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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 04:01:33 AM

Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 04:01:33 AM
Dear RPGPundit,

I am not writing this to incite you, pick a fight or start a flamewar.  I don't fear you or your blog-o-wrath but at the same time I have no desire to be Saint Levi II and enter into a long back and forth dialogue or debate in this thread.  So, without further ado, here's the shtick:

You have something to say and you say it in such a way that people listen.  Use that.

Forget whether or not I agree with you, forget who is right or wrong.  I'm swine to you anyway (not the White Wolf kind, a proud member of the Forge variety).  I don't care if you like Ron Edwards or the Forge or White Wolf or what-the-fuck-ever.  I have no interest in convincing you about anything I believe concerning gaming.

You kvetch and moan about RPG.net as if it was an ex-girlfriend who won't take you back.  Stop.

I know it was a messy break-up...I mean permaban.

No, don't stop about RPG.net because they are right, don't stop because you are wrong, stop because she doesn't love you and never did.  Stop because you have something to say and can do better than complaining about a company that at best thinks of you as mildly amusing and at worst thinks of you as a complete and total asshole.

Take those future blog posts about RPG.net, about unjust moderators about Nikchick and write your game, Forward to Adventure.  Write about how the playtests are going, about how people can game your way successfully, about how the games at your table are going down and how you and your buddies get your game on.  

Eventually it might become clear that these enemies who want to destroy D&D and gaming really, at the end of the day, want nothing more than to game, put out games that make some money or break even and have a good time.  Unlike Hunter S. Thompson, you don't have a villain who is ever going to attack you and your way of life.

But you have people who post at your site, the beginnings of a community.  This is because you have a way with words and you do have something to say and no fear about saying it.

It is just a shame we have to wade through the bullshit and the straw men and the RPG.net mod rants and the anti-deer crap to even get a hint of it.

And one day, when FtA has made back its initial investment and is cruising right along and you can't remember the last time you even thought about RPG.net or Blue Rose, you will find that someone on a blog is ranting about you and how much you suck.

And you will have a pundit of your very own.

And the circle will be complete.

Sincerely,

Judd
a.k.a. Paka
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 04:51:04 AM
Quote from: Harry JoyWhy you RPG.net mods haven't "nuked" him by now is beyond me. Lord knows, I used the trick before, and I ain't a professional mod.
 
If you want to carry this over to here, do it without this damned drama.
 
Nuke him. You know you can.
 
My 2 cents/

For the record, I am not an RPG.net mod.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 04:59:43 AM
Paka,

I'm glad you enjoy at least portions of my Blog. I'm sorry that you find my concerns about things like RPG.net or Blue Rose to be uninteresting. The latter is pretty well as dead an issue as BR is a game, and the former is only an ongoing concern because the people over at RPG.net continue saying and doing things that demand being talked about. If you haven't noticed, a number of the people who come to my site do so because its one of the only places they can air their frustration with what has happened and continues to happen over at RPG.net.
Likewise, I wish the people involved in the Forge and gaming theory would get their act together and reform their presentation in such a way that they would be about actual play and design, rather than elitism and jargon. Levi tells me that the Forgeites are working on that, here's hoping there's progress on that front.

However, I have a lot of hope for places like my blog (on a small scale) and message boards like Nutkinland and Animalball (on a larger scale). As these places grow in popularity, and as long as they remain free of manipulation and control by the same people who have taken control of RPG.net, the less I will need to make my blog about that kind of topic, and the more I can talk about games I'm playing or games I like.

At the end of the day, I'd be most pleased if my blog didn't need to be a place for saying the kind of things I have to say right now. For now, though, its likely to continue having to be.

As for "my very own pundit"; I sincerely doubt that will ever have to happen. If for no other reason than because I will never try to censor or silence someone who wants to debate with me on my blog (or anywhere else for that matter). Those who think I'm a menace to them now would do well to remember that my Blog and its success is a product of THEIR actions.

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 05:12:45 AM
Hey,

I am really glad that your didn't get your claws out.  Awesome.

Let's talk, if you don't mind.  I am not out to win this thread and if we disagree, such is life.

I am all about effecting change and righting wrongs in the communities around us but do you really want to change RPG.net and if you do, do you really think you are going to?  Ultimately, you have made your position very clear and even if they changed tomorrow, would you really want to go back?

Personally, I've got no beef with 'em.  I dig RPG.net and always have but I don't understand the terrible waste of energy that you exert on a place where you can no longer participate.  It seems wasteful.

The Forge's Theory and GNS forums were closed.  Naturally, ya might cite Ron's Brain Damage post.  Whatevuh.

Truth is, the site has hundreds of posts every damned day that are entirely actual play and game design.  I just don't see the D&D hate that you do.  Ron wrote an AP post last week about running a D&D game for the kids down the block.

The mission statement there remains:

This site is dedicated to the promotion, creation, and review of independent role-playing games. What is an independent role-playing game? Our main criterion is that the game is owned by its author, or creator-owned.  (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/about/)

And I remain,

Judd
a.k.a. Paka
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on April 30, 2006, 05:51:40 AM
My motivation, maybe it applies to others as well:

If a group stops calling things wrong, which are , well, just wrong, then the group is in serious trouble.
Current RPG.Net Moderation is bad/wrong.
(Assuming your goal is to have a general discussion forum.)

