Donation campaign for Gandalf to fund a new server

[lch]

As you should know, Gandalf Parker has been hosting servers for the members of the Dominions community, from which the main server has broken down last month, and Gandalf is unable to cope with the cost to replace the server hardware.

In the immortal words of Pashadawg:

Pashadawg said:
Dear Fellow Dominions Lovers: As you might have noticed, Gandalf Parker's server has gone down and is in need of repairs. Unfortunately, times are tight for the Old Man, and he is not in a position financially to make the repairs on his own. He's been very giving to our community, and a group of us think we should rally together and offer some assistance to the Old Man so he can speedily make the repairs and keep the Domini... [END OF TRANSMISSION]

Unfortunately Pasha's IRC client ate up the rest of that, so with my limited skills in phrasing a request like this, I have started a donation campaign on Pledgie for this.

Just click on this button:
http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1133.png (http://pledgie.org/campaigns/1133)

You can then donate any amount to the pledge via PayPal, you will be listed among the donors (unless you chose to donate anonymously, which is possible, too), and the image above will update to reflect the current status of reaching the donation goal of $400. We have 5 weeks to reach that goal!

You do not need to register on Pledgie, you only need a PayPal account!

Here's what I came up with:

Gandalf Parker has provided a server for the Dominions community since years, where members could get free email and webspace and even host Dominions games on their own.

Last month, the main server died, which seems to involve the power supply and maybe the mother board and CPU. Since Gandalf's money is tied to pay mortgage fees, he can't afford to get new replacement parts for the server hardware. The costs that are expected to fix this total out at about $400.

If you have enjoyed the services on his server, his contributions to the Dominions games or the games being hosted on his servers, for example lch's games, then please consider donating some money to help fund new server hardware. Any amount helps, even as little as you'd pay for a coffee at Starbucks or a visit to the local cinema. And if you have played in one of the games hosted on the server, then consider that you probably got a lot more out of it compared to drinking one coffee or watching one movie. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


I hope that this pledge convinces some people to donate a few bucks, even just a little donation by a lot of forum members will make a huge impact in the end and help out Gandalf Parker.

[Agrajag]

Any amount helps, even as little as you'd pay for a coffee at Starbucks


I doubt 0$ would help out much http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

More seriously, does Gandalf "approve" of such a pledge, does he even know about it? (or rather, knew about it before you put this page up) Because that could cause some trouble...
Of course, had I had an income, I would have helped out either way :S

[lch]

Yes, Gandalf knows about this, and all the money that is being donated directly goes into his PayPal account. No money is ever being held by Pledgie or me. Pledgie is just used to track the campaign status and the donors. No information about your email address, PayPal account or credit card number etc. can get tracked.

[Gandalf Parker]

Agrajag said:

Any amount helps, even as little as you'd pay for a coffee at Starbucks


I doubt 0$ would help out much http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Actually $0 does mean something to me. Ive dropped far more activities from "lack of interest" than from lack of money. I think thats true of most of the people who do things for free for the community. Its one reason I often push for people to thank the great folks doing mods and maps and such that we all are enjoying.


More seriously, does Gandalf "approve" of such a pledge, does he even know about it? (or rather, knew about it before you put this page up) Because that could cause some trouble...
Of course, had I had an income, I would have helped out either way :S


Well I couldnt go for the idea of asking myself. But since lch was running most of the games on the server that died I felt he had justification for trying to speed up the repairs.

The account I gave him isnt my personal account. Its actually the house account. Thats so that the budget manager (she who must be obeyed) can see the activity and consider this to be abit more than just my personal toy that I broke. I will make sure the money gets spent on servers but this way Im not just talking a good sales pitch about it.

[Agrajag]

Actually $0 does mean something to me. Ive dropped far more activities from "lack of interest" than from lack of money. I think thats true of most of the people who do things for free for the community. Its one reason I often push for people to thank the great folks doing mods and maps and such that we all are enjoying.


Yeah, I'm a big fan of your "paying with appreciation"/"The cost of free stuff [is thank-yous]" campaign http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Well I couldn't go for the idea of asking myself. But since lch was running most of the games on the server that died I felt he had justification for trying to speed up the repairs.


Sure, I just wanted to be sure because I've seen once when someone wanted to organize donations for someone else, and the other guy got offended by it, so I wanted to make sure this wasn't the case.

