Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Now It Can Be Told--If Any of You Care

So, two of the most aggressive harassers online--people responsible for more hate directed against me and the other D&DW/PS crew since 2011 than almost everyone else put together--got cancelled yesterday: Olivia Hill and her spouse, Filamena Young. 


Olivia's girlfriend claimed that she was abusive, lied all the time, and played victim constantly to escape responsibility for doing fucked up things.

  • If Olivia's girlfriend is telling the truth: this is exactly what I have said for years about them except when I said it I had proof. Olivia is an abuser and Filamena is, too.
  • If Olivia's girlfriend is lying: it means Olivia and Filamena want a benefit-of-the-doubt in this situation after demanding it not be extended to others. Which means they are abusers.

Anyway that means an even fifteen of the folks who were involved in the smear campaign against me have themselves been outed as abusive. I have a question for readers, right after the list...

1. Olivia Hill (former Vampire et al Onyx Path designer--girlfriend says she lied all the time, is abusive, and plays victim when she's caught, which is exactly what I've always said Olivia does)

2. Filamena Young (former Vampire et al Onyx Path designer--enabled Olivia's abuse)

3. Brandon Dixon (Swordsfall, called out on twitter as a creep by a fan)

4. Adam Koebel (Dungeon World/ Streamer, caught on tape being creepy)

5. PH Lee (Bliss Stage, Hot Guys Making Out, storygamer, cancelled for their edgy games--after making fake allegations about rape)

6. Ben Chong (various "games about relationships, storygamer--admitted to being a sexual abuser)

7. Sean Patrick Fannon (Savage Rifts--admitted to being a sexual harasser)

8. BlackHatMatt (RPGnet moderator--accused of rape)

9. Tyler Carpenter (Battletech, storygamer--admitted to sexual harassment)

10. The folks at Green Ronin (who either committed sexual misconduct or handled it poorly in the case of C.A. Suleiman)

11. Shoe Skogen (my ex's friend, outed as an alleged abuser after being made an OSR discord mod as a reward for harassing me)

12. Elizabeth Sampat (storygamer, ex-girlfriend and enabler of Gamergate-related sucide Alec Holowka)

13. Jared Cassady aka AuraTwilight aka Paimon Prowler (ran the OSR Discord, outed as an alleged abuser by fellow greaser furry hypnotism enthusiasts I am not making this up I swear)

14.  Oliver Darkshire (DMsguild author--pissed of fellow members of LGBTQIA+ community by publishing a D&D book about queer villains)

15. Luke Crane (Burning Wheel, Head of Community at Kickstarter, stepped down for helping Adam Koebel even after he got cancelled)


Olivia and Filamena finally being exposed for what they really are makes it safe(r) for me to tell a part of the RPG story that nobody really knows yet.

However, there's another problem and that's: it's possible nobody fucking cares. I got cancelled because people believed things without evidence from "people they trusted"--even when the "people they trusted" turn out to be liars and abusers, nobody seems to connect the dots.

So, I will only tell this story if there is unusual and atypical evidence that some of you out there actually care.

If I get 100 comments from a 100 distinct accounts (none of them banned) on this post, I will tell the whole story of what happened with Vampire 5e--why it turned out how it did, why it was treated by Paradox the way it was almost as soon as it came out, why the launch didn't come out as planned, what went on behind the scenes with me, Kenneth Hite, Martin Ericsson and everyone else and how many online jerks were actually involved. I have never told anyone this and only the people who worked on it know the whole truth. And I have the receipts.

Vote if you care.
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110 comments:

RPG Chindit said...

I care enough to vote.

Kyle T said...

It's cool, I get it. Fingers crossed.

Picador said...

Don't be such a tease. Of course we want to hear the details.

Becami Cusack said...

Curious as to the causes of all this, and am interested in particular in this case, because it seems bad things get directed at you when you are consulting in particular.
It seems that people get especially angry/torqued when you consult because they have no idea what that actually means, and based on comments you have made, you had impact on Vampire that was fairly substantial but have not said much about what was your contributions.
You also talked about the art director using photographs and Kenneth Hite having to read all the previous Vampire material, and I am curious as to what you saw/did when it came to working on the book, because those other two cases are interesting, and yours must be too.

Beardy Pete said...

I'm in to hear about it

heyjames4 said...

Vote yes

DoomOnYou said...

Let it flow..

Yomikoma said...

I would like to hear this, yes.

Lomm Cuz said...

Another curious one, here

Savage Wombat said...

100 seems like a high bar, but I'm curious too.

Surcus said...

Sure

remial said...

you bet

Anonymous said...

I want to hear it.

David Parkinson said...

Story! Yes, I would like to hear

Em from Yuggoth said...

i really really want to hear the details

Doc Grognard said...

Strangely enough, count me as interested

carlr said...

Yup.

Jason McCulley said...

Morbidly curious. Count me as interested.

maasenstodt said...

