The Inside Scoop on Gaming

RPGnet and Skotos would like to announce that RPGnet is a wholly owned part of Skotos, and has been for five months now. We really, really would like to. However, we haven't gotten around to doing that. Doing a formal press release takes time! In lieu of that, though, we'll just update the FAQ.

1. Does Sandy Still Own RPGnet?: No, but then, Sandy never owned RPGnet. First his wife owned it, and due to time issues let him guide it as he wished. Now it's owned by Skotos (which is a corporation, and to whom Sandy is not married to), and they let him guide it as he wishes. Except that Allan is in the picture. Allan is also not married to Sandy. Allan is new FAQ item #3, and also #6.
2. So Who Does Operate RPGnet?: Allan does (see #6, below). Sandy is in some sort of vague delusional/patriarchal position wherein, lacking any authority, he still makes suggestions about future direction and plans. Sandy always used to do this, however, prior to the Skotos acquisition there was only his wife, and she didn't listen much. Now, Allan (#6, below) listens, and then we still don't do Sandy's suggestions because we don't have time (#11, below).
3. Ah, So Allan Is Skotos?: No, actually, Allan is with Wizard's Attic.
4. So Wizard's Attic owns RPGnet?: No. Actually, the connections are pretty tenuous in some ways.
5. I'm confused!: Yes, understandably, you are.
6. So Who Is Allan?: Allan is Allan Sugarbaker, formerly of Gamers.com and also progenitor of OgreCave.com. He's taken up the operations of RPGnet and handles most of the daily stuff-- in fact, everything except columns. Allan is so good at this that, if he did not exist, it would have been necessary to invent him. He's also been rebuilding our underlying volunteer operations crew.
7. So what is Skotos's role, again?: They own RPGnet. All the profits that flow from this free site are theirs to keep. In return, they pay the monthly bills and also fund software development. We're hoping to add revenue-generating features (like paid ads, stores, etc) to offset costs. We'd also like to add merchandise (t-shirts, etc), and other fun stuff. The goal is not for RPGnet to be profitable, but for RPGnet to offset its own costs while enabling Secret Plan #13.
8. Why Was RPGnet sold?: Many reasons. i) Emma and Sandy wanted to. ii) Sandy moved to full time status on his PhD and couldn't keep up. iii) We had legal bills from 2000 to cover. iv) We wanted RPGnet to grow, and that required corporate backing. v) We found an independent (i.e. not game company or store) buyer. vi) We'd promised a 5-year mission, and lasted for all 5. Time for new blood. vii) Emma got cash, but Sandy still gets to Soapbox-- score!!
9. Will Skotos's ownership change RPGnet's independent status?: It hasn't in five months, so, no, not likely.
10. Will RPGnet continue as a separate entity, or merge into the Skotos site?: We've been separate for 5 months, and will remain so.
11. Will... oh, heck, all of these are the same.: The past four months show that RPGnet will continue in its fiesty, independent tradition. Skotos has Skotos business to handle, and that takes all their time and staff. RPGnet is, to a large degree, a marketing and development cost for them. It's only retaining our independence and our volunteer focus (both of which go hand-in-hand) that an operation like RPGnet is feasible in such a low-margin industry as the gaming hobby.
12. What Does the Future Hold?: Since we operate under a glass door policy (i.e. all direction and decision is generally visible to anyone who bothers), most of this has already been stated in the forums and soapboxes. We'd like to offer premium content (on top of the free content), or create an RPGnet club. Virtual events are likely. RPGnet-only access to Skotos gaming stuff is likely. Basically, the same sort of growth we've always wanted to do, but lacked time for (see #10, above, or see #13, below).
13. What is the Secret Plan?: We don't have time to do the stuff we say we want to do, why do you think we have time for secret plans? Secret plans are, therefore, scheduled on our agenda for late 2004, with a projected 2 year development time plus extra leeway for the expected creation of the secret police. We promised the Bitter Guy all of New Zealand if he agreed. If you don't get this joke, go back and re-read every column ever published by anyone on RPGnet. (That won't clarify things, but it's good reading!)
14. Is this serious?: Actually, yes. We just don't take things that seriously.
15. Disclosures: Sandy and Emma received equity in Skotos as part of the sale of RPGnet to them. So cynics can see this as "they are tools of the corporate machine", idealists can see this as "this means they have a vested interest in keeping RPGnet cool!", and pragmatists can see this as "wouldn't a lottery ticket be more valuable than equity in an internet-based company". :)

Soapbox: About the Industry

13 New FAQs

What do you think?

