[MR] OT: Building "Atlantia" for a NWN Persistent World - "SCA the Dream"

[Timothy Carter]

You voice good concerns.   An alternative is to use similarities, such that those that know the reference my get a tongue-in-cheek thrill recognizing the source.  Such similarity-references exist in many game venues, such as the bar wench NPC, "Haris Pilton," in World fo Warcraft.
 
Other names, being rather common, Ragnar, for instance, was recently used in The Golden Compass, and though that Ragnar was a king, I highly doubt anyone could link that Ragnar to our own of royal blood (ok, this is NOT an invitation to bombard him with polar bears!).  Is it then possible to encounter a brewer named Gunther? Sure, and we of Atlantian, expecially in the Marinus and Tir-y-Don, know a brewer named Gunther.  The reference is there, but as Gunther took the name from historical reference, this proves there are others and the names may therefore be used; however, to name the brewer, "Gunther von Lindenwald" is clearly a more precise reference and perhaps ought to require permissions/releases and such.
 
Bringing the SCA into the game format may bring similar issues, such as those you voiced.  Slight alterations of places and people ought to avoid those potential conflicts, as will removing the SCA name and devices associated with the organization.
 
Personally, it thrills me that there is the potential, albeit in a game format, to visit the far reaches of our kingdom, and other kingdoms, without the need of a high gas bill or plane ticket.  That well known names/personaes of those places may become somewhat familiar as their stories and culture become better known, I think, is a great idea.
 
Who still remembers the great shield wall of of the once city-state Dinas Moryn?  Who knows how to catch a red dragon?  Who knows The Lodge?  Who has never made it to Pennsic but would love to experience its flavor?  Another aspect of this game its is potential to teach who the SCA is: its ideals, culture, people, and serve as an introduction to the real life society we are.  The game may become a gateway for some to learn about the SCA in a depth greater than a paper pamphlet and a phone number.
 
My 2 cents.
 
-Lord Gunther von Lindenwald> Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:10:10 -0800> From: koldune at yahoo.com> To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> Subject: Re: [MR] OT: Building "Atlantia" for a NWN Persistent World - "SCA the Dream"> > Well, hmmmm. A possible, if remotely so, fly in the ointment occurs to> me. > > 1. Might there be any possible entanglements of the sort that could be> construed as the Society endorsing this? > > 2. When would such entanglements surface?> > 3. Should they be avoided?> > I recall a message from the BoD some months back, about some Scadians> being approached by the TV reality show Wife Swap. I recall the Society> leadership then saying, "No, no, a thousand times no" to the idea of> the Society's name and emblems, or those of any of its groups, being> used by that television show. I think that was done for a reason,> namely that participating in the show in question would only cheapen> our reputation as a worthwhile passtime. Might there be some similar> aspect in this game that the Socieety might want to avoid. I rather> doubt it, given that Scadians started it. I think the question should> at least be asked and adjudicated early on, though, if only to assure> people like me that we're concerned over nothing.> > Personally, if there are no undesirable entanglements possible for the> Society (I can't think of any, but I'm not a lawyer), I might find the> idea of my persona name as a nonplayer character in an online game> rather flattering. I could only honorably make that decision for> myself, however. I should think that the decision to use an existing> group's name, to be equally honorable, might have to be made by polling> the group. The game is online, asI understand it, and thus availble to> almost anyone. I(f it would tarnish our reputation, then a ruling thus> should be made early on.> > What do people think? Should we refer this up the administrative chain?> > Darri Kveldulfsson, incipeinent Canton of Abhiann Iarthair, in the> Barony of Stierbach.> > Skal ek rathandi (I shall endure [11th-century Icelandic]).> Per chevron erminois and argent, a chevron azure and in base a serpent nowed gules> The greatest school of magic is life itself; the strongest spell, the one you cast yourself.> > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs> ========================================================================> The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside> List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/> Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia