I think if 4e does fine, then there will be lots of people complaining about the fact that 4e is doing fine.

If 4e flops, there will be lots of people complaining about the fact that 4e is flopping.

If there aren't enough threads complaining about 4e, someone will start a thread to complain about that fact.

If there are plenty of threads complaining about 4e, someone will start a thread complaining about the number of 4e complaint threads.

There will be plenty of complaints in response to all of the above complaints.

The internet is a funny place. I try to maintain a level head but often find myself getting sucked into the typical downward spiral of complaints, insults and general foolishness. It hit me earlier before reading this thread how sadly humorous the social interactions on forums are.

No matter what you say, there is a high likelihood that someone will somehow take offense and "one-up" any perceived insult you may have inadvertently given them with an even more inflammatory post. This often leads to further escalation from both sides and other previously uninvolved parties taking up the fight.

There's another whole level of irony when you get the "I don't like X" posts quickly followed by "I don't like the fact that you don't like X". It's amazing how this happens repeatedly on almost every forum, regardless of its focus. (And yes, I realize I'm only propagating the irony by complaining about the complaining).

I wonder whywe are so defensive on forums? Why do we get so worked up by the opinions of others and feel the need to not just respond, but retaliate. I can understand the lack of inhibitions behind a largely anonymous post, but why bother? When does it become worth our time to partake in a discussion that doesn't interest us, only annoys us, just to aggravate someone else?

I'm certainly guilty of all of the above behaviors, but I do make an effort to "tone things down" a bit. Still I often find myself typing heated replies to a lot of posts until, usually about halfway into my retorts, I stop and think "why am spending time exacerbating the situation?" and eventually just scratching the reply altogether.

I did chuckle at Clash's thread title. I'm a bad person.

If there isn't enough D&D 4e talk going around, I'd be glad to start a Starcluster 4e rant.

Quote from: GoOrangeI did chuckle at Clash's thread title. I'm a bad person.

Whoa! I thought I was the only one who thought it amusing! Most everyone else like to bit my head off! :O

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceWhoa! I thought I was the only one who thought it amusing! Most everyone else like to bit my head off! :O

-clash

I like it too, but then I'm easily amused.

Since I hate D&D a priori, this would be the perfect situation for me, allowing my resentment and pretentious superiority over the hoodwinked fools who think they are having fun to grow to even greater levels.

What choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

4e will be the very key which unlocks Armageddon.  Ragnarok will be a supplement to the aforementioned Armageddon, but it will be well written and lavishly illustrated and well worth the price (so I've been told; I'm a Ragnarok over Armageddon type anyway so my opinion is biased).

I'm afraid that mucho bitchage is going to occur regardless of 4e's success or failure and it will only to be crushed by the nerdly wrath and hellfire which will hallmark the Warhammer 40k RPG's ascent to the stage of public opinion.

I'm also afraid to say that 4e means squat to me.  Good luck to them and all that rot, but my train left the D&D station some time ago.  2nd ed., C&C or an earlier version of the venerable beast is my preferred manner of gaming nostalgia if I can't get into something a bit more swanky (ie. WHFRP, Fading Suns, GURPS etc.) but I do profess an unwholesome love for the 2nd ed. Wild Mage type which borders on obscene.

3e did just fine and a whole online community was born around resenting and hating it.

Quote from: Caesar Slaad3e did just fine and a whole online community was born around resenting and hating it.

win, win, really.