I read that interview on the Acaeum, Calithena--great stuff.

Quote from: CalithenaIs there a focus to therpgsite?

Yes, but we largely ignore him. Except for me sometimes, I give him the gears. But I've also noticed he's improved a bit. Which reminds me; I should mention that to him sometime soon.

QuoteSo, I feel that I'm among spiritual comrades somehow...but why? Is there some common bond among the users here?

Probably that everyone here actually plays RPGs and many are tolerant of if not actually play a very wide variety of them?

Quote from: JamesVAh, yes. Back in the day.

Just before I was born.

It sure sounded like a hoot back then.

Ha, not just me then, good to know

Although yeah, it would have been cool to have seen the hobby right from the word go.

Edit: Oh, welcome Calithena!  (Should have said that first, colour me an idiot ^_^ )

Quote from: CalithenaThis is sort of 'meta', but I'll go with it anyway. Is there a focus to therpgsite? What I've noticed reading the posts here for the last few months is that most of the people on the internet I like, with the exception of a few hard-core old-school D&Ders from Knights & Knaves and Dragonsfoot and a few Forgites, seem to post here. So, I feel that I'm among spiritual comrades somehow...but why? Is there some common bond among the users here?

Welcome!

I think the marked feature is light moderation. Spambots get the boot but otherwise it's not moderated much.

There's some good and some bad. There's a mish-mash of users. Some who predominantly use one sort of roleplaying games over others. Some who are all across the board. Same with theory thinking. You've got those who believe in theories and those who don't. Those who believe theory X is well written, those who think it's trash and those who are in-between.

I think I could go on but the trend is a lot of diversity and one common ground to most users is that the sharing of gaming experiences is usually grounded in actual play, actual gaming, actual knowledge. (theory talk is another matter, as we get a lot of people talking about it who haven't read it).

In other words, it's unlikely you'll find statements such as the one in my sig around here. That's the profond difference as far as content to me. But aside from that, you're likely to find just as many people you agree and disagree with. It's just that they usually speak frankly and from actual experiences instead of talking because of social pressure.

We're all relatively thick-skinned freethinkers here? And, at least for all of us who are here in good faith, we're all fans of mainstream RPGs (regardless of whether we love or hate Forge crap).

RPGPundit

What's a 'mainstream' RPG?

I guess you could maybe say: the Holmes, Moldvay/Cook/Marsh, and Mentzer D&D boxed sets, plus AD&D 1st, plus maybe AD&D 2nd, plus maybe Vampire 1st, plus maybe D&D 3rd. Those had some sort of non-insignificant penetration of mass culture.

I like the various D&D boxed sets and sort of like AD&D 1st, so I guess I belong, by that definition.

About the only mainstream RPGs these days are D&D 3.5 and nWoD. A lot of others get a lot of play, but nowhere near enough to qualify them as "mainstream" IMO. The others you mentioned were definitely the mainstream games of their day.

I have my suspicions about nWoD, but we don't need to go there.

Maybe we're using a different definition of mainstream. They're second in sales figues, which is all that matters to my estimation.

Quote from: CalithenaWhat's a 'mainstream' RPG?

That's super-secret code for "You know, like D&D and stuff."  The "and stuff" is critical.

Quote from: RPGPunditWe're all relatively thick-skinned freethinkers here? And, at least for all of us who are here in good faith, we're all fans of mainstream RPGs (regardless of whether we love or hate Forge crap).

RPGPundit

I like this, and fully agree with you.

I'm not a fan of any of this stuff, and I think you guys are puds.  I'm just here for the cookies and punch, man, the rest of you can --

Wait, is this Sunday School?

Quote from: CalithenaWhat's a 'mainstream' RPG?

Basically: not Forgie. It's more a question of style than sales.

If it's a game that gets complaints in certain quarters regarding how "GM Fiat" "disempowers" the players, then it's probably 'mainstream'.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Wait, is this Sunday School?

Yes, now get down on your knees and PRAY!

Quote from: JamesVI think the common bond here is a willingness to get over the arguments most of the time.

Bullshit, motherfucker! I still haven't forgiven you for that one time you... no, I can't even speak of it.

The path of the righteous gamer is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the Forgers and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of cheetos and dice shepherds the geek through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and righteous geek rage those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Jim Bob when I lay my vengeance upon thee!