Excellent opportunity but who would agree to this ?

[KillerWhale]

You're always free to choose a publisher. There's no first-refusal clause in this contract.

But I can't blame Dec for incitating writers to work for them I may have bashed other aspects of the contract, but nothing at all shocks me for this one aspect.

[Robbert Raets]

...But it also means that a veteran RPG writer, with dozens of freelance projects to his name, who agrees to write an adventure gets paid less than a total newbie who's done two pulp thingies for Decipher...

[StyroFoam Man]

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

[Ineti]

Originally posted by Robbert Raets
...But it also means that a veteran RPG writer, with dozens of freelance projects to his name, who agrees to write an adventure gets paid less than a total newbie who's done two pulp thingies for Decipher...

Right. However, if that veteran RPG writer was good, he probably wouldn't waste his time writing unsolicited adventures in the hopes of getting paid. He'd contact the line developer directly with his c.v. and say "Any work for me?"

[Robbert Raets]

Originally posted by Ineti
Right. However, if that veteran RPG writer was good, he probably wouldn't waste his time writing unsolicited adventures in the hopes of getting paid. He'd contact the line developer directly with his c.v. and say "Any work for me?"

Good point.

[Ramage]

I do editing and proofreading for a living.

I am used to contracts and non-disclosure agreements of many types.

I have signed a couple where the company said it may or may not end up using the material I worked on, but I have never signed, and never would sign, a contract that would say that I might not get credit for the work I do.

I have to wonder who drew up this contract? Did the person who did so actually have any legal training? If s/he did, then s/he is a shyster; if s/he didn't, why did they allow someone with no training to do so.

Contracts are the language of business. The language used is precise, often overly and brutally so. To have such a sloppy (or dangerous, depending) contract does not speak well for those who would use it as the basis of an agreement.

[Don Mappin]

Watch the language (of the discussion). You don't like the contract, that's fine. Don't sign it and discuss it all you'd like. No need to resort to foul language.

[Don Mappin]

Originally posted by Ineti
Right. However, if that veteran RPG writer was good, he probably wouldn't waste his time writing unsolicited adventures in the hopes of getting paid. He'd contact the line developer directly with his c.v. and say "Any work for me?"

Bingo.

This contract (and submissions open call) is not intended for industry professionals.

[CorpBoy]

Originally posted by Ineti
Right. However, if that veteran RPG writer was good, he probably wouldn't waste his time writing unsolicited adventures in the hopes of getting paid. He'd contact the line developer directly with his c.v. and say "Any work for me?"

I hate showing my ignorance, but what's a "c.v."?

[Ineti]

Originally posted by CorpBoy
I hate showing my ignorance, but what's a "c.v."?

Curriculum vitae, basically a fancy term for a resume. A c.v. could list publishing credits, among other things.

[Ezri's Toy]

Originally posted by Ineti
Curriculum vitae, basically a fancy term for a resume. A c.v. could list publishing credits, among other things.

Addendum: Plus, a C.V. goes into much greater detail than a resume and can, and usually does, include a medical history.

C.V.s are common in Europe and abroad. In America, it is illegal for an employer to consider medical history as part of the terms of employment, so the resume format is standard in the States.

[KillerWhale]

Medical conditions are almost never included in European CVs...?

Anyway, we're OT

[Ergi]

Originally posted by Ezri's Toy

C.V.s are common in Europe and abroad. In America, it is illegal for an employer to consider medical history as part of the terms of employment, so the resume format is standard in the States.

Obviously I am living in Germany which, last time I checked, is pretty much in the center of Europe. This is really the first time I am hearing of including a medical history into one's application.
That's something I could imagine to be commonplace in some states of the US but not over here.

[Liquidator Queeg]

Originally posted by StyroFoam Man
That one phrase is going to drive alot of prespective writers away. If I submit my work, I want a YES WE PAY YOU or NO WE DONT answer, not "Maybe."

Unfortunately, in the RPG business, even if you get a contract that says you'll be paid, you still may wind up getting shafted and not paid. Particularly with "on spec" submissions or with small-time publishers.

Not that it's ever happened to me. No, never.

Most writers just suck it up as a "learning experience" and move on to work with other publishers who stand behind their words (and contracts). Yes, it works both ways, writers don't just have good and bad reps, publishers do too.

Steve

[Ezri's Toy]

Originally posted by Steven A Cook
Unfortunately, in the RPG business, even if you get a contract that says you'll be paid, you still may wind up getting shafted and not paid. Particularly with "on spec" submissions or with small-time publishers.

Not that it's ever happened to me. No, never.

Most writers just suck it up as a "learning experience" and move on to work with other publishers who stand behind their words (and contracts). Yes, it works both ways, writers don't just have good and bad reps, publishers do too.

Steve

Right.

Despite all my negative commentary, I'd still like to write and submit something _if_ I'm *guaranteed* fair treatment (which is what a contract is . . . a mutual agreement of fair terms.)

So, to that end, I showed the contract to an attorney in the family to get his opinion. After 10 minutes of reading it, he handed it back to me, called it "a sucker's contract," and went on to list all the ways that author credit, payment, or rights could be denied a writer under the agreement.

After this consultation, my opinion was that the contract was practically a license to steal. While that is not a reflection of the practices or ethics currently used by Decipher or its employees, the contract does not guarantee what I regard as fair practice and I believe it should.

Regardless of whether the contract is for new writers or industry professionals, I believe the provisions of the agreement in question are wholly unfair and, as much as I would love to see a Star Trek RPG credit to my name, I would not submit anything to Decipher under those terms.