can somebody give me insight into the context surrounding the retardation of the book of exalted deeds

you know the reasons behind the rules was one 2 of the 2 reason to buy the rules compendium (the other being something that actually adequately explained holding touch spells)

Obviously, I don't miss Grognardia.  It exemplified some of the worst of the OSR's Clonemania days and Invented-Nostalgia.

I figured you would be a big fan of it since he talks about old D&D a lot, where it was just gaming, instead of storytelling.

Pundit kinda hates on random people because he doesn't like their attitude or just likes different games than them rather than for any exact bad thing they did.

Ask him what Vincent Baker ever did to him some time.

pundit what did Vincent Baker ever do to you.

pundit what did Vincent Baker ever do to you.

Vincent Baker's too obvious. He was one of the most active voices on the Forge, practically Ron Edward's protege.

I'd just like to suss the distinction between nostalgia and "invented nostalgia".

well thats easy its about the intent

actually you are right it is a bit odd.

Quote from: TristramEvans;807551Vincent Baker's too obvious. He was one of the most active voices on the Forge, practically Ron Edward's protege.

I'd just like to suss the distinction between nostalgia and "invented nostalgia".

Having been there (started gaming in 1978) I have some wonderful memories of old school D&D. And all of them had to do with the games we played and the people I played them with. The rules were crap. I can see that clearly *now*, even thought at the time I couldn't. So my nostalgia is set firmly in that context. Playing those games at fourteen was awesome. But now, at fifty? No thanks.

I've seen James Mal play games. He plays to have fun like everybody else.

You could try to claim James was some kind of nostalgic-in-a-bad-way ass based on how much time he spent talking about old stuff that didn't resonate with (whoever was reading) but you'd have to balance that against his reviews of new DIY D&D products which showed a pretty consistent appreciation for people doing innovative things--even if they were innovations you might think he, personally, couldn't have thought of himself.

Red Tide, Echo Resounding, Carcosa, the original Death Frost Doom--he saw what was good and new in them straight off. I for one wouldn't have heard of any of those things if it wasn't for JM and I bet a ton of other people wouldn't either.

It's the Internet. Anytime anyone says "I like" or "I miss," there's always someone who feels compelled to lash out against it. It's especially easy when hiding behind fake names and avatars.

Of course that's been said about a billion times before.

Still true.

Quote from: TristramEvans;807551Vincent Baker's too obvious. He was one of the most active voices on the Forge, practically Ron Edward's protege.

I'd just like to suss the distinction between nostalgia and "invented nostalgia".

it's invented nostalgia when you feel thretened by someone else's popularity. Its regular nostalgia when people are playing BX and not buying your game. Hope that helps.
I don't really miss Grognardia, but I have no doubt that Jmal was 100% sincere.

Quote from: Zak S;807565I've seen James Mal play games. He plays to have fun like everybody else.

You could try to claim James was some kind of nostalgic-in-a-bad-way ass based on how much time he spent talking about old stuff that didn't resonate with (whoever was reading) but you'd have to balance that against his reviews of new DIY D&D products which showed a pretty consistent appreciation for people doing innovative things--even if they were innovations you might think he, personally, couldn't have thought of himself.

Red Tide, Echo Resounding, Carcosa, the original Death Frost Doom--he saw what was good and new in them straight off. I for one wouldn't have heard of any of those things if it wasn't for JM and I bet a ton of other people wouldn't either.

Honestly, I enjoyed his musing and early talk about Dwimmermount, myself. I especially liked the that the door to the dungeon only opened in the moonlight; elfs as martians and some of his other stuff.
However, that's twice in this thread that I almost agree with you. Lets not make it a habit, now.

Quote from: Tetsubo;807562Having been there (started gaming in 1978) I have some wonderful memories of old school D&D. And all of them had to do with the games we played and the people I played them with. The rules were crap. I can see that clearly *now*, even thought at the time I couldn't. So my nostalgia is set firmly in that context. Playing those games at fourteen was awesome. But now, at fifty? No thanks.

From what he says, it seems like what he liked about it was how open ended it was, since it forced everybody to be creative when interpreting them. The rules themselves were almost beside the point.

I liked Grognardia. J Mal, had an urge to share something, and I usually found it interesting and thoughtful. Sometimes he dived deep into the weeds on some things, but it never really bothered me.