This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Is some Arneson-love really Gygax-hate?

Started by RPGPundit, January 23, 2011, 11:20:42 AM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages 1 2 3 4
User actions

crkrueger

#45
January 25, 2011, 01:50:50 PM
Even the the "cutting edge" storygamers for all their talk of narrative, plot, and drama are fucking obsessed with the god damned rules they use. - Estar

Yes, Sean Connery\'s thumb does indeed do megadamage. - Spinachcat

Isuldur is a badass because he stopped Sauron with a broken sword, but Iluvatar is the badass because he stopped Sauron with a hobbit. -Malleus Arianorum

"Tangency Edition" D&D would have no classes or races, but 17 genders to choose from. -TristramEvans

finarvyn

#46
January 25, 2011, 01:54:30 PM
I enjoy the 1974 D&D rules quite a lot. I met both Dave and Gary (seperately) a couple of times and exchanged posts with them on message boards. Both seemed to be quite nice gentlemen and really enjoyed discussing gaming.

While I suppose Arneson-love could represent Gygax-hate, for me I liked both men and appreciate what they gave to us as a hobby.
Marv / Finarvyn
Kingmaker of Amber
I'm pretty much responsible for the S&W WB rules.
Amber Diceless Player since 1993
OD&D Player since 1975

Benoist

#47
January 25, 2011, 01:57:29 PM
Bottom line is that some will find that kind of GMing fun for a variety of reasons (because it's immersive, because what you say you do is directly applied to the game's reality, etc), while others won't find it fun because it lacks structure, relies on DM's direct interpretation (fiat) etc.

I don't mind this sort of thing, if it's a teaching moment, not a constant occurrence. In other words, this happens to me once, I adapt, and then I'm trying to have fun with it. If I feel like I'm just being screwed for the DM's enjoyment over and over again, then this just becomes plain bad DMing. I quit the table and move on.

finarvyn

#48
January 25, 2011, 01:59:03 PM
Quote from: The_Shadow;435071Sure, no sense nursing old grievances about Gygax vs Arneson. But I'll admit to a curiosity about their legal settlement and so on. I'd just like from a historical POV to uncover the truth.
I suspect that the truth isn't as cool as one might think.

Dave had a concept, Gary wrote most of the rules, each contributed parts to a whole. Much of the settlement probably occured because Gary was part-owner of the company and Dave owned nothing, but they shared certain rights to the product. Once D&D split into AD&D and BD&D they had to agree how much of each was "owned" by each and what profits (if any) went which way. Then they agreed not to speak of it again. I'll bet there aren't any hidden surprises we can't easily guess.
Marv / Finarvyn
Kingmaker of Amber
I'm pretty much responsible for the S&W WB rules.
Amber Diceless Player since 1993
OD&D Player since 1975

thedungeondelver

#49
January 25, 2011, 02:20:59 PM
Quote from: ColonelHardisson;435066I agree, but the way it was implemented in the example was asshattery, because the players would have no way of knowing that's how the game was being played. I hate "gotcha!" bullshit like that. That's not a matter of being old school, it's a matter of trying to be "clever" when in fact one is being a douchebag. Maybe the player could have jumped across the table and said "here's how I save myself, by breaking the DM's nose!"

I know of both of the people concerned and I gotta tell you it's a funny (and sick) mental image.
THE DELVERS DUNGEON


Mcbobbo sums it up nicely.

Quote
Astrophysicists are reassessing Einsteinian relativity because the 28 billion l

RPGPundit

#50
January 26, 2011, 09:55:43 AM
Quote from: finarvyn;435137I suspect that the truth isn't as cool as one might think.

Dave had a concept, Gary wrote most of the rules, each contributed parts to a whole. Much of the settlement probably occured because Gary was part-owner of the company and Dave owned nothing, but they shared certain rights to the product. Once D&D split into AD&D and BD&D they had to agree how much of each was "owned" by each and what profits (if any) went which way. Then they agreed not to speak of it again. I'll bet there aren't any hidden surprises we can't easily guess.

That's because you haven't considered how they divided the "Trap collection".  It was, surprisingly the most contentious of all.  Some would have thought that the huge colletion of gonzo high-tech items would be the contentious one, but no, Arneson got to keep all of those.  In exchange, Gary got all the Harlots.

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Insufficient Metal

#51
January 26, 2011, 10:42:28 AM
Quote from: ColonelHardisson;435066I agree, but the way it was implemented in the example was asshattery, because the players would have no way of knowing that's how the game was being played. I hate "gotcha!" bullshit like that. That's not a matter of being old school, it's a matter of trying to be "clever" when in fact one is being a douchebag. Maybe the player could have jumped across the table and said "here's how I save myself, by breaking the DM's nose!"

"You thought I said 'you encounter a white dwarf'? I mean WIGHT dwarf! You done level drained, bitch!"

If I recall correctly, this was actually an example in an old Dragon magazine.
Print
Go Up Pages 1 2 3 4
User actions