So anybody, including me, has the duty to speak up.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Technicolor Dreamcoat on April 30, 2006, 08:38:12 AM
You know, I try to reserve my anger and my energy for railing against things that are actually important, as opposed to one internet forum's moderation policy.

Sure you can talk about it, sure you shouldn't lie about it. But to become so obsessed with rpg.net is just silly, because really – who cares?

Imagine you get thrown out of Wal*Mart. At first you're angry, and you talk to friends about how they mistreated you. But if you make that experience your number one topic to talk about a year later, even though you ended up shopping at Target or some small business mere moments after you were thrown out... well, it's childish.

rpg.net is the worst offender against free speech – in URUGUAY!
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on April 30, 2006, 08:55:48 AM
Well, posting on a rpg forum is a childish pastime anyway. Only by taking this into account will it be possible to tell what is really important and what isn´t.
So as we are all deep in the realm of escapist entertainment, it really makes sense to criticize RPG.Net mods. If you want to "keep your energy" for something "important" you shouldn´t  be posting in any RPG fora, (or blogs...;)).
Proportion only comes with context. And the context here is "Talk about RPGs". It is in this very area were the Forge, RPG.Net and EnWorld play a "significant" and "influential" role.
Of course, in the great schemes of the banalities of our real lives, it´s just a great heap of irrelevance and childish/adolescent entertainment.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 11:47:33 AM
Quote from: PakaHey,

I am really glad that your didn't get your claws out.  Awesome.

My reputation for attacking others is greatly exaggerated. In general, if you approach me with the honest spirit of rational discourse, its rational discourse you will get from me.

QuoteI am all about effecting change and righting wrongs in the communities around us but do you really want to change RPG.net and if you do, do you really think you are going to?  Ultimately, you have made your position very clear and even if they changed tomorrow, would you really want to go back?

In answer to your questions, in order: yes, I doubt it at this point, and if it changed yes.

QuotePersonally, I've got no beef with 'em.  I dig RPG.net and always have but I don't understand the terrible waste of energy that you exert on a place where you can no longer participate.  It seems wasteful.

RPG.net is a part of the RPG gaming hobby online. I'm part of and interested in the RPG gaming hobby online. That in itself makes it not a waste.

QuoteThe Forge's Theory and GNS forums were closed.  Naturally, ya might cite Ron's Brain Damage post.  Whatevuh.

I strongly question Ron Edward's motives for closing those fora. You seem to imply that it was because the goal of the site has shifted away from talking about theory and onto other things; from his statements when he closed those fora, it struck me more as him saying "My GNS theory is now perfect and requires no more discussion, therefore you will no longer be allowed to question it in these forums; they will from now on automatically be the presumptions that we work from in all theory work".

QuoteTruth is, the site has hundreds of posts every damned day that are entirely actual play and game design.  I just don't see the D&D hate that you do.  Ron wrote an AP post last week about running a D&D game for the kids down the block.  

Most of the theories I've seen come out of the Forge, including GNS itself, work from the perspective that D&D is flawed as a game or that people who play D&D are playing in flawed ways.

QuoteThe mission statement there remains:

This site is dedicated to the promotion, creation, and review of independent role-playing games. What is an independent role-playing game? Our main criterion is that the game is owned by its author, or creator-owned.  (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/about/)

If that was all the Forge ever did, I (and I suspect, everyone else) would not have a problem with it.  But I and many many others do have a problem with it. That tells us that the mission statement, like in many other instances, doesn't match up with what the group is up to.

When you ask the average gamer-on-the-internet what the Forge is about, the response you'll likely get is "The Forge? Aren't those the guys who talk a lot about Gaming Theory?". And that's assuming its an average gamer who isn't pissed off at you guys.

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 11:58:41 AM
Quote from: Technicolor DreamcoatYou know, I try to reserve my anger and my energy for railing against things that are actually important, as opposed to one internet forum's moderation policy.

And yet here you are wasting your time and energy talking about me. I'm not even a "forum". I'm just a dude. And yet you're going out of your way to talk about what I'm doing wrong.
By your standards, wouldn't that be kind of silly?

QuoteSure you can talk about it, sure you shouldn't lie about it. But to become so obsessed with rpg.net is just silly, because really – who cares?

You mistake my interests in-hobby with my interests in my life as a whole. Its a common enough mistake coming from people who have trouble blurring the importance of gaming with the rest of their life. You know, the ones who think RPGs are really meaningful or important.  If you have nothing else that gives you meaning in life, then I guess you would mistakenly believe that others are the same and that the time they are dedicating to their hobby is the "meaningful" thing they do with their lives.

I, on the other hand, have multiple interests and hobbies, none of which I consider "important" in the bigger picture. None of them define my life or justify my existence. You want to see me really upset, get me talking about the Bush government or civil rights. You want to see me fascinated, get me talking about history or the psychology/sociology of religious fringe movements.

QuoteImagine you get thrown out of Wal*Mart. At first you're angry, and you talk to friends about how they mistreated you. But if you make that experience your number one topic to talk about a year later, even though you ended up shopping at Target or some small business mere moments after you were thrown out... well, it's childish.

rpg.net is the worst offender against free speech – in URUGUAY!

