Mat Smith's Writing is Unpleasant [RANT]

[alsih2o]

Palate.


Hong "iconic pedant" Ooi

doh!
too much time in the art supply store

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Hey Morrus, a little of this thread's "unpleasantness" is showing through...

From Morrus' D&D/D20 News & Reviews Site
Somewhat unsuprisingly, Matt, as usual, quite likes the look of all of the upcoming products from WotC...

 

[Mulkhoran]

I agree with ColonelHardisson that saying, "Mat Smith makes me want to barf" is juvenile. I also agree with TrizzlWizzl though; those In the Works updates are laugh-out-loud bad. They remind me of the Onion's intentially bad Jean Teasdale columns.

Are you sure? I went to read some of these columns, and the feeling I got almost immediately was............Jackie Harvey

 

[Aaron L]

I always got the feeling of a Stan Lee, Marvel Bullpen anouncement type thing, too.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

flim flam

I wasn't a fan of your writing style in this thread until you used this word. Flim Flam makes up for everything else. Though flim flamen who ha is even better.

As for the topic, not a fan of that bit of his "work" but I don't find it to be terrible. I just accpet that I'm not the audience targeted. I think they generally see my audience as the people old enough to have a real job and will likely buy it anyway category so don't bother wasting adds toward them.

 

[derverdammte]

perhaps it is a generational thing to some degree, what bit i have seen reminds me of the old stan lee "everything marvel is the greatest" updates you used to see in the back of spiderman or the avengers.

He's the Rikki Rachman (or however that guy spelled his name) of gaming. Remember "Headbanger's Ball" on MTV? The whole "I'm kewl because I rub elbows with all these kewl people" attitude that permeates the "in the works" column really reminds me of ol' Rikki. The mindless trend-following, too.

 

[Psion]

This may totally be a side rant, but what kills me is down that in the Fiend Folio section, he gives these accolades:

"Okay, math whizzes out there will quickly divine that somewhere around forty of the monsters aren't "all-new." That's because, in addition to the handful of favorites from the original Fiend Folio (like the blood hawk, dark skulker, and yellow musk creeper), you'll also find the most formidable foes from sources such as Dungeon Magazine, Dragon Magazine, Living Greyhawk Journal, D&D adventures (like Heart of Nightfang Spire), and this fine website. And, lest anyone freak out over "recycled" monsters, keep in mind that those critters are (1) really cool monsters (2) easily accessible and (3) now 100% official."

Okay, the way I see it, #2 is the only point worth even bragging about. As for #1, they are cool monsters (or not... but let's presume for a second he's right) when they appeared in the Dragon, what makes them any more special now that they are in a different books. And #3, since when does "official" mean that much to DMs wanting nasties to spring on his players? "Official" is an empty accolade AFAIAC.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

He's the Rikki Rachman (or however that guy spelled his name) of gaming. Remember "Headbanger's Ball" on MTV? The whole "I'm kewl because I rub elbows with all these kewl people" attitude that permeates the "in the works" column really reminds me of ol' Rikki. The mindless trend-following, too.

I miss Headbanger's Ball. I really do.

 

[Regdar]

He's the Rikki Rachman (or however that guy spelled his name) of gaming. Remember "Headbanger's Ball" on MTV? The whole "I'm kewl because I rub elbows with all these kewl people" attitude that permeates the "in the works" column really reminds me of ol' Rikki. The mindless trend-following, too.

Bah Regdar misses Headbangers Ball. Ricky also ran one of the hottest clubs in LA, that a lot of talent was comming from at the time as well.

Regdar has to say that Smith leaves a lot to be desired in Regdar's eyes, basically hyping their products in a worthless review, with very little info. For example the Fiend Folio, why doesn't he say there is only 5 to 7 actual monsters from the Fiend Folio in the book?

 

[Olive]

And #3, since when does "official" mean that much to DMs wanting nasties to spring on his players? "Official" is an empty accolade AFAIAC.

have you hung out at the wizards boards much? official means a disturbing amount to some people. There was a bunch of angry 'i don't care if its in tome of horrors, i want an official monster, WotC have stabbed my in the back' rants over there