1) most people don´t know shit about RPGs in general
2) most people don´t understand more GMing styles than one or two. This is especially true with Forgers.
3) most Americans watch too much TV
4) most Europeans know an order of magnitude less about RPGs than all others, Brits excluded
5) most current RPG-folks neither understand the meaning of the word strategy, nor of the word wargaming
6) many people who allegedly have university-level education are incapable of presenting sound arguments
7) many of those are incapable of differentiating between sound,false  and irrelevant arguments brought forth by others
thusly, most of those folks couldn´t follow a regular publicistic debate
9) most people don´t understand the history of D&D
10) only two germans understand the history of D&D
11) internet debates have a memory, that is akin to a sieve, which is duct-taped haphazardly by the caring
12) most people have fun with their gaming
13) most people hava a hard time grasping other peoples fun sources
14) most GMs are doing okay for their groups
15) most people don´t know shit about the interrelations of GM techniques and player freedom, professionals included
16) most players don´t reflect on the game
17) forae thrive on people goofing off at work

and the most shocking revelation:

18) I have a better grasp on the actual play of RPGs than Ryan Dancey. Which still makes me sad.

Is this some kind of valedictory speech?

Years ago I went to the one given by Hugh "The Bat" Lloyd-Jones, on "Greek in a Cold Climate." Now that was a diatribe, holy shit.

Speaking of the classics: My command of Latin is risible.  

That said, it's "fora," Settembrini.

FORA

Or, if you must, "forums."

Re. 10: Who, besides me, is the other German?

17 probably has a lot to do with 6,7,8

What Settembrini is saying, in other words, is

[/B]

This is part of a long and worthy tradition of internet discussions.

I learned basic HTML tags, myself.

Also, that there are lots of neat games I've not yet played.

I don't agree with all the points, but one I find very interesting. I used to take it for granted that rpg folks had at least a conversational background in wargaming, but I guess they don't.

Is that everyone's experience? When did that happen? How did that happen?

Quote from: stu2000I don't agree with all the points, but one I find very interesting. I used to take it for granted that rpg folks had at least a conversational background in wargaming, but I guess they don't.

Is that everyone's experience? When did that happen? How did that happen?

I'd say as early as Red Box D&D, latest, i.e. when D&D became a mass-cultural phenomenon as opposed to a surprising new invention that emerged from within the wargaming scene. As we know the Red Box sold like hot cakes, and to kids from all walks of life.

When I started out I played D&D and wargames simultaneously, but to me there was no connection between the two. I had no idea the one had grown out of the other.

Things I've learned:

• Finding a single fault in a game, no matter how small, is equivilent to hating that game
• Enjoying two different play styles is impossible, and might be sacriligious
• Game Balance is like unto a Gawd. Speak against it at your peril.
• Lots of people believe that sitting around thinking about gaming makes you as knowledgable as playing games
• I sometimes find myself floundering for a way to fully express my emotions if the website doesn't offer a :rolleyes: smiley
• If it's not "I agree with your position completely" it's somewhere between touchy-feely crap and bad logic
• If sixteen people engage in repeated arguments with and about one another, it constitues a war
• Citing your experiences in the real world is useless unless you show how it ties into the accepted theories
• People rarely know what the word "impossible" actually means. In general it's taken as "I can't do it, so nobody can."
• Taking a single piece out of a complex machine (such as a game system) and declaring that piece to be broken is not only an accepted practice, but the only way to get people to listen.

I guess the flgses I've always bought rpgs from have always sold wargames, too--letting me follow wargames, even when I wasn't playing them. Obviously, that's not how it's been for everyone, but I guess I had assumed it was.

See now McMurray is just cynical. Cynical I can empathise with, "me smart, u stoopid," not so much.

Of Settembrini's ranty list, I would only agree with 12, 14, 16 and 17.

It's true that most gamers are having fun, and most GMs are doing okay. It's also true that this fun happens without a lot of reflection or discussion in most cases.

And it's true that forums couldn't exist without people avoiding work in offices. This however I don't know what it has to do with roleplaying.

some number) Never let your off-topic or "tangency" area get bigger than your RPG section on a forum.

some other number) Try to be nice, you might meet these people in real life. (Hi Zachary!)


- Ed C.

I think a lot of those points might well be summed up in the following manner:

People don't really care about gm styles, the history of D&D, or other flame fodder as long as they're having fun, except for two Germans.

Well, well, not totally:

Of all those Germans, there are only two who understand D&D´s history.
There sure are a lot of non-German people being knowledgable about it, as the two Germans learned it from them.

Also, two is not neccessarily to be taken literally. But as I was asked, the other one is Dirk Remmecke. He contributed and is credited in the Rules Cyclopedia, go and check your copy today.

Rotwang has a point though. Obviously, one learns a bit more, as this constitutes some parts of the frame of reference.

I miss the HTML tags. [marquee] was my favorite. Besides, you could add crappy midi music files to your posts! And your own background textures--woodgrain, parchment, whatever.  

Never were message board games more fun than circa 1999. php or whatever it's called is SO sterile by comparison.

Quote from: Stuart17 probably has a lot to do with 6,7,8

Yes.