Greetings,
I've discussed fan content some with Cyan and the OpenUru.org team before making this public post to inspire more discussion and interest. I brought up a Fan Nexus in a follow-up to my OP. I thought the idea of Stonehenge, for example, would be a fascinating example of fan content fulfilling a need for a hub to provide entry into more fan content. Marten had the good suggestion to ask Cyan first so that we would not waste time on a proposal for Cyan to shoot down. So I did that. With RAWA's permission, here's what he wrote:
RAWA wrote:
Yes, I think a second, separate Nexus for the fan Ages is the best way to go. It keeps all the fan-created Ages easily accessible from one place, and acts as a gateway that lets players know "You are now leaving Cyan-designed Uru" kind of thing. If the player chooses to visit one of the fan-created Ages (IC - "Explorer-restored Ages"), and something inappropriate is on the other side... we didn't do it. :)
It would be good if there were, for example, one of the easels from the neighborhood right next to the Book carousel in the Explorer Nexus that gives a brief IC disclaimer: "--NOTICE-- The Ages from this Nexus were restored by fellow Explorers. They have not been vetted or restored by the DRC. Enter at your own risk, and keep your Yeesha Book close at hand. - Victor Laxman".
As for the new Book on the Relto shelf to link to the Explorers Nexus - I'm torn. In some ways, for the long term, it would be nice if it were just another page in the normal Nexus book. Maybe have the lighting in the Explorer's Nexus changed to a different color, so one could tell at a glance which linking image was which. On the other hand, in the short term, having a new Book show up on the shelf would be nice, too. I'd be leaning toward the first option (new page in the Nexus Book), but would go along with the other without much of a fight. :)
RAWA
Rand was in on the discussion and agreed with RAWA, liking a separate Nexus. He noted about the Nexus link that "a page is cleaner, but the book is more satisfying" and wondered which is easier. Finally, Chogon says it would work well to put an additional page in the existing Nexus book on the Relto bookshelf as a link to the Fan Nexus. So it appears that is Cyan's preference. Note that these comments all assume we would modify a copy of the exising Nexus - an interesting implication.