Also, your post made me realize that Ich is actually called lch, that was quite a surprise. (You'll always be Ich to me though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
(The difference, for those that didn't catch the hint and can't tell the difference because of the font, is ICH and LCH)

[Ballbarian]

Thanks for setting this up lch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Don't feel bad Agrajag. For the past year plus, I thought his name was ich (sounds like "ICK"). I always thought it was pretty creative that he had a grumpy, three eyed, squishy, purple monster for his avatar to go with a handle like "ICH". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

(LCH, you will always be ICH to me as well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif )

[JimMorrison]

Ballbarian said:
Thanks for setting this up lch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Don't feel bad Agrajag. For the past year plus, I thought his name was ich (sounds like "ICK"). I always thought it was pretty creative that he had a grumpy, three eyed, squishy, purple monster for his avatar to go with a handle like "ICH". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

(LCH, you will always be ICH to me as well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif )



I feel violated. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[MaxWilson]

Huh? Ich is LCH? I always just thought you were German, lch.

-Max

[cupido2]

LCH... JimMorrison said it...

Do I HAVE to have a paypal account for donation? (I don't trust that modern fancy stuff.) Or is there another way to make a donation?

[Endoperez]

I always thought lch was lch, like in lich. You just drop a letter. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Also, what cupido said. I'm wary of this modern fancy stuff.

[Ballbarian]

I am not a fan of PayPal either, but I did set up an account for this. I will likely close it once the transaction is complete, or at least remove the card from my account. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[lch]

Well, you'll need to use some kind of payment processing system, after all. PayPal is the de-facto standard for payment on eBay, especially when it comes to international payments for overseas auctions. That was even the case before eBay bought them some years ago (and the reason they did it). PayPal offers a multitude of possibilities to charge for payments, may it be credit card, wire transfer or other debit transfer system. So in case you do have money somewhere, PayPal enables you to spend it relatively easy. Including protection against fraud and insurance on payments for eBay.

My nick is indeed spelled L-C-H for those who use a sans-serif font and haven't noted. Some german guy on another board I frequented years ago even made an elk sig graphic for me because he thought that it's derived from the german "Elch". Neither of those is the case, though.

Also, my avatar is from this short film: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PYw8fXiWNDk which was later redone with a different voice, by Terry Farrel, for Six. Which sucked. Then they made a TV series out of it some years later which sucked, and a movie which sucked, too. But I like that short film. I had the avatar in greater resolution before but I lost the picture, the original vanished in the depths of the internet, and I extracted the avatar image that I use now from my Windows XP logon screen.

[Ballbarian]

Sorry lch. I didn't mean to make it sound like I thought it was an inappropriate method or choice, just that I generally avoid situations where I need to use it. I pay several bills online and will on very rare occasions purchase a video game (read Dominions3 and a couple of Stardock games) online. I am just overly cautious. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[VedalkenBear]

While I certainly approve of everything that Gandalf has done for the game (that I know about), I am not willing to set up a PayPal account just to give a $0 donation (and I can't afford anything more than that).

I hope that notification here can also have an effect.

[Edratman]

I don't have a pay pal account because I'm an old fart, but I'll gladly send a check to someone.

Just need to know where to send it.

[llamabeast]

Wow, someone just made a generous donation.

[Agrajag]

Ballbarian said:
(sounds like "ICK")


It's worse for me, since I read it with a chet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heth#Hebrew_Chet), which turns it into the Hebrew equivalent of "yuck!"

[Lingchih]

Hmm, I donated, and got a payment receipt from Paypal, but it never showed up on the list. Strange. Well, I hope it got there anyway.

[atul]

Wouldn't worry yet, I donated yesterday and got the Paypal announcement, but only after 24 hours I got a message Payment Accepted! and my name into list. So it seems there might be even a full day's lag with some donations.

[Endoperez]

It seems there was, indeed, some lag. Wow!

Unfortunately, my PayPal account hasn't been verified yet, and I was unable to contribute to the Gandalf Fund. I guess I'll go pay my thanks to my favourite free projects now that I got up and registered. You know, paying for free things.

[Gandalf Parker]

Im sorry. The lag was that I had to login to the account and upgrade it since they were going to charge me a small amount to process the credit card requests. But thats been done now.

Now Im on the hook and have to arrange to get the machines to the shop. Thanks everyone.

