Like you may have noticed already, I'm back from my trip
It was a truly amazing experience ^^
and it has also left me plenty of time to reflect cooly about recent events.

Like I said before the trip, some decisions and clarifications will need to be made.
Before I left has arisen the question of ownership of Felarya.
Now is the time to be clear about that. And I mean really :

Felarya belongs to me.

Its obvious that Felarya has become what is is now through the help and contributions of many people, but I remain the person who created it in the first place, and I put an awful lot of time and energy in it : I drew dozens and dozens of drawings and illustrations for it, imagined most of the characters, locations, races and fauna of the universe, created and wrote the wiki, put it together, managed the community, spent monhs drawing a manga about it, and basically invested thousands and thousands of hours in it.
I am also extremely involved emotionnaly with this little world. If you ever tried to create your own universe, then you know what I mean !
In short, Felarya is NOT a collective project of sort, like some claimed.
While I welcome very much ideas and participations to help Felarya grows, I will continue to retain entire ownership to it and I'm the one who will decide which direction the universe take in the end... There is simply no way I will let anyone or anything have any creative control over Felarya, unless something really extraordinary happens..

So if some people disagree with this question of ownership, no matter what is their status in the community, this will be problematic because there is absolutely no way I will make any type of compromise on that. I would rather start over again from ZERO, than having some freedom taken away regarding something I created. I hope this is clear.

I know this won't go well with certain people and it could lead to some leaving or even a sission of sort, but at this point, the situation is such that I wonder if it would necessarily be a bad thing. At least I'm ready for this eventuality.

Felarya is a world that has grown incredibly dear to me and I feel it can still go a very long way ^_^
And I won't let it goes to hell, you can be sure of that !
Thanks to all the people who gave me their support in those difficult times. It's very much appreciated !

And it's grown important to others, too. And yes, I have created my own universe (everyone should try it, it's a great experience). I also let my older brother Acenmaster contribute to some areas, so I actually understand how this must feel... However, letting relative strangers contribute to the work, and then insulting you for not acting like everyone has an equal share... I can understand how they feel, of course, as they've contributed quite a lot too... Sheesh, though. I thought, based on the message posted at the top of the New Ideas section made it pretty darn obvious.

You own it, but we, too, have an emotional part in it, even beyond that of normal fandom, because each individual can potentially add to the universe itself. That's important! The fact that the world belongs to you is important, as well. This is NOT community owned... but it is sort of a community-driven thing, isn't it?

I wholeheartedly agree Karbo. I wouldn't trust Felarya in anyone else's hands, just like how I wouldn't trust a beloved childhood franchise to someone else.

It's better to give to Felarya than to receive after all. Because seeing your world flourish really brings joy to so many people. It's taken a life of it's own, and I wouldn't want to see it ruined by overzealous and/or greedy fans.

(though, funny enough, when it comes to Star Wars, I'd prefer it in the hands of someone other than Lucas these days. *vomits from the terrible CG-I movies*)

I'll be a straightforward as I can.

You want to maintain ownership? Well, most of the community seems to agree, so that's not a huge problem. I personally think it's slightly unfair, but the bulk of the community seems willing to surrender sovereignty to you, so there's not really a problem with that. Actually, things tend to get done a lot better when no one fights over who receives credit. If everyone agrees to this, then we don't have a problem there.

However, my original point stands. Please try to make the other people who also devote countless hours into fleshing out this universe feel as though they have some importance. Maybe start offering critique to people when they post something that you just outright don't want? And maybe when something does impress you, offer more than a sentence as to why? Just be SOMETHING other than a giant Approved/Disapproved stamp from above.

I actually agree with the notion that a singular primary owner will keep this community smoother and prevent it from spiraling into oblivion. However, you really do need to learn to talk to people at a personal level when they contribute, instead of distancing yourself from everyone, then acting like this guy when someone questions.

