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Why the hostility to Monte Cook?

Started by Nexus, November 02, 2015, 11:43:17 AM

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Nexus

November 02, 2015, 11:43:17 AM
Straight forward question. There seems to be a focused animosity towards Monte Cook (and his game company) online, particularly on TBP but I've run across it in a couple of places. What's the cause of the acrimony?
Remember when Illinois Nazis where a joke in the Blue Brothers movie?

Democracy, meh? (538)

 "The salient fact of American politics is that there are fifty to seventy million voters each of whom will volunteer to live, with his family, in a cardboard box under an overpass, and cook sparrows on an old curtain rod, if someone would only guarantee that the black, gay, Hispanic, liberal, whatever, in the next box over doesn't even have a curtain rod, or a sparrow to put on it."

aspiringlich

#1
November 02, 2015, 11:47:10 AM
Quote from: Nexus;862736Straight forward question. There seems to be a focused animosity towards Monte Cook (and his game company) online, particularly on TBP but I've run across it in a couple of places. What's the cause of the acrimony?
He's making a living doing what they all want to be making a living doing, but aren't.

Caesar Slaad

#2
November 02, 2015, 11:52:52 AM
From what I've seen it's been either:
1) 3e hatahs lashing out at the "author of their pain"
2) Acrimony way past its expiration date over his trying some in hindsight ill-advised game design bits that didn't work out great. (e.g., "power in exchange for entry requirements" design rubric of prestige classes.)
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Shipyard Locked

#3
November 02, 2015, 01:45:50 PM
Don't forget his high crime of "appropriating" native American culture in one of his games. That went down like a house on fire on TBP. Of course, when he fixed it by hiring a native American to work on the said material they ignored that news because it didn't give them that sweet outrage high.

Personally I though his grasp of balance was shaky, but I got some good use out of several of his products (especially the Eldricht Might and Chaositech stuff)

Exploderwizard

#4
November 02, 2015, 01:47:55 PM
Quote from: Nexus;862736Straight forward question. There seems to be a focused animosity towards Monte Cook (and his game company) online, particularly on TBP but I've run across it in a couple of places. What's the cause of the acrimony?


Are you seriously asking why people express their displeasure of shit on the internet?

Answer: Because they can!  

Next question.
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Nexus

#5
November 02, 2015, 01:52:19 PM Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 01:58:46 PM by Nexus
Quote from: Exploderwizard;862750Are you seriously asking why people express their displeasure of shit on the internet?
.

No, I'm asking what they're expressing displeasure about and what started the apparent vendetta a sizable number of people seem to have against Monte Cook. Even Internet Hate trains have some cause or flash point.
Remember when Illinois Nazis where a joke in the Blue Brothers movie?

Democracy, meh? (538)

 "The salient fact of American politics is that there are fifty to seventy million voters each of whom will volunteer to live, with his family, in a cardboard box under an overpass, and cook sparrows on an old curtain rod, if someone would only guarantee that the black, gay, Hispanic, liberal, whatever, in the next box over doesn't even have a curtain rod, or a sparrow to put on it."

Simlasa

#6
November 02, 2015, 02:14:23 PM Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 02:19:54 PM by Simlasa
Quote from: Nexus;862753No, I'm asking what they're expressing displeasure about and what started the apparent vendetta a sizable number of people seem to have against Monte Cook. Even Internet Hate trains have some cause or flash point.
I saw a discussion about this somewhere and from what I recall he is seen, by some, as purposefully stirring up the flamewar between 3.0 and 3.5 fans... and by extension of that, a progenitor of the split of D&D fans into the Pathfinder and 4e crowds.
Also, something to do with his involvement with Pathfinder Online.
He came off as arrogant to a lot of people.

I've really got no idea or opinion about any of that being accurate... just what I've read some people saying.

Snowman0147

#7
November 02, 2015, 02:26:49 PM
They are haters and TBP is especially hateful.  Seriously Monte done nothing wrong.

One Horse Town

#8
November 02, 2015, 02:28:19 PM
Its largely identity politics, like everything on the fucking net these days. His other half has the nerve to be a sex-positive feminist 'erotic' writer and therefore a witch-skank to the usual suspects.

arminius

#9
November 02, 2015, 02:34:07 PM
Quote from: Simlasa;862756I saw a discussion about this somewhere and from what I recall he is seen, by some, as purposefully stirring up the flamewar between 3.0 and 3.5 fans...

I know there was some anger about 3.5 following quickly on the heels of 3.0 but there are actual factions? What's the breakdown and how does Cook figure into it?

Simlasa

#10
November 02, 2015, 03:05:25 PM Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 03:10:17 PM by Simlasa
Quote from: Arminius;862761I know there was some anger about 3.5 following quickly on the heels of 3.0 but there are actual factions? What's the breakdown and how does Cook figure into it?
From what I read... Mr. Cook did not care for the changes 3.5 introduced and went on a crusade against it... continued to put out 3.0 content... and there was anger against him on the WOTC forums. It sounds like the developers themselves stirred up the rabble over some behind-the-scenes bandersnatchery.

I've liked what little I've read of the guy's output. Most of it much older than whatever this friction is about. Did people gripe at him over his WOD stuff?

Christopher Brady

#11
November 02, 2015, 03:13:50 PM
I don't like his attitude.  He comes off as a holier-than-thou elitist gamer, and those drive me nuts.

He's put out OK stuff, but he's nowhere the legend he is in his own mind.
"And now, my friends, a Dragon\'s toast!  To life\'s little blessings:  wars, plagues and all forms of evil.  Their presence keeps us alert --- and their absence makes us grateful." -T.A. Barron[/SIZE]

ThatChrisGuy

#12
November 02, 2015, 03:22:05 PM
I'm not hostile to him, myself. Met him at a con once and he seemed to be an OK guy.  I just don't like the stuff he produces.  So, I don't buy it.  I'd like to think that's a better response than being a dick online.
I made a blog: Southern Style GURPS

aspiringlich

#13
November 02, 2015, 03:28:21 PM
Quote from: Simlasa;862766From what I read... Mr. Cook did not care for the changes 3.5 introduced and went on a crusade against it... continued to put out 3.0 content... and there was anger against him on the WOTC forums. It sounds like the developers themselves stirred up the rabble over some behind-the-scenes bandersnatchery.
Here's his perspective on 3.5:
Looking at D&D v. 3.5

Warboss Squee

#14
November 02, 2015, 03:53:33 PM
Quote from: aspiringlich;862771Here's his perspective on 3.5:
Looking at D&D v. 3.5

I can't disagree with him, tbh.  He nailed all the relevant points for why I liked 3.5, and utterly despised it at the same time.
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