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Rob posted this on his boards. Finally some semblance of owning up:

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I have been taking flak from other boards for not delivering the goods lately, so this is in part a response for those "concerned".

First off, I have nothing more to do with Necromancer Games. We parted our ways after major differences. M4 was handed over to Allan Grohe as I found myself jobless and seeking employment. This decreased my ability to work effectively on any writing project. Allan has a life too, and he worked with Merric B, who voluntered his time to do the edit, as the d20 rules were not entirely followed by myself in doing M1 and M2. I make no excuses for that, of course. I am not a d20 literate designer. I know parts, not the whole.

M4 was to be given free by myself to the public to make up for it being not published to end the series. Although NG could have accepted it, late though it was, they did not. That is not entirely my fault, just the way things in life work out sometimes.

Now, let's progress. Months later I found myself with a broken leg and $14,000 hospital debt, looking for yet another job, without a phone, car and internet services. Tough huh? This isn't a sob story folks. It's reality. Deal with it.

In between I became late on City of Brass, again an unfortunate turn of events, but none-the-less it happened. At first Kenzer was understanding as I got my life back in gear and attempted to finish the project, which was near completion. As time progressed this was obviously not satisfactory for them. Without my knowledge they exercised a clause in the contract and had someone finish the rest. I can do nothing about that. It's history now.

Still when all is done, I have been paid below minimum wage for my efforts and will give out M4 for free to the fans who want it. Free. Read that. I have also decided to divest myself totally of the CoB project and will have Allan deliver the 90,000 words extant on it to Kenzer, though I am still owed money for it and for Garden of the Planmaster, which I spent adfditional money to convert to d20 so as to up to speed with that and have a happy fan base.

My returns on these is a loss. So, all those who would bitch about Rob Kuntz not caring for his fans, well, take a step back and look in the mirror. I work for next to nothing to bring qualaity material to the public so that they can enjoy it. I do it in my spare time like every other writer in this industry who cannot afford to do it full-time. Life comes first, as I have to survive.

Before casting dispersions, find out the real story. Writers write, but publishers cannot publish without writers. I have been in this field a long time and have met some really fine people and some of them are publishers of note and merit. I am quite satisfied making the sacrifices I need to make for those who are appreciative, but certainly not for those who are not so. This is a very small field and unless you are a company staff writer or a full-time writer with multiple contracts delays are inevitable. It's the nature of the industry. But if every publisher deigned not to publish good solid material when it was late, then there would not have been as many good products as there are today, from me or others who have written a long time in this industry while receiving pennies in return.

Be appreciative of what can be done in the time we have as people on this Earth. It makes my job easier and it makes for a better overall product.

As a closing note: M4 will be delivered to those pre-registered with ERKME. This news should be spread about the boards ASAP, as I am sick of hearing how people are being cheated out of something which is "Free". That is of course for those out there who know who they are and is not aimed at those who are not instigators or whiners.

M4 will also be made available to NG to proliferate as they see fit as a free, advertisement free support product. That is if they accept it. Quite honestly, I hope that they do so that we can all end this phase and get on to what we all do best. Having fun writing, designing and playing games.

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I agree with much of this. Particularly the "Quite honestly, I hope that they do so that we can all end this phase and get on to what we all do best. Having fun writing, designing and playing games."

This part, though, is still wrong:

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Although NG could have accepted it, late though it was, they did not. That is not entirely my fault, just the way things in life work out sometimes.

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We didnt accept it because it was not done and wasnt anywhere near done. I wasnt going to wait a year for it. In fact, though I was mad at Rob, one of the reasons for just releasing it back to him was so that he could use it to help his newly announced Pied Piper get off the ground with a product. Who knew it would take him over 2 years.

As for it not being his fault, well I dont see who else's fault it could be. He didnt finish it. Thats the bottom line. And still hasnt. But I'm not surprised he continues to make excuses.

Anyway, I am happy to accept M4 at any time and give it away to the fans too through this site.

Clark