Oh and as far as a mailing address, google me. Put "Gandalf Parker" (with quotes) into google and get more than you ever wanted to know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Im one of the most locatable people on the internet.

Gandalf Parker
1214 Balsam Way
Vacaville, CA 95687

707-446-2002

[llamabeast]

It seems the full amount has been donated! That was amazing!

[lch]

Well, that was more of a success than I ever imagined. We already reached the goal in under 24 hours. I'll keep the pledge up for a week if you didn't get the chance yet and still want to make a donation. A big thank you to all those who have donated / will be donating.

[Edratman]

"ell-cee-aitch", not "aye-cee-aitch"!!

Are you sure?

I'm still willing to send money somewhere.

[lch]

Agrajag said:

Ballbarian said:
(sounds like "ICK")


It's worse for me, since I read it with a chet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heth#Hebrew_Chet), which turns it into the Hebrew equivalent of "yuck!"


I like that interpretation.

Edratman, Gandalf has posted his address above. But I'm really perplexed and baffled that US americans would rather trust the postal service with a check than use convenient wire transfer.

[Gandalf Parker]

AS A NETCOP:
I should mention that PayPal has a great record (so far, knock on virtual wood)

However I often recommend that people who are nervous of the internet get an "internet credit card".
A) with a limited amount. I went with $200
B) NOT with your usual bank
C) NOT tied into your "real" moneys for things like overdraft protection
D) mark it for net use only to make it easier to track the usage

Then I tend to mention that most fraud involving credit cards tends to come from non-internet use. Most often from carbon copies which come from spending it on gas or restaurants. So the same suggestion applies. People should get a low-cap credit card from a different bank for day to day use and not carry the big cards unless you are specifically going out to make a purchase with it.

[MaxWilson]

Hey, watch the generalizations. There's no reason to think it's a U.S. American thing per se. It would be more supportable to say "there are people who would rather trust the (U.S.?) postal system than a wired transfer."

-Max

[lch]

I'm not one to generalize, but payment by check is a very American thing. In the EU, people usually use cash transfer / bankwire, and credit cards are uncommon, or at least "new", though payment via plastic is very common e.g. in France. Still, send a check by mail instead of an online transaction? That takes at least three times as long, AND can get lost. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

Actually Ive had people complain more about PayPal giving out their email address than concern over credit cards.

[Omnirizon]

we've reached goal, but I sent in a token amount to show appreciation.

i don't buy coffee from starbucks (i LOVE coffee, but don't like starbucks for whatever reason. its a sociologist thing, as most others of the tribe avoid the place too) and I don't see movies (I always seem to have something else I'd rather be doing). So instead, I donated the amount of a mixed drink at a bar, plus tip http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

funny how quickly we got there. when ppl are dealing with something they enjoy doing, they are always willing to donate. I used to haunt a mountain bike site before my fave forum got shut down (the socia-poli-religous-economic discussion forum. We tended to be a bit over the top and made the other bikers uncomfortable; who didn't understand what that forum had to do with biking). Whenver the forum held donation rallies to send bikes to kids in africa or something, we always hit goal quickly (and had goals of 1000's of dollars). Funny thing, the socio-poli-relgious branch of the forum was ALWAYS the biggest donor.

This is why donation rallies always link themselves to marathons or golf or something. ppl like their leisure, and are willing to give for it.

[lch]

Omnirizon said:
i don't buy coffee from starbucks (i LOVE coffee, but don't like starbucks for whatever reason. its a sociologist thing, as most others of the tribe avoid the place too)


I listed Starbucks because their coffee is quite expensive. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

Yes I know a number of online "budget aid" people who pitch "if you only give up one Starbuck visit a week you will be able to save xxxxxxxx" so I guess it makes a good example.

Personally I never did get hooked on caffeine. Ive been told thats the reason to blame for my lack of achievements http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Im apparently the poster child for "wasted potential"

[Gandalf Parker]

By the way, a few of the things people have been looking for and missing from the main server can be found here...
http://lab.dom3minions.com/~dom3/temp/

[Cerlin]

Hey Gandalf! I gave what I could too and I hope it helps a little. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif <---Is Jeffrey Z
I have a job and not too many expenses yet, but your servers make it really easy for all players to play MP and that is a great asset.
It is a great thing to see how the whole community helped out! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[MaxWilson]

Agrajag said:

Ballbarian said:
(sounds like "ICK")


It's worse for me, since I read it with a chet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heth#Hebrew_Chet), which turns it into the Hebrew equivalent of "yuck!"



