I support a return to the mothership, though I think we should maintain an off-site presence as well for the time being (my preference is the wiki). Looking at the threads in the Google group, topics seem to span these categories:

1. General D&D questions/help/clarity of mind-boggling obfuscation despite repeated rereadings of the PHB (sorry, I'm trying to wrap my mind around all the rules). This would be best discussed in the Official 4e Catch-all. Character help could also go here, as it's of interest to anyone playing the game.

2. General questions/proposals/discussion about the logistics of the games themselves. These would be best handled by a general online thread here.

3. Characters and setting info. I personally think we should use the wiki, though a unique thread here would also work. As long as we have the need of multiple threads it seems we shouldn't bog down G&P with RPG spam. At least until if/when we've established ourselves as a legitimate and significant enough presence that we can pester Certis/Ely for our own section. Not to say we shouldn't let GWJ as a whole read about our nerdy escapades, but it would probably be best served by a general thread or possibly campaign threads, as you mentioned. I'm thinking something similar to the Civ 4 pitboss threads here.

4. The DM discussions. I'm not sure these should currently be handled on-site, as they will be useful to a select minority of users. It's akin to me creating "haiku's self-indulgent praise thread," with postings constantly reaffirming my sustained awesomeness. Sure, everyone needs to know it -- but it's hardly something that needs to be discussed in public without the possibility of outside participation.

I'm not sure we need recruitment anymore. Though it's nice to know who's playing, anyone should be able to make a character and jump into the game at any time there's an opening.

As far as setting, we're playing with the town of Fallcrest as a "base" of operations. DMs haven't specified any real preference (correct me if I'm wrong in any of this) for party needs, instead saying they'll go with the flow of what people like to play because they're awesome like that. Software keeps getting batted around like a tetherball that, no matter how hard you hit it, eventually winds itself around the pole of Fantasy Grounds but I think we're approaching a conclusion. Or at least the discussion hasn't stopped.

As always, only my $.02

That system just shows everything Google does is spiffy. It's not even, it's just ugly.

Right now where the rubber's not quite meeting the road is in knowing who's going to be showing up online for what games. To successfully use google calendar we (DMs) really need to have everyone's email address so we can invite them to the created event as a guest. Then when they decline/accept we'll know how many folks we have. I will post reminders so that people know how many 'slots' are filled for my games. Past 6 players I think my brain would melt.

Sign up for the games as they show up, it's assumed they are start and end in the city of townsville... I mean Fallcrest.

The folks who've commited to times:

DM: kingmob
Shadows of Witchlight
Prep on Tuesday, July 1 @ 8pm
Wednesday, July 2
7pm-11:30pm

DM: Farscry
Thursday, July 10th
9pm-12am

DM: wizard_in_motley
Encounter at Fallcrest
Friday, July 11th
7pm-11pm

Recruiting with Google Calendar http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=5g5j0mrn7vmh4kejlbnun3m4dg%40gr... but we really need to get a listing of player's e-mail addresses so we can invite them to the game events.

I'm guessing with the nature of the information it's going to be easier to do everything in da wiki http://www.gwjrpg.com/. There's DM only stuff and reference material for the players on who/what about Fallcrest.

Not sure if this helps, but the google calendar allows you to subscribe to it and set up notifications by either email, sms, or both. No work required by the DM's at all. Just the player motivation to subscribe to the calendar.

But if you still need email addy's, mine is fogrob at gmail dot com.

@fogrob et all: The email addresses are used to help DMs invite people to their Google calendar events. This theoretically will help us guess who will actually come so we have the right number of players. I have used yours and invited you.

All others: official campaign thread posted here:
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/39827

If anyone knows anything about the Vent stuff, PM me - I PM'd TheWalt but don't know if he was the right person to contact about us using the GWJ Vent server.

We are still discussing the impending purchase of Fantasy Grounds II here: http://groups.google.com/group/gwj-roleplaying-group/browse_thread/threa...
Sounds like stupidhaiku is helping out there, but you should chime in if you want him to get you a license. Heck, you might even give him some money early to ease the burden on his bank account.
Personally, I'm going to have to buy the system right away and not wait for a group deal because I need to start entering data into the tool.

Finally, I'm a little lost with all the places we have data now, but I guess that's inevitable. I agree the Google stuff is not quite up to our needs. I didn't post my thread in the MMO forum because, after some thought, I decided it didn't belong there. Wouldn't it be nice if we had our own place to put board games, tabletop, and virtual tabletop stuff? Sure would...

From my post on the Google Group:

I think we need to consolidate [the various locations] and minimize the confusion.

Here's what I see as the list of resources mapped to needs:

* File storage: Wiki
* Documentation: Wiki
* Scheduling: Google Calendar (can be found in Wiki site)
* Discussion: GWJ Forum (I'll link to the main one(s) from the Wiki but leave the idea of the gwjrpg.com forum open if GWJ threading gets too clunky)

Does this mesh with everyone else's thoughts?

Yeah, that's what I was worried about, but hoping that giving people until Sunday evening would hopefully catch people. Using what was expressed in the GG discussion puts us at 9 people right now.

Edit:
Also I'd be for leaving it till monday before sending, since a few more GWJers might want to jump on and not pay full price.

Stupidhaiku,
you take PP at the above listed email? Check via mail, Cash via S&T trade routes, whatcha want?

was going to PM this but figured there are probably 8 others who want to know too

edit: PP engaged, you should have mail waiting for you.

Actually, I changed my mind and I think I'll pass for now.

.
I keed, I keed.
You've got paypal. Thanks for handling all this! Let me know if PP charges any transaction fees (the FAQ says they don't), you certainly shouldn't have to cover those if it does.

Ok, so I've got my full version of Fantasy Grounds downloaded and installed...

Do I need to download any custom modules or enhancements? What about tokens or other graphics? If a DM uses a custom module/enhancement will it automatically download to me?

And do I need to create my character in the app before next week's games? With what ruleset? I see 3.0 listed but not 4.0...

Also, to our wonderful DMs, I'm still trying to finagle which day I can play from my wife. Hopefully Sithis will know tomorrow when he'll be entering the city of Fallcrest.

If anyone is interested in doing some playing around with the software, I'll be available as a test monkey around 6:30 EST. I have the light version installed.

I have officially given up on Google calendar signups. Here's the message I emailed most of the people on my calendar list:

Not enough people are accepting / declining these, plus nobody seems to have their GWJ names in Google Calendar, they're using their real names. Well that's great but I can't very well post your real names on the GWJ thread. So I take it back, go here:
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/39827
and say when you're coming (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8, 9, etc.) what character(s) you want to play, and that you have the requirements or will have them by the 1st or the 8th.
Thanks!

O.o I'm shaking, I'm shaking. Seriously though. I wish I could sign up, but I guess I'll be busy getting ready for my next week of sessions.

Great to see another campaign get started. I wish him all the luck with technical issues I don't have

I could get into playing this game over the Internet with some GWJers.