So I was in SCII and then this heresy popped up. Ban hammer is going to be dropped so hard since this violates so many parts of the EULA let alone the whole legal part between Blizzard and Games Workshop.
I was there when these screenshots were taken by Knight Commander Rahl (and posted here) and I would just like to elaborate what happened here, because it truly was one of the most remarkable encounters Ive had in my time on the internet and I thought you guys should know about this. Some backstory: The screens are from a (since removed) mod for SC2 that was created to allow for immersive roleplaying in the Warhammer 40k universe. It wasnt a very high profile mod, just a small, atmospheric and easy thing. People really enjoyed it though, they wanted to play more if it. It allowed people to express their characters in the WH40k universe and it created some fun hours for many fans. It only saw the light of the public for a total of 2 days and has since been removed - in part due to the efforts of Rahl during the session he took those screenshots in. If it werent for Rahl taking these screens and posting them here, it is likely that neither Blizzard or any other company for that matter would have ever noticed the existence of this rather small and low-profile mod and many WH40k fans could still enjoy roleplaying their characters in it like they did in the days prior to these events. In the session in question, Rahl practically stated that he posted these screens here to actively try and get it removed, as such one person ruined a cool thing for many others. Its not just the "why" or "what" that made this act remarkably repugnant. Its the "how" he did it. If he stated that he valued the integrity of Games Workshops intelectual property, or wanted to warn the mod maker, it would have been more understandable. However, this isnt the case here. From the way Rahl behaved in that session, it seemed like Rahl posted these screens here with the intention to get the mod removed out of spite. When he "revealed" that he posted the screenshots here, he endlessly spammed the "laugh" emote, that would make the character laugh in a condescending way. He quoted cheesy Warhammer 40k lines to act all smug about how "righteous" he was in his actions. He reveled in it. He continued these antics until he got kicked one conversation later. This is especially baffling seeing how Rahl openly discussed in the session how he himself was responsible for the same kind of copyright shenanigans and that he had used Warhammer 40k models in several of his own Starcraft 2 mods before (for which his mods were also removed). What really leaves a bad taste in my mouth is not the copyright surrounding this mod for Starcraft 2, or that its gone now, but how Rahl chose to act in this situation. All in all, he left the impression that he openly wanted to hurt Warhammer 40k fans having fun like you and me. A Warhammer 40k roleplayer trying to ruin Warhammer 40k roleplaying for others. That blows my mind. Beware of this "Knight Commander Rahl" guy. Always remember that if a person is capable of doing something to others, they are also capable of doing the same thing to you. He is not your friend. Seeing how he seems to be a curator on these forums, he might be able to remove this post. If you read it beforehand, you know why when it will be gone.
Everyone here is already aware that I come across as an asshole when I'm serious. I'm former military, I don't take bullshit and I don't pull punches. I informed you as to what would happen based off past experiences in the Starcraft community whenever anything that is related to Games Workshop is added outside of terminology. Your concept of Blizzard never finding out is also wrong, and as I quoted from the EULA as to why it would be removed, should come as no surprise. No one put a gun to your head and said accept these terms and conditions, you hit that you acknowledged and had read ALL sections and amendments from time of purchase and I even elaborated that it's not Blizzard themselves that want it gone but the fact it is a legal issue for them because of bad blood between two company's from their past dealings. I stated and I quote, "That the cancerous tumors of the community get cut away." which for anyone who was not privy to the first incident in which I was involved with along with several other members of the Cortex Roleplaying community back in 2009 was a cease and desist order issued to me, the original developer of the mod, and several other players who were listed as testers and contributors to our work, the removal of our game licenses requiring us to repurchase all Blizzard online products and all of our associated assets ceased which is part of the EULA. The entire group was banned not for using Games Workshop affiliated assets but for creating our own that resembled them and had their names since in 2009 there was no Warhammer 40k models and animations that were of the same quality. Upon posting ANYTHING to the online sections of Battle Net as I informed you multiple times, all intellectual rights are surrendered to Blizzard immediately. It is no longer your creation but the property of Blizzard to do as they see fit and unfortunately for them with the way it is written means that they are now owning content that has Games Workshop assets in it. Despite being a victim of it, it is only just that they have it that way and it was in the arrogance of several fans with the talent to do it in a manner outside of our own boundary's. You don't know me and probably aren't used to getting chewed out from someone. It's how I was trained and how I operate, you can thank thirty plus years in the Corps for not dealing with bullshit. The general Warhammer community for roleplaying in Starcraft II has all agreed since the incident who were involved that we would stop trying to implement shared assets and instead use only terminology as allowed by Blizzard. Blizzard has always encouraged us to be creative but never in a way that has the potential to cause two large companies that look for ammunition to throw another law suit in jeopardy. Does this mean that trying to share our love of a wonderful lore universe is illegal in Blizzards territory? No it does not but the ways it must be enacted are very limited and what you did massively overstepped the bounds. It's not like what happened for me and my friends when the game had newly been released and the EULA had yet to be modified, now it clearly states instances such as this BECAUSE of what had been done as an example to protect the gaming community. Preventing it from happening again is a safe and more accepted goal even if it seems cruel and harsh. By removing it pre-maturely not only have you prevented any legal action being taken against you but also prevented the Blizzard moderators from doing another purge like they did in 2009 with the ban hammers across Arcade. Back to the voracious tavern conversations at hand. No one will speak anymore of this matter to prevent any more ill-feelings. I harbor no ill-will against you or any others helping you, let the sins of those previous be the example to those in the future as to what happens in the corporate world of today.
Yo your legal crap has no place here, lol. Right or Wrong - ain't matter in that regard. Wh40k is the legal property of Games Workshop. Everyone knows GW and Blizzard have huuuuge arguments all the time (see the attempt to trademark/copyright the term 'Space Marine') So it was going to happen either way. So get out of here with accusing one another or what not. GW / Blizzard pulled the trigger and that's that. Fallout has plenty of Wh40k mods for example and they are all over the internet but nobody does anything against that - so it was not Rahl's screenshots that caused it but Blizzard's own policy. And that's that, if it comes up more, I will annoy the crap out of mods - because it has nothing to do with our corner at all.
Long day at work for those waiting for me to post sorry. I will try to have something done after work tomorrow.
So, moving away that legal stuff up there, anyone here in the states going to see Shin Godzilla in theaters?
