Snarf Zagyg
Notorious Liquefactionist
So I thought I'd post a second collection, which is much smaller than the first. I blame society.
Also? I didn't have three billion posts about Greyhawk (numbers are approximate).
Anyway, here's the link to the first archive-
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And the third-
And the fourth-
And here's the last eight months, roughly sorted, and not including some throwaway posts and polls.
1. RPGs and some RPG history (Mostly D&D)
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2. A Little Bit About Jon Peterson (Game Wizards, Elusive Shift)
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3. RPG Theory and DM Stuff (Shiny!)
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4. Random Posts about Pop Culture!
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5. Deep Dives into Topics (Contests, Critical Role, Spoilers, Lorraine Williams, Representation, Problematic Artists)
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6. Bards
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Also? I didn't have three billion posts about Greyhawk (numbers are approximate).
Anyway, here's the link to the first archive-
Digressions, Discussions, and Discursions: Snarf's Splendiferous Scrolls
It's been a year, so I'm collecting and sorting my past essays on this thread. Mostly because I realize I was about to start writing something I wrote about last year! There are roughly organized by topic, but not by date. HERE IS THE SECOND PART!!!! (Mostly RPG History, Pop Culture, and Jon...
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And the third-
And the fourth-
And here's the last eight months, roughly sorted, and not including some throwaway posts and polls.
1. RPGs and some RPG history (Mostly D&D)
D&D 5E - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Official Campaign Settings
I am often asking inconvenient questions of myself. Things like, "What is the one part of your body that disappears when you stand up? And why do people always want to have their own favorite setting made into an OFFICIAL SETTING?" And while the first answer is obvious (lap), the second one...
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D&D 5E - A Brief History of Saving Throws, the Original Plot Armor
There has been a recent thread discussing the original (1e, OD&D) saving throws, and I thought it would be helpful to examine the ways in which saving throws (and the conception of saving throws) have changed over time. As a general concept, I would say that the original conception of saving...
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D&D 5E - The D&D Multiverse Part 2- The Remix Culture of the Gygaxian Multiverse
Four months ago I started this series, and then ... eh, stuff happens. But if you didn't read the first post, this post won't make a whole lot of sense. So, I highly recommend reading the prior history of D&D Multiverse here...
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D&D 5E - The Philosophy Behind Randomized and Standardized Ability Scores
I just read a comment by @FireLance - One possibility that I've been toying with, although I admit I've never actually used in any of the campaigns I've run, is to start with the standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8), assign as desired to the various ability scores, and then roll 3d6 in order...
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D&D 5E - The D&D Advantage- The Campaign
Long time, no big post! I've been ruminating about a planned two-part post regarding D&D that has been informed by some recent conversations I've had, the first dealing with narrative authority, and the second dealing with rules, but before going into the weeds I thought I'd start what is now a...
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D&D General - Zeb Cook and the Evolution from OA to 2e
Eh, so much for theory. A while back I had a thread about David "Zeb" Cook, who I consider the greatest under-recognized designer in D&D history. That thread is here, if you want to catch up on it. As to why he is unappreciated, I think there are two main reasons- 1. Everyone recognizes the...
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D&D 5E - Magic Items, Gold, and 5e!
If Wishes Were Gold, then Dead Bards Would be Fort Knox So I've been thinking about how it's more common for people to use Wish as a meta spell to cast other spells than to, you know, WISH ... along with all the different comments people have made about the lack of utility of gold in 5e, and I...
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D&D 5E - Character Creation- How to Apply Auction Techniques
If you're a fan of various fantasy sports, you probably know that one of the biggest revolutions is the change from "drafting" players (often with a snake draft) to the more challenging and interesting "auction" technique. Basically, every participant is allotted some amount of fake* currency...
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TSR - Why I still love the Real TSR
We've had a lot of threads recently about nuTSR, and the various grifts that they have run, and while I can feel alternately bemused (at the stupidity of the principals involved with nuTSR) and angry (at the actions they take and the negative effect it has in sowing needless division in the...
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D&D General - I hate pdfs, and I'm happy that WOTC primarily publishes Books
You read the title? You read it, right? Well, sometimes my titles are truthful (for absolute values of "sometimes," and varying values of "truthful"). Here's the thing- I hate .pdfs. This isn't the type of pure and lovely hate I have for things that truly deserve it (Bards, Elves, Bards, people...
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D&D 5E - Getting Rid of Variable Weapon Damage- An Immodest Proposal
Today, I want to discuss one of the ideas that is so ingrained in Dungeons & Dragons that it often escapes notice, yet it is as hard-baked into the identity of Dungeons & Dragons as such concepts as the d20, classes, and levels. I am, of course, talking about variable weapon damage. If you are...
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2. A Little Bit About Jon Peterson (Game Wizards, Elusive Shift)
D&D General - Review: Jon Peterson's Game Wizards
Jon Peterson, author of Playing at the World, Art & Arcana, and Heroes' Feast, has a new book out ... Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons. If you read my posts, you know that I giddily announced when I received my copy in the mail, and promised that I would post my review-...
