Wow, what a great post. Hopefully it will cause him to take a step back and think about the poor way he's handled this ... but I kind of doubt it.
Oh, and if you do plan on picking up a Raging Swan product in the near future, might I suggest a rather sizable aquatic adventure coming out next month ;)
Sounds like a great idea. I will definitely pick it up. I do tend to buy larger pdfs. I will also get a couple of the smaller PDFs as I would like to see what I have been missing out on.
I will download the portcullises PDF now. I haven't ever done a review before, but I may try to do one by this weekend.
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Wow. Here there be drama!
You know what's weird? I actually picked up the 4-starred Thistle product before I came upon this thread. I mostly agree with the review that Megan R. posted about it...a somewhat muddled section at the beginning hides some gems, but the true strength is the traps. Yes, there is color art, but it's quite a bit more cartoonish than I like, I vastly prefer RSP's B&W art. I'd probably rate it just about the same.
Haven't read the portcullis PDF yet, but plan to. RSP has always impressed me with the quality of their product...I almost feel bad about the fact that so many of their releases land outside my interest zone. They're one of the best publishers I can think of that put out so much great stuff that, for whatever reason, fails to capture my interest.
However, I will also say that every instance I have seen of Mr. Broadhurst's interaction with the posters here has been a class act. He thanks them for reviews, both the favorable and the (fairly rare) unfavorable. He is responsive to the fans, and generally seems like a pretty great guy who it would be awesome to game with.
I'm almost certain to buy some more of RSP's products in the future (they do on occasion brush by my interest zone). As for Thistle...Spinechillers and Silent Killers was the first product I ever bought from them, and it will likely be the last, based not on it's quality, but on the impression them that I have taken from this thread.
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I can only speak of my personal interactions with Creighton. I graduated with a degree in film production and spent a few years writing screen plays and trying to get someone to read them. I sent over a hundred query letters and was only met with negativity or offers to pay out hundreds of dollars before agencies would read my scripts. Oppose this to the Pathfinder 3PP community which has been nothing but encouraging and positive.
After I wrote a fan-inspired alternative opening to one of Raging Swan's newest modules, Dark Oaks, Creighton gave me a very positive response. He then encouraged me to pitch for an opening in his Tribes line; this was the the first time he made an open call to bring new and untried freelancers into the Raging Swan fold. He shepherded me through my first assignment (which as my first, I was very nervous about), taking the time to show me the ropes based on his years of experience as a professional freelancer for both Paizo and Wizards of the Coast.
Since that first assignment, Bugbears of the Frozen Tears (which has garnered multiple 5 star reviews due to his stellar guidance), Creighton has acted as a personal mentor for me in the 3PP field, offering on multiple occasions to write referrals and send copies of my work to other 3PPs that I've been interested in writing for. In addition, he made me one of a handful of Raging Swan design partners where he continues to offer advice and helps develop me as a freelancer. He has always been open to my ideas for new products and my desires to branch out into different aspects of game design, affording me opportunities to stretch my design muscles.
I admit to holding a bias to 3PPs from my 3x days, but Raging Swan products were the first to open my eyes that Pathfinder 3PPs were different. The quality of Raging Swan products made them the first company on my list that I wanted to work for. I have worked with Creighton for over 2 years out of the 3 years that Raging Swan has been in existence. Therefore, from my personal experience as an insider in Raging Swan, I find any insinuation of review impropriety, of scheming to increase sales through such controversy utterly without merit.
I've always found Creighton to maybe even be too humble in promoting himself and his products. However, he is a person that lets the work speak for itself. For me, not just as a designer, but as a fan, Raging swan has throughout the years continuously earned my respect and dollars for putting out quality products that not only keep me coming back as a consumer but also as a writer.
Wow. Here there be drama!
You know what's weird? I actually picked up the 4-starred Thistle product before I came upon this thread. I mostly agree with the review that Megan R. posted about it...a somewhat muddled section at the beginning hides some gems, but the true strength is the traps. Yes, there is color art, but it's quite a bit more cartoonish than I like, I vastly prefer RSP's B&W art. I'd probably rate it just about the same.
Haven't read the portcullis PDF yet, but plan to. RSP has always impressed me with the quality of their product...I almost feel bad about the fact that so many of their releases land outside my interest zone. They're one of the best publishers I can think of that put out so much great stuff that, for whatever reason, fails to capture my interest.
However, I will also say that every instance I have seen of Mr. Broadhurst's interaction with the posters here has been a class act. He thanks them for reviews, both the favorable and the (fairly rare) unfavorable. He is responsive to the fans, and generally seems like a pretty great guy who it would be awesome to game with.