Hmm, interesting. Let's assume your metaphor is a good one for a sec, which it isn't (where you shop is not like what you do for hobbies), but lets just say it is: what would that make the guys who get so upset with the anti-Walmart guy that they spend hours online arguing with him, fighting him, and trying to make him look bad? I mean, wouldn't they be really the absolute ultimate in obsessed losers?

Now, I'm not the Wal-mart guy. The context in which I put RPGs in my life is very different than the one you apparently put yours in your life, and I realize that. But you, and the other Swine, apparently do not. You THINK I'm the wal-mart guy.
So effectively, for the purpose of this example, that makes me the walmart guy in your perceptions. And that makes all of you the megaultraobsessed losers who are obsessed with fighting the guy who's obsessed with fighting walmart.  That's very very pathetic.

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 12:15:29 PM
Quote from: RPGPunditI strongly question Ron Edward's motives for closing those fora. You seem to imply that it was because the goal of the site has shifted away from talking about theory and onto other things; from his statements when he closed those fora, it struck me more as him saying "My GNS theory is now perfect and requires no more discussion, therefore you will no longer be allowed to question it in these forums; they will from now on automatically be the presumptions that we work from in all theory work".

If the RPG Theory forum and the GNS forum exist, they are intelectoid wankery.

If they are ended, Ron has ended the discussion and declared GNS perfect.

That's a nice no-win situation you've got your beloved swine backed into.

How about this:

This forum is no longer available for posting.

That doesn't mean you have to stop talking about ideas. My hope is that the ideas can now be presented, initially, in the proper context: your own experiences of play.  (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17827.new#new)

GNS and Theory are now in Actual Play.

This leads us to:

Quote from: RPGPunditMost of the theories I've seen come out of the Forge, including GNS itself, work from the perspective that D&D is flawed as a game or that people who play D&D are playing in flawed ways.

If you think GNS treats D&D roughly, take your own AP experience, go to the forum and add your voice to the chorus.  There is nothing stopping you.

Quote from: RPGPunditWhen you ask the average gamer-on-the-internet what the Forge is about, the response you'll likely get is "The Forge? Aren't those the guys who talk a lot about Gaming Theory?". And that's assuming its an average gamer who isn't pissed off at you guys.

C'mon, do I even have to defend this conventional wisdom argument bullshit?

That is just crap.  

You can go grab Joe Hatesforge and I can go grab James Lovesforge and they can both tell their stories until their dice bags fall apart and it wouldn't mean shit.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Technicolor Dreamcoat on April 30, 2006, 12:45:50 PM
I'd say I grab the average gamer and ask him what the Forge is, he'll likely say "What the fuck do I know? Some place the make weapons and armor, I guess."
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 01:27:21 PM
Quote from: PakaIf the RPG Theory forum and the GNS forum exist, they are intelectoid wankery.

If they are ended, Ron has ended the discussion and declared GNS perfect.

That's a nice no-win situation you've got your beloved swine backed into.

Yes, that is a little unfair, but that's the situation that you're basically in now.  If you guys rejected GNS, that would be different. But since you don't, and Ron certainly doesn't, the absence of there even being a place where you can argue against it is the greater crime than having a "place of wankery". Because by shutting down the debate, the entire site now becomes a "place of wankery" because you can't talk about anything on the Forge if you DON'T accept GNS as the true foundation of RPG Theory.

QuoteHow about this:
This forum is no longer available for posting.
That doesn't mean you have to stop talking about ideas. My hope is that the ideas can now be presented, initially, in the proper context: your own experiences of play.  (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17827.new#new)
GNS and Theory are now in Actual Play.

Yea, except that this is a little like saying "You can post about any actual experiences you want to about Birth Control, now that we've established that he Catholic Church's position on it is the right one, and this is the basis of all the discussion of actual experience we'll be having".

QuoteIf you think GNS treats D&D roughly, take your own AP experience, go to the forum and add your voice to the chorus.  There is nothing stopping you.

Really? Because I think this is disingenous.
The sort of thing Ron seems to want is people to say stuff like "I'm doing x in my D&D game, so that's narrativism, right?"
Or "player y did something I didn't like, that's fortune-in-the-middle, right?"

But see, the assumption is that GNS is true. That's the parameter you have to work from in the Forge.
So I couldn't actually post a thread of actual play saying "My experience in playing D&D shows me that GNS Is WRONG."
I suspect that one could get away with posting something like "I played a D&D game last night that, like every other D&D game I've ever played, was actually a mix of Gamism Narrativism and Simulationism. Now according to your theory that should make for a miserable fucking experience, and yet this kind of gaming is consistently more satistfying to me and every other player I've met in my life than narrow pseudointellectual microgames that try to cram themselves into one of the narrow randomly-selected definitions you invented out of your ass".
But then he'd probably just close the thread and tell me that before I can post I have to read 23 of his essays that explain how when I or others claim we're having fun playing our "dysfunctional game" we're in fact lying to ourselves and others.

QuoteC'mon, do I even have to defend this conventional wisdom argument bullshit?

That is just crap.  

