Quote from: JohnWickHi there.

I'd suggest doing a little bit more research before making accusations like saying I'm a goddamn liar ...
John Wick

I don't think anyone has to do much research to prove this....see above...

Oh, I'm sorry...it wasn't a lie...it was a joke...if that's your story I'll have you arrested for insulting my intelligence....

Okay, let's try this again.

First, unhelig and I cleared up the confusion about Enemy Gods and Primeval. I was involved in editing the project. I voiced concerns about the direction it was headed, there were respectful disagreements, and I withdrew from the project so it could move forward.

Later, I wrote a game called Enemy Gods. Differences between the two products are vast. This is not evident by looking at the cover. I sent unhelig a .pdf copy. He read it and agreed the two games were very different.

I am still a fan of Primeval. I still stand behind my statement I made when I first played it: "Easily one of my favorite roleplaying games." But the differences between Enemy Gods and Primeval are numerous. Both deal with similar subjects, but the mechanics are entirely different.

Anyone who says Enemy Gods is a rip-off of Primeval has not played these games. Primeval uses a community-based task resolution system. It is best described as a (true) storytelling system with dice and narration points. The players take the roles of mythic heroes who go out on a series of quests, each trying to become "Jason" to the other characters' "Argonauts."

In the game, each character has five Mythic Tasks they've accomplished. These are your character's only stats/traits/attributes. There are no other mechanics on your sheet. The GM gives the basic premise for the Mythic Task the characters are about to undertake and each player takes a turn describing how his Hero accomplished the task. The GM awards points based on a series of criteria and the number of points you get is the number of dice you roll. Whichever player rolls higher is correct: his Hero is Jason and everybody else was just Argonauts along for the trip.

(Remember: Heracles was an Argonaut. Jason just rolled higher on that Golden Fleece adventure.)

Enemy Gods, on the other hand, is a more traditional roleplaying game. It has traits, skills, and a combat system. But it also has an active Pantheon of Gods, each God played by a different player. So, each player takes the role of both a God and a Hero. Each character sheet has a list of the Gods and your character's Devotion to those Gods. Based on the combined Devotion of the heroes, each God has a degree of Divinity: the divine power he can use to influence the game. So, players can influence the game both as Gods and Heroes.

The games use completely different task resolution systems. They don't look anything alike.

Did Primeval influence Enemy Gods? Yes. I've said so on many occassions. unhelig even has a "Thank You" credit on the front page of the book and a tip of the hat to one of my favorite unpublished games for giving me the idea to write a game about playing Gods.

But comparing Enemy Gods to Primeval is the same as comparing Primeval to Hero Wars or any of the other Glorantha RPGs. Both deal with Mythic Level stories and mechanics to tell those stories. But Primeval looks nothing like Glorantha and unhelig did not "rip off" Greg Stafford.

Both unhelig and I were inspired by the same sources. Myth, Epic, Campbell, Stafford, etc. And if you owned both games, they'd compliment each other well on your bookshelf.

As for the libel talk, I have no intention of suing people. I was hoping to demonstrate how irresponsible speech has a habit of turning up on the internet, but when I'm at conventions, it disappears in a cloud of cowardice.

No-one has ever "confronted me" at a convention. Not once. If I'm such a jerk, I'd prefer people tell it to my face. I've never used any cute or clever pseudonyms on the internet. I've never hidden behind any facades. What I've said, I've said with my own voice, my own face, my own identity. And I've stood behind the things I've believed in and apologized and corrected the things that have been shown to me to be mistakes or errors in judgment.

If I'm a "liar," show it to me. Prove it. I'd like to see where I've "lied." I've made outrageous claims, I've lost my temper, and I've even pulled a prank or two, but I have not lied.

Yeah, I can be a jerk. But if that's a crime, we'd better start emptying New York for that nifty prison John Carpenter talked about. We're gonna need the room.

John W.

Thank you for re-stating your position minus the dramatics.

Quote from: JohnWickI've even pulled a prank or two, but I have not lied.

