A bit tired of people knocking videogames...

[Raven Crowking]

I got talked into test driving the new electric Ford Asterisk*.

Did you crash into an obelisk?

 

[ProfessorCirno]

I have never considered one page of rules of thumb to be serious support for creativity. The idea that you can put a different coat of paint of a single page of "one size fits all" mechanics for every situation is a hallmark of the homogeneity of 4E. IMO.

How is this any different from the complaints of 2e fans that 3e's d20 system does the same thing?

 

[Oryan77]

If someone told you that they don't like Thing X (that you like) because Thing X is either a) too much like something it is not actually like at all, or b) too much like something that everything else is also like, you wouldn't step in to point these things out?

I haven't kept up with this thread in a few days, so I'm a bit late responding to this. But in case you may still read this...

What better comparison should people use when they explain the things they don't like in their D&D game when it is similar to video games or anime? Using those terms is meant to help establish what you are about to start talking about in order to help get you on the same line of thought, even though it may not always work.

If something reminds me of a video game, then I'm going to refer to video games as being similar. To tell me that it isn't similar is your own opinion and you have the right to say that if you disagree. But remember that the similarity is my opinion, and we don't all think alike. To actually get annoyed, bothered, and upset that people use that comparison is really kind of childish.

It's as pointless of a thing to get annoyed by as if you think Angelina Jolie is the hottest woman alive and I tell you how I think she looks like a Mr. Potato Head. Yer not going to run around complaining about how I keep insulting Mr. Potato Head (video games) and your favorite actress (D&D). Just explain how you don't agree and then be understanding in knowing that we see it differently. But to rant about how so many people keep "knocking" Mr. Potato Head?

There's nothing wrong with comparing things to video games and anime if someone actually thinks they are similar. And obviously plenty of people think it is a legit comparison. So who is to say that they are wrong? Maybe you're wrong and they are really similar; you just refuse to accept that.

 

[Dannager]

What better comparison should people use when they explain the things they don't like in their D&D game when it is similar to video games or anime? Using those terms is meant to help establish what you are about to start talking about in order to help get you on the same line of thought, even though it may not always work.

You should probably take a look at some of my other posts in this thread. They basically directly address this question. This post particularly.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The tldr version of which post is, "Don't use one word as shorthand/intro to this topic, but instead give me the specifics right from the first."



Personally, I don't know that people are going to change a common linguistic habit for this one topic.

 

[Oryan77]

Well, to keep people from letting their head explode because I used video games as an example when giving my opinion, I think I will just say "board games" instead. Just remember though that when I say "board games" I'm really talking about "video games". But at least not seeing the word video should keep a lot of people from whining.

Wait, but then people who like board games are going to think I'm saying that I don't like board games! Oh no, why does everything have to be so difficult?

 

[Dannager]

The tldr version of which post is, "Don't use one word as shorthand/intro to this topic, but instead give me the specifics right from the first."



Personally, I don't know that people are going to change a common linguistic habit for this one topic.

What we're saying is that it's usually ridiculous to say something like "X is bad because it's from video games," because it's often not from video games, and when it is from video games it's also from everything else, which makes it abundantly clear that the fact that it's from video games has nothing to do with why you dislike it, which means that we end up having to guess at why you dislike it.

So, instead, explain the real reasons why you dislike a particular game element, rather than hammering away at the "videogamey" horse.

 

[Mark CMG]

The tldr version of which post is, "Don't use one word as shorthand/intro to this topic, but instead give me the specifics right from the first."



Personally, I don't know that people are going to change a common linguistic habit for this one topic.

It's unlikely to change but usually it is used in such a context that most people who accept it as shorthand pick up on the deeper, more specific explanation of the moment. The people who tend to want it to be changed are generally the people who don't accept it as shorthand at all, let alone care that they do or don't understand it in context. They're offended simply by the association which is problematic with colloquial words and phrases that are on the rise or in common usage.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Also, if you aren't allowed to say it, it makes it that much harder to think it, and it makes it almost impossible to share those thoughts with others.

 

[Oryan77]

So, instead, explain the real reasons why you dislike a particular game element, rather than hammering away at the "videogamey" horse.

Who's hammering away? It's no different than using other terms to give the listener an idea of what you are about to start mentioning. I hear people use the term sandbox a lot in D&D. As far as I can tell, their campaign world does not take place in a sandbox, and I've never seen anyone playing D&D in a sandbox. But if I use the term sandbox, you're going to have a general idea to what I'm referring to.

I also doubt you are going to think that I don't like sandboxes if I don't like to run a sandbox type of campaign. Hell, I can completely explain why I do or don't like a sandbox type of game without ever needing to use the term sandbox. Which is basically what you are asking people to do when they want to use the term videogamey. So should we just stop using all of these terms? Cause really, we don't need to use any of them.

I think the term video gamey is just a general "feel" that you get from content that you may get from a video game and not necessarily want to use it in your pen & paper game. It's not a knock at video games or an insult to anything. If it was something I absolutely don't like, then why do I play video games?