4E Poorly Rated on Amazon...

[The Little Raven]

it's impossible to even guess at what their issue is.

Overwrought, melodramatic, and vocal?

Wait... you meant their issue with the books... ummm... nevermind.

 

[Banshee16]

Most of the 1 stars I just read are 1 of 2 types
1: "I've been playing D&D uphill in the snow both ways since before Gary gygax was born and this isnt D&D!"
Very few gave resons why they disliked it other than it wasnt like past editions. Misisng races from previous editions, missing classes from previous editions. Missing spell casting system from previous editions.
Yeah no kidding it isnt like previous editions thats kind of the point of a new edition.

And.....if you liked those races that have been cut, and you liked the previous spellcasting system, or at least the spells of that system, or you liked a class that has been cut, then those are all valid criticisms of the new edition.

Not sure why anyone's surprised. I'm sure they knew they were taking a chance when they decided to make the change.

Banshee

 

[Knight Otu]

I'm kind of reminded of the time I found an Amazon review on the Book of Vile Darkness - about two months before said book was released. Amazon reviews can be ...unhelpful in that regard.

And no, one-line reviews aren't good, no matter whether they are positive or negative. And even if there seems to be substance to the review, that doesn't mean it's based on facts.

 

[Treebore]

A lot of the reviewers are from Paizo's Pathfinder boards (Hate WotC! Hate 4E! Hate! Hate!) who unfairly give it one-star.

Geoff.

Total baloney.

 

[Korgoth]

Fun. I can do this too:

"I hereby assert, with no evidence, that the 5 star reviews on Amazon are by people who have not even played the game."

I notice that the people who whine about "haters who have never played it" do not also whine about "lovers who have never played it". Because, in the run up to 4E, a lot people were singing its praises who had never played it. Among the pro-4E crowd, it was fair to love 4E without ever having played it but somehow unfair to hate it without ever having played it.

 

[joela]

reviews

What other places could review an RPG?

rpg.net

 

[jdrakeh]

rpg.net

Also, Gaming Report (they have a dedicated Tabletop RPG review department).

 

[Kishin]

Do you really trust the opinions of a website where Laurell K. Hamilton books get superb ratings?

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Fun. I can do this too:

"I hereby assert, with no evidence, that the 5 star reviews on Amazon are by people who have not even played the game."

I notice that the people who whine about "haters who have never played it" do not also whine about "lovers who have never played it". Because, in the run up to 4E, a lot people were singing its praises who had never played it. Among the pro-4E crowd, it was fair to love 4E without ever having played it but somehow unfair to hate it without ever having played it.

This.

 

[CleverNickName]

Fun. I can do this too:

"I hereby assert, with no evidence, that the 5 star reviews on Amazon are by people who have not even played the game."

I notice that the people who whine about "haters who have never played it" do not also whine about "lovers who have never played it". Because, in the run up to 4E, a lot people were singing its praises who had never played it. Among the pro-4E crowd, it was fair to love 4E without ever having played it but somehow unfair to hate it without ever having played it.

Seriously. Queue eff tea.

That being said, I have to wonder how many of these negative posts are a result of people being frustrated with not being able to get their hands on a product that Amazon has failed to deliver? Bad service always seems to taint my enjoyment of a product, whether it is a big expensive new car, or a hamburger at Red Robin.