Athas.org recieved some unfinished/unedited manuscripts from WotC about some Dark Sun material that was in the wings to be published when the line was shut down at the end of the TSR days. Tim Brown (original co-designer of the setting) was working on a campaign expansion for the Dead Lands region and this unedited manuscript was given to Athas.org with the understanding that Athas.org convert it to 3e rules and release it for free.
Since the region is so full of undead and vermin Athas.org felt it necessary to do the conversions of the old undead in this product. With so many monsters new and old the team just decided break off the monster portion of the project as its own 3e product... That is what was released as TotDL.
Athas.org also received the unedited manuscript for the mega-adventure Dregoth Ascending at the same time as the unedited Dead Lands material. With TotDL out, Athas.org got on to putting out the DS 3e rules. Then they moved on to putting out the Dregoth Ascending mega-adventure.
With all of these now out, I wager that they are turning their attention right now to polishing the rest of the Dead Lands stuff that was put on back burner.
Release date? When they get time.
I've have the original Dead Lands & Emissary materials, and have been contemplating doing a conversion to 3.5, but out of respect for the hardworking guys at Athas.org, I wouldn't be able to share it on the boards. But for all you others out there, it will be WELL worth the wait to see whatever they do with it.
Your material would be noticed by WotC and they'd request it to be pulled out, for it is copyrighted.
That wasnt the original agreement that was made, the agreement only stipulated that you not charge money for it. You can give out the original if you please.
Are you guys saying that you cant give the original versions of these products?
Who guys are you talking about? Because the manuscripts handed to athas.org were given under the requirement that they be converted to 3e and be given out for free.
The ones given handed out in incomplete form at Gencon, I believe, were given out after the recipients signed nondisclosure agreements. You know... to not disclose. A conversion under such agreements would be of dubious legality.
Who guys are you talking about? Because the manuscripts handed to athas.org were given under the requirement that they be converted to 3e and be given out for free.
The ones given handed out in incomplete form at Gencon, I believe, were given out after the recipients signed nondisclosure agreements. You know... to not disclose. A conversion under such agreements would be of dubious legality.
I'm sorry but your incorrect. The two products were given out at gencon(in the late 90's)before 3e or WOTC as prizes. i dont recall an NDA form being part of the prize.
When WOTC was taking over and there was this big OMG! scare over the takeover I asked for them to be released. Dralic/Dragon(sp) of Tyr was his nick.
When WOTC was taking over and there was this big OMG! scare over the takeover I asked for them to be released. Dralic/Dragon(sp) of Tyr was his nick.
I'm sorry, try to focus like a laser beam. I can't follow. You aren't terribly clear on what you are asserting:
Draloric released them by himself? Or...
You released them after someone (who?) gave you permission? Or...
WotC released them after takeover? Or...
TSR released them before takeover? Or...
What exactly did Draloric have to do with this?
The two products were given out at gencon(in the late 90's)before 3e or WOTC as prizes.
Duh. I don't know why you think bolding that was helpful. Having helped work on the early athas.org conversions of TSR's Dead Lands material I am quite aware that we were converting something into 3e that came ... :OMG! before :OMG! .... 3e and by extension WotC.
As far as maybe being incorrect about a NDA, well, that would be why I said:
..., I believe, ...
Regardless, it doesn't change the fact WotC owns the copyright on it and for someone who acquired it to transcribed it completely into a digital form, and then to release it to the public for free, would still be violating WotC's copyright.
It also doesn't change the fact that when WotC gave Athas.org the manuscript files they were given under the terms that athas.org could release them after they were converted to 3e and had to be free.
:D