I have a funny suspicion this was already found, posted, and discussed, but for those that haven't heard it, I think Erik Mona does a really great job (along with the others) of having a level-headed discussion about the merits and flaws of 4e, 3rd Party Publishing, and living in the Post-World of Warcraft Era.
If you don't have the time for the whole 98 minute discussion, at least check out from 50:00 to about 65:00. The discussion about the open-ended quality of table-top RPGs, encouraging creativity, versus a computer game (or a table-top game emulating a computer game) stiflingly, or having canned, creativity is spot on.
Hope this doesn't spawn a flame-war. (Casts endure elements just in case.)
Three cheers to Erik.
http://greenronin.com/2008/05/green_ronin_publishing_podcast_4.php
This podcast is from June, right?
Listening to this tweaked my interest in getting the hardcover Campaign Setting; the comments on Jeff Grubb and the other "old school" authors piqued my interest. I checked Amazon.ca and it's only ~$32. Not bad for a 256 page book!
Yeah it was before the GSL was officially released. I thought Erik's strategic reasoning about what WoTC would try and do with the market (i.e. spawn a new generation of players that is exclusive to WoTC D&D) mayeb become true.
At one point one of the other speakers says something like "What is WoTC doing?" and Erik makes the point about the commercials with the beholder and having a lot of resources dedicated to getting out the 3 core books interrupting sound marketing plans... I actually slightly disagreed. I think WoTC is trying to ride the "it's ok to be a nerd" trend set by World of Warcraft. Their main target isn't joe-nobody gamer (who will likely buy a new edition of D&D anyways), it's the broader population who never considered playing D&D. It's my opinion that 4e has strove to model (at least in complexity) D&D after MMORPGs, as a way into a market which appeals to a much larger section of the population.
PS: FREEPORT FOR PATHFINDER RPG!
On a side note, I was watching a local morning show this morning (Breakfast Television in Toronto) and their roving reporter was broadcasting live from some kind of day camp for kids. The director of the camp mentioned that they had crafts, sing-alongs, etc., etc., AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS! You could have knocked me over with a feather! I guess it's not just for nerds in their 30s and 40s any more...
|
On a side note, I was watching a local morning show this morning (Breakfast Television in Toronto) and their roving reporter was broadcasting live from some kind of day camp for kids. The director of the camp mentioned that they had crafts, sing-alongs, etc., etc., AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS! You could have knocked me over with a feather! I guess it's not just for nerds in their 30s and 40s any more...
Whoever runs that camp should be given a damned medal.
Which edition were they playing at the camp? :)
On a side note, I was watching a local morning show this morning (Breakfast Television in Toronto) and their roving reporter was broadcasting live from some kind of day camp for kids. The director of the camp mentioned that they had crafts, sing-alongs, etc., etc., AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS! You could have knocked me over with a feather! I guess it's not just for nerds in their 30s and 40s any more...
As it turns out, the reporter was mistaken. The kids have the RIFTS roleplaying game as an activity, not D&D. ;)
Which edition were they playing at the camp? :)
The original three booklets + Blackmoor.
|
|
As it turns out, the reporter was mistaken. The kids have the RIFTS roleplaying game as an activity, not D&D. ;)
Ouch. Those poor children. We'll have to mount an armed assault on the camp to resuce them!
*imagines a horde of over-and-underweight 30- and 40-somethings cresting the hill bellowing in hooded cloaks and waving decorative swords from Excalibur Knife Shop*
Which edition were they playing at the camp? :)The original three booklets + Blackmoor.
Dear GOD!
They're at Camp Diaglo....
They're DOOOMED!!!!!!
|
On a side note, I was watching a local morning show this morning (Breakfast Television in Toronto) and their roving reporter was broadcasting live from some kind of day camp for kids. The director of the camp mentioned that they had crafts, sing-alongs, etc., etc., AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS! You could have knocked me over with a feather! I guess it's not just for nerds in their 30s and 40s any more...
What is the name of this camp so I can volunteer! I live near Burlington, so it can't be much of a hike.
Oh, and in the mid-nineties my best friends went to "D&D Camp". A camp...for D&D. Did anyone else ever go to a camp like this?
What is the name of this camp so I can volunteer! I live near Burlington, so it can't be much of a hike.
Upon further investigation, it looks like it's "BT Summer Camp". I guess they get a bunch of kids and take them to different places. On Monday they went to Centre Island, Tuesday they went to Second City, Wednesday ???, and today they went to Harbourfront Centre, I think. So it's probably only one day's worth of D&D for the kids, I'm afraid.
|
|
What is the name of this camp so I can volunteer! I live near Burlington, so it can't be much of a hike.Upon further investigation, it looks like it's "BT Summer Camp". I guess they get a bunch of kids and take them to different places. On Monday they went to Centre Island, Tuesday they went to Second City, Wednesday ???, and today they went to Harbourfront Centre, I think. So it's probably only one day's worth of D&D for the kids, I'm afraid.
This is a first time for me on two levels:
1. First time I was sad for missing BT television
2. First time I was sad I didn't volunteer for BT television.
|
|
What is the name of this camp so I can volunteer! I live near Burlington, so it can't be much of a hike.Upon further investigation, it looks like it's "BT Summer Camp". I guess they get a bunch of kids and take them to different places. On Monday they went to Centre Island, Tuesday they went to Second City, Wednesday ???, and today they went to Harbourfront Centre, I think. So it's probably only one day's worth of D&D for the kids, I'm afraid.
Better than nothing, I always say!