I'm almost certain to buy some more of RSP's products in the future (they do on occasion brush by my interest zone). As for Thistle...Spinechillers and Silent Killers was the first product I ever bought from them, and it will likely be the last, based not on it's quality, but on the impression them that I have taken from this thread.
Kthulhu, from the boards I know you to be a fan of Frog God Games and Swords and Wizardry like me. One of the things that drew me to Raging Swan was that old school vibe in their products. You can pick up Raging Swan's Lonely Coast minisetting for free which is mostly flavor with a little bit of crunch here and there. I'm trying to interest my players into trying some S&W and I plan on using the Lonely Coast for the setting. You can also pick up a good-sized chunk of Raging Swan's well received Shadowkeep on the Borderlands which is a nod to classic D&D and seems fairly easy to convert which is also free. That's if you haven't done so already :). Me, I'd love to see a Raging Swan and Frog God Game team-up some time in the future. I'd think the companies would complement each other very well.
Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Huh. I didn't hear about this happening.
I personally think its sort of funny given my own relationship with Raging Swan Press. Every now and then Creighton gives me a PDF for free so I'll review it, and despite his kind heart I feel like I'm often positively BRUTAL to his company's products. I guess I'm secretly on the Raging Swan payroll, listed as, "Company Self-Demoralizer." Considering that Creighton keeps giving me stuff to review, sometimes I wonder if he's masochistic or something!
/endsarcasm
* Note: My experience was almost identical to Feros's (one post up). Its not so much that Creighton offered me a product free of cost; rather, Creighton offered out a hand (PUNS!) that plainly said, "I want to hear what you have to say, good or bad." That is a rarity in today's day and age, and I'll always respect Creighton for that.
But here's the thing. Whether a review is good or bad as long as it is constructive its worth reading. For example, your comments about the maps in Gibbous Moon were spot on - and it's a mistake I won't make again. When you design something, often you get too close to it. Seeing it through someone else's eyes is incredibly valuable.
The same goes for Feros. I liked the style and depth of his review of Gygax 1 so I pounced. It seemed a bit of a no-brainer at the time and I think it is spiffing he is now reviewing other stuff.
More reviews = better products = happier, strong community.
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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I intend to download Dungeon Dressing: Portcullises and I will see if I can get a review out sometime this weekend. This is a product I had no real initial interest in, so thank you for offering this up as an example of your work. I may not have reviewed it otherwise.
Thank you again for the encouragement, Creighton. It meant a lot.
Excellent. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.
And it was my pleasure. Perhaps in the future we can start calling you "Endzeitgeist #2"
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Publisher, Raging Swan Press
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Since that first assignment, Bugbears of the Frozen Tears (which has garnered multiple 5 star reviews due to his stellar guidance), Creighton has acted as a personal mentor for me in the 3PP field, offering on multiple occasions to write referrals and send copies of my work to other 3PPs that I've been interested in writing for. In addition, he made me one of a handful of Raging Swan design partners where he continues to offer advice and helps develop me as a freelancer. He has always been open to my ideas for new products and my desires to branch out into different aspects of game design, affording me opportunities to stretch my design muscles.
I admit to holding a bias to 3PPs from my 3x days, but Raging Swan products were the first to open my eyes that Pathfinder 3PPs were different. The quality of Raging Swan products made them the first company on my list that I wanted to work for. I have worked with Creighton for over 2 years out of the 3 years that Raging Swan has been in existence. Therefore, from my personal...
Steady on old chap. I'm English; I do so hate a scene.
;-)
I can say without fear of contradiction that John is an awesome designer. His turnovers to me are clear, concise and very clean.
An editor's dream! I would have absolutely no hesitation is recommending him to any other 3PP out there (as long as that job didn't clash with stuff for Raging Swan).
Also, he gets Old School in almost exactly the same way as I do which makes for very each discussions on product content.
As to the mentoring - that was my pleasure. When I was involved with Living Greyhawk, Stephen Radney-MacFarland took me under his wing and gave me lots and lots of advice, hints and tips. Working with SRM gave me a vast amount of insight into behind the curtain stuff - insights I use all the time at Raging Swan. It seemed only decent that I return the favour. (I'm also quite confident having a designer like John on the team is good for Raging Swan).
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......and generally seems like a pretty great guy who it would be awesome to game with.
Before this love in gets too mushy, Creighton killed me one, no, two times during our failed attempt at the Temple of Elemental Evil!
...and his wizards always survive. Don't expect the seventh cavalry approach to saving the party. Even his one legged wizard in Savage Tide managed to get away from the raptor!
Perhaps though the most important thing is the guy is my friend.
Red Glenn