Quote from: mythusmageBack from the convention, and ready to explain myself on this subject.

Basically, Ars Magica is based on what two men thought people in Medieval Europe saw their world. As with the writings of others, it is based on the work of Victorian British authors, who saw the time as a dark period between the splendor that was Rome, and the glorious rebirth of the Renaissance.

In a different sense Ars Magica tells the modern story of the enlightened academic (the Order of Hermes) and the Religious Right (The Church). One trying to better humanity, the other keeping Man oppressed. It presents the ivory tower intellectual paradigm, a seeker after knowledge keeping himself away from the world the better to focus his attentions on what's really important.

Thing is, that's never really fit wizards in real life. As others have pointed out previous to this post, wizards and alchemists such as Paracelsus and Roger Bacon were very much involved in the outside world. Indeed, their involvement is why they engaged in the research and experimentation they did.

Then Tweet and Rhein

*bump*  Then Tween and Rhein what?

QuoteIt's one of those things that really drives home how intellectually unsubtle your average geek is.

You call Joss Whedon-navel gazing and unsubtle character cliches intellectually superiour?

I can only laugh at you.

Joss Whedon is for smartypants adolescents, and written at their level. If you want to explore human relationships in an intellectual way, you should switch off your TV, and read some books.

I mostly know native authors, but I´ve heard there´s quite a lot of English books ou there too. Houllebecqu  surely was translated, and might be a start. Or you go to one of the surely existing contemporary english quality literature.

See, I´m not saying RPGs should at all be intellectual. But you surely brought it up to elevate your position. If you want to be arrogant, be so kind to honour the age old tradition of actually reading high culture stuff so you can be pretentious. That way, the high culture keeps itself alive, and your reasonings at least have some actual backing.

Joss Whedon intellectual... oh my good, western civilization is defended by TV couch potatoes...:rolleyes:

Quote from: SettembriniYou call Joss Whedon-navel gazing and unsubtle character cliches intellectually superiour?

I can only laugh at you.

Joss Whedon is for smartypants adolescents, and written at their level. If you want to explore human relationships in an intellectual way, you should switch off your TV, and read some books.

I mostly know native authors, but I´ve heard there´s quite a lot of English books ou there too. Houllebecqu  surely was translated, and might be a start. Or you go to one of the surely existing contemporary english quality literature.

See, I´m not saying RPGs should at all be intellectual. But you surely brought it up to elevate your position. If you want to be arrogant, be so kind to honour the age old tradition of actually reading high culture stuff so you can be pretentious. That way, the high culture keeps itself alive, and your reasonings at least have some actual backing.

Joss Whedon intellectual... oh my good, western civilization is defended by TV couch potatoes...:rolleyes:

I think you've rather fundamentally missed the point of his post.

He didn't say that Joss Whedon was intellectual, he was talking about gamers watching character driven shows and seeing only the surface trappings of the program rather than the elements that make it a successful drama.

Your post is completely tangential to that, IMO rather correct, point.

The thing that makes BSG a success is that it is character driven drama, it's not about the technology or the spaceships.  That was his point, that many gamers see a show like BSG or Firefly and miss entirely the fact that the core of the show is the relationships and characters.

He wasn't posting about literature at all, I find your attack to be honest a bit bizarre as it has nothing to do with his post.

QuoteThe thing that makes BSG a success is that it is character driven drama, it's not about the technology or the spaceships. That was his point, that many gamers see a show like BSG or Firefly and miss entirely the fact that the core of the show is the relationships and characters.

...and that this would be intellectual. And it´s not.
But point taken, I seem to have misinterpreted his post.

But I´d choose blasting cylons over Galactica:90210 every day in my gaming.

Actually I think BSG and Firefly sucked for the exact reason, that there was to much relationship crap and not enough explosions. In that regard I´m with Analytical:
Anyone who likes BSG and Firefly should be aware that he´s watching a soap in Sci-Fi drags.

I'm sure that somebody out there had a lot of fun with it, but I thought that the Tales From The Crypt RPG seemed rather an unwieldy premise.

Quote from: SettembriniAnyone who likes BSG and Firefly should be aware that he´s watching a soap in Sci-Fi drags.

I haven't seen BSG, but Firefly is very poor as drama in my opinion. The characters are as wooden as Swedish furniture, and the dialogue reeks.

QuoteFirefly is very poor as drama in my opinion. The characters are as wooden as Swedish furniture, and the dialogue reeks.

I think so too. A bit more Traveller-look-alike FGMP-15 action would have redeemed it.

Quote from: SettembriniI think so too. A bit more Traveller-look-alike FGMP-15 action would have redeemed it.

I doubt it. Maybe killing Book in the very first episode would have done it. And Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Wash, Kaylee, Inara, Simon and River.