I'm interested.

Ogawa said...

I'm definitely interested.

Robert Massi said...

I am curious. I am concerned about the evidence double standard in the community.

BastardTweed said...

Yes, please. Your side of this story is important to hear.

Steven A. Torres-Roman said...

I would absolutely positively like to know more about that situation.

Christopher said...

I'd like to hear it.

Adamantyr said...

I also vote yes, I would like to hear this. And 100 is not too much to ask to speak up for it.

Zak-Chad Elite said...

Thanks for updating your list to be more informative!

"Yes"

Zak-Chad Elite said...

Having read that post and some of the tweets surrounding it, everyone involved in that drama is a nightmare person, holy fuck.

A Wandering Fabulist said...

I've never seen a single shred of proof and I believe you to be factually innocent of everything that you've been accused of. Some very bad people have run amok in the industry for too long and have used you as a scapegoat for their bad behavior.

I, for one, would love to hear what you have to say.

Ruxandra V said...

Voting yes

Simon Tsevelev said...

Oh-oh! Now I remember who that person is. The "I hate Star Wars so much-Star Wars is bad and enabling right-wingers' power fantasies-I never ever watched Star Wars because it is so bad and you should hate it like I do".
Now that whole personal relationship story really freaks me out, but that's not important here...
I would like the unknown story about those people and what they had done to be published.

jose masaga said...

Yes, please.

Tom said...

+1

VicVerde said...

I'm interested.

SmokeFinger said...

Spill that tea!

Diinqan said...

Give us that sweet sweet Vampire drama

trent_b said...

vote.

Murray said...

Go on then

aigarso said...

Do tell.

Ausra said...

Let's go to 100!

Jan said...

I'm interested.

CJGeringer said...

Do go on please, I would love to hear it.

Rodrigo Garcia Carmona said...

Yes, please.

Nick said...

Vote.

Sanic said...

Of course I would like to hear your account. It might take a while to get enough posters but I do believe there are enough who still follow and want to hear the truth from someone who was there.

Jeff Rients said...

I vote yes.

Wefferson said...

I vote yes.

Nessa said...

I vote yes

Alex J. said...

Vote.

Jeff Bernstein said...

I vote, "Yes, I care."

Mattheus Jansen said...

I vote yes

Lancaban said...

I vote yes
I'd love to hear it.

Synderryn said...

I vote yes. I admit, I am curious about the controversy behind V5 - I was aware that there was some, but was never entirely sure what it was.

Pubby88 said...

I vote yes.

Peter Rolf said...

I've come a cross Olivia Hill's work and name in a number of World of Darkness projects over the years, but her work never really stood out to me (with the exception of Dark Ages Vampire 20th Anniversary edition, which as a mess). I never engaged with the rpg.net, G+ or Twitter side of the rpg industry. It wasn't until the debacle that was the launch of Vampire 5th edition that the frankly outrageous conduct of Hill, Filamena Young, Holden Shearer and whatever that dog with dice (or whatever that blog account was called) et al caught my attention, and pretty much soured me on the roleplaying "community."

I would like to hear your side of the story, Zak, and if there are receipts I'd like to see them. I know Hill certainly never posted any, only making vague allegations about how painful it would be to relive that trauma, or similar. I wouldn't mind seeing accounts settled.

Piekarnik said...

Also vote yes. But why 100 votes?

The Greatest Googly Moogly said...

I am in favor of you spilling the tea on Olivia Hill.

Billy Bob Barker said...

Please lets hear it

Tomás said...

I'm curious because the result, 5e, well...

David said...

I'll vote yes.

Dee Arr Cee said...

Well Zak, I vote yes. I don't know you, but I heard "Olivia's" histrionic rantings about you for years, never believing that obvious bullshit. I would love to hear your side of the story.

And for the record, yes, you were right to criticize "Olivia" for hating on Star Wars without having actually viewed a single movie. Really ethical media criticism there, "Olivia."

FloatyBoats said...

I wish I didn't care. I really, really wish I didn't care.
I have become more and more aware lately of the extent to which RPGs (whether you define it as 'industry', 'hobby', or 'community') have been a toxic whirlpool for what feels like the last two decades, if not longer. I wish I could just stop caring and walk away.
But I can't. Not yet. So I vote yes. The stories need to be out there, and need to be told. I don't know if it will keep the same mistakes from happening again, but too much of the story of rpgs has been hidden away, controlled by a handful of people happy to lie in order to make themselves look good.
We need the goddamn receipts.

John_courage said...

I am highly curious about what you have to say

laricg99 said...

I'd like to hear about what happened.

Pirata Negro said...

Vote yes, wanna know

Rabble said...

I vote Yes. I am curious to know about the details of Vampire 5e.

Romain Z said...

I vote yes ! I’d like to hear about it as well.

Jose Kharlos said...

Go for it!

Emjay said...

