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A New Taxonomy for TSR-Era D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="Ruin Explorer" data-source="post: 8347790" data-attributes="member: 18"><p>I think it's worth having a descriptive period name because that is genuinely a different period - I'd say it was 1985-1993-ish myself, and the second period from 1994 onward, but I think it's worth noting that experimentation increased a lot in that period, and it was more distinct from the previous, more "safe" period. Hence me suggesting experimentation. In terms of products and quality, AD&D almost flourished - that's the weird thing - normally you see companies getting nervous and pulling their neck in and quality declining as people get fired and so on. But with TSR, you instead have this wild period where more and more stuff comes out, followed by WotC arriving and going "Jesus... what the hell happened here?!".</p><p></p><p>I mean you say:</p><p></p><p>And I'd say, with respect, "facts not in evidence", or as kids today say "citation needed", except what I mean is, did 2E ever have quality control? I would say no. I would present as my primary evidence, much of WotC's 1989-1992/3 output, which features dozens of books which exist "because" rather than there actually being any real reason, and where the quality is absolutely all over the place - the various Complete books are great evidence for this. If anything they don't seem to gain quality control until about 1994.</p><p></p><p>EDIT - Also, to be clear, I don't disagree that they were looking for money, but I think that issue, like so many, was a combination of bad management and external forces. External forces like other RPGs, esp. WW, putting pressure on them, market-wise, and possibly MtG being perceived as stealing customers. Internal forces like the Dragon Dice decision and so on. None of which really speaks to quality.</p><p></p><p>Also, I can't speak for everyone, but I absolutely goddamn loved all the collections they put out, they blew my socks off, and I do know the people I played D&D with felt the same way. I enjoyed the "Returns" stuff too, because I'd missed it the first time around. Plus weren't they mostly the product of the whole 25th anniversary thing?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ruin Explorer, post: 8347790, member: 18"] I think it's worth having a descriptive period name because that is genuinely a different period - I'd say it was 1985-1993-ish myself, and the second period from 1994 onward, but I think it's worth noting that experimentation increased a lot in that period, and it was more distinct from the previous, more "safe" period. Hence me suggesting experimentation. In terms of products and quality, AD&D almost flourished - that's the weird thing - normally you see companies getting nervous and pulling their neck in and quality declining as people get fired and so on. But with TSR, you instead have this wild period where more and more stuff comes out, followed by WotC arriving and going "Jesus... what the hell happened here?!". I mean you say: And I'd say, with respect, "facts not in evidence", or as kids today say "citation needed", except what I mean is, did 2E ever have quality control? I would say no. I would present as my primary evidence, much of WotC's 1989-1992/3 output, which features dozens of books which exist "because" rather than there actually being any real reason, and where the quality is absolutely all over the place - the various Complete books are great evidence for this. If anything they don't seem to gain quality control until about 1994. EDIT - Also, to be clear, I don't disagree that they were looking for money, but I think that issue, like so many, was a combination of bad management and external forces. External forces like other RPGs, esp. WW, putting pressure on them, market-wise, and possibly MtG being perceived as stealing customers. Internal forces like the Dragon Dice decision and so on. None of which really speaks to quality. Also, I can't speak for everyone, but I absolutely goddamn loved all the collections they put out, they blew my socks off, and I do know the people I played D&D with felt the same way. I enjoyed the "Returns" stuff too, because I'd missed it the first time around. Plus weren't they mostly the product of the whole 25th anniversary thing? [/QUOTE]
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