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D&D General - SPOILERS: Peterson's Game Wizards
So I have a full review posted, and after seeing that people are genuinely excited by the book, I thought I'd post a thread for people who have read the book to discuss it! THIS IS THE SPOILERS THREAD. DO NOT READ THIS THREAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK! So, to start the thread off, I thought...
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D&D General - Dave Arneson: Is He Underrated, or Overrated?
Welcome to the second in an occasional series: Snarf Presents Hawt Taek Thursdays. The first was a reevaluation of Lorraine Williams, which was not controversial at all, so I thought I'd do something equally banal. Again, if you read my review of Jon Peterson's new book, Game Wizards, you...
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Review: Jon Peterson's The Elusive Shift
I realized that I never did an actual review of Jon Peterson's The Elusive Shift: How Role Playing Games Forged Their Identity. It's not his most recent book, Game Wizards, which I reviewed here. But it was released at the very end of 2020 (very end of December) so you might have missed it...
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Same As It Ever Was: Define the Players of RPGs, then Define the Theory of RPGs
EDIT. This is the First Essay on Peterson's book, The Elusive Shift. Original review of book is here- https://www.enworld.org/threads/review-jon-petersons-the-elusive-shift.684068/
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D&D General - And You May Ask Yourself- How do I play D&D? Commercialization and the Closing of OD&D
This is the second in three essays based off of Jon Peterson's book, The Elusive Shift ("ES"). While I will be discussing concepts he raised, I will also be extrapolating from his concepts with some of my own thoughts in these essays. That means some of these conclusions are my own, after...
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D&D General - The Eternal Braid: Why D&D Continuing Dialogue With RPGs is its Success
Promises made, promises kept. I said I would return a third, and final, essay springing from Jon Peterson's book (The Elusive Shift) and here it is! As a reminder and some links- 1. Review of the Book. 2. First Post about RPG Theory. 3. Second Post about Commercialization of 1e. I wanted to end...
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3. RPG Theory and DM Stuff (Shiny!)
D&D General - How to be a Better DM: One Size Doesn't Fit All
I was perusing the thread by @Malmuria which was a comment thread about a survivor thread set up by @CleverNickName and it made me think about the overall issue of DMing, and why people both crave advice, give advice, and why the topic of good DMing can be so contentious and filled with so much...
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D&D General - D&D's Evolution: Rulings, Rules, and "System Matters"
Late last night, I ran across an interesting and excellent post by @Malmuria which helped crystalize some thoughts I had been having recently about D&D's evolution. Just to make this clear- you can blame Malmuria for this short essay. Repeat- you can blame Malmuria. Unless you really like what...
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D&D 5E - Respect Mah Authoritah: Thoughts on DM and Player Authority in 5e
This is part 2 on my ruminations regarding D&D and 5e that have been brought up due to some recent conversations, this one dealing with narrative authority. The third, and final, installment will be rules. Please note that I am going to try and use words in their, um, natural language (it's...
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D&D 5E - Breakin' the Law! Thoughts on Rules in 5e
This is part 3 (and the end of the totally not-controversial trilogy) regarding D&D and 5e that have been brought up due to some recent conversations, this one dealing with rules. Please note that I am going to try and use words in their, um, natural language (it's 5e!) so as to allow a...
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RPG Theory- The Limits of My Language are the Limits of My World
Well, it happened again! Another thread, ostensibly about one thing (discussing the division of narrative authority within 5e) turned into another thing (jargon-filled general discussion about RPG theory). Which is thing. Thread drift happens! But given the recurrent nature of this issue, I...
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D&D 5E - Realism and Simulationism in 5e: Is D&D Supposed to be Realistic?
Well, like Beetlejuice, I will appear when I am summoned. In a different thread, @Swarmkeeper requested that I create a thread on the "topic on realism and verisimilitude in 5e..." The second worst thing in life is not getting what you want. The worst thing in life is getting it. I've touched...
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4. Random Posts about Pop Culture!
Snarf's Magnificent Seven: Greatest Action Heroes
I was listening to a conversation where a bunch of morons (aka, people that are not me) were arguing about the greatest movie action heroes. And I thought to myself, “Snarf, c’mon now. This is stupid. Why would a bunch of grown-azz adults be arguing about movie action heroes ...... when only the...
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Suicide Squad: Snarf's Spoiler Free Review
Have you ever thought, "I really enjoy the humor of Guardians of the Galaxy, and the stylized violence of John Wick. Is there a movie that crosses the streams?" Well, I can now provide an answer for you in the form of an unequivocal YES. The latest Suicide Squad, by MCU director James Gunn...
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Snarf's Superior Syllabus for Binge Viewing: New Lockdown Edition (Part 1)
Delta delta delta, can Snarf help ya help ya help ya? That's right, as we round the bend toward Labor Day in the United States, Labour Day in Upper United States (sometimes referred to as, uh, Canadia?) and September in the remainder of the god-forsaken parts of the world that believe...
