Money Where Our Mouth Is

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

I've always said when I heard the MMO was coming out that it would be the only MMO I'd willingly pay for after seeing the way most Main Stream MMO's turn out (save maybe EverQuest, just cause I know it's one of the better ones).  So I'm ready to chip in and pay, if it means I can still play

[Leanthar]

"....Up to 16 monthly donation commitments (two of them are couples so 18 people).

The total is now $285.00 US......"
 
 No you aren't. And I will say this is what I have been dealing with for years now. You are FAR less than 1/2 of that right now...FAR. (with a $100 donation I might add).

[orth]

"....Up to 16 monthly donation commitments (two of them are couples so 18 people).

The total is now $285.00 US......"
 
 No you aren't. And I will say this is what I have been dealing with for years now. You are FAR less than 1/2 of that right now...FAR. (with a $100 donation I might add).

I believe these are commitments and not actual donations.  I expect they are committed donations to come when pay cheques are received and/or finances sorted out.  It remains to be seen if the commitment turns into reality, but we'll monitor that and inform the group accordingly of how many commitments turned into a reality on a monthly basis.

[miltonyorkcastle]

*reads L's post, slightly confused*

Leanthar,

Are you trying to say that these "committments" aren't the same as actually receiving the money each month, and that typically you need three to four times the actual cost in "committed" monies to actually see the cost covered? Oh, and then there's the fact that the monthly donations are stronger at first than later, as people forget or move on or change their mind. Clearly, with your experience, you understand that you either have to constantly pursue donations or not really even worry about it.

I think we're in that same boat, too. Realizing that committments are only as good as the actions that follow. But here's to a start, yes? Here's to the community that just won't go away and sits eagerly awaiting the return of their beloved world.

EDIT: Orth snuck one in on me.

[Leanthar]

Spot on Milt.

[Link092]

If I can find a way to get it from point A to Point B, (via parents) I can donate $10/$20 a month.

I'll be packing lunch, and avoid those school lunches... ( I still wonder what they put in school lunch...)

[Chazzler]

"The total is now $285.00 US......"
 
 No you aren't. And I will say this is what I have been dealing with for years now. You are FAR less than 1/2 of that right now...FAR. (with a $100 donation I might add).

I think it's all the same to donate at the start of the month for me. I hope many will follow this example. Cheers.

[Lynn1020]

I think it's all the same to donate at the start of the month for me. I hope many will follow this example. Cheers.

Yep and we could even do a post on the first of each month to be a reminder to donate if your not set up on automatic payments.

[Chazzler]

Chi Chinga, Layo funds transferred when Paypal decides to... 20USD. Have fun

I agree with Lynn, too. Good idea.

[jrizz]

Well I have to say that L has a point. Since this thread is titled "put your money where your mouth is" it is time to click the button and donate. Once you do it post here. That will get us a measure of our starting point. Then I think we should use this thread to keep track and let the community know where we are and what we need.

Also we may need to sync up the donation times to meet the billing cycle.

Edit: LOL late on the draw again

[Chazzler]

"Then I think we should use this thread to keep track and let the community know where we are and what we need.

Also we may need to sync up the donation times to meet the billing cycle"

My thoughts exactly. I think it would be good to know at which time of month the ISP wants it's Gold Pieces/True at, just for clarity.
Also would be nice if someone would always before that time post the amount needed/missing for the server upkeep costs, so anyone willing can participate at that time.

[jrizz]

Yeah, lets make this work guys L has been doing this way too long. So lets buck up gang.

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

Tuesday I donated $15 US when I heard L ran into a road block with getting the servers back.  You can count on me for this/next month.

[Chongo]

I believe these are commitments and not actual donations. I expect they are committed donations to come when pay cheques are received and/or finances sorted out. It remains to be seen if the commitment turns into reality, but we'll monitor that and inform the group accordingly of how many commitments turned into a reality on a monthly basis.

 
 Yeah, in response to this and Leanthar's post - I started this entirely on the discussion and hopeful conditions spoken about in the donations & future thread that Orth began.
 
 And regarding donation failure L, I've stated it very very clearly - if we don't come through on this - NWN deserves to be scrapped entirely. But the arrangement needs to be clear on both sides.
 
 For me, the implications here are entirely conditional. It's rallying a group to commit to a monthly amount to cover the NWN servers with visibility and confidence that the funding will support the continuation of the NWN servers to the point when the MMO begins.
 
