Cover other games?--- Err No

[Black Omega]

I'd not mind seeing the site diversify a little. d20 is only a small part of my gaming interest. I'd probably check the Enworld site alot more often if it had non-d20 information as well.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I think if Morrus does do it, seperation is important. I don't think mashing everything together will work out, but it would probably be ok with tab idea. The real touchy area i think is the message boards, i'd hate to see anything mess them up for us.

Basically i'm all for it so long as there is a degree of seperation.

 

[Clint]

I'm curious as to what kind of coverage would be offered to other systems.

There are so many other systems: GURPS, Palladium, Storyteller, Ars Magica, Deadlands, Fading Suns, Feng Shui, and many many more. I just think that the logistics of expansion would be overwhelming, unless it was clear that the 'other system' page that Morrus proposed were only a highlights page, not comparable to the d20 coverage of the ENworld we see now. Are we going to have links to every review of every RPG posted anywhere? How about every campaign for someone running FUDGE? An interesting discussion of the difficulty in acheiving a good Call of Cthulhu tone in some random message board? Even every product release? It seems like a massive, massive undertaking, but then again, I see the current ENworld as a daily miracle.

Plus, everyone who comes here is interested in D&D/d20. Who knows how many people would be interested in reading about 'other systems'. While I'd be interested in reading about the other systems I like, I wouldn't want to filter through news I didn't care about, like another Palladium release or another Vampire campaign website with midi in the background. It would turn me off to the website to have to search for the info I'm interested in.

All these questions added up to a 'No' vote. I'd rather see refinement here, no offense. Things like announcing the winners of the site redesign contest or having an adventure design contest that doesn't take six months to complete. Or even more contests in general.

Just my 2c.

 

[Morrus]

The site redesign contest was announced - it was Psionicist. Then mini-encounter contest was my fault though - it wasn't planned particularly well, although I will say that much of it was because I was up to my neck in the (now ended) server problems at the time.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Why not some sort of comprimise?

Why not have board devoted - as compared to having generic boards where any game may be discussed - to White wolf, Palladium, GURPS, etc.?

If the responce to those boards is strong - and remains strong - tehn maybe work on an expansion to the site. But there is no need to rush anything or raising the bar so high it can never be met (and then when it is not met, declair their is no interest in the other games).

 

[Clint]

The site redesign contest was announced - it was Psionicist. Then mini-encounter contest was my fault though - it wasn't planned particularly well, although I will say that much of it was because I was up to my neck in the (now ended) server problems at the time.

Oh, sorry! I didn't know about the redesign contest being over.

Thanks much, Morrus!

 

[thalmin]

What if it was a separate page? So the site would look exactly the same as it does now, but maybe there's be two tabs at the top of the news section - one saying "D&D/D20" and the other saying "Other RPGs"?

If the other content was kept separate, including message boards, I think it would be fine IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT.

Combining the content would mean wading through too much "useless junk" and would decrease the usefulness of this site.

 

[Psion]

Without knowing the nature of Morrus' other concerns, I'd have to say I am extremely dubious.

I spend some time at RPGnet because I am interested in other games as well. But the signal to noise ratio over there is rather low there compared to here, based in no small part on people's personal nits about games -- and chief among them is d20 vs. d20 bashers.

Now sure, there is stricter moderation over here, but I still fear that the tone of the forums would change for the worse if a situation is created where mingling was encouraged.

I like RPGnet for what it is, but ENWorld is something of a happy place for me, and I would hate for heavy handy changes to wash that away.

Now, as for the site resources itself, I have no problem with that. It is the forums that I worry about.

 

[Tizoc]

I learned about this discussion from the frontpage notice and then read the three pages of message boards. I've only registered to ENWorld recently, but I've visited the site since its earlier incarnation in 2000. The site is not merely impressive; it sets standards that many industry websites have yet to match.

My knowledge of RPGnet and the references various posters have made to it is inadequate, so I cannot evaluate the comparisons of the (putatively) different communities that these websites facilitate. However, comments made by Clint, Suzerain, and NemesisPress resonated strongly.

ENWorld has become the preeminent website for the d20 system. However, the role playing game hobby is not exhausted by the d20 license. The hobby benefits greatly from cross-fertilization, yet instead of promoting communication that transcends borders, internet websites tend to promote the creation of virtual "ghettos."

What Morrus is "vaguely considering" seems to me something that his organization can effect. Of course it will take a large effort. Along the way other enthusiasts will join (and to some degree change) the present community.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with more work, and change should not be feared.

Marc Tizoc Gonzalez
---
Interested in Greyhawk? Please visit Canonfire.
Learn about the Oerth Journal.

 

[Darklance]

I can see things getting cluttered to the point of not being worth the effort of sorting through. On the otherhand...if it were on a seperate page and kept in a seperate forum (Only one for god sakes!) I don't really have a problem with it....as long as Forum speed remained the same.