Has anyone ever tried to organize the D&D 3.5 handbook writers?

[Captnq]

Just curious. Was wondering if there was some sort of union, or secret handshake or something.

[phaedrusxy]

Nope. Completely independent agents. Hell... given how people come and go on the boards, many of them may not have actually "existed" during the same time periods.

[SorO_Lost]

Just curious. Was wondering if there was some sort of union, or secret handshake or something.

Yes there is.

To be a handbook writer, you just have to write a handbook.
Importing from BG is an easy way to snag it and there is no quality control on them, so it's not a very prestigious title and offers no benefits. But at the same time it does say you tried/are_trying to help which is something.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

The success rate (of organizing hbook writers) is like trying to herd kitty avatars ... 

[nijineko]

you offering bribes?

[Argent Fatalis]

Just curious. Was wondering if there was some sort of union, or secret handshake or something.

Not that I was aware of, but I could be doing it wrong.

[kitep]

The secret handshake:

in order to post here you must

Profile -> Modify Profile -> group membership and then select "DnD Handbook Writer"

[Captnq]

Well,

The only bribe would be that people would help you with your handbook and that it would get done faster.

For example:
1
I Arrgggg kittin atta k ! kittens ! arg teya eww chewingo  mne

[Captnq]

Sorry. Got swarmed by Kittens.

Anyrate, was think more of a central clearing house/master list of handbooks that were requested/needed work and everyone could claim a given handbook for a limited time, then return it back to the general pool when they were done. And of course proof reading/reviews, That sort of thing.

[Maat Mons]

There's a group called "Handbook Editor."  I'm told this allows a member to modify other peoples' posts in the handbook subforum, allowing shared authorship after a fashion.  As far as I know, the group has zero members right now. 

I remember when the group was first discussed, many people were adamantly opposed to the idea of allowing their handbooks to be modified by others.  That's probably doesn't bode well for your idea either. 

[Captnq]

There's a group called "Handbook Editor."  I'm told this allows a member to modify other peoples' posts in the handbook subforum, allowing shared authorship after a fashion.  As far as I know, the group has zero members right now. 

I remember when the group was first discussed, many people were adamantly opposed to the idea of allowing their handbooks to be modified by others.  That's probably doesn't bode well for your idea either.

Huh.

You see, I'm the opposite. I'd actually like to encourage people to modify my handbooks.

Take the Wizard Guidebook I'm working on.

So I'm reviewing my work on the spell handbook only to find a number of errors I've let go unfinished. So I've been spending the past week just fixing the Spell Lists. (Going through the final spellcheck now. I believe there are 3345 official WotC spells.) I never did get back to reviewing the spells themselves, which means the spell handbook has a whole bunch of work to be done with it.

Then I come across The Platinum Spell Collection Now there's a cut and paste I need to get around to.

You see, I know people like to post things on line, but I don't always have internet access. An off line resource is a far better choice for me and I have no doubt there are a wide number of people out there who would feel the same way.

Frankly, I don't care who gets credit as long as the information itself is correct and complete.

I guess my point is, I wouldn't mind getting help to speed this thing up. I was rather hoping someone out there had already worked out a Handbook Creating Group or something. I'd be happy to found it myself, but it's difficult to gage interest.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

I am for the collaboration account...

[Captnq]

Correction: There are 3,334 official spells, although I think that technically cone of fire isn't an official spell so much as a "spell modification". So all said and done there are exactly 3,333 official 3.0/3.5 WotC spell entries, which I find just weird as Hell.

I am for the collaboration account...

I don't know if there needs to be a collaboration account so much as a division of labor. For example, I just finished going over my spell lists by class, feat, PrC, whatever and finally got the format standarized. It makes searching it so much easier when each blurb on the spell lists are the same for every spell. Do you know it seems like that wrote up Bless like 20 different ways? Still, that's a ton of work and I'm sure the time could have been spent more productively.

Rambling thoughts:
 

(click to show/hide)

Basically I figure you need an "Editor In Chief" Who's job is simply to maintain the data base

A master list of all handbooks, both current and future requests will be made. This list will be the following:

Alpha Release - It may be nothing more then a request/place holder and does not have any real information. Alpha release is considered in need of major work and not fit for public release. Alpha release is still in house. All such files will be labeled a#.##

Beta Release - Beta release has at least most data present and some structure. It needs work, but can be released to the public for use because even in a half finished state it could be useful. All such files will be listed b#.##

Released - Final release will be considered “done”, but can be updated later by any member. All such files will be listed v#.##

The process is simple. The list is made and handed out. If you or any member wish to, you may “claim” a handbook by contacting the Editor In Chief. Your claim is good for one month, but can be extended indefinitely, as long as you send in your update at least once a month. (Once a week is better) At any time you wish to stop working on a handbook, simply send in the work you have done so far to the Editor in Chief and inform him you are finished with it. To start, you are only allowed 5 handbooks to work on at a time.

If you wish to work on an older handbook someone else is currently not working on, simply ask for it. The number will be increased by one and the old version will remain in the archives. As you work on your file, if you make any major updates, you are free to change the secondary numbers as you wish, but only the latest (highest) number will be saved for the archive.

For example, if you want to take the file SPELLS v4.03 and work on it, you will now have v5.01. As you work on it, every major change should be saved as a higher number. v5.02, v5.03 … v5.12, whatever. Please send in a copy to the Editor in Chief with every major update. When you are done, the final version will receive a final review by the editor in chief to make sure you didn’t change every word in the file to the word “F**K” or something stupid like that. Afterwards, it will be listed as available and the latest version will be added to the EVD Zip File.

If you do not want to be a writer/editor of handbooks, there is also the position of Peer Review. You will be asked to review the work of others. You will not have a version number, but you can simply email in suggestions and the Editor In Chief will review your suggestions and see about making corrections. Even if you just have comments like, “Hey! Looks Good!” I’m sure the writer/editor will welcome the feedback.

Ground rules:
Do not change the original text. When possible, handbooks will directly quote the books. If there is errata, then we can add the errata, but when possible, keep things as RAW as possible.

Do not change other people’s editor notes. All editor notes should be clearly labeled EDITOR (topic). Only the editor in chief is allowed to edit other people’s editor notes, and that is only to make corrections to sentence structure/spelling, not to change intent or meaning. If something is blatantly wrong, a rebuttal editor note will be added instead. D&D is a game open to interpretation and thus it is possible to have multiple view points on the same topic. This is not a place for arguments, but for understanding. One editor can take one side, one editor can take an opposing view, both have their entry, then we move on. There may be no one true vision of 3.0/3.5, but we can include the more popular ones.

That and maybe a name.

[Leviathan]

Can't you do all of that with a wiki?

[Captnq]

Can't you do all of that with a wiki?

Have you read my handbooks?

If you know of some place where I can host it for free without the powers that be hitting me with CRI, you let me know. As it stands I'm going to have to switch to a new file sharing place for the downloads. The new place comes highly recommended. They don't do web hosting however.
All hail TOR Browsers and Hushmail!