 It's an effort to take the burden off you and your company in regard to NWN. Most of us aren't investors, we are simple players, and likewise you are trying to start a business, and not a philanthropist with a bottomless pit of money.
 
 NWN accounting should be kept entirely separate for the benefit of both sides.
 
 And again, to all the folks posting here, I want this to be clear. I'm campaigning for NWN funding so that it can no longer come into question as a burden on Layonara Studios. And my hope is that we get enough people to evenly split a lesser amount in that campaign. It should be an equal and divided amount, and we'll adjust as needed based on who drops out of it.
 
 If you want to donate for the MMO, this is not the goal here. Now before anyone gets fanatical.... I support the MMO and plan on paying my monthly fee - but for now I want to focus on a viable plan which is in my interest as a current player, which is maintaining NWN. That's it. And as I said in my original response to Orth, I'm as rah-rah about Layo Studio's plans as anyone else. But we've traditionally failed in supporting NWN, and we certainly haven't hit the surplus donation to impact the MMO - so let's pick the one thing we care about which is viable to impact: The continuation of NWN until the MMO begins.
 
 I still think we should divide and conquer. But, if we're not going to do that, and folks are going to donate in chunks - we need to keep transparent accounting so that we understand our NWN investment fully and what timeline we have to depend on and work around, especially with the chronic failure of donations and how we'll need to improvise off of that.
 
 I'm going to personally hold off until NWN launches again, so we can look at the considerations of performance. For example, if the servers are compromised in the case of performance, or if we're only going to be able to run West without further funding - this is going to be fairly major in what we have to forecast against. Again, this is about making a plan and seeing it through - with full visibility/ transparency so that our NWN investors have enough information supplied to make informed decisions on their investment that will be more reliable in the long run. It's the best for all sides involved. Empty donations that aren't supported by a defined plan are fickle and hard to organize.
 
 Let's be smart about this.  We need commitment from both sides.  On ours, we need the monthly donation plan.  On Orth's, we need to start keeping the accounting posted and public (for NWN), so that assurance is there for people paying, as well as a medium for forecasting dips in the donation pool.  Otherwise it's going to be a soup sandwich and we'll get a surge for one month before it starts crashing again.

[jadewillow]

How bout a running monthly tally on the forums. Be nice if we could automate this somehow. I wouldn't want it to be anther chore for the team. If the community surpasses the monthly amount needed, the surplus would role to the next month. However, if the community does not make it, Layo would not be active that month (or only the fraction of the month that the community did donate). I'm sure the hosting service would not entertain a month to month, but that would be ideal. This may be more trouble than it's worth, but it would be one hell of a motivator.

Personally, I prefer to pay for services rendered. As a result, I will be making my annual donation next mouth for a year of fantastic entertainment. The Layo team and community are one of kind. You have my support.

[Chongo]

It's a decent idea Jade, but extra work to work into the forums I'm betting. And more work for a team that's already spread thin is a bad idea.  I'm happy to work with Orth via a google xls doc where we can both edit, and I'll be happy to do the accounting reporting on the forums along with monthly forecasting to sustain costs/payments.  
 
 That way Orth would just need to get me a few figures at month-end each reporting period, and he wouldn't have to worry about it beyond a few figures.  Total donated sum during that period, and total number of donations so that we can have a bit of visibility to ensure donations are getting through for NWN.  That would pretty much do it.  No sources needed, no personal information.  From that I can report on surplus/deficit and projections for the next month that we'll need to hit.  I can also maintain a spreadsheet detailing the advance payments versus the single month payments so that our figures aren't skewed in a manner where everyone says 'oh, we're fine skipping donations for a month or two'  and then we get an unexpected *crunch, crash, boom*.
 
 Full visibility monthly on our financial status, and then forecasting for the upcoming months.

[Hellblazer]

Hellblazer

Up to 50$ cda (which was stronger than usd for a while there but now I don't know.) per month and more depending on expenditure of that month it self.

Got a good pay, but lots of expenditure to refurnish myself. But should be able to donate 50$ cda easily per month.

[Masterjack]

I've not donated much in the past and have not donated more thinking that NWN would be going down very soon for the MMO. Now that I know that is not the case, starting today I have gone the $10 every month route. I just wish I had known the details about what was going on sooner. I guess it's better late then never.

[Lareth]

I used to donate with the Donate your level drives, but I think like most folks I didn't realise what the real costs involved were, so with that said, I should be good for $10 / Month going forward.  When I can I'll try and give a little more, as work and family allows.

[Acacea]

Acacea, $5... I know, but best I can do until after January at least =X