Question on modding etiquette

[Taffy6]

Dear brothers,

I'm looking for some advice on modding etiquette from the community. I have tried the search feature but haven't exactly found an answer.

I am in the "build" stage of a full-on 1985-era MC DF-85 campaign after over two years of research, OOB building, unit-art gathering, doctrinal study etc. I am basically completely re-building the default West Germany 1985 campaign from the ground up, with a heavily researched and accurate 1985-era OOB (I hope, best 28 months of work and re-work could create). I will probably call it "Zapad-85" in honor of the original concept of attack by Tiller, Saunders and Blackie, Dave Gillies, Mark Breed, Marc Bellizzi and first modified by Edward "Volcano Man" Williams.

The unit combat values are mostly based on Tazaaron's Bolt from the Blue 4.7 and/or in some cases default vanilla, but set in 1985 and with a few minor changes. I have also borrowed and/or lifted concepts from Zemke's WWIII and Volcano Man's ALT campaigns in regards to operational concepts like Move Points, terrain effects, some PDT values, etc etc. I have also put together what I consider to be an extremely plausible WP attack scenario complete with Soviet-led Frontal organizations and a realistic WP command and control structure, an accurate NATO alert and reinforcement schedule, a realistic casus-belli, strategies etc etc.

Before I even contemplate releasing version 1.0 for play testing, I was curious as to what other experienced modders might have to say about modding etiquette in this community? For example, I am not an artist, but the counter art I have built this mod upon is almost entirely built on Bolt out of the Blue or else Zemke's WWIII counter art, plus stuff done by Volcano, plus stuff I have publically picked up here and there from other people. I have been working on this mod for so long that I cant even find some of the sources of the art any more, for example the "UW" tank package released by I think Mikayl (?). The art is fantastic, but other than some repaints here and there, it is not my work. I also use Jison's Map Mod, so "Zapad-85" will be 100% compatible with it and [thus not included] but fantastic to behold when meshed.

Anyway, almost none of this work except for the hundreds of hours spent in scenario research (why attack, how attack, where attack etc etc) is mine. 90% of it is based on the fantastic work of others, work I have enjoyed playing and studying, some of whom don't seem to hang out at the Blitz anymore as far as I can tell. For those who I can contact, I of course will be privately asking for permission before I kick off any release.

My question to the modders in the community is, when you release a mod based on the work of others, how do you proceed when you can't get in touch with the original author upon whose work your own is based? Did I miss a posted modding guide somewhere on the Blitz?

I'm still quite a ways out from first release, and will be collaborating with some Blitzer's here for help with playtesting, scenario construction etc. Just wanted to get a head start on the "Get Permission" part so as not to inadvertently plagiarize or steal.

Regards,
Taffy

[Ricky B]

Taffy, a very good question and good that you asked it. We don't have any suggestions, and definitely no rules, on that type of thing here - it is between you, the source creators, and potential HPS/JTS and John Tiller, as the game licensing agreements may cover somethign on ownership rights on third party mods.

Personally, I would have settled on one source for the art, if possible, but as that is a bit too late, I don't have any advice there. Normally I would suggest get permission from the creator of the art or work with someone to create missing parts, etc.

Regarding the other parts, I would say it depends on how much and how close it is. It would probably be good to ask the main sources that you can find - most of who you listed are still accessible and can be easily reached, so I would start with just letting them know. If you used major parts, then it would be really good of you to let them know what specifically you are using.

Otherwise, I don't think there is any obligation to do more, not sure what more could be done - and if you aren't selling it (and I think your selling anything based on the games would violate the game license anyway) then there are probably no legal restrictions to the use.

Regards
Rick

[Volcano Man]

Well, since you asked, I say that (speaking only for myself), I do not mind. The only thing I do mind about artwork is if someone *duplicates* files I have in my own art packs because I sometimes update those images and duplicates just confuses people. So, it would be nice if you included only what is new to your mod, and suggest to the user to install an art pack of some sort before you install the mod, so that the art pack will install 90% of the art you intend, then your mod will replace or add the rest. This approach saves on confusion, redundancy and files size too.

Other than that, it is always nice if you credited others in your a ReadMe file or in the scenario's description, but beyond that I do not think anyone is that up tight about it as long as you give them credit.

[JDR Dragoon]

Use the common acedemic principle of acknowledging your source. Either in the Scenario Description, or, if that becomes too long winded, in an accompanying README file.

Will be interesting to see your interpretation and see how it compares to my own assessment of how things might have been :)

[Mr Grumpy]

A good question and you do yourself credit for asking for advice, this is a really grey area and even i have made mistakes in the past with not acknowledging the correct designers, lucky for me we have a very mature community and so i have been able to correct my mistakes without too much fuss. :whis:

As above my only advice is to try to contact the various people who's work you have included in your Mod and ensure you acknowledge all those people in your posts and in any word or Readme file you include in the zip pack. ;)

[Jison]

Yes, I agree with everybody else - to contact the author is the fair thing to do, and you have nothing to loose really by doing so, because I have never heard of a modder saying 'no' to such a request. Hm... Now that I think about it, I don't think the word 'no' even exists in a modder's vocabulary... :)


Jison

[Aaron]

Ive actually mentioned for people to build off my mod and as for the artwork ive done and Michals art work i dont think he would mind either especially if the community gets another great mod out of it. Alot of the artwork we made either came from source books or photo anyways which well we wont say anything about that. A mentioning thanks would be great but at the same time the way i look at it if its on the web and i can get it well it belongs to the public. Looking forward to trying it out.

Aaron

[Taffy6]

Thank you for all of the replies gentlemen. They are greatly appreciated and will be well considered as I progress with construction.

Regards,

Taffy