D&D 4E Ron Edwards on D&D 4e

[Charlaquin]

And that would be the reason I asked.

I mean, Ron Edwards the Forge guy did say that. I asked if this was the Forge guy because the name sounded familiar but I wasn’t certain and I wanted to confirm that it was who I though it was.

 

[Cadence]

I mean, Ron Edwards the Forge guy did say that. I asked if this was the Forge guy because the name sounded familiar but I wasn’t certain and I wanted to confirm that it was who I though it was.

Wow... I hadn't seen that before :-/

Brain damage

Brain damage is a term used by Ron Edwards in a hyperbolic attack on older role-playing games. Original comment Ron Edwards making things worse by explaining

rpgmuseum.fandom.com

 

[darjr]

I mean, saying D&D causes brain damage is probably a good reason to dismiss him.

Yes, I agree. However I’m human too. And while I cannot agree with him on this, or several other things, I do think dismissing him entirely is a shame. But I’d understand.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yes, I agree. However I’m human too. And while I cannot agree with him on this, or several other things, I do think dismissing him entirely is a shame. But I’d understand.

For sure. I’d be more inclined to say “I’m human too” if he hadn’t consistently doubled-down and reiterated that, no, he wasn’t being hyperbolic, he did in fact mean it literally.

 

[Campbell]

The brain damage comments were not directed at D&D. They were directed at Vampire and certain ways to play Champions. Mostly it's about railroads.

Basically the contention was that being exposed to railroads during your formative stages warps your perception of what story is.

Poor choice of language, but that was more than 20 years ago and had nothing to do with D&D.

 

[niklinna]

For sure. I’d be more inclined to say “I’m human too” if he hadn’t consistently doubled-down and reiterated that, no, he wasn’t being hyperbolic, he did in fact mean it literally.

He must have been playing too much D&D Vampire.

How about the videos though? I particularly liked the discussion in part 2 comparing RPGs to folk religions. (Which is not to say I agree completely, but it was quite interesting.)

[Edited phrasing from implication of identity, to comparison.]

 

[Charlaquin]

The brain damage comments were not directed at D&D. They were directed at Vampire and certain ways to play Champions. Mostly it's about railroads.

Ah, yes, quite correct.

Basically the contention was that being exposed to railroads during your formative stages warps your perception of what story is.

Poor choice of language, but that was more than 20 years ago and had nothing to do with D&D.

Again, I’d be more inclined to chalk it up to poor choice of language if he hadn’t responded by doubling down and reiterating that he meant exactly what he said. And, frankly, even under the most charitable interpretation, it was still a terrible take.

 

[Cadence]

The brain damage comments were not directed at D&D. They were directed at Vampire and certain ways to play Champions. Mostly it's about railroads.

Basically the contention was that being exposed to railroads during your formative stages warps your perception of what story is.

Poor choice of language, but that was more than 20 years ago and had nothing to do with D&D.

He directly mentions D&D in his follow-up ( Brain damage ) on what he meant in the first post. Or is he not saying that 2e is one of the similar things that preceded WW?

"We are all familiar with this state of mind - it is precisely the profile of those individuals committed to storytelling role-playing as presented by White Wolf games and many similar others that preceded them or came afterwards. Its origins in terms of game texts are probably traceable to AD&D2, for content, and to some applications of Champions, for rules." - Ron Edwards

 

[Charlaquin]

He must have been playing too much D&D Vampire.

How about the videos though? I particularly liked the discussion in part 2 about RPGs as folk religions. (Which is not to say I agree completely, but it was quite interesting.)

I haven’t watched them. Can’t say this description makes me more interested in his perspective.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

And that would be the reason I asked.

Having just now read the man's own words on the subject, I can see why it would be...controversial at best. His comments are not exactly the kind of thing one says (and subsequently defends) lightly. I'm still curious what he has to say in the video and will watch when I have time, but...well. Those sorts of statements should be avoided by most anyone--except maybe a neurologist, which (as far as I can tell) Ron Edwards is not.