Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalGMS isn't that big an industry figure is he?  He's mainly known for being an arrogant prick on discussion forums.

Nah, he's a small fish, thus over rated.

Quote from: Abyssal MawWell, he is overrated.

Yep, you're right. Move Edwards to the top of my list.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalGMS isn't that big an industry figure is he?  He's mainly known for being an arrogant prick on discussion forums.

He likes to think he is. To be honest he is a guy I would like about 100 times more if he would just keep his yap shut. I think he's come up with some interesting ideas for some good niche gaming. Heroes of the New Wave for 80s pulp and Apollyon Noir's black magic meets the Napoleonic era were fuckin' keen. Then he not only passes on those fun ideas, but proceeds to open his mouth :footinmouth:.

It's depressing.

Monte Cook.

I can at least feel something toward Borgstrom, Wick or Edwards' work.

Cook just churns out so much stuff and so little of it is interesting in any way. If he wasn't too young, I'd almost suspect he was the reincarnation of Isaac Asimov.

Oh, I want to add Steve Long to my list.

Am I just limited to two?

Quote from: gleichmanOh, I want to add Steve Long to my list.

Why so?  I utterly and completely disagree, but am curious as to why he belongs on your list.

Rebecca Borgstrom wrote some good stuff, but in my opinion she's hugely overrated.  Whenever I hear certain people talk about her work, I can't help but think about this comic strip.

Quote from: hgjsRebecca Borgstrom wrote some good stuff, but in my opinion she's hugely overrated.  Whenever I hear certain people talk about her work, I can't help but think about this comic strip.

Brilliant, and true.

RPGPundit

Quote from: GabrielWhy so?  I utterly and completely disagree, but am curious as to why he belongs on your list.

What good work he does on HERO System is little more than that of a editor. In that role, he did good things by combining nearly all the rules into a single book (although even here there were significant failures).

Meanwhile what changes he does bring to the system are more often than not... what's a good word... terrible. Poorly thoughtly out at best, damaging to game balance and genre at worst. I've had to go and row back many of his efforts with house rules to have a playable game. That was painful because previous the only changes I had to make to HERO was in Construction Style and the Strength Progression.

Other than Ultimate Martial Artists (mostly another editing job), everything he's written after the core book has been useless to me. A complete waste of money and I've stopped buying HERO System products as result.

Very overrated.

In fact in impact on me, Long should be at the top of my list even over Edwards. I can't believe I forgot him when I made the post.

Quote from: JamesVHe likes to think he is. To be honest he is a guy I would like about 100 times more if he would just keep his yap shut. I think he's come up with some interesting ideas for some good niche gaming. Heroes of the New Wave for 80s pulp and Apollyon Noir's black magic meets the Napoleonic era were fuckin' keen. Then he not only passes on those fun ideas, but proceeds to open his mouth :footinmouth:.

  I always imagine him as being like one of those American wrestlers.  Probnably sitting at his computer with his shirt off with long flowing hair being INCREDIBLY intense, intimidating and ANGRY online the whole time.

  He's got an imagination on him but Jesus does he need to chill out.

  I'll never really hate him though simply because of the fantastic way he waltzed out of The Forge.  "Enjoy your little cult.  Remember to try the Koolaid".


  I think that "Big" Ron Edwards is in a similar league to GMS.  He's well known for being on online forums but as an actual designer he's a small fry.  He's not even the most well known, talented or respected designer on his own Forum.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalI'll never really hate him though simply because of the fantastic way he waltzed out of The Forge.  "Enjoy your little cult.  Remember to try the Koolaid".

This one:
http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=11288.msg121117#msg121117


Very nice in a number of ways.

MJ hit the nail on the head original insult to GMS, and GMS caught the Forge at its hypocritical best.

I'd forgotten how spectacular that thread is.

I love MJ say how a lot of moderation goes on behind the scenes.  If Ron had said that then fair enough but the offending poster saying it himself makes the whole thing seem like a renaissance court or a gentleman's club.

"It wouldn't do for Ron to dress me down in public but I can assure you that I will be the target of a few cutting remarks tonight in the library over cognac and mutual masturbation"

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalI think that "Big" Ron Edwards is in a similar league to GMS.  He's well known for being on online forums but as an actual designer he's a small fry.  He's not even the most well known, talented or respected designer on his own Forum.

Is that what he's famous for? His own forum? Does he post much outside it, if at all? Is he just a lightning rod because of how he runs the forum and how he tends to split the same hair a dozen times?

P.S.  You know, with RPGPundit starting up his own printing press messageboard, and with tones of self promotion that rivals Steve Jackson putting his name at the top of the credits of a product he largely didn't work on, I really think he's earned inclusion in the discussion. Not saying top spot nessasarily. Because IMO I see someone needing to have high rating to be overrated (sorry flyingmice ) and because there are times I appreciate his pure entertainment value (like the Kool-aid send-off thread).

You know, when you consider their similarities, their penchant for ranting and bloviating, their sharply expressed opinions, one can only conclude that RPGPundit and Gareth Michael Skarka are both Don Rickles sock puppets.

Quote from: mythusmageYou know, when you consider their similarities, their penchant for ranting and bloviating, their sharply expressed opinions, one can only conclude that RPGPundit and Gareth Michael Skarka are both Don Rickles sock puppets.

There are many similarities between GMS and RPGPundit.

They wear different coloured shirts though.