If you're ready to waste 100+ words to explain what RPG is, to provide an example of "actual" session and whatnot, even if your game is written (obviously) with veterans in mind, then PLEASE, spend half of that time explaining how it's any different to D&D and why it deserves any attention.

Thankyew.

You should put features up front, and definitely say that in your post. However, it's my opinion that spending time in the book comparing yourself to other games is a bad move.

Which D&D? Last I checked, there were a couple of different editions out there.

Quote from: JesterRaiin;894595If you're ready to waste 100+ words to explain what RPG is, to provide an example of "actual" session and whatnot, even if your game is written (obviously) with veterans in mind, then PLEASE, spend half of that time explaining how it's any different to D&D and why it deserves any attention.

Thankyew.

Half of it?
That kind of explanation takes far less time and space than half of it?
I can explain how my games are different right here:

Speed of combat and Skill checks is key.
Armor, damage, skill is all in one die roll, with rarely more than 3 dice at the same time, which usually takes the highest anyway.
It is very deadly unless one has hi-tech armor or similar defence, something that normally depends on the setting.
And your skill test is usually the difficulty die which ranges from silly easy D4 to insanely hard D20 versus the target number that your total skill is.
Setting varies, depending on what game is used (Yes, i'm aiming for making several games, as one setting only do not tickle my fancy enough), but usually, some level of tech is preferred, even if the rest is pseudo-medieval.

Get it?
It do not take "half of the time" ......
(And i'm so tempted to gif you right back, but I won't.)

Quote from: Catelf;894644Get it?

Sure.

You're trying to avoid the truth: that D&D clone you're thinking about isn't that different, really, and the only way you could prove its "originality" is to address those tiny, little elements like "different dice used in situation X", or some elements of in-game lore. Way I see it, if that's all said game has to offer - just tweaks and fixes - then it's not worth any attention.

Quote from: Catelf;894644(And i'm so tempted to gif you right back, but I won't.)

To cite a classic: "You wouldn't survive the attempt".

Quote from: TheCutestWug;894627You should put features up front, and definitely say that in your post. However, it's my opinion that spending time in the book comparing yourself to other games is a bad move.

I don't think that "how it's any different to all those similar SF games" or "what's unique about my game" quick summary is that bad move - I've seen it in a few products already and sometimes such section contained vital information that made me pay special attention to what I would otherwise miss, or immediately understand what the game is all about. For example simple "the game should be treated as tongue-in-cheek joke featuring Lovecraftian monsters" is a nice way to sum things up.

Quote from: dragoner;894630Which D&D? Last I checked, there were a couple of different editions out there.

Of course, this edition the game is based on. Unless it's not, in which case this makes some selling point (that it might be perceived as either strength or a a weakness is another thing).

Quote from: JesterRaiin;894750Sure.

You're trying to avoid the truth: that D&D clone you're thinking about isn't that different, really, and the only way you could prove its "originality" is to address those tiny, little elements like "different dice used in situation X", or some elements of in-game lore. Way I see it, if that's all said game has to offer - just tweaks and fixes - then it's not worth any attention.

First:
You obviously don't realise that the resulting rules is very different from D&D.
Second:
D&D clone?
Oh my dear, I forgot to say that the basic stats used notes it far more likely to be a WoD-deriviate than a D&D one.

Quote from: JesterRaiin;894750To cite a classic: "You wouldn't survive the attempt".

So, you want to play?
...Nope, i'm not interested.

Quote from: JesterRaiin;894753"the game should be treated as tongue-in-cheek joke featuring Lovecraftian monsters" is a nice way to sum things up.

Oh, so you don't care about the rules, you want to know about the setting, and the setting only.
Well, your example is even LESS than "half the rulebook", thereby giving less credence to your initial request.

Essentially, you admit that it do not take half the book, and you also suddenly talk about being different from other sci-fi games, and not just different from D&D.
Well, in a way, you are making progress.

Most of those wasted words could be focused (I don't think it's a good idea to eliminate them) by authors keeping two questions firmly in mind at all stages of the writing process:

• Who is the intended audience for my game?
• What is the intended play style for my game?

Quote from: Catelf;894817First:You obviously don't realise that the resulting rules is very different from D&D.

Feel free to spare a moment and explain how much your D&D clone is any different to D&D itself, then.

Quote from: Catelf;894817Second: D&D clone? Oh my dear, I forgot to say that the basic stats used notes it far more likely to be a WoD-deriviate than a D&D one.

Feel free to spare a moment and explain how much your WoD clone is any different to WoD itself, then.

