Crossroads

Malakai · Post by **Malakai** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:13 pm

Well, I tried to get in contact with someone that owns the rights to crossroads but this is what they sent me:

==============================================================================
Crossroads of the Elements Frequently Asked Questions (XR-FAQ)
1.2 - 2007/04/11
==============================================================================
Contents

[1.0] Crossroads of the Elements 1.00a-k (for MajorBBS/Worldgroup)
[1.1] Can I buy a license for Crossroads?
[1.2] Can I get the source code to Crossroads?
[1.3] If there are no new licenses, how can I get Crossroads running?
[1.4] How do I set up [MajorBBS/WorldGroup/Crossroads for MBBS]?
[1.5] I already read the docs, how do I set up [MBBS/WG/Crossroads for
MBBS]?
[1.6] Who owns the legal rights to Crossroads now?

[2.0] Crossroads of the Elements 1.00x+ (Standalone server)
[2.1] I thought Crossroads only ran in MajorBBS or Worldgroup BBS?
[2.2] Can I buy the standalone?
[2.3] Can I get the source code to convert MajorBBS games into
standalones?
[2.4] I've heard rumors that SOMEBODY was trying to convert [Xroads] to
a MUD?
[2.5] Is [some MBBS/WG game other than Crossroads] also available to
play?
[2.6] I died! Can you restore my levels?

[3.0] jXroads
[3.1] What I meant was, isn't Crossroads being converted to Java?
[3.2] Who is developing jXroads?
[3.3] Will there be new [monsters, spells, actions, items, etc]?
[3.4] Can I be a builder?
[3.5] Can I be a coder?
[3.6] Is it ready? Can I play? How do I connect to it?
[3.7] Why is it taking so long to build?

[4.0] Crossroads of the Elements YahooGroup
[4.1] Where is everyone/Why is it so quiet?
[4.2] Exile, why are you so rude?

[5.0] CrossroadsOfTheElements.Com
[5.1] Does anyone have [maps, spell lists, monster levels, anything
else]?
[5.2] If you have the source, why not create references from that?

[6.0] Crossroads of the Elements: Adventures In The Elemental Realms
[6.1] What is this "Tabletop News" about?
[6.2] Why tabletop when there is already a MUD?
[6.3] Why GNU GPL? Why not make Xroads compatible with D&D under the
d20 or
Open Game License?

==============================================================================
Quick Reference Links
==============================================================================
Play Crossroads: telnet xroads.macro10.com on port 23 (the default) or
7777
Crossroads Website: http://crossroadsoftheelements.com
Crossroads YahooGroup:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crossroadsoftheelements

==============================================================================
[1.0] Crossroads of the Elements 1.00a-k (for MajorBBS/Worldgroup)
==============================================================================
[1.1] Can I buy a license for Crossroads?
No, new licenses for Crossroads are not being sold.

[1.2] Can I get the source code to Crossroads?
No, the source code is not available.

[1.3] If there are no new licenses, how can I get Crossroads running?
You can purchase an existing system that has a valid MajorBBS license
and matching Crossroads license key, and run that. I would setup a
saved
search on eBay, or search the Interweb or something.

[1.4] How do I set up [MajorBBS/WorldGroup/Crossroads for MBBS]?
You start by reading the documentation that comes with the software.

[1.5] I already read the docs, how do I set up [MBBS/WG/Crossroads for
MBBS]?
If the clear and concise step-by-step instructions are still not
enough,
then you are welcome to hire me to help, at my rate of $250/hour, 2
hour
minimum, billed in hourly increments. (Thats right!) Examples: a 1
minute
phone call to ask me anything MBBS/WG related is $500 dollars, or 121
minutes
of work would net me $750. I accept PayPal and all payments must be
submitted
in full before questions are answered or work is performed. No refunds.
Use at
your own risk. Service offered under terms equivalent to MonopolySoft's
End
User License Agreement (EULA). E-mail me offlist for availability.

[1.6] Who owns the legal rights to Crossroads now?
Crossroads of the Elements is Copyright (c) 1992 High Velocity
Software,
and ownership still resides with Jeff Moriarty and Mike Donnelly of
High
Velocity Software.

==============================================================================
[2.0] Crossroads of the Elements 1.00x+ (Standalone server)
==============================================================================
[2.1] I thought Crossroads only ran in MajorBBS or Worldgroup BBS?
In October 2003, Mike "Guile" Donnelly, the original programmer for
Crossroads
added code to the original source to convert Crossroads into its own
standalone
server.

[2.2] Can I buy the standalone?
No, the standalone server binaries are not for sale.

[2.3] Can I get the source code to convert MajorBBS games into
standalones?
No, the source code to the MajorBBS shim is not available.

[2.4] I've heard rumors that SOMEBODY was trying to convert [Xroads] to
a MUD?
A: A 'MUD' is a multiple user dungeon, which Crossroads already is. See
below
for details about the jXroads project to build an expanded Xroads.

[2.5] Is [some MBBS/WG game other than Crossroads] also available to
play?
There may be others out there, its a big Internet... but since this
group is
all about Crossroads, I wouldn't know offhand. The place to look would
be
Rick Hadsall's "MajorBBS Restoration Project" at
http://www.themajorbbs.com/
[Link valid 07/22/2004]

[2.6] I died! Can you restore my levels?
Per the House Rules at
http://crossroadsoftheelements.com/houserules.html:
"This code is early beta. If it crashes, or there are any other
problems, we
will not restore levels, items, treasures, or anything else.
Play at your own risk! It's free, so it costs you nothing to restart,
even
starting all over." It might be as good idea to read the rest of them
too...

