The silence...

[JClark_1]

is overwhelming. Has no one anything Harpoon to talk about? How about the hack attack on the HarpoonHq forums, that caused their shutdown for two days, or the shutdown of the AGSI forums for security upgrades, for fear the same sick individual(s) would do the same to them? It's very sad, when a so-called Harpooner uses advanced computer skills to attack a website. I'm not only very disappointed with this, but also very angry. The good news, is that the individual(s) were sloppy enough to leave behind their IP, and identify themselves, and the ISP and authorities are working with the HHQ people in order to prosecute these people. And once this gets to this stage, and in public knowledge, these individual(s) will be banned from all things Harpoon forever.

REAL Harpooners confine their battles to the game itself. Anyone else should go find another game to play, and leave the rest of us alone.

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[CV32]

I think a more appropriate topic for discussion would be in order. Ya know, things like: an after-action report (AAR) for the last scenario you played; a teaser for the scenario you are currently working on; the last bit of helpful work you did on a database; etc, etc. We've already had our fill of the other stuff. :)

[Secret Agent]

For what it's worth, I don't think Harpoon has been silent. I mean, it's not as active as, say TOAW, but it's more active than a lot of other games.

[JClark_1]

Ah, but us Harpooners are such a chatty bunch...we're always going on about one thing or another :laugh:

And yes, Brad, it IS important, when someone tries to shut down Harpoon discussion forums by illegal methods. This is not a good thing. It is a bad thing, a very, very bad thing. And the young fellow who left his IP behind, is going to be very unhappy when the police knock on his door.

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[Ivan Rapkinov]

things I'm working on :)

- understanding the H4 pen'n'paper rules well enough to start a Harpoon based MBX :)
- writing a "Getting Back into Harp" guide for lapsed Harpooners
- setting up an interview with Don Gilman of AGSI re: the changes and additions to 3.7 and the Commander's Ed.

while I'm talking about it; please post questions here that you'd like Don to answer regarding the next iterations -> but no questions about Matrix pls :D

[Herman Hum]

Here's a Q for ya'

Will we ever get a Harpoon Classic Multi-player version?

[Ivan Rapkinov]

added to the List (of questions) :)

[CV32]

things I'm working on :)
- understanding the H4 pen'n'paper rules well enough to start a Harpoon based MBX :)

Very cool. Sign me up on the "interested" list. :D

[Secret Agent]

start a Harpoon based MBX :)

Is that going to be like the Global Thunder MBX?

[JClark_1]

Is that going to be like the Global Thunder MBX?


In some ways, I hope yes...because Global Thunder was extremely well organized. In others, I hope no, because the decisions made by the umpires were questionable at times, and the MBX did not follow the original stated goals during it's three stages. All in all, I still give Global Thunder a 4 out of 5 stars :D

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[JClark_1]

One more thing...I suggest transferring the bulk of these posts to a new thread discussing the mechanics of the proposed MBX...boy, Ivan I hope you know what you're getting into :p :laugh:

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[Ivan Rapkinov]

the MBX will be a lot smaller than Global Thunder for a few reasons:

- time involved: I'm not wanting to still be going in 2010 ;)
- subject matter -> this scn will be a localised affair, where command personalities really start to come into play
- numbers of players involved -> this MBX will be Harp-biased. We may use DA or TacOps (or ATF, TOAW whatever) to resolve the land component (if any), but the emphasis will be on the naval aspect :)

[Sunburn]

"Mini-Battle 2: Hamburg Corridor" of the Europe-88 Project is coming together soon, so you might want to keep an eye on that too. It's gonna be a WW3 buff's nirvana :D

[CV32]

And yes, Brad, it IS important, when someone tries to shut down Harpoon discussion forums by illegal methods. This is not a good thing. It is a bad thing, a very, very bad thing.

Yeah, its important, but I am unsure what you hope to achieve by invoking discussion on what is obviously a touchy subject here on a forum that has already had a rough start. I just think it would be better if HHq dealt with the matter on its own Harpoint forum, since it was their site that was supposedly attacked, or, if you feel so strongly about it personally, on the HULL.

I think there's many better things to talk about here. :cool:

[Sunburn]

Yeah, its important, but I am unsure what you hope to achieve by invoking discussion on what is obviously a touchy subject here on a forum that has already had a rough start.


It's a touchy subject only if someone feels its repercussions touching him - or others close to him. On the other hand, anybody with a clear conscience will have no inconvenience/difficulty whatsoever in voicing his opinion on the subject and discussing it with others in a mature and orderly fashion - as has, in fact, happened in other community hangouts without any problems. Those who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear.


I just think it would be better if HHq dealt with the matter on its own Harpoint forum, since it was their site that was supposedly attacked, or, if you feel so strongly about it personally, on the HULL.
I think there's many better things to talk about here. :cool:

Every time something like this happens, you can count on someone suggesting that the directly offended parties quietly sweep it under the rug and let everyone else go on with their business unbothered. I think Martin Niemoller's address to the US congress fits nicely to this predicament:

EDIT: Quote removed at the request of Brian...those interested may google for "Martin Niemoller" - can't miss it :whist:

[Secret Agent]

I think it would be nice to leave behind that whole disagreement, and try to make the Harpoon secion here "non-partisan," so to speak.

[Scully]

I think Martin Niemoller's address to the US congress fits nicely to this predicament:

"When Hitler attacked the Jews
I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the Catholics,
I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists,
I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church --
and there was nobody left to be concerned."