You can go grab Joe Hatesforge and I can go grab James Lovesforge and they can both tell their stories until their dice bags fall apart and it wouldn't mean shit.

James Lovesforge would be ON the Forge. There may be people out on other sites who say they don't hate the forge, because they think hate is a pretty strong word; but when asked they will say "yea, of course they're snobs/elitists/talk down to people/hijack threads that aren't about theory".

You seem to be very reasonable thus far, I'm hoping you'll be willing to admit the position that is so blatantly obvious, which is that almost NO ONE outside of the Forge itself (and possibly some within the Forge itself) will think "independent RPG design and publishing" as the first word-association that comes up when they hear the word "the Forge". Most people will either say "gaming theory" or more specifically "GNS".

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on April 30, 2006, 01:27:40 PM
Quote from: Technicolor DreamcoatI'd say I grab the average gamer and ask him what the Forge is, he'll likely say "What the fuck do I know? Some place the make weapons and armor, I guess."


And that is about the only good thing I can think of in reference to The Forge.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 01:28:18 PM
Quote from: Technicolor DreamcoatI'd say I grab the average gamer and ask him what the Forge is, he'll likely say "What the fuck do I know? Some place the make weapons and armor, I guess."

Is semantics really the only thing you have to argue about here? Because that really makes you a waste of bandwith.

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on April 30, 2006, 01:55:42 PM
Dammit, I just lost my response.

Fuck.

HATE THAT.

Alright, the fast version.

I am not going line by line because your response comes down to one thing: GNS.

I am a respected, well-liked and well known member of the Forge community and that isn't due to GNS but due to play.  I know next to nothing about GNS, what I do know is how to take a well-wrought game with Narrativist goals and make it rev like a race car.  When I write about my games it is in down to earth language and next to no jargon.

The Forge does not = GNS.  The Forge = play and publishing while owning what you create.

GNS hasn't done the layout for Dictionary of Mu; Luke Crane has.  GNS hasn't nudged me to write a game with the Creative Commons license based on Shadow of Yesterday; Clinton R. Nixon has.  GNS isn't going to get me to Gen Con with two products this year.  The Forge's publishing forum is.

If you have a problem with GNS and its view of D&D, go write an AP about a successful game you had.  Don't do it to prove Ron wrong or hit GNS in the nuts (nor the other way around), write the post in the spirit of helping a frustrated gamer who doesn't know what you know and wants to be able to play games that are as fun as yours are.  Write the post in the spirit of wanting to understand your own process because understand your own tools will allow you to access them better at the table.  Picture that frustrated kid making rookie mistakes out there and write the AP thread to that image.

I've got to go record another Sons of Kryos and then its the weekly Burning Wheel game.

This is sincerely fun.  Have a good one.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Technicolor Dreamcoat on April 30, 2006, 04:39:43 PM
Quote from: RPGPunditIs semantics really the only thing you have to argue about here? Because that really makes you a waste of bandwith.

RPGPundit
That's not semantics, that's saying that the Forge, for all its evilness and swinity, is still not a mass phenomenon (doo-doo, doo-doo-doo). Most gamers won't know it.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on April 30, 2006, 11:34:25 PM
Quote from: Technicolor DreamcoatThat's not semantics, that's saying that the Forge, for all its evilness and swinity, is still not a mass phenomenon (doo-doo, doo-doo-doo). Most gamers won't know it.

And I'm saying that it was kind of the assumption in this thread that the "average-gamer-on-the-net" in question would have been one who did know about the site.

mahna mahna.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: BOZ on May 01, 2006, 12:13:18 AM
Quote from: PakaDammit, I just lost my response.

Fuck.

HATE THAT.

when one types a rather long messageboard post (or, really, anything more than a few easily-remembered sentences), it is always a good idea to either type them up in a word-processing program, or even more simply before the "Send" button is pressed, highlight all text and press Ctrl-C.  :bow:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: JongWK on May 01, 2006, 01:00:21 AM
Quote from: BOZwhen one types a rather long messageboard post (or, really, anything more than a few easily-remembered sentences), it is always a good idea to either type them up in a word-processing program, or even more simply before the "Send" button is pressed, highlight all text and press Ctrl-C.  :bow:

Hear, hear!

I can't remember just how many times I lost kilometer-long posts on RPG.net or Dumpshock. Sooo frustrating... :mad:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Technicolor Dreamcoat on May 01, 2006, 05:50:41 AM
And then, after putting all that time into it, you can't simply let the topic go, but you also don't want to write all that shit up again, so you know you'll shorten, simplify, and generalize your post, which you actually don't want to do, and so you're sitting there, faced with three choices that are equally unappealing, and blame the damn server for not copying your message to the site.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 07:36:00 AM
Quote from: PakaThe Forge does not = GNS.  The Forge = play and publishing while owning what you create.

The Forge = play and publishing with owning IF you agree with GNS and make Forge approved games.


Simple example?

JAGS just beat one of Ron's own works for an indie award. Run over to The Forge and look for a Forum for JAGs.

You won't find it.

Look for a review of it.

You won't find it.


Nor will you won't find a forum for any 'tradition' rpg there.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Marco on May 01, 2006, 08:40:46 AM
Have-Not won an Indie award in 2003, not "just." It is true that it was up against, IIRC, Sex and Sorcerer (and a bunch of other really cool stuff). We were incredibly proud to win the award, doubly so against such stiff and worthy competition.