==============================================================================
[3.0] jXroads
==============================================================================
[3.1] What I meant was, isn't Crossroads being converted to Java?
Yes, there is a project currently using the working title of "jXroads"
which
aims to rebuild Crossroads as an object-oriented game engine using
Java.

[3.2] Who is developing jXroads?
"Chase". Real name withheld.

[3.3] Will there be new [monsters, spells, actions, items, etc]?
Yes, one of the design goals of for jXroads is to make it expandable.

[3.4] Can I be a builder?
Yes. When the first public beta is posted for testing, ask for the
WorldBuilder application. Once you complete it and turn it
in to the current builders, it will be reviewed. If accepted, you will
be
approved to create areas for jXroads.

[3.5] Can I be a coder?
Only you know if you know Java. If you do know Java, let us know is a
post
to the group what Java experience you have so that Chase can contact
you.
Experience with Java6 Enterprise and NetBeans 5.5+ preferred.

[3.6] Is it ready? Can I play? How do I connect to it?
Its not ready. Pester Chase and tell him to hurry up already.

[3.7] Why is it taking so long to build?
Short Answer: Because its not easy and real life gets in the way.
Long Answer: The project involves interpreting approximately 25,000
lines of
professional (tricky), dense, complex C/C++ source code and about
35,000 lines of database dumps and translating all of that into Java 6
Enterprise objects.
Along the way, we're also having to redesign the way data is stored on
disk,
in databases, in memory, as well as how it is sent across the net. We
are also
having to rebuild and "open up" the code design to allow for expansion.

[3.7] Why Java?
Because Java can spell "String" without using an asterisk (*).
If that made no sense to you, then try this: We like Java way more than
any
other language. Chase likes it so much, he writes books about it and
teaches
it. 'Nuff said.

==============================================================================
[4.0] Crossroads of the Elements YahooGroup
==============================================================================
[4.1] Where is everyone/Why is it so quiet?
We're all busy. If you're bored, go play Xroads!

[4.2] Exile, why are you so rude?
I am not paid to be polite.

==============================================================================
[5.0] CrossroadsOfTheElements.Com
==============================================================================
[5.1] Does anyone have [maps, spell lists, monster levels, anything
else]?
See the website at http://crossroadsoftheelements.com/ for references
created
by the players.

[5.2] If you have the source, why not create references from that?
Guile asked me not to give away all the secrets in the code.
If players can figure it out, its fair game. But details like how the
Banshee
REALLY works are just part of the magic and mystery that is Xroads.

==============================================================================
[6.0] Crossroads of the Elements: Adventures In The Elemental Realms
==============================================================================
[6.1] What is this "Tabletop News" about?
After Chase and Traveler (both Java instructors) razzed me endlessly
about my
terrible grasp of Java and Java coding, I dumped my whole Java mess in
Chase's
lap and invited him to "do it right." He started by throwing out my
code and
starting over. In order to continue helping with the redesign and
rebuild, we
thought it might be fun to convert Crossroads into a pencil and paper
type of
tabletop role-playing game and release it under (first) the Open Game
License
(making it D&D compatible), then under the terms of the GNU General
Public
License (GPL). As I work through the source code and write the game
book, I
post small snapshots of my progress as a series of articles with the
"Tabletop
News" subject line.

[6.2] Why tabletop when there is already a MUD?
To clarify the rules of the game, by translating them to plain English,
and
create a lot of opportunity for expansion. Plus, its an interesting
challenge
to convert a MUD to tabletop, and add tabletop expansion ideas to the
online
version. Developing both styles of game together is a rare event.
Finally, translating to English text insures that the original source
will not
"creep" into the Java version, which is forbidden under the terms of
the source
license.

[6.3] Why GNU GPL? Why not make Xroads compatible with D&D under the
d20 or
Open Game License?
The GNU General Public License allows me to share the book in a way
that allows
everyone to "make it their own"... anything you add to the Crossroads
game can
be openly and freely shared without fear of some giant EvilCo suing you
into
the stone ages. I spent several months trying to translate Crossroads
to be
compatible with D&D under the terms of the Open Game License... but the
terms
of the license are not as clear as they seem, and the authors of that
license
have added "clarifications" that make it next to impossible to create
SOFTWARE
based on OGL content. Since creating extensions to the software from
the
tabletop was part of the purpose, D&D compatibility had to be thrown
out with
the OGL license that practically forbids it. Thus, the book was re-cast
under
the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is under heavy development as
its own
fantasy RPG game and setting alternative to D&D.

Malakai · Post by **Malakai** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:15 pm

So it looks like they're going to make a "pen and paper" version of crossroads and open source it but the mbbs/wg version is going the way of the dinosaur.

You'd think they'd be excited to sell a few copies for $50 or $100, have some extra beer and cig money etc.

frcorey · Post by **frcorey** » Fri May 04, 2007 5:21 pm

people have offered him lots of money and he is not interested.
after mbbs and wg died he made a dedicated crossroads game server,
basicly stripping down a mbbs into a game server. now he wants to port his world into a web based java server. more power to him.

Toyduck · Post by **Toyduck** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:14 pm

frcorey wrote:people have offered him lots of money and he is not interested.
after mbbs and wg died he made a dedicated crossroads game server,
basicly stripping down a mbbs into a game server. now he wants to port his world into a web based java server. more power to him.

Java isn't all it's made out to be. It has as many disadvantages as advantages I think. There must be more of a reason though for him/them not wanting to continue selling the WG version.

Malakai · Post by **Malakai** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:25 am

the only reason i can see why he wouldn't sell it is possibly because some one else owns some/most/all of the assets of crossroads.