Alright, as to copyright violations, here's a pretty rough explanation, as I understand it. Now, don't take my word for it, and if you're really really unsure, you just might wanna contact a lawyer. But here goes. If they really really wanted to, the Star Wars/StarTrek/Earth: Final Conflict/HGTTG/Andromeda/whatever owners could sue the maker of a plugin that used their name or ideas or whatever. However, it wouldn't hold up very well in court, as a good defense lawyer would bring up 1) the fact that the plugcrafters aren't doing the owners any real damage (they're not selling the plug), and 2) why are they suing these poor fellows, and not the umpteen-million dudes out there with unofficial Star Wars or whatever websites or newsletters. I'm not a lawyer myself, but I don't think that the plaintiff would have a very strong case. But, as matrix said, always site your source, and give them due credit. Basically, suck up to the guys with "more lawyers than you'd ever want to see", as Una said. They're bigger than you, so be nice to them.
Yes, a readme file is very very good, as are preambles, or even something more along the lines of a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: something that gives an in-depth overview of the universe as a whole, that way the player has some idea of what he or she is getting into.
I agree with Una with regards to the romantic subplots. Come on, folks, these are supposed to be real people. This guy's gonna get stoned sometime and end up in some girl's bed... But here's an example of what I consider a good romantic substoryline, although since it's written by myself, I may be biased. It's part of a mission dialog from the plug-in I'm helping to create, The Age of Exploration
Your performance was magnificent, Joel.
Thanks. I honestly cant tell you how I knew to target their reactors, I just did.
Well, as to that, you were just very lucky. As you know, most ships including your own have their heaviest armor around their reactor cores, specifically to keep people from doing what you did. But since the Raider vessels have modified their fusion reactors for extra power, they had to skimp a little on the armor.
If you had been firing at any other vessel, you wouldve run out of ammunition before you had even halfway penetrated the hull plating. Of course, the damage inflicted by that 800mm cannon of yours didnt hurt you any.
You laugh, Alexi, honestly, give me a little more credit. It still worked, didnt it? As far as Im concerned, thats all that counts.
She smiles. True. Besides that, you scared the other Raider ships in the area so badly that they went into hiding.
That would explain why we didnt see any on our way back.
Yep. Well, all things considered, you did pretty well out there. So The Company has increased your pay from 50,000 creds to 150,000, and youve been promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations, Joel.
Thank you, Alexi. Uhm, how about a celebratory drink?
She looks startled and puzzled for an instant, then a smile spreads across her face and she simply replies, Okay. Lets go.
As you walk in the door of the spaceport bar, you ask, So whats next?
Her smile widens and there seem to be stars in her green eyes as she flips back a shock of her auburn hair and answers softly, Why dont we talk about that?
You cant help but grin as you sit down on a stool next to her and order your usual whiskeyandsoda.
Moral of the story for you writers out there is: let the character have some fun, but don't get explicit with it. Be classy about the way you write, not cheezy.
(SIDENOTE)From "Thank you, " on, the mission itself ends. Fade into your subplots. Okay, off my soapbox.(/SIDENOTE)
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Youre only given a little spark of madness. You mustnt lose it.
-- Robin Williams
(This message has been edited by spacecowboy (edited 08-04-2002).)
Good job, Digital Boy. Just post it on the Guides section of the Add-ons for Nova, and you're good to go.