EDIT: And no, I'm not equalising anyone with Hitler....look at the moon, not the finger :smoke:

Sunburn,

Despite your edit, I'd remove this portion of your post...it's not doing anyone any good as your point was already made. And obviously, based on your edit, you know what the problem with this section of the post is.

I'd also like to ask you to withhold too much comment on the hacker incident until you can release full details. Releasing bits and pieces is only going to stir the pot and I'd really like to keep the controversy here down to a minimum if possible.

Thanks,
Brian

[Scully]

And Sunburn, just so you know, I don't believe you were trying to stir the pot with the comment, just erring on the side of caution. :)

Brian

[JClark_1]

With all due respect, an attack on one forum board discussing Harpoon should be of concern to all boards. If it can happen to HHQ, it can happen to this board, or the Harpgamer, or the AGSI board. The HULL is email based, and goes through fairly rigorous filters, so it's not likely this sort of attack can by made. And given that this attack can happen to all of us, we should all be concerned, and stand together to ban those individuals who would do such things. This is not a good thing, no matter who it happens to, and no one should condone this sort of activity.

My post was NOT meant to inflame passions between any side of the community. It was to warn the community, make them aware it is happening, prepare for it, and to achieve some sort of consensus on what should happen to the guilty individual(s).

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[Herman Hum]

The 'attack' was so important that it isn't even mentioned on the AGSI or HULL lists. The only mention is on WHQ. Just goes to show where folks need to go for open and unfiltered discussion. :rolleyes:

[Secret Agent]

Please don't start another war, guys! :o

[Scully]

With all due respect, an attack on one forum board discussing Harpoon should be of concern to all boards. If it can happen to HHQ, it can happen to this board, or the Harpgamer, or the AGSI board. The HULL is email based, and goes through fairly rigorous filters, so it's not likely this sort of attack can by made. And given that this attack can happen to all of us, we should all be concerned, and stand together to ban those individuals who would do such things. This is not a good thing, no matter who it happens to, and no one should condone this sort of activity.

My post was NOT meant to inflame passions between any side of the community. It was to warn the community, make them aware it is happening, prepare for it, and to achieve some sort of consensus on what should happen to the guilty individual(s).

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

Byron,

Please share. I just make two requests:

1. If there is a threat to WHQ, share it via PM with Don Maddox and Ivan Rapkinov.
2. Keep it to the facts - when you guys are ready to release all information, release it. I sense a hidden message in the traffic I've read on this issue that one faction may have been responsible for the attack and if there is going to be any discussion on any of this, it should be fact based.

Take care,
Brian

[Ivan Rapkinov]

Guys,

if the moderators at Harpoint think we at WHQ need to be informed (or anyone for that matter), please either PM or EMail me the relevant details so I can send it up the chain of command.

I think we should refrain from going into a heated discussion regarding this issue, due to the simple fact that WHQ was not affected, and the majority of the users that peruse the Harp forum here either know about it, or are new people with an interest in Harpoon, and which it doesn;t affect.

Personally, I think it is important to discuss as a community as a whole -> but this is not the right place to do it.

Byron: I'll take your suggestion and move the MBX-specific posts into a new thread.

I'm not closing this as yet, but please refrain from going into "Us vs Them" mode. That's not what this forum is all about.

cheers

Jim.

[JClark_1]

Byron,

Please share. I just make two requests:

1. If there is a threat to WHQ, share it via PM with Don Maddox and Ivan Rapkinov.
2. Keep it to the facts - when you guys are ready to release all information, release it. I sense a hidden message in the traffic I've read on this issue that one faction may have been responsible for the attack and if there is going to be any discussion on any of this, it should be fact based.

Take care,
Brian

Re 1) No threat KNOWN at this time. HHQ and the AGSI forums did not either. AGSI was down for almost a week doing security upgrades. HHQ was down for about 3 days repairing damage and doing upgrades. Neither site had anticipated this sort of DOS attack prior to the incident in question.

2) Facts are as stated. No names until 100% proof. No hidden message. I sort of have a reputation of saying my mind, and rather clearly.

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

[Scully]

Re 1) No threat KNOWN at this time. HHQ and the AGSI forums did not either. AGSI was down for almost a week doing security upgrades. HHQ was down for about 3 days repairing damage and doing upgrades. Neither site had anticipated this sort of DOS attack prior to the incident in question.

2) Facts are as stated. No names until 100% proof. No hidden message. I sort of have a reputation of saying my mind, and rather clearly.

Byron Audler,
moderator, HULL

Hey Byron,

Fair enough and I appreciate the clarification/update.

Take care,
Brian

[Reckall]

is overwhelming. Has no one anything Harpoon to talk about? How about the hack attack on the HarpoonHq forums, that caused their shutdown for two days, or the shutdown of the AGSI forums for security upgrades, for fear the same sick individual(s) would do the same to them?

I was away, so I was not able to follow this event when it happened. Anyway, yesterday I did a quick search with Google, using the words Bot Attacks April 2005 (without quotes) and I discovered some interesting things. For example, that there are bots that lurk on IRC channels, infect unsuspecting users PCs and then allow to third parties to launch random attacks using the "controlled" (and innocent) PC.

There are many articles on the web about this.

I post this because I feel that it can be useful to the whole community. I'm not enough into technicals to give an informed opinion - my knowledge being based on this quick Google search. But, if really this can happen, then:

A) It could happen again, to any forum on WHQ or elsewhere
B) Innocents could be blamed without real reason or reasonable proof

Hope this helps!

Vince

[Ivan Rapkinov]

Fellas - last word here about the issue. If you feel it's worth reporting, PM me the gory details and I'll make sure the Admin's are aware, and even prepared for such an eventuality.

cheers

Jim.