All Soapboxes

Other columns at RPGnet


Soapbox: About the Industry 13 New FAQs by Sandy Antunes April 10, 2002	RPGnet and Skotos would like to announce that RPGnet is a wholly owned part of Skotos, and has been for five months now. We really, really would like to. However, we haven't gotten around to doing that. Doing a formal press release takes time! In lieu of that, though, we'll just update the FAQ. 1. Does Sandy Still Own RPGnet? No, but then, Sandy never owned RPGnet. First his wife owned it, and due to time issues let him guide it as he wished. Now it's owned by Skotos (which is a corporation, and to whom Sandy is not married to), and they let him guide it as he wishes. Except that Allan is in the picture. Allan is also not married to Sandy. Allan is new FAQ item #3, and also #6. 2. So Who Does Operate RPGnet? Allan does (see #6, below). Sandy is in some sort of vague delusional/patriarchal position wherein, lacking any authority, he still makes suggestions about future direction and plans. Sandy always used to do this, however, prior to the Skotos acquisition there was only his wife, and she didn't listen much. Now, Allan (#6, below) listens, and then we still don't do Sandy's suggestions because we don't have time (#11, below). 3. Ah, So Allan Is Skotos? No, actually, Allan is with Wizard's Attic. 4. So Wizard's Attic owns RPGnet? No. Actually, the connections are pretty tenuous in some ways. 5. I'm confused! Yes, understandably, you are. 6. So Who Is Allan? Allan is Allan Sugarbaker, formerly of Gamers.com and also progenitor of OgreCave.com. He's taken up the operations of RPGnet and handles most of the daily stuff-- in fact, everything except columns. Allan is so good at this that, if he did not exist, it would have been necessary to invent him. He's also been rebuilding our underlying volunteer operations crew. 7. So what is Skotos's role, again? They own RPGnet. All the profits that flow from this free site are theirs to keep. In return, they pay the monthly bills and also fund software development. We're hoping to add revenue-generating features (like paid ads, stores, etc) to offset costs. We'd also like to add merchandise (t-shirts, etc), and other fun stuff. The goal is not for RPGnet to be profitable, but for RPGnet to offset its own costs while enabling Secret Plan #13. 8. Why Was RPGnet sold? Many reasons. i) Emma and Sandy wanted to. ii) Sandy moved to full time status on his PhD and couldn't keep up. iii) We had legal bills from 2000 to cover. iv) We wanted RPGnet to grow, and that required corporate backing. v) We found an independent (i.e. not game company or store) buyer. vi) We'd promised a 5-year mission, and lasted for all 5. Time for new blood. vii) Emma got cash, but Sandy still gets to Soapbox-- score!! 9. Will Skotos's ownership change RPGnet's independent status? It hasn't in five months, so, no, not likely. 10. Will RPGnet continue as a separate entity, or merge into the Skotos site? We've been separate for 5 months, and will remain so. 11. Will... oh, heck, all of these are the same. The past four months show that RPGnet will continue in its fiesty, independent tradition. Skotos has Skotos business to handle, and that takes all their time and staff. RPGnet is, to a large degree, a marketing and development cost for them. It's only retaining our independence and our volunteer focus (both of which go hand-in-hand) that an operation like RPGnet is feasible in such a low-margin industry as the gaming hobby. 12. What Does the Future Hold? Since we operate under a glass door policy (i.e. all direction and decision is generally visible to anyone who bothers), most of this has already been stated in the forums and soapboxes. We'd like to offer premium content (on top of the free content), or create an RPGnet club. Virtual events are likely. RPGnet-only access to Skotos gaming stuff is likely. Basically, the same sort of growth we've always wanted to do, but lacked time for (see #10, above, or see #13, below). 13. What is the Secret Plan? We don't have time to do the stuff we say we want to do, why do you think we have time for secret plans? Secret plans are, therefore, scheduled on our agenda for late 2004, with a projected 2 year development time plus extra leeway for the expected creation of the secret police. We promised the Bitter Guy all of New Zealand if he agreed. If you don't get this joke, go back and re-read every column ever published by anyone on RPGnet. (That won't clarify things, but it's good reading!) 14. Is this serious? Actually, yes. We just don't take things that seriously. 15. Disclosures Sandy and Emma received equity in Skotos as part of the sale of RPGnet to them. So cynics can see this as "they are tools of the corporate machine", idealists can see this as "this means they have a vested interest in keeping RPGnet cool!", and pragmatists can see this as "wouldn't a lottery ticket be more valuable than equity in an internet-based company". :)