tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post4633047742156570330..comments2024-03-29T03:53:01.413-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: BullshitJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-6922772342727826642014-07-07T10:06:43.873-07:002014-07-07T10:06:43.873-07:00Understood. I wasn't really calling the majori...Understood. I wasn't really calling the majority of the commenters on your 5E posts "trolls," just the occasional beast that wanders in to take pot shots. And what I was referring to was YOUR dissenting opinions on things, which were (and have been) attacked. <br /><br />That being said, I hope you have time to read my latest 5E Starter Set post I put up today, and give me your thoughts:<br /><br />http://unto-the-breach.blogspot.com/2014/07/d-5e-starter-set-first-impressions.html<br /><br />RPG Pundit actually posted some clarification of the interrelation of the Starter box/D&D Basic PDF/the books coming out (at my urging) on his latest post (just jump to the comments):<br /><br />http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2014/07/continuing-to-confront-fake-outrage.htmlAnthony Simeonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04312134763577949405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-87440022245642253942014-07-07T08:45:10.133-07:002014-07-07T08:45:10.133-07:00@ Anthony:
Thanks for the kind words (here and on...@ Anthony:<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words (here and on your own blog). Rest assured, I don't think any of the folks who've commented have been "trolls" - they're all people who've been readers for awhile (some of whom I've gamed with!), and I do value their comments and opinions...dissenting or not!<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-88339829344764029412014-07-06T13:47:09.949-07:002014-07-06T13:47:09.949-07:00I suppose people are just excited because there...I suppose people are just excited because there's a new edition of <i>D&D</i> and their judgement on what is available at this time is a little coloured -- both in positive and negative ways -- by that.<br /><br />I do get what you mean about Wizards being lauded for it; I am surprised that there's so much faith in Wizards given some of the dodgy moves they've pulled in the past.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-34543663902615150932014-07-06T11:34:00.089-07:002014-07-06T11:34:00.089-07:00First, I continue to hope upon hope that people wi...First, I continue to hope upon hope that people will view dissenting opinions as opportunities for discussion instead of invitations to be a troll. Ah, the hope continues...anyway JB, I got your back as usual, my friend! <br /><br />Anyway, I bought the starter set for several reasons, mostly because I'm curious and keeping an open mind about WotC and the future of D&D specifically and the hobby in general. Also, I wanted to support the one good FLGS in South Jersey, All Things Fun, by buying the set from them. I want to make sure they stick around.<br /><br />I've been reading through the starter box rules and it seems so far like 3.5 with some different rules options added in. Not bad, but not really exciting to my sensibilities. I never really liked 3.5, you see. I need to go back and read through again, but so far it seems fairly vanilla. BUT, I am a long time roleplayer, so I can't help but put my expectations into what I read, no matter how hard I try. I just know too much about the game. <br /><br />I also guess I am wishing that there would be more of a nod to the various versions of D&D, mentioning the history of the game in the text somewhere. Just to show some love for the roots of the game and maybe give "new" players a bit of curiosity about the older versions of the game, and the mentality and play style fostered by older versions. <br /><br />I have to say that I'm not following things as close as you are with regard to whether or not the basic rules are a "complete" game or not, but I can see where you're coming from if what's online doesn't yet have monsters, etc. <br /><br />I think they're trying to drum up interest and hype, throwing out the "free" word and trying to seem like a nice bunch of folks offering the "gateway" to their game gratis. Why they couldn't just include all the monsters and junk now and call it done, I don't know. Seems strange, and I too feel a bit put off by how they're doing things.Anthony Simeonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04312134763577949405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-70500114853787369462014-07-06T08:45:40.104-07:002014-07-06T08:45:40.104-07:00@ Kelvin:
You're right, man...I'm being d...@ Kelvin:<br /><br />You're right, man...I'm being deliberately obtuse here. Mearls does say in the May article that the Basic Set will be expanded in August to include "the essential monsters, magic items, and DM rules needed to run the game." I suppose I will see in August what the REAL "Basic Set" looks like (a 250 page, "printer friendly" PDF?).<br /><br />But that part is buried under a shit-ton of puffery about how you don't need anything else to play the game. It never say they're releasing an incomplete rule set. Hell, in their LEARN TO PLAY section for people NEW TO D&D this current version of "the Basic Set" is all they give you...period. And the thing ain't going to teach you how to play the game...at least, not as a DM (which is half of learning to play). <br /><br />Nothing in their current press says, "wait till August." To me, it's irritating and (as I said) a bit disingenuous. Why don't they simply wait till August to release the Basic PDF in full? Simply to annoy people into buying their "Starter Pack" that's being released in June?<br /><br />I guess my final point is this: a free incomplete game isn't a free game. All you've got is a partial "sneak peek" of an upcoming product. But WotC is being hailed and lauded for having released 5E..."and as a free PDF!"...and aren't they swell for doing it?<br /><br />Welp, I don't see they've done anything yet.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-45562295680422135372014-07-06T04:05:17.221-07:002014-07-06T04:05:17.221-07:00You've missed the point. They have said that t...You've missed the point. They have said that the basic pdf will be a complete playable game when it's finished. It's not finished yet.<br /><br />Even so, combined with the boxed set that was released on the same day you do have a complete game.<br /><br />To be honest I'm not that impressed with <i>D&D5</i> as it seems a bit dull, but it's also not finished yet so I'm giving them a chance.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-51163396487454663612014-07-05T23:34:09.322-07:002014-07-05T23:34:09.322-07:00@ Fumers:
I figured that's what you meant.