I never usually comment on your blog but I'm really interested.

Strovenovus said...

First time commenter. I appreciate your work and your intransigence when it comes to bullies and panic mongers. I care, and vote YES.

shanepatrickward said...

88th comment. Yes.

Judge Joe Kilmartin said...

Extremely long-time reader, here.

I definitely want to hear this story.

Ironsides2017 said...

I would like to hear the whole story.
Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum.
“Let justice be done though the heavens fall."

Joss Sticks on Jupiter said...

As a gamer of over 40 years, my opinion is that this new woke puritanism has done far more damage to the hobby than the satanic panic ever did in the 80's. Such that I derive great delight in the excessive detailing of sjw's falling on their own swords. Lay it on us, Brother Zak.

Rhuan Assis said...

Yes, please

Davi said...

Yes please

Dominick Souza said...

Yessir

Farmer #1 said...

It's time for a Zak comeback. Long past time.

SutoMoraJudoThingy said...

I gotta. Lemme know!

Tibbs1891 said...

I still care.

Sean said...

Another 1

Gem said...

Yeah

Vas said...

Yes. Hill and Young have years of bad action to account for.

KattyKitt said...

I am SO here for this.

TeethIssues said...

I would love to know the specifics of how one of my favorite settings went down in flames.

Sign me up.

Claire said...

I'd give my right eye to know the details, I've spent months trying to put the pieces together

Sangris the Serpent said...

I'm here for the dirt on Paradox. Give it up.

Nicholas Erscoque said...

Yes please. Speak truth to power.

Leandr said...

Make sure to post screenshots too lol

mythologyprof said...

I'm in for the story

Zak Sabbath said...

We will need one more vote.

I Cleaned up the comments by erasing non-vote comments to make it easier to count, consolidating my previous comments:

@anons and unknowns

Non anonymous comments allowed, use a persistent identity.

@J Baker

You made an accusation about Olivia and were asked for proof then didn't respond or provide it--you're banned until you address that problem.

@Matrox Lusch

voted and left this link to something shitty and dishonest Olivia did back in the day http://lotfp.blogspot.com/2017/02/david-hill-is-liar.html

@CaptainIntegrity

Deleted. You made a first-strike personal attack, that makes you a harasser and so you're now banned. If you believe this was an error, leave a comment saying why and giving proof, if you wish to comment again otherwise, publicly apologize and take steps to undo the harm you did.


Amogus posted the lyrics to Only You but I deleted them just because I want to keep the tally clean. the version by the Flying Pickets is the best. Especially at the end of Fallen Angels.
----

Since this comment includes a note of Matrox's vote (otherwise erased), the vote tally now matches the comment tally.

The Vicar said...

You need 100 comments, and I get to be the 100th?

Hell yes. I'm down for hearing more about it.

Zakharov Sawyer said...

It's like watching a house of cards fall apart.

I care. I vote to hear your story!

Simon Tsevelev said...

Woo hoo!

Gladwain said...

I definitely want to hear your side of the story.

CalebP said...

I just stumbled onto this blog and only have a very vague idea about the Vampire 5e drama (I saw a Reddit post that referenced it and was kind of surprised that Kenneth Hite was involved in drama, but never looked too deep into it). I would be very interested in reading your story.

amogus said...

you frighten me, zak

Zak Sabbath said...

@amogus

Say why.

Lazer said...

I'll bite, I want to hear it!

angryyouth said...

interested in the story

Skyrock said...

I vote yes. This gotta be good.

Zak Sabbath said...

Ok, gonna get all the material together. Right now I plan to put it up May 1st.

amogus said...

Yazoo cover is way better than the pickets version

Fallen Angels was pretty good tho. Wong Kar Wai is a gosh darn master.

Nate said...

I care a great deal about this. I was really upset regarding this whole hubbub, but have only my own very limited knowledge of what happened and that's not really sufficient.

Jason W. said...

I vote yes and would note that it matters because people need to know so that they can protect themselves from behavior like this. It is very tough for the victim to come out but it can actually save lives. I say this as a therapist with experience of other therapists abusing their clients.

Whether or not you do it, know that you are supported to tell your truth!

Westly said...

I would very much like to hear about it.

Mordenkainendogpissbeer said...

Someone made a positive youtube video on you

https://youtu.be/TDFKcQXrtQk

thought you might want to know.

Hope you are doing well Zak

Fredrick J. Rourk said...

Someone made a positive youtube video on you

https://youtu.be/TDFKcQXrtQk

thought you might want to know.

Hope you are doing well Zak

Zak Sabbath said...

@MDPB
@Rourk

I'm doing terrible of course, but I appreciate the link

Zak Sabbath said...

@Tenkar

Your comment is erased. You've made first-strike personal attacks. You aren't allowed to post until you apologize to your victims and fix the problems you've created by doing that.

Zak Sabbath said...

@unknown

Sorry no anonymous comments allowed.