[Merged] Hackmaster reviews?

[JoeGKushner]

I've received a plea to add Hackmaster material to the review guide. This falls under K for Kenzer.

My first question I guess is, is Hackmaster d20? If we start adding stuff like Hackmaster, how about Robin Law's of Good Game Mastery and material of that nature?

[Tsyr]

I dunno.

Hackmaster is not D20 in any way (Other than, well, using a D20 somewhere in the mix)... but on the other hand, it's a derivative of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, same as 3e... Like the book says, in another reality, it could have BEEN 3e.

It's a funny situation.

My gut feeling would be "Not really the focus of this site", but my hackmaster fanboy wants to say otherwise.

[Furn_Darkside]

Pfft- I say we take all Hackmaster books, pile them on a boat and ship it all off to Australia!

Or possibly boil it all in oil!

Or we coul.. err.. wait.. I added the Hackmaster stuff yesterday.

It is all there waiting for reviews.

FD

[JoeGKushner]

I guess the problem then is that it wasn't marked as available which means you can't add any reviews to it.

[Furn_Darkside]

Originally posted by JoeGKushner
I guess the problem then is that it wasn't marked as available which means you can't add any reviews to it.

Really? I am pretty sure I set it correctly. *ponder* oh well.

FD

[ColonelHardisson]

HackMaster is sort of a special case. It's D&D (AD&D, to be exact), new products are being made for it, and a lot of it could be converted over to 3e/d20 use as easily as any other for 1e or 2e. But it isn't d20.

[Cheiromancer]

Could you put up the various volumes of the Hacklopedia of Beasts, too?

[Furn_Darkside]

The decision was made along these lines-

Someone asked.

Morrus left the decision up to me.

I was hesitant, because I realized my anti-HM feelings would easily sway my decision.

So, I looked at this way- would I mind if someone asked if Blue Planet by FFG (another non-d20 rpg by a d20 publisher) be up for review?

I would have no problem with that- so I should have no problem with HM.

And, ta-da, it is there for review.

FD

[Furn_Darkside]

Originally posted by Cheiromancer
Could you put up the various volumes of the Hacklopedia of Beasts, too?

I believe I put up all of their current products.

http://www.enworld.org/d20reviews.as...=Kenzer+%26+Co

If I missed something, then let me know.

And.. yes, I know it is not organized at the moment. When I get a chance and an idea for how to better present it, then I will do so.

FD

[Cheiromancer]

Oops! I had searched for items which had "Hackmaster" in the title. Which of course would not find the Hacklopedias, since "hackmaster" does not appear in any of those titles.

Thanks for the rapid response!

[Furn_Darkside]

I see why they are not an option for review- I put an unknown release date which put them due in 2009.

I am correcting that now.

I apologize for the mess up.

FD

PS- problem fixed. They are all available to review.

[Psion]

I didn't notice this, else I would have spoken up sooner. Now I see there is a hackmaster review up.

What's up with that? I am REALLY against opening up the reviews to hackmaster, and propose that we immediately strike the hackmaster reviews section. If Kenzer wanted to get on board with d20, they should have used the d20 system.

I really think Hackmaster reviews don't belong. Else where do we draw the line?! CODA? It's d20-like. And once you open that door, you will probably get RPGnet style reviewers here that slam d20 "cause they don't like it/it killed their favorite system" like the silly slams on d20 SW and Rokugan as seen over on RPGnet. And the reviews average become meaningless.

No, this really raises too many question and compomises ENWorlds position as the premeir d20 fansite IMO. HM is not d20 nor it is qualifiably a d20 accessory or OGL.

[Psion]

would I mind if someone asked if Blue Planet by FFG (another non-d20 rpg by a d20 publisher) be up for review?

I would have no problem with that-

I would. And therein lies the problem. Hackmaster is not a d20 product or justifiable accessory, nor is Blue Planet. Neither belongs here. This is not RPGnet.

What are you going to do when an Hackmaster product shows up on the d20 top 20 and people go out and buy this great d20 product? :rolleyes:

It's Morrus's call, but let me voice my opinion that I am very much against this.

[JoeGKushner]

I'm against the Hackmaster stuff but would like to see statless books like Robin Laws Of Good Game Mastering and books in that venue go into the database.

[ColonelHardisson]

The thing is, the site is called "EN World - Morrus' D&D/d20 News & Reviews Site." I think the "D&D" part of the name is as important as "d20." HackMaster is definitely D&D, but based on an earlier edition.

Should the site also accomodate OGL stuff like Everquest (and whatever comes after)? I see Everquest books on the reviews part of the site. Neither d20 nor D&D is mentioned on or in the game. Technically it is neither.

[Psion]

No, Colonel, I disagree. We don't cover earlier editions of D&D either (and you don't want to open that can of worms), so why would Hackmaster be exempt?

(d20 SRD derived) OGL I can see; at least it gives us a clear dividing line. But I was even a little surprised to see Everquest show up. But at least it's arguable IMO. Hackmaster is not.

[Voadam]

I just saw that hackmaster products are now available on the review page.

I was surprised because I thought they were deliberately not included before because they use their own system which, while based off of old D&D, is not d20 or 3e.

[ColonelHardisson]

There is a difference between covering HackMaster and earlier editions of D&D/AD&D - HackMaster has new material coming out for it. It isn't opening a can of worms if it is made clear that reviews of older material, say pre-2000, will not be posted. EDIT: or, just say only reviews of material in print will be posted. HackMaster will probably not flood the market anytime soon, and I doubt anyone's going to publish new material for any other older edition (although you never know).

If Everquest is covered, I see no reason HackMaster can't be.

[Furn_Darkside]

Hackmaster reviews?

[Psion]

Yes, I know. :rolleyes:

See linked thead for further comments.