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Snarf's Superior Syllabus: Part 2- More Binging Shows
Greetings and Salutations! Have you read the first part of the guide? Well, have you punk? https://www.enworld.org/threads/snarfs-superior-syllabus-for-binge-viewing-new-lockdown-edition-part-1.682434/ You can find a lot of good stuff there! So if you haven’t seen them, watch The Leftovers...
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Live Music: What Are Your 5 Most Unforgettable Concerts?
The other day, on the recommendation of FitzTheRuke, I watched the excellent Netflix miniseries Brand New Cherry Flavor. While the first piece of music in it is diegetic - the always evocative Phil Collins* and Another Day in Paradise, it was the second piece of music that really got to me. The...
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¿Quién es más macho? Simpsons, or Futurama?
I've been thinking about this for a long time. And given I generally distrust my own thoughts, I felt that the best way to resolve this was a complete scientific enworld poll. That's right- in the showdown of Matt Groening cartoons, what is the best? When all you have is a binary choice between...
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Star Trek - Star Trek, Paramount+, and a Defense of the Greatest Star Trek Captain
So as my quarantine continues on into what seems likes an interminable haze of reading ancient history books, binge-watching streaming shows, and warning others (remotely!) of the perfidy of Bards, the abominations that are New Zealand pizza toppings, and the consequences of the failure to...
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The 25 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 15 Years
Den of Geek has an interesting and thought-provoking list of the best science fiction movies of the past twenty-five years. Check it out! https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/best-sci-fi-movies-last-15-years/ For purposes of discussion, I think it would be helpful to do the following for comments...
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Two Movies: Free Guy and The King's Man
I haven't had a post in a little while (life events and then some current events have intervened), so I thought I'd post a thread about some movies a watched this weekend in order to get my mind off of ... those things happening on the new channels. Both of these movies are on HBO Max streaming...
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The Best Meal You Ever Had .... The Great Meal Discussion
I recently came across the following article that made me think about a topic for discussion here on Enworld- https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/im-common-muck-spent-150-23194880 It really is heartwarming when someone decides to spread their wings ... and it pays off...
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The DC Extended Animated Universe- A Consideration
I haven't been feeling like posting new threads recently (although I have one loosely based on Chuck Klosterman's excellent 90s book percolating), but I wanted to shine a spotlight on an oft-neglected, but kind of cool, part of the overall geek metaverse ... not to be confused with whatever The...
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5. Deep Dives into Topics (Contests, Critical Role, Spoilers, Lorraine Williams, Representation, Problematic Artists)
D&D General - Critical Role: Overrated, Underrated, or Goldilocks?
Once, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there was a thread about a thread about a thread. And by "long time ago" I mean (defining!) yesterday, and by "galaxy far, far away" I mean here. Such are the words of an inscrutable and argumentative egg. Anyway, at one point in a rather lengthy...
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D&D 5E - Anatomy of a Snafu- D&D Beyond and the Curious Contest
Is it snafu or snarfu? I digress.... The following two threads are probably relevant to this thread, and will explain why I am doing a deep dive on this issue: Thread about pay in the TTRPG Industry Thread about D&D Beyond Canceling an Art Competition I realized today that while many people...
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A History of Spoilers and their Relevance to Today
Building on my recent trend of meta-threads, I observed that there was a thread that was a poll about spoilers in order to discuss the events in another thread that may or may not have involved spoilers. Now, with full apologies to @TheSword for meta-threading his thread, I wanted to ranch out...
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D&D General - Lorraine Williams: Is it Time for a Reevaluation?
Welcome to the first in, perhaps, an occasional series: Snarf Presents Hawt Taek Thursdays. Ahem. Anyway, if you read my review of Jon Peterson's new book, or better yet read his book (Game Wizards, now on sale!), you probably see that it presents the ouster of Gary Gygax from TSR and the...
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D&D 5E - On Representation and Roleplaying
The recent thread on not playing "stupid" characters (and/or "ableism") had me thinking more about the nature of roleplaying in in TTRPGs in general, and in D&D in particular. It happened to intersect with not just my continuing thoughts about The Elusive Shift (great present for the gamer in...
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D&D General - The Art and the Artist: Discussing Problematic Issues in D&D
A topic that has been regularly arising recently has concerned the continuing use of certain material in Dungeons & Dragons; sometimes the question is whether the material is problematic (as in legacy material), sometimes whether the material should be updated (as in material in newer books)...
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6. Bards
D&D 5E - On the Necessity for More Bard Threads
Welcome to the next installment in an intermittent series of posts, Snarf Presents Hawt Taek Thursdays. Today's edition is brought to you courtesy of the ineffable madness that lies at the heart of Bat Country. So let us toast to animal pleasures, to escapism, to rain on the roof and a fresh pot...
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D&D 5E - Is D&D 5e a Sandwich?
That's right. You read the title. Search your feelings. You always knew that the internet would throw