"Ick!" is that way in English, too. "Ick!" <=> "Yuck!" <=> "Ewww!"

-Max

[NTJedi]

It's too bad no Donation Campaign exists for fixing game bugs and lost functionality.

I'd spend more on returning some lost DOM_2 functionality than what I spent for purchasing the game. Well I guess it might be better it doesn't exist.

[Gandalf Parker]

Well in a way there was. The devs explained it often enough. I hinted at it often enough. Now its too late for major changes since they are off on a new project. But we can still pay for lesser changes.

[MaxWilson]

Heh. Okay then, thank-you to everybody who helped pay for Lanka, Fomoria, Tir Na N'Og, Hinnom, etc., and for working site-search spells!

-Max

[HoneyBadger]

Yes, we must squash this "new project" devil, before it infects our Dom3 women!

[lch]

NTJedi said:
It's too bad no Donation Campaign exists for fixing game bugs and lost functionality.


You know, the exact same thing was suggested in the Dom3 IRC channels some ~12 hours ago.

[HoneyBadger]

We ought to set up a Dom 4 fund.

[JimMorrison]

HoneyBadger said:
We ought to set up a Dom 4 fund.



I'm glad someone started talking some sense. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

Though, maybe IW could tease us with a little bit of info on the new project, something to make us salivate so we can get our minds off of a Dom4, and fantasize about whatever this other game might be. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Unless it's not a game..... If the "secret project" is a database manager for salespeople, or automated thermostat software - HEADS WILL ROLL! O.O

[Agrajag]

MaxWilson said:
"Ick!" is that way in English, too. "Ick!" <=> "Yuck!" <=> "Ewww!"

-Max


Shouldn't ICK be pronounced eek? Which would make it similar in meaning to "eek", which is very different from yuck or eww.
And besides the chet makes it sound a whole lot worse http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

HoneyBadger said:
We ought to set up a Dom 4 fund.


The devs have stated often that $$$ does not drive them nearly as much as fun. The conversations in this forum (good and bad) do more toward getting things done or dropped than arguments about profits. If you search back thru comments by Kristoffer O and Johan K for +fun +develop +dominions you will see some pretty hefty rants on the subject.

Positive/Negative reinforcement has done much to shape our favorite game. Ive tried to hint but some ears are deaf. Ive seen some great conversations where the devs joined in at the beginning, then along comes some strongly worded "logic" on why it would be stupid not to have it done. The devs quit the thread and the idea dies while other nicely requested or praised suggestions move forward. And unfortunately the same people are often involved. Some people are very capable at getting changes done by the devs, and some are very capable at getting their favorite desires for the game killed. Whatever someones opinion is on the way the devs operate, they have been very clear about it a number of times so its either learn it or lump it. (sorry, turning off my own little rant now, Not aimed at you specifically HB)

Unless the fund was an effort to buy them out and move it to someplace like Microsoft. Ive seen some toungue-in-cheek comments by the devs along those lines. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[lch]

Gandalf Parker said:
The devs have stated often that $$$ does not drive them nearly as much as fun.


Translation: Gather $$$ and hire a clown.

[Gandalf Parker]

Actually Ive often thought about sending beer and pizza to the development parties (maybe with a not-so subtle thanks-in-advance for them working on my favorite wishlist item)

[Omnirizon]

lch said:

Gandalf Parker said:
The devs have stated often that $$$ does not drive them nearly as much as fun.


Translation: Gather $$$ and hire a clown.



made me laugh out loud.


I recall reading KO (I think) state directly in response to "why isn't this in the game?" that "because people complain about it too much and that makes it not fun to put in."


Eastern European women are a lot of fun. We should start a thread about Eastern European women and Dom4; that would get the ball moving.

[Edratman]

Omnirizon said:

Eastern European women are a lot of fun. We should start a thread about Eastern European women and Dom4; that would get the ball moving.



You never met my grandmother, an experience that I guarantee would permanently alter that opinion. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[MaxWilson]

Agrajag said:

MaxWilson said:
"Ick!" is that way in English, too. "Ick!" <=> "Yuck!" <=> "Ewww!"

