Chatting with a "Normal" roleplayer

Wil · May 24, 2007, 05:59:40 PM

Quote from: Pierce InverarityThat's an interesting link! So, if I understand this right, amazon's ranking is almost real-time. If so, WTF? Can't they tell their computers to post a weekly average for each book every Monday or so instead? A la NY Times bestseller list?

That's what I was wondering as well. The popularity is no indication of total numbers of units sold. So if a copy of a title sells once a week, it might just consistently hover around a certain point. I'm not sure if Amazon makes the precise metrics they use available or not.

James McMurray · May 24, 2007, 06:23:12 PM

And the moral of the story is, if you're going to debate the popularity of a book using stats from Amazon, go order a few copies first.

King of Old School · May 24, 2007, 06:25:51 PM

Quote from: James J SkachI know from experieince that it's not my cuppa...

If you know from experience, on food or gaming or any other subject other the sun, then by definition you're excluding yourself from the population to which J Arcane and I are referring.

KoOS

King of Old School · May 24, 2007, 06:29:26 PM

Quote from: SeanchaiSo how did putting your penis in a blender work out for you?

Reductio ad absurdum aside, there's a qualitative difference between criticizing an unwillingness to try anything different and insisting on a willingness to try everything different. You do grasp this, yes?

KoOS

Wil · May 24, 2007, 06:30:27 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayAnd the moral of the story is, if you're going to debate the popularity of a book using stats from Amazon, go order a few copies first.

If I had the money to spare right now, I'd test this theory out...I want to think they have some kind of sanity check on that, but maybe they don't.

King of Old School · May 24, 2007, 06:31:49 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayFor the record, I'm very pro-versatility, but when you start bashing people for doing what they like, you lose me.

I'm not bashing people for doing what they like. I'm bashing people who, because they know they like one thing, are unwilling to even consider the possibility that they might like something else as well. That's an opinion, one you are welcome to share or not as you like, and neither your agreement nor your disagreement will change it.

KoOS

EDIT: For those with subpar reading skills, I'd like to emphasize the "consider the possibility" part of the above. I'm not talking about people who choose not to play or eat or [insert activity here] from multiple options, I'm talking about people who dismiss the possibility out of hand without any consideration whatsoever. I consider that stupidly closed-minded.

James McMurray · May 24, 2007, 06:44:08 PM

Quote from: WilIf I had the money to spare right now, I'd test this theory out...I want to think they have some kind of sanity check on that, but maybe they don't.

Do they have a pay by check option? The plan assumes you can cancel an order and not have to actually pay any money to show proof that FATAL is more popular than Jesus.

UmaSama · May 25, 2007, 12:29:02 AM

Quote from: King of Old School... For those with subpar reading skills, I'd like to emphasize the "consider the possibility" part of the above. I'm not talking about people who choose not to play or eat or [insert activity here] from multiple options, I'm talking about people who dismiss the possibility out of hand without any consideration whatsoever. I consider that stupidly closed-minded.

Do such people even exist? I think that every thinking person would consider things before rejecting them, be it a long consideration or just a simple thought, maybe their reasons are not the right ones, or maybe they're not even conscious about what those reasons are; but I'm sure that at least at subconscious level they're considering things.

Drew · May 25, 2007, 03:40:25 AM

Quote from: UmaSamaDo such people even exist? I think that every thinking person would consider things before rejecting them, be it a long consideration or just a simple thought, maybe their reasons are not the right ones, or maybe they're not even conscious about what those reasons are; but I'm sure that at least at subconscious level they're considering things.

Only in as much as any decision by its nature involves choice. I think King of Old School is talking about those who consciouly dismiss alternatives out of hand.

I don't have a problem with players who do that. Some people still play Basic D&D, and have never felt the desire to change because they're needs are being met. It's part of the beauty of this hobby, a single book can last you a lifetime if it's the right book.

jrients · May 25, 2007, 09:44:39 AM

Quote from: James McMurrayI'd say the Realms are definitely a lot worse than Exalted as far as setting density goes.

Except that you're now comparing apples to oranges. Exalted is an RPG. The Forgotten Realms is not.

James McMurray · May 25, 2007, 11:24:17 AM

Quote from: jrientsExcept that you're now comparing apples to oranges. Exalted is an RPG. The Forgotten Realms is not.

Exalted is both an RPG and a setting, they're just more tightly coupled than the D&D game and its various settings. The discussion was about setting density and how Exalted compares to other games in that regard, so that's what I discussed.

I wasn't trying to say that FR was a game by itself, or that Exalted wasn't a game. I was just saying that as far as setting goes, if you say to your players "we're in the Realms" and they're the type that want everything canon, you may have a much harder time introducing non-canonical stuff.

It's possible to compare apples and oranges, and they actually have a lot more in common than the old saying gives them credit for.

Abyssal Maw · May 25, 2007, 11:24:20 AM

Quote from: DrewOnly in as much as any decision by its nature involves choice. I think King of Old School is talking about those who consciouly dismiss alternatives out of hand.

I don't have a problem with players who do that. Some people still play Basic D&D, and have never felt the desire to change because they're needs are being met. It's part of the beauty of this hobby, a single book can last you a lifetime if it's the right book.

Total agreement.

jrients · May 25, 2007, 11:55:52 AM

Quote from: James McMurrayExalted is both an RPG and a setting, they're just more tightly coupled than the D&D game and its various settings. The discussion was about setting density and how Exalted compares to other games in that regard, so that's what I discussed.

Yes, but the Forgotten Realms isn't a game, it's a setting. You yourself just said we were comparing Exalted to other games. And as I said upthread, one of the key differences between Exalted and D&D is that one game puts a huge chunk of setting infodump in front of the chargen. The clear implication is that you need to read all that crap before making a character. That the Forgotten Realms is also chock full of setting has little to bear on it, given that we were discussing the difference between D&D and Exalted. You can play D&D as written without the Forgotten Realms. I don't think you can make the same claim about Exalted and Creation.

Ian Absentia · May 25, 2007, 01:03:25 PM

Quote from: UmaSamaDo such people even exist?

There are certainly people who say they do this. Some of these people might even be posting to this very thread...

!i!

RPGPundit · May 25, 2007, 01:05:40 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayIt's possible to compare apples and oranges, and they actually have a lot more in common than the old saying gives them credit for.

The equivalent term in spanish is "comparando salchichon con velocidad", which means "comparing sausages to velocity", which are actually far less comparable things than apples and oranges.

RPGPundit