27/04/2021
Congratulations y'all, never gonna include a map of the route in an ad again. 🙃 Just found out people have been stealing the advertisement we make...and are running rides on routes I've scouted and plotted.
Let me be absolutely clear, those images are NOT FREE TO USE. The time it takes to get the right screenshot(s), add all the text, edit the whole thing, and HAND DRAW the map route on the smaller map is usually about 2 to 5...hours. Yes HOURS. And is ONLY made possible by a graphic artist who GENEROUSLY helps with the majority of the image. Trust me. If I was paying him I'd never be able to AFFORD him.
He does this for two reasons...one, he's my friend and we help each other out where we can. And two...we both want people to have fun on these rides.
Neither of us makes a cent, we do this for nothing.
And before I ever put on a ride I HEAVILY scout the route. That means finding an area I think would be a nice ride, then going around and figuring out if it is even feasible...then running it again to insure there's nothing impassable or impossible...then running it at least once at a walk/jog to make sure it's fun. I usually spend about 3 to 5 hours scouting each run, sometimes MORE. I'm working on a Mountain Pass route (some of you came with me on a scouting trip...I got accidentally and hilariously trampled to death trying to get a cool video LOL) and I've run it about 12 times and spent probably 9 hours on it already, and it's STILL not ready yet. I've been working on it for weeks.
Now I understand I can't claim sole ownership of a route I make and can't stop people from doing the same routes, but to steal the images we make for it is just...low.
And if I'm honest...I'm disappointed I wasn't invited. Someone took OUR images, to offer MY routes, for THEIR trail rides...and didn't invite me to come with? I love hitting the trail. And as much as I enjoy leading fun rides, I actually like doing them without leading just as much if not more. That's honestly why I started doing this: I wanted to give people more opportunities to go trail riding in RDR2O. So to not even be included is pretty crappy.
Those of you who know I take great pride in making sure my trail rides are scenic and fun, well, you know I'll do my best to never steer ya wrong. To those who don't know me or haven't been on the trail with me, y'all are just gonna have to trust me.
But I'm not posting maps of my rides any more. My friend and I do all this work and I don't even get invited? Yeah. Nah.
I'm also strongly considering opening trail rides ONLY to people who've +liked this page and, of course, to the Tahiti Trail Riders on Discord. Haven't decided yet.
Screenshot from the first River Ride for tax.