I would submit that the difference between a deceptive prank and an outright lie is more subjective than you seem to be implying here.

Quote from: JohnWickIf I'm a "liar," show it to me. Prove it. I'd like to see where I've "lied." I've made outrageous claims, I've lost my temper, and I've even pulled a prank or two, but I have not lied.

Here let me make this easy for you...

Prank -  A mischievous trick

Trick - a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile.

Lie - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.

Liar - a person who tells lies.

Quote from: jrientsI would submit that the difference between a deceptive prank and an outright lie is more subjective than you seem to be implying here.

That's a subjective judgment that I'm willing to live with.

Quote from: jdrakehAnd Wick. . . the guy has single-handedly brought the hobby industry some of the worst press since Pat Pulling. The PRIMEVAL thing is notable, of course, but tales of his departure from AEG are even more telling. When folks who are arguably equally as notorious for bad dispostions in the industry tell you that they'd rather cut off their own limbs than work with Wick, it says something. Gah.

Would you like to tell me about how I left AEG? I'd love to know what actually happened.

"... worst press since Patt Pulling?"

We are using a bit of hyperbole, aren't we? Patt Pulling had headlines and a seat on Donahue's TV show. I've yet to do either.

Quote from: JohnWickWould you like to tell me about how I left AEG? I'd love to know what actually happened.

Didn't you know?  They had the police haul you away in cuffs.  You should have stayed down after the second taser hit.  They wouldn't have called the K9 unit.

Quote"... worst press since Patt Pulling?"

We are using a bit of hyperbole, aren't we? Patt Pulling had headlines and a seat on Donahue's TV show. I've yet to do either.

Yeah, that seems pretty dodgy.  Who outside the hobby has heard of John Wick?  Hell, I can easily scare up local gamers who have never heard of him.  They all play D&D.  (Though I could find fans as well.)

Quote from: rcsampleHere let me make this easy for you...

Prank -  A mischievous trick

Trick - a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile.

Lie - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.

Liar - a person who tells lies.

I know this sounds counterintuitive and even a little wonky, but using the dictionary in that way really doesn't prove your point.

It's kind of like the Fundie Xian trick:

"Have you ever told a lie?"
"Yes."
"That makes you a liar."

In other words, I would wager, sir, that under your own definitions above, we would both be considered "liars." And that would be a bit like throwing rocks in a glass house.

Quote from: JohnWickYeah, I can be a jerk. But if that's a crime, we'd better start emptying New York for that nifty prison John Carpenter talked about. We're gonna need the room.

John W.

That's better.  That's what we like around here - Set out your argument and facts, don't just blaze through and yell libel.  Thank you, Mr. Wick.

Wow, what an ass. I guess I've finally found someone who's such an ass I'd never purchase their product.

So my answer to the question originally posed in this thread is John Wick. I'll never purchase one of his products.

Quote from: JohnWickIn other words, I would wager, sir, that under your own definitions above, we would both be considered "liars." And that would be a bit like throwing rocks in a glass house.

And, as long as we're resorting to tired clichés, two wrongs don't make a right.

!i!

Admitting you are an asshole goes a long way around here, you mught have just gained a sliverof respect from me.

I like how some of you are piling on John Wick with arguments that have absolutely no substance.

Then you'll wonder why this website has such a horrible reputation and cry in fake outrage whenever someone calls you on that kind of garbage on another forum or ten.

Quote from: Consonant DudeI like how some of you are piling on John Wick with arguments that have absolutely no substance.

Dude, you can do better than that.  Name names and quote quotes.  Most of us don't usually talk about "some of you" around here.  We say things like "Hey, Jeff.  You're being too hard on Wick for that one stupid prank."

Quote from: Serious PaulWow, what an ass. I guess I've finally found someone who's such an ass I'd never purchase their product.

So my answer to the question originally posed in this thread is John Wick. I'll never purchase one of his products.

I'm honestly curious how you've determined from my responses that I'm an ass. Could you point it out to me so I can learn and perhaps improve my behavior?