Time-Travelling Hitman: If You Could Go Back...

Saphim · February 18, 2008, 05:55:50 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditLet's say you had some kind of time-travelling hitman at your service, that would go back in time and take out any single game designer just before he started his career: who would you take out?

What do you think the effect would be?

RPGPundi

I, like quite a few others, think this thread is well over on the creepy side, but then I also found the little "this machine kills fascists" slogan creepy as hell, as if roleplaying games were anything you would have to start killing over.

Malleus Arianorum · February 18, 2008, 06:07:54 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditWell, for "take out" read "make sure they never get involved in the RPG hobby".

...and instead of a time traveling "hitman" who does "hits", read who does "guidance counseling."

With that caviat, I'd have the hitman guidence council William Shatner.

Claudius · February 18, 2008, 10:22:47 AM

Quote from: DrewI'd pat a young Rein*Hagen on the head and tell him that many, many people will end up using his horror games for Highlander-style jinks, no matter how much Anne Rice fanfic he slips between the covers.

What's the problem with playing Vampire as if it were Highlander? It sure rocks!! :pundit:

blakkie · February 18, 2008, 11:02:49 AM

Quote from: SaphimI, like quite a few others, think this thread is well over on the creepy side, but then I also found the little "this machine kills fascists" slogan creepy as hell, as if roleplaying games were anything you would have to start killing over.

It is war I tell ya, WAR!!! :haw:

Ian Absentia · February 18, 2008, 11:51:42 AM

Quote from: Saphim...I also found the little "this machine kills fascists" slogan creepy as hell, as if roleplaying games were anything you would have to start killing over.

It's really the self-congratulatory quality that makes it creepy. Consider the source:

Our great leader stands on the shoulders of giants.

!i!

Drew · February 18, 2008, 01:28:31 PM

Quote from: ClaudiusWhat's the problem with playing Vampire as if it were Highlander? It sure rocks!! :pundit:

I have no problem with people using the WoD to emulate Highlander. Or Blade. Or the Matrix, for that matter

I just think the gaming world at large might have been saved some embarassing posturing by the 'tragically hip' fanboys if MRH had been aware of what many people were actually going to use it for. The gothic punk idea was cool, as was the theme of personal horror, but the constantly implied condescension towards action-orientated play always struck me as intensely juvenile. A bit like those teenagers who after reading a bit of Proust suddenly think they know it all, and are determined to spoil the non-Proustian literary enjoyment of everyone else.

James McMurray · February 18, 2008, 01:48:40 PM

This thread indicates that two things are happening simultaneously:

1) Traffic to the RPGsite is dropping and Pundit needs an interboard flame war to bring it back up.

2) Pundit has fallen out of his "FtA PR" mode and decided to go back to his old ways.

Ah well. Nothing lasts forever.

RPGPundit · February 18, 2008, 03:34:40 PM

Quote from: SaphimI also found the little "this machine kills fascists" slogan creepy as hell, as if roleplaying games were anything you would have to start killing over.

Do you know the reference for that line?

It was what Woody Guthrie wrote on his guitar. In other words, freely speaking out is the machine that "kills" fascists.

My moderators have that line because it ties to the core concept of the moderation of this site: that moderators here are people entrusted to ensure the protection of free speech, rather then to become the forces that crush free speech.

RPGPundit

RPGPundit · February 18, 2008, 03:37:30 PM

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaIt's really the self-congratulatory quality that makes it creepy. Consider the source:

Our great leader stands on the shoulders of giants.

!i!

Indeed I do stand on the shoulders of giants. Damn grateful to them too.

And yes, its self-congratulatory and with good reason. When I started this forum, the Swine and the RPG.net Modclique all claimed that either the forum would never succeed or I would become a tyrant. The forum has succeeded, I've PROVEN that they were LYING in their claims that you need to have oppressive moderation to have a successful forum, and I have not become a tyrant.

I will gleefully and self-righteously rub it in all their faces at every opportunity.

RPGPundit

RPGPundit · February 18, 2008, 03:38:09 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayThis thread indicates that two things are happening simultaneously:

1) Traffic to the RPGsite is dropping and Pundit needs an interboard flame war to bring it back up.

As far as I can tell, traffic is not dropping at all.

RPGPundit

Ian Absentia · February 18, 2008, 04:13:08 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditIndeed I do stand on the shoulders of giants. Damn grateful to them too.

To be clear, I'm quite fond of Woody Guthrie, I appreciate his message of "This machine kills fascists", and I appreciate that you and the mods hereabouts use it appropriately in the spirit it was originally intended. Cheers to you. However, I think your opinion of your role in the larger scheme of things is inflated.

Back on topic, though, I think James is onto something with regard to you drumming up your little imaginary war from time to time. Things get too friendly and tame, you trot out your needless hate fantasies again. You're not going to make me bring up Nobilis over in the "Scion or Amber? Amber or Scion?" thread, are you?*

!i!

[*Edit: Ha! Looks like ancientgamer already did just that.]

James McMurray · February 18, 2008, 05:03:24 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditAs far as I can tell, traffic is not dropping at all.

RPGPundit

Ah, sorry. I assumed this was one of your transparent attempts at stirring shit up to make the place look important. I'd forgotten that sometimes you dance around drooling with your thumb up your butt for no reason at all.

Carry on then!

walkerp · February 18, 2008, 05:09:40 PM

Yes, the thread could easily have been about going back in time and changing the gaming landscape without any mention of killing anybody. The killing part is just excessive self-aggrandizement and hype and was really not necessary. Makes the thread spend over half the time talking about itself rather than the subject from the get-go, which is not good.

blakkie · February 18, 2008, 06:24:38 PM

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaTo be clear, I'm quite fond of Woody Guthrie, I appreciate his message of "This machine kills fascists", and I appreciate that you and the mods hereabouts use it appropriately in the spirit it was originally intended. Cheers to you. However, I think your opinion of your role in the larger scheme of things is inflated.

Yeah but if there was truth in adverstising he'd use "Hickory, Dickory, Dock...".

Consonant Dude · February 18, 2008, 07:31:43 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditLet's say you had some kind of time-travelling hitman at your service, that would go back in time and take out any single game designer just before he started his career: who would you take out?

That guy who wrote FtA!

Quote from: RPGPunditWhat do you think the effect would be?

I really don't know. Since the guy who gave me the idea was the target.

We need some time travel experts ASAP to determine what happens after that.

On a more serious note, can you see why, no matter if a well-respected dude like Levi Kornelsen vouch for your face-to-face behavior, it is clear you have serious issues?