I think it's more the questions asked than the fact that there are questions.

Oh, and I fully realise that I was out of line with that post that I was deleted... Sorry, I was flustered at the time...

I couldn't be happier to hear this. I was actually a little afraid you might buckle to the pressure of the vocal minority and give up some of your creative control.

To be perfectly frank(and somewhat snarky), giving even minor amounts of control to the people who act like this girl whenever you won't immediately give them their way, would probably be one of the worst things you could do for the world.

So far I've been nothing but pleased about what Karbo has done with Felarya, and to the people who disagree, well, I can't tell you you're wrong, but I will wonder if you're really in the right place... I just don't see this horrible negative change happening. At all. While I'm usually somewhat perceptive about these kinds of things, maybe I'm just not deeply ingrained enough into the community to 'get' it, or something. Eh, who knows.

ive seriously had nightmares about felarya spiraling into something bad where everything has been ruined including characters ownerships, whatever. I'm glad that you aren't planning on leaving anytime soon karbo, creating a world must be great, to see it expand exponentially and having other people willing to put their all into it, and who are willing to stand beside you, or behind, or wherever, and help you must be great as well. I most certainly recognize felarya and many things as your acheivements and property.

(should i say "you"? or "karbo" here? whatever, you all know what i mean.)

Well, it was quite obvious that you would say something like that, Karbo. At least you still give credit to those who actively contribute to the setting.

Though I have to say that giving people a bit more of importance about what they do is a nice touch as well, and so is giving constructive feedback. People want to know where they do right and where they do wrong.

Still, at least this has ended fairly well...

Lend someone else a toy for too long and they will start treating it like their own, I'm not really surprised. I personally preferred the felarya when this website first got off the ground, seems way to cluttered now, Which sapped my interest in it, I never really had a drive to suggest changes or ideas to make it better. I hope this thread is some kind of signal that there will be less fluff being stuffed into this bursting plushie.

TLDR version: Karbo is Alpha and Omega of the Felarya Universe.

Excuse me for speaking out of line here, but this is like the next level of irritating...

GREGOLE wrote:

I'll be a straightforward as I can. You want to maintain ownership? Well, most of the community seems to agree, so that's not a huge problem. I personally think it's slightly unfair, but the bulk of the community seems willing to surrender sovereignty to you, so there's not really a problem with that. Actually, things tend to get done a lot better when no one fights over who receives credit. If everyone agrees to this, then we don't have a problem there. However, my original point stands. Please try to make the other people who also devote countless hours into fleshing out this universe feel as though they have some importance. Maybe start offering critique to people when they post something that you just outright don't want? And maybe when something does impress you, offer more than a sentence as to why? Just be SOMETHING other than a giant Approved/Disapproved stamp from above. I actually agree with the notion that a singular primary owner will keep this community smoother and prevent it from spiraling into oblivion. However, you really do need to learn to talk to people at a personal level when they contribute, instead of distancing yourself from everyone, then acting like this guy when someone questions.

No, what he needs to do is run his Felarya universe and the community the way he sees fit. There is no sovereignty for the community to surrender to Karbo! Karbo has all sovereignty here. You need to get right with that basic fact first and foremost. Your original point doesn't stand, no way, no how.

I see no proof that Karbo has distanced himself from everyone. I'd like to see this.


If you don't like how Karbo is running things then leave. Why not make your own super awesome universe? And when people start hijacking your shit into places you don't want it to go, or they start bugging you 24/7 for attention and distracting you from making future art, etc., then you can put your money where your mouth is and be the man you want Karbo to be.

BTW... didn't you get banned from Eka's Portal?

_________________
Innovations Under Fire, Inc.
-==+ Tactics for survival, triumph and dire deterrence +==-

"Because the best way to escape a Felaryan predator's stomach... is to never be there in the first place!"

Because Rumor #75 is no friggin joke, y'all. Nor is #73. Or #37. And especially not #38.