    The purpose of rec.games.frp.campaign is to provide an area for the 
>posting of ongoing fantasy role-playing game campaigns, which are written up 
>in story format.  In other words, no game terminology will be used, and the 
>campaign 'moves' or 'chapters' will be in story form.  This will entertain the 
>readers of the newsgroup, and provide ideas for their own campaigns.
>    In addition, the newsgroup will also be for the discussion of existing 
>campaigns, ideas for new campaigns, and campaigning in general.

 This is a vast improvement over the previous proposal.  I only hope the
 flames surrounding the proposal die down sufficiently to actually judge
 it on its merits.

>                        Acceptable Posting Items/Topics
>
>    1. FAQ.
>
>    The FAQ will contain (of course) answers to frequently asked questions.
>Initially, it will contain the following information:
>    - The rules and purpose of .rec.games.frp.campaign
>    - A list of current GMs, their e-mail addresses, and whether or not
>      they require more players for their campaign.
>    - A list of current pbem GMs, and their e-mail addresses, and whether
>      or not they require more players for their campaign.

	Sounds like a reasonable FAQ.
>
>    2. Campaign moves.
>
>    A campaign move consists of what can be best described as a scene in a 
>movie, or a chapter in a book.  A 'move' will describe the current location 

 [precise definition of 'campaign move' deleted]

 This sounds like the meat of the proposal.  However, as others have noted
 these moves appear to be the same type of material as a good part of
 rec.games.archives.  Unless other elements in the proposal warrant the
 creation of another newsgroup, I'd say this proposal is redundant or
 a subset of rec.games.archives.

>
>    3. GM Statistical Posts
>
>    These will be restricted to once/month.  The post will include the
>background for their campaign, and possibly statistical information on the 
>characters in their campaign, or the campaign world in which the adventure 
>takes place.
>    These GM statistical posts will allow players of the same game to relate 
>to the campaign as an actual fantasy role playing game/
>
 Another item which would have to be included is the game system under 
 which the actual mechanics are taking place.  

>    4. Discussion of Campaigns
>
>    Controlled discussion of existing campaigns (live or net), ideas for new 
>campaigns, and campaigning in general.
>
 Ideas for new campaigns and campaigning in general are discussed in all 3
 of r.g.f.dnd or .advocacy or .misc.  Again, these sections are redundant
 to what is already available.

>                         Justification for Uniqueness
>
>    The campaign is one of the most important concepts of role playing.  The 
>newsgroup .campaign will provide a centralized location for fantasy role 
>players to study the campaigns of others, discuss these campaigns, and 
>campaigning in general.  While some of the posts which are described above 
>could be made in .frp newsgroups other than .campaign, .campaign will bring 
>them all together. 
>
 The only parts of this proposal which really require a new newsgroup are
 those of an FAQ (which almost any newsgroup needs), the GM statistical
 posts, and the discussion of existing campaigns.  Neither the FAQ nor 
 the GM statistical posts warrant a new newsgroup as these are very low
 traffic and could easily be incorporated into .archives if the moderater
 and those who post their campaign based stories there wanted to.

 This leaves only the discussion of ongoing campaigns as anything "new."
 I wouldn't support the creation of a new newsgroup for this purpose.  
 There is nothing stopping the discussion of the stories being posted
 in .archives on .misc but I don't see this happening right now.  I also
 feel that there isn't that much interest in discussing a particular
 campaign.  It would appear that the actual readership would be small.
 I'd recommend that the entire thing be turned into a mailing list or
 several mailing lists - one for each campaign.  The campaign moves 
 could easily be posted to .archives.  Additionally, those posts in  
 .archives could include the E-mail address for the mailing list.

 In summation, there isn't (IMHO) anything here which warrants the creation
 of a new newsgroup.  This situation seems almost ideal for a mailing
 list of somesort.  

 Drew Novick (drew@ice.geology.wisc.edu)
 HAHAHAHAHAHA - I don't have to go to Antarctica this year.  I'm so happy.
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