...in fact, I'll make it a bit easier to you: feel free to spare a moment and explain how much your [place any game your game is based on here] clone is any different to [the game it's based on] itself, then. Godspeed.

Quote from: Catelf;894817So, you want to play?

Of course. It's one of many reasons I visit the Internet and share my thoughts with random people.

Quote from: Catelf;894817...Nope, i'm not interested.

Ah, good, old "I don't care, but let me explain how much I don't care". You could've simply choose to not signalize your alleged lack of interest, abandon the issue, and yet you choose to waste both yours and mine time to discuss that. Ironic, isn't it?

Quote from: Catelf;894823Oh, so you don't care about the rules, you want to know about the setting, and the setting only.

If all you have to offer are a few simple tweaks and fixes, then no, I don't care about said rules, since all they are are D&D + a few houserules. Same with the setting. If it's FR + Donald Trump Class, then no, I don't care about said setting, since all it is is FR + a bit of silly homebrewing.

...and it would be mighty decent of you, to address these issues in first a few pages, so I wouldn't have to waste my time reading it. Next question, please.

Quote from: daniel_ream;894851Most of those wasted words could be focused (I don't think it's a good idea to eliminate them) by authors keeping two questions firmly in mind at all stages of the writing process:

• Who is the intended audience for my game?
• What is the intended play style for my game?

That's quite good idea too - people too often produce things that are supposed to be "fit for all" and they end with a product that doesn't attract much attention from anyone.

Quote from: daniel_ream;894851Most of those wasted words could be focused (I don't think it's a good idea to eliminate them) by authors keeping two questions firmly in mind at all stages of the writing process:

• Who is the intended audience for my game?
• What is the intended play style for my game?

While you could put a blurb in the core rules, most of that stuff can be covered in free pdf's that someone could or should make to promote their game. The intended audience and play style sound like they could be condensed into one. I do however see some of the OP's point is that too many games are derivative, I know there is a way not to be derivative, and add value, and that can let it stand for itself.

Quote from: JesterRaiin;895196Feel free to spare a moment and explain how much your WoD clone is any different to WoD itself, then.

...in fact, I'll make it a bit easier to you: feel free to spare a moment and explain how much your [place any game your game is based on here] clone is any different to [the game it's based on] itself, then. Godspeed.

---------------------------------------------

Ah, good, old "I don't care, but let me explain how much I don't care". You could've simply choose to not signalize your alleged lack of interest, abandon the issue, and yet you choose to waste both yours and mine time to discuss that. Ironic, isn't it?

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If all you have to offer are a few simple tweaks and fixes, then no, I don't care about said rules, since all they are are D&D + a few houserules. Same with the setting. If it's FR + Donald Trump Class, then no, I don't care about said setting, since all it is is FR + a bit of silly homebrewing.
 
...and it would be mighty decent of you, to address these issues in first a few pages, so I wouldn't have to waste my time reading it. Next question, please.

Good.
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I like you for that answer. (I'd insert a nod smiley here if I could.)
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I do have a problem understanding how you can see notable differences as "just a few houserules and tweaks and fixes"
That is why I have been "wasting our time" as you call it.

Quote from: Catelf;895226I like you for that answer.

If I may be frank here, I like your avatar.

Quote from: Catelf;895226I do have a problem understanding how you can see notable differences as "just a few houserules and tweaks and fixes"

Well now, it depends on the game in talking. I don't have any specific one in mind, so I'm addressing "general" issue - way too many RPGs feature very little changes to the one they are built upon. Don't take "D&D" part literally, plenty of "clones", are exactly that - almost clones, not very different to the original ones: you could literally take all unique content and reduce "the game" to a sourcebook, or a mini-campaign.

I think that my point stands: if you decide to create yet another "D&D +" (once again: don't take it literally) and release it, then all readers deserve those a few lines. What's so different about your game? Why should anyone select it in place of other "D&D +" RPGs?

That's why clones are great and all, but they're still clones. My team, we started from the ground up, Character creation is a streamlined six parter, which is all woven together, every resolution combines 2 or 3 attributes, multi-classing out of the gate when levelling, skill and combat grow from use, combat resolves only an eighth (which is my favourite fraction ;P) of the time d20 takes, and economy and setting reflects not the middle ages but the late renaissance.

Also seven months strong in a campaign.

That said, I kind feel for you, Mate. The D&D clones are overwhelming when your trying to find inherently different and unique systems to play and look at. I mean, I love D&D, it was my first, but all my d20s are rolled out of luck and I'm wanting something completely different.