; ...@ Fumers:<br /><br />I figured that's what you meant.<br />; )<br /><br />As I told Harv, I'll take a closer look at the Basic Rules. But I don't think I'll be getting the Starter anytime soon...I'm in Paraguay till November.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-30230457384301480462014-07-05T23:31:39.786-07:002014-07-05T23:31:39.786-07:00It all reads like corporate bullshit to me... and ...It all reads like corporate bullshit to me... and my vague interest in 5e has withered in the bright glare of fanboy eyelights. <br />Maybe I'll get around to looking at it next year, after the excited yammering has died down and I can critique it without being chased up a windmill by a mob with torches and pitchforks. Timmy Crabcakeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14737954661234574830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-25674685345491841262014-07-05T21:39:26.832-07:002014-07-05T21:39:26.832-07:00isntisntFumershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156302616243889562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-32043446775894583712014-07-05T21:38:47.410-07:002014-07-05T21:38:47.410-07:00I read all of that ahead of the release and never ...I read all of that ahead of the release and never once thought core of the game = complete game. It's enough material to get new players into a game with a basic character. It's cool that they put it together and it's free.<br /><br />Wizards is trying to trick anyone into thinking it's a full game. It's not like you'll walk into a game store and see basic d&d on the shelf. There will be Starter Set and eventually PHB. The pdf is just a handy free accessory.<br /><br />I'd be interested in hearing what you think about the game itself.Fumershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156302616243889562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-57216597576962471812014-07-05T19:57:46.033-07:002014-07-05T19:57:46.033-07:00@ Harv:
Hmmm...the last question is a good one. L...@ Harv:<br /><br />Hmmm...the last question is a good one. Looking it over, I actually get the feeling their ripping off some of MY stuff.<br />; )<br /><br />Let me take a closer look and get back to you on that.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-88845891835607309082014-07-05T19:53:16.138-07:002014-07-05T19:53:16.138-07:00@ Mikkelibob:
I'm often embarrassed by what I...@ Mikkelibob:<br /><br />I'm often embarrassed by what I've written (especially the typos). On the other hand, rereading my old posts does give me a time capsule snapshot of my perspective/feelings at the time, which is valuable...to me, anyway.<br /><br />Sure, there's a lot to like in the PDF...it's not ALL filler, after all. I just think it should be (better) represented as what it is. I mean, what's the point of releasing an INCOMPLETE GAME at this time? Because it's going to take people till August (with the release of Tyranny) to read the rules?<br /><br />Really...what's the justification here?JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-81618272721637506342014-07-05T19:41:13.849-07:002014-07-05T19:41:13.849-07:00JB, I think that overall you are correct. What is...JB, I think that overall you are correct. What is offered is not a complete game, and far from sufficient for a newbie to grab and actually game with. I think there is a lot to like about 5e so far rules wise, but these basic rules do not provide enough to play the game on their own.<br /><br />That said, do you think that if you had a veteran DM that had access to the full rules, that these would be sufficient for the new player in that game, who does not want to put any money into the game yet? I tend to think that it is, not sure if that is their intent or not, and if it is, this should have been marketed as a white flag to get old disenchanted players a way to see what they are offering, and perhaps get a few back into the fold.<br /><br />The person that puts the work into building adventures in order to DM/Referee is ultimately the person who picks the system. Some are very particular about their system, some do not care at all, and some just look for new pieces to graft onto their own franken-system.<br /><br />Regardless of your feelings on the viability of the free PDF, I would be interested (as always) in hearing what (if any) bits you would consider adding into your own DnD-Mine.Stacktracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05778633676064958982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-59483689102133028472014-07-05T19:11:52.702-07:002014-07-05T19:11:52.702-07:00You are really off base on this. Mearls never sai...You are really off base on this. Mearls never said it was the complete rules released July 3. They are going to release it in stages along with the other major releases this year.<br /><br />As an owner of your B/X Companion and a OSR fan, I think your anger is very misplaced. It seems to me that 5e is an olive branch back to the gamers that forged the hobby. It is a very nice core D&D that "supports" a classic style of play better than most. <br /><br />I think you're going to look back on this post and be embarassed. mikkelibobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07425334399726380165noreply@blogger.com