I've received some e-mails recently asking about the re-launch of the site. I've put it on hold internally for a number of reasons. I'm now going to outline those reasons and give you some insight into my thinking (or lack thereof).
Originally TrekRPGNet was going to merge with the Decipher RPG & Miniatures Studio to form a single, comprehensive web site to cover both the Star Trek and Lord of the Rings RPGs. The recent closure of the RPG studio in LA has put these plans to an abrupt halt. (As well as the dismissal of all of my business contacts.) Prior to this, I prepared by working with Owen Oulton to transfer all the non-Decipher content to his site, Memory Icon. Owen continues to do a fine job in maintaining the Star Trek RPG legacy that began here in 1998 (?) at TrekRPGNet.
Now the question that preoccupies me is what exactly to *do* with the TrekRPGNet site? To be honest, my energy to continue these efforts, supporting an RPG that even the company seems reticent to support, doesn't strike me as the best option at this time. Don't misunderstand my love of Star Trek role-playing; I wouldn't have been doing this for six years at my own expense if I didn't enjoy it in some large part.
But it's no secret that Trek's popularity is waning, even before the closure of the RPG studio. This is a good time for me, IMO, to take stock of the situation and ask myself if its time to let the site go.
Running this site has taken a lot of time, energy, and money. To date, a conservative sum of $8,000 out of my pocket, just in hosting fees, as an example. I've never asked for handouts and nor do I intend to. However, as businessman during my day job I have to consider that, at some point, TrekRPGNet needs to be self-sufficient.
To that end I've played around with some ideas on how to fund the site or provide a membership program. Something cheap, like $1 a month, for a 60-day exclusive content window, membership perks, etc. Also opening up the site for advertising as well. Unfortunately, because of the situations cited above, this may be too little too late. Is there enough community energy to support such a transition? Maybe, maybe not.
A larger problem is the site being derivative of, and dependent upon, a property owned by another entity. I could easily write a few sourcebooks in the same vein as my good friend Steve Long, but I can't legally charge for them. Plus, with the future of the Decipher RPG still up in the air, it makes it difficult trying to hit a moving target.
So, is it time to move on?
Right now I'm on the fence and, admittedly, a bit blue about the whole Decipher situation. However a decision needs to be made, if not out of a sense of closure then at least to not keep stringing you fine folks along. Yes, in the end, I'm still thinking about all of you and the "right thing" to do which is why I pose the question to you all, from here where do we go?
Yours,
Don Mappin