JAGS Wonderland will be in the Indie awards this year. We'll see how we do (but the Wonderland cover was picked for inclusion in the Spectrum 13 collection which, really, is pretty darn prestigious, so we're proud of that too, even if the real credit goes to Ralph Horsley).

-Marco
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on May 01, 2006, 09:04:48 AM
Quote from: gleichmanThe Forge = play and publishing with owning IF you agree with GNS and make Forge approved games.


Simple example?

JAGS just beat one of Ron's own works for an indie award. Run over to The Forge and look for a Forum for JAGs.

You won't find it.

Look for a review of it.

You won't find it.


Nor will you won't find a forum for any 'tradition' rpg there.

Then go review it.

Marco, did you go to Clinton and Ron and ASK for a forum for your game?  These things don't happen by fairy magic, gleichman.

Oh, and congrats for the nomination and good luck in the awards, Marco.

The games there are supposed to be creator owned, that is why there aren't 'traditionn' rpg's.

*cue Malcom's every-time-the-forge-comes-up Heroquest argument*
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Paka on May 01, 2006, 09:07:50 AM
I am entirely done with this thread.

It was not meant to be a place where I defend the Forge to all comers.  I wanted to say something from specific to Pundit and I have.  It is going to be a hectic and busy week and I have no time to be writing to this thread daily.

Unsubscribed and gone.

Thanks for keeping it civil, folks.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 09:29:27 AM
Quote from: PakaThen go review it.

:tears:

I did a review. It was even up on Hephaestus' Forge when Ron took over.

He immediately removed it.

No notice. No request for changes to meet new standards that wouldn't come out for months. No request for it after those standards were published.



Quote from: PakaThe games there are supposed to be creator owned, that is why there aren't 'traditionn' rpg's.

JAGS is a traditional rpg. Independently owned.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 09:30:37 AM
Quote from: PakaIIt was not meant to be a place where I defend the Forge to all comers.  I wanted to say something from specific to Pundit and I have.

Hmmm.

Hate to tell you this bucko, but that's what's email is for. You wanted the public soapbox, you take the soaping that comes with it.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Marco on May 01, 2006, 10:38:58 AM
Quote from: PakaThen go review it.

Marco, did you go to Clinton and Ron and ASK for a forum for your game?  These things don't happen by fairy magic, gleichman.

Although it is not especially relevant to this thread: Yes, I did. When I came to The Forge, early on, I asked Ron about creating a forum for JAGS.

Also: JAGS is creator owned. It is, in any reasonable sense of the word, a traditional RPG.

-Marco
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 10:59:17 AM
Quote from: MarcoAlthough it is not especially relevant to this thread: Yes, I did. When I came to The Forge, early on, I asked Ron about creating a forum for JAGS.

I thought that was the case, but didn't want to speak for you.



After Ron published the Gamism: Step On Up article, I gave some thought to taking a forgive and forget tone in respect to the Forge. After all, that article basically agreed to all my previous criticisms of Gamism in GNS.

But there was still The Forge elitism, and that really can't be overlooked. And of course GNS still states that the best game design is the design that is GNS pure.

So it was best just to leave the Forge and RPGnet to them. And given the early signs here, they'll effectively have Nunkidland soon too.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Technicolor Dreamcoat on May 01, 2006, 11:10:31 AM
They will?
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: BOZ on May 01, 2006, 11:13:18 AM
You don't know the power of the dark side!
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 11:13:36 AM
Quote from: Technicolor DreamcoatThey will?

I think so. As far as theory exchanges go anyway. Even now, everything along that line is already focused on them.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: RPGPundit on May 01, 2006, 12:15:07 PM
Quote from: gleichmanSo it was best just to leave the Forge and RPGnet to them. And given the early signs here, they'll effectively have Nunkidland soon too.

No. Not this time.

RPGPundit
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 12:57:12 PM
Quote from: gleichmanSo it was best just to leave the Forge and RPGnet to them. And given the early signs here, they'll effectively have Nunkidland soon too.
Um....  no.

Honestly, man - you have absolutely zero idea what you're talking about here.  I know the Nutkins, and they have many tools at their disposal to keep this board from falling into pseudo-intellectual asshattery.  This is part of a board with a somewhat long history, and if you seriously expect only one brand of gaming to be welcome here, you'll be sorely mistaken.

Of course, you'll be leaving us soon.  So why should you give a shit?

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 01:01:22 PM
Quote from: obrynHonestly, man - you have absolutely zero idea what you're talking about here.  I know the Nutkins, and they have many tools at their disposal to keep this board from falling into pseudo-intellectual asshattery.

I don't believe that they will end it. I'm open to be corrected by future actions.


Quote from: obrynOf course, you'll be leaving us soon.  So why should you give a shit?

Frankly, I don't.

But I'm passing time and shooting bull. I may as well give my opinion on the subjects that come through here in the meantime.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 01:40:40 PM
Quote from: gleichmanFrankly, I don't.

But I'm passing time and shooting bull. I may as well give my opinion on the subjects that come through here in the meantime.
Well, frankly your doom-and-gloom nobodly-likes-me shtick has been old since the get-go.

My recommendation: Prozac.

Otherwise: You don't know shit about what you're talking about re: this site's past and future.

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: BOZ on May 01, 2006, 01:43:48 PM
i like the G-leech man just fine!  he makes me feel better about myself.  :D
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 01:46:38 PM
Quote from: obrynWell, frankly your doom-and-gloom nobodly-likes-me shtick has been old since the get-go.

Poor obryn, he just can't handle little old me. Gets him all riled it does. So much so that nearly all he can do these days is follow me around whining.

Patience little one, only 27 more posts in Pistols at Dawn and the bad man will be gone.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 02:05:53 PM
Quote from: gleichmanPoor obryn, he just can't handle little old me. Gets him all riled it does. So much so that nearly all he can do these days is follow me around whining.

Patience little one, only 27 more posts in Pistols at Dawn and the bad man will be gone.
:roofle:

Um... yeah.  Hello, persecution complex!  You haven't pissed me off, I just think you're a douchebag.  So... I'm calling you a douchebag.  Will I be glad when you're gone?  Sure!  Am I seeking out your threads just to call you a little bitch?  Nope.

Is this the best rebuttal you can come up with?

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 02:07:39 PM
Quote from: obrynIs this the best rebuttal you can come up with?

Jump little one, jump more!
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 02:20:40 PM
gleichman, I don't know when I pissed in your fucking wheaties, but please give the woe is me shit a rest. You're giving me a headache.

If there's one thing I and no one else here likes it's a god damn cry baby.

My tolerance for teh Drama is very high, but my patience is starting to get low.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 02:24:21 PM
Quote from: PookaMy tolerance for teh Drama is very high, but my patience is starting to get low.

I will leave this moment if you so wish.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 02:28:44 PM
You've been threatening to leave for 2 pages now - it's gotten old.  You can stay, but we're going to take a break for the day from all the woe is me whining.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: gleichman on May 01, 2006, 02:30:56 PM
Quote from: PookaYou've been threatening to leave for 2 pages now - it's gotten old.  You can stay, but we're going to take a break for the day from all the woe is me whining.


No.

If you've made the same error that obryn did in reading my posts. It's time for me to leave now.

Good luck with the site. I hope you continue to enjoy running it.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Dancing Hateful Thing on May 01, 2006, 03:04:40 PM
Odd. I look and look, and yet I can't find Gleichman's posts. Were they deleted? Are they "hidden" when a mod makes them so?

-Darren MacLennan
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 03:17:40 PM
Quote from: Dancing Hateful ThingOdd. I look and look, and yet I can't find Gleichman's posts. Were they deleted? Are they "hidden" when a mod makes them so?

-Darren MacLennan
I think Pooka got pissed off and flipped a magic universal ignore switch. :)

From his post above, it'll all be back tomorrow in its serotonin-deprived glory!

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Thjalfi on May 01, 2006, 03:20:14 PM
Quote from: obrynI think Pooka got pissed off and flipped a magic universal ignore switch. :)

From his post above, it'll all be back tomorrow in its serotonin-deprived glory!

-O

who likes auto-tachy? we do.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 03:34:46 PM
What are you talking about? We do not delete posts around here.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 01, 2006, 03:42:43 PM
I can´t see post #43, is this correct?
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 03:49:36 PM
Quote from: Thjalfiwho likes auto-tachy? we do.
Yep, it's the "You gonna cry?!  I'll give you something to cry about!" moderation style I've grown to love! :D

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 03:53:37 PM
Quote from: obrynI think Pooka got pissed off and flipped a magic universal ignore switch. :)

From his post above, it'll all be back tomorrow in its serotonin-deprived glory!

-O
He says he's gone for good. I wouldn't bet on that, but I don't care either way.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 04:05:35 PM
Quote from: SettembriniI can´t see post #43, is this correct?
Yep, the mods have put him on universal ignore.  It's kind of a messageboard purgatory. :)  Basically, you can read everything, reply, and post all you want.  However, nobody can read your posts until the ignore is lifted.  You're not banned, and the posts are actually there.

Ask Breakstone what it's like. :)  Over on the NKL of old, I believe he got put on it as a prank.

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 01, 2006, 04:43:19 PM
Well I think it is quite a rude thing to do to gleichman, but as he isn´t banned, and we will be able to see his comments tommorrow, free speech has been served.
Still it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 01, 2006, 05:00:15 PM
Quote from: SettembriniWell I think it is quite a rude thing to do to gleichman, but as he isn´t banned, and we will be able to see his comments tommorrow, free speech has been served.
Still it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.
Rude?  Maybe.  Certainly no worse than gleichman's been, though.  He's been harping nonstop about how this place is going to hell.

The mods here treat you how you deserve to be treated.

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 07:02:12 PM
Rude? I prefer the term creative conditioning. If gleichman doesn't like it and he leaves now he will have been spared a lot of pain.  I know the users here Settembrini - they can get downright ugly to a drama queen.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Hreidmar on May 01, 2006, 07:44:36 PM
Quote from: SettembriniWell I think it is quite a rude thing to do to gleichman, but as he isn´t banned, and we will be able to see his comments tommorrow, free speech has been served.
Still it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.

Rude?!?!  What The Fuck Are You?  :mad:

The Customer Is Never Right.  The Management Reserves The Right To Shoot A User, Sodomize His Corpse, Raise Him As A Zombie To Terrorize The Other Users And Run His Family From The Country After Seizing All His Assets And Blowing Them On Whores, Beer And Guns.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: JimBob on May 01, 2006, 08:28:09 PM
The Forge sucks, and is as useless as tits on a bull.

rpg.net is at least partly a place of vigorous and interesting discussion about roleplaying games, and this happens incidentally to, only rarely because, and sometimes in spite of, the moderation.

RPGPundit should build a fucking bridge and get over it. It's just one site. People bitch about the moderation, but in the end there's a reason they've got 20,000 posters, and other sites have a few hundred at most. And that reason is the vigorous and interesting discussions you have.

Recently RPGPundit responded to something I'd said about his "tilting at windmills like Don Quixote." He responded that he carried on this futile fight because... But "tilting at windmills" does not mean simply, "fighting a futile fight." The phrase comes from a passage in Don Quixote where the mad old guy, he wants to fight giants, but there are no giants, so he hallucinates that the windmills are giants, and "tilts" (that is, charges with his lance drawn) at them. "Tilting at windmills" means not merely fighting a futile fight, it's fighting a fight against an imaginary foe - that's why the fight's futile.

The whole of rpg.net is not arrayed against RPGPundit. He's too unknown to be anyone's enemy. He's remembered there by a dwindling few with amusement for the madness of his rants. He imagines enemies, because he feels the desire to fight a great fight. Most of us keep our fantasies to the game session.

Also, I should say that the forum-wide ignore feature is excellent.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: CADmonkey on May 01, 2006, 08:31:12 PM
Quote from: SettembriniWell I think it is quite a rude thing to do to gleichman, but as he isn´t banned, and we will be able to see his comments tommorrow, free speech has been served.
Still it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.
Perhaps you'd prefer a forum where the Mods & Admins aren't allowed to do stuff like that to the users?

:ponder: Like maybe RPG.net?
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: JimBob on May 01, 2006, 09:01:12 PM
Oooh, that's a good burn on so many levels, CADMonkey:D
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: cnath.rm on May 01, 2006, 09:11:49 PM
Quote from: SettembriniStill it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.
I thought it was rude for a bit, and then changed my mind.
I'll take the universal ignore over thread closings, bans and such.

On the side note, if gleichman started a thread and he is on universal
ignore, is the thread still visible?  (not thinking of anything in particular,
just wondering in general)
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: David R on May 01, 2006, 09:11:54 PM
Quote from: JimBobRecently RPGPundit responded to something I'd said about his "tilting at windmills like Don Quixote." He responded that he carried on this futile fight because... But "tilting at windmills" does not mean simply, "fighting a futile fight." The phrase comes from a passage in Don Quixote where the mad old guy, he wants to fight giants, but there are no giants, so he hallucinates that the windmills are giants, and "tilts" (that is, charges with his lance drawn) at them. "Tilting at windmills" means not merely fighting a futile fight, it's fighting a fight against an imaginary foe - that's why the fight's futile.

I think RPGPundit has been quite successful in that he has managed to get some to believe and see his giants. There are problems of course be it in the industry or forums but they are more dwarf-like in stature. He  has focused peoples attention on the shadows on the walls (which makes objects appear much larger then they really are) so to speak and thus been able to generate a lot of hostility where none is really warranted.

A pity, after reading in this forum about his Forwrd To Adventure idea, and checking out his blog on the subject, I finally thought he was making a contribution, instead at of taking piss shots at forums and sometimes individuals.

Hope this didn't come of too harsh, just an opinion, nothing more.

Regards,
David R
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Maddman on May 01, 2006, 09:42:10 PM
Quote from: SettembriniWell I think it is quite a rude thing to do to gleichman, but as he isn´t banned, and we will be able to see his comments tommorrow, free speech has been served.
Still it´s rude, but that may well be the intention.

The rule used to be that if you threatened to leave forever you would not only be banned but your account would be deleted.  After all, you won't be needing it anymore.  I think they're being rather kind to gleichman.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: CADmonkey on May 01, 2006, 10:04:42 PM
Quote from: JimBobOooh, that's a good burn on so many levels, CADMonkey:D
Well, when a joke's so obvious it jumps up and smacks you in the face...
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Levi Kornelsen on May 01, 2006, 10:50:12 PM
Quote from: obrynI think Pooka got pissed off and flipped a magic universal ignore switch. :)

Is it possible for people placed under this function to PM others?

If not, could it be?

...I like hearing people.  Even people that I don't agree with.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 01, 2006, 11:38:46 PM
No, they can't. I'm going to lift it now anyway, the point has been made. Gleichman wanted to bellyache, so I gave him a reason.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Sigmund on May 02, 2006, 01:31:21 AM
There's a certain tune I think would help gleichman feel much better. Everyone together now...you know the tune....
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Zachary The First on May 02, 2006, 01:52:42 AM
Mahna Mahna?
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Sigmund on May 02, 2006, 02:00:18 AM
Quote from: Zachary The FirstMahna Mahna?

Do doo be-do-do

All together now...
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 02, 2006, 02:25:27 AM
QuotePerhaps you'd prefer a forum where the Mods & Admins aren't allowed to do stuff like that to the users?

No, actually I like it. I find it creative, and free speech encouraging. But I didn´t find gleichman annoying, I think he is funny. With the donkey Avatar and all. Isn´t there some irony in saying : "The end is nigh" "This place is doomed" while hanging out and being a regular poster?
See, I wasn´t complaining, but just expressing my astonishment about the NKL-style punishments. Very good they are.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 02, 2006, 03:40:47 AM
Dit-Ditty-Dee.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 02, 2006, 04:56:49 AM
Manah Manah?
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 02, 2006, 05:41:44 AM
Doo Doo doo doo doo!
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: kanegrundar on May 02, 2006, 08:54:14 AM
Quote from: HreidmarRude?!?!  What The Fuck Are You?  :mad:

The Customer Is Never Right.  The Management Reserves The Right To Shoot A User, Sodomize His Corpse, Raise Him As A Zombie To Terrorize The Other Users And Run His Family From The Country After Seizing All His Assets And Blowing Them On Whores, Beer And Guns.
I don't know why, but that gave me the warm fuzzies all over!  :D




Must have been the flamethrower....
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: obryn on May 02, 2006, 10:09:35 AM
Quote from: gleichmanNo.

If you've made the same error that obryn did in reading my posts. It's time for me to leave now.
Dammit, now he's gone and I'll never find out what my error was.

:hissyfit:

-O
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: BOZ on May 02, 2006, 11:19:17 AM
Quote from: PookaI know the users here Settembrini - they can get downright ugly to a drama queen.

this man knows of what he speaks.  :bow:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: BOZ on May 02, 2006, 11:22:13 AM
Quote from: SettembriniBut I didn´t find gleichman annoying, I think he is funny. With the donkey Avatar and all.

i only find him amusing *because* of his avatar.  ;)
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Sigmund on May 02, 2006, 11:23:23 AM
Mahna mahna.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 02, 2006, 11:36:41 AM
This gag's not pinin'! It's passed on! This mahna mahna gag is no more! It has ceased to be funneh! It's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you wouldn't keep it up e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-GAG!!

(With apologies to Monty Python - doo doooo doo doo doo).
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Dr_Avalanche on May 02, 2006, 11:58:59 AM
Quote from: HreidmarRude?!?!  What The Fuck Are You?  :mad:

The Customer Is Never Right.  The Management Reserves The Right To Shoot A User, Sodomize His Corpse, Raise Him As A Zombie To Terrorize The Other Users And Run His Family From The Country After Seizing All His Assets And Blowing Them On Whores, Beer And Guns.

You don't mind if I snuggle up a bit closer, do you? You talk so sexay.  :hug:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: ColonelHardisson on May 02, 2006, 01:25:23 PM
Quote from: MaddmanThe rule used to be that if you threatened to leave forever you would not only be banned but your account would be deleted.  After all, you won't be needing it anymore.  I think they're being rather kind to gleichman.

Yeah, it helped discourage such shenanigans. I mean, hell, I've stormed off from message boards in years past, back when I was an internet retard (and I know someone will quote me and say "...back when?" or rewrite the quote so it says "because I am an internet retard" and then say FIFY, but that's OK, because it's funny). Had there been such consequences from the get-go, perhaps I, and countless others like me, would have thought a bit more about how foolish we were making ourselves look.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Sigmund on May 02, 2006, 06:12:10 PM
Quote from: PookaThis gag's not pinin'! It's passed on! This mahna mahna gag is no more! It has ceased to be funneh! It's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you wouldn't keep it up e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-GAG!!

(With apologies to Monty Python - doo doooo doo doo doo).

No, no...e's resting. Just sleeping really.




Ok, fine. :brood: Hey, you're the one ta give me the damn avatar, so I wuz just doin' me job. Now gimme ma face back ya furry tyrant. :grumpy:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Guest (Deleted) on May 02, 2006, 06:31:53 PM
Quote from: SigmundNo, no...e's resting. Just sleeping really.




Ok, fine. :brood: Hey, you're the one ta give me the damn avatar, so I wuz just doin' me job. Now gimme ma face back ya furry tyrant. :grumpy:
Mahna mahna??
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Sigmund on May 02, 2006, 11:19:34 PM
Quote from: PookaMahna mahna??

Doo doo be-doo-doo
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Cowardly Leech on May 03, 2006, 03:19:20 AM
Quote from: BOZi like the G-leech man just fine!  he makes me feel better about myself.  :D

Please know that Gleichman has no connection with leechkind, cowardly or otherwise. :mad:

The leech reputation is bad enough already. We do not need the Gleichman :brood:


I know little of the muppets, so I do not know 'mahna mahna'. :imsorry:
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Cowardly Leech on May 03, 2006, 03:25:06 AM
Quote from: SigmundDoo doo be-doo-doo

Oh!  I see the link in your signature.  Phenomenon.  I understand.
Title: Open Letter to RPGPundit
Post by: Settembrini on May 03, 2006, 02:51:08 PM
QuotePhenomenon.

Dee Dee Dee Ditty.