This is the End?

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Don Mappin

Mostly…I'll miss the people. After it's shut down, will I ever speak with Aslan, Ineti, or [insert name here] again?

Hey man, the beauty of the internet is that it takes so little effort to stay in touch

Come over the the FBR or even drop an e-mail my way, I promise to always reply

[RaconteurX]

Don, you kept plugging away in the face of continued adversity to an extent which is nigh unbelievable. I would say you did everything but let us down.

[redwood973]

Like many others who have stated so, this was the first board I had ever joined. I had just gotten my first computer and my first LUG game book (TNG Corebook). A few days after having both I put "Last Unicorn Games" into the search thing. . .and found TrekRPGNet.

I couldn't imagine gaming all these past years without it. Not only for the wonderful projects and ideas you all have provided, but becuse of the ready supply of aid and assistance given whenever asked.

A while back someone started a post about their favorite play aids. I would have to say mine has been TrekRPGNet. It will be a shame to see it go. I not only keep up to date on all the current posts, but also like to poke around the older posts on a regular basis. It's amazing the amount of information available here for a Trek gamer.

Thanks Don.

[Cut]

Originally posted by Don Mappin


Yet for all this I still feel as if I've failed you all. I could keep the site running indefinitely but I think I really need to step away. Move aside and let some new creative people, full of energy, step in and help drive the community. On the other hand, the thought of flipping a switch and deleting the site….wow, it's like killing something that I helped create. Once it's gone….it's gone. The thought makes me sick to my stomach.

Honestly I didn't know the site meant so much to so many people. It always meant a lot to me but to others, I had no idea.

Hi Don...

Perhaps there is the chance, that some of us keep at least the forums somehow alive, so that you don't have to "flip that swith"and we all can keep the shared history alive!

Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful for all the time you've put into this and have the greatest respect for the decision you have made, but if there is a chance to let the site stay on, couldn't we explore that possibility?

That would give you the possibility "to step away" but also you could come back into things, when you find the time or feel the need.

And yes, I know that you have thought this through before making your announcment in the first place...

Perhaps I'm stepping over a line here, never having had too much influence and contacts here, but I somehow felt the need to post this.

Thank you, Nico

ah, just one more thing, that has also been said before but never mind: you definately didn't fail any one of us!

Trek-RPG.net is one of only three online forums I call myself member of and it is the first one (as with many other users here) I ever joined.

[REG]

Originally posted by Don Mappin

I wish the best to you all. The possibilities I see are endless. I just wish I had the time to make us all happy.

With all due respect, Don, you've made us all happy the past six years. And honestly, I could not ask you to do more.

I got some wonderful memories here, from the time we discussed almost every DS9 episodes (and how it could be used in gaming) in the mailing list to the grand opening of your web site (formerly TrekRPG.net) and messageboards. We discussed, we debated, we submitted material, etc. Good memories. Good experiences. Not gonna forget'em.

[Tobian]

In which case can you not simply transfer the site to another person who's willing?

I realise the running costs of this thing are huge, but then perhaps we could club together and look seriously about the paid sponsorship idea ? At the very least a Paypal slushfund for whoever wants to pay to own the site... In the case of this site it's not just the domain name it's self, which technically speaking is relativelly cheap, it's the bandwith!

Don, really, Don, the website has been good and with luck the community will still survive, and the reason for that was and still is because of your tenacity. No one however should make themselves a martyr, and if you don't have the energy to do it all yourself - err don't We don't need your blood

[JALU3]

Well this is depressing . . . I know I haven't been very active since I haven't had an RPG group to call my own. However, I would always troll in here, and this place has been invaluable to me.

Yet, all good things . . . must come to an end.

So I guess I must hurry and cut and past all those interesting tidbits that may be useful later.

[Ineti]

Originally posted by Tobian
In which case can you not simply transfer the site to another person who's willing?

I realise the running costs of this thing are huge, but then perhaps we could club together and look seriously about the paid sponsorship idea ? At the very least a Paypal slushfund for whoever wants to pay to own the site... In the case of this site it's not just the domain name it's self, which technically speaking is relativelly cheap, it's the bandwith!

I'm all for this. Unfortunately, I know nothing about running a domain or a forum or whatnot. That level of technical ability is beyond me.

I'm capable of wiring money into a Paypal account, though. Is anyone willing to take over the logistical aspects of running the board knowing others are willing to kick in to help the operating expenses?

[Lt Cmdr Matt]

Originally posted by Ineti
I'm all for this. Unfortunately, I know nothing about running a domain or a forum or whatnot. That level of technical ability is beyond me.

I'm capable of wiring money into a Paypal account, though. Is anyone willing to take over the logistical aspects of running the board knowing others are willing to kick in to help the operating expenses?

I can do all the technical stuff. But I have no money.

[Ineti]

Originally posted by Lt Cmdr Matt
I can do all the technical stuff. But I have no money.

Well, there you go. Talk to Don and figure out what it would cost to take over things, and then crack the whip on us to start dropping money into a Paypal hat.

[Cut]

I don't know how to put money in a slashfound via PayPal but I'm willing to learn that!!!

Count me in.

[Tobian]

Well assuming the person who sets it up knows what they are doing, it's not hard for te end - user to use it. you simply set up an account with Paypal, which goes towards the running sites of the site. For the end user; you simply register with paypal and designate how much you want to pay via a credit/debit card. it's quite simple.

[Dr. Jonas Bashir]

As Ambassador Riva said, it's a matter of turning a disadvantage into an advantage.

Don: I guessed something like that was upcoming. First of all, I must thank you heaps for all the work, time and dedication you put into this project. Six years of holding up with two company changes and two systems. A community of over a hundred really active members, and an extended family of surely over a thousand. You don't have to worry: we have grown up. And for sure someone will take the torch (both spiritually and financially) and go on.

You go with your family, my man. They are the ones who matter.

Furthermore, I'd say the most important things here are two: keeping the community together, and migrating the content. It would be very important to get the unedited material Don has in his virtual shelves, so if someone takes the domain and website, it can go on developing it.

And also, if there's any intention of forming a cooperative workforce for keeping Trek-RPG running, I'm willing to collaborate. As always, I'm available. I'll be checking a little more often now (though I never really left )

[redwood973]

Does anyone have an idea of how much getting an existing message board, and then its operating costs, would cost?

I am all in favor of supporting in via PayPal, but could we? What are the costs of such a thing?

[Sundowner]

Hey Don,

I just wanted to say thanks, and i understand why you're letting thie forum go, but damn, it's a shame. Like many, this was the 1st forum i've ever subscribed to, and i've got an incredible amount of satisfaction & fun reading the threads here, it's provided plenty of ideas for trek role playing.

It's been a blast Don, where ever the winds take you, i'd like to say thanks for keeping it going as long as you have, and i hope one day someone will pick up the reigns so we can read the past material posted here. I don't have as much time to surf as i'd like, and the thought of all this combined brain power and material just dissapering is not plesant.

But at the end of the day Real Life must come first, no matter how much we enjoy Trek, so take care, and thanks again.

Sundowner