-Max


Shouldn't ICK be pronounced eek? Which would make it similar in meaning to "eek", which is very different from yuck or eww.
And besides the chet makes it sound a whole lot worse http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Nope, it's an exclamation of disgust, "ick" rhymes with "sick." http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ick

-Max

[HoneyBadger]

If I had the means, I would fly to Sweden, toast the Devs as eloquently as I'm capable of, with the most expensive liquor, and buy them the best meal in the finest restaurant. This game has added a lot to my life, and I am very grateful. It makes me think more deeply, write better, learn more about the world, and meet more good people than I otherwise would have. I hope Kristoffer and Johan will read this, because you both should know that your efforts are worth a lot more to me than money. You've managed to add a piece that was missing to my world. You've merged myth and history and fantasy and literature into a whole, and made them fun to become involved with. I'm a poor white boy from backwoods Pennsylvania, and because of Dom3 I know more about African history than I do about the game of Soccer (sorry Soccer fans-as an aside, I can't stand American football.).

I don't know or understand in what ways the Devs feel unappreciated on this forum, but it's certainly not a universal sentiment. I hope I personally haven't done anything to offend, but if I have I was mistaken, and I deeply appologise. I've had some experience with gaming forums though, and to my eyes, this one's far and away the most considerate, earnest, and all around exceptional.

Johan, Kristoffer, you guys are the best. You're responsive, you update your game regularly, and you're pleasant to talk to in all cases. Your game itself is great, but you're a real pleasure to have as the creators of it.

I think it's hard for a lot of people to express themselves well, or even to avoid being an ***, but people care about your game. Do I think people should say it more often? Yes I do, but they say it in other ways too. I see it in the number of mods, Edi's databases, Gandalf's servers and the quick donations that were made, our three new moderators who came out of this forum, and all of the guides to various nations, and the way people have fun-and put a real effort into-posting about mooses and kittens and everything else imaginable. Even the suggestions for improvement-because that's still time and effort someone's taking to become involved in your project. It may at times seem demanding, or even envious-and perhaps it is-but it's also people gathering together and wanting to build on the magnificent foundation you've so generously supplied.

You've created a good game, and a good place to be, and it makes people happy-it makes me happy, and I'm very thankful. Johan, Kristoffer, I don't have the money to fly to Sweden and do it properly-forgive me, I have a wife and a mortgage-but I'll drink to you today, my friends, my teachers, my good fortune to have met you.

[Gandalf Parker]

you should put that in a seperate thread. Im not sure if they (or other people who should chime in) are reading the thread about me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[HoneyBadger]

Happily.

[Cor2]

Thanks Gandolf for all that you do. I wish I could afford to give more. Now go build an awsome server http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[JimMorrison]

lch said:

Gandalf Parker said:
The devs have stated often that $$$ does not drive them nearly as much as fun.


Translation: Gather $$$ and hire a clown.



I have pretty good rates for business parties. >.>

[MaxWilson]

VedalkenBear said:
While I certainly approve of everything that Gandalf has done for the game (that I know about), I am not willing to set up a PayPal account just to give a $0 donation (and I can't afford anything more than that).




IIRC, Paypal only requires you to have an account to RECEIVE money. You can pay without setting up an account. Just FYI for future reference.

-Max

[Edratman]

Agrajag said:
Shouldn't ICK be pronounced eek? Which would make it similar in meaning to "eek", which is very different from yuck or eww.
And besides the chet makes it sound a whole lot worse http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



I understand the various ways ICK people have pronounced, but I had a different one. Mine was the "itch" as in "HITCH".

The little image always looked appropriate for "itch-as-in-Hitch" also. I felt a minor sense of loss to find out that it isn't ICH, but merely a pleblian LCH.

Ell-cee-aitch, not eye-cee-aitch: are you sure?

As for my reluctance to initiate a paypal account: I have too many accounts, credit cards, passwords etc. Age wise, I am a lot closer to 60 than 50, (a contemporary of Gandalf, for that matter) and I have started to actively simplifying my life. A check is money, my addition/subtration skills are undiminished, and I feel like I am in control of my money by using checks.

I make plenty of travel and similar transactions on-line. But I like to touch what I buy before I purchase it, so e-Bay, catalogs and other e-tail commerce is not an attractive or viable proposition to me.

Of course, it could merely be that I am an old dog and unwilling to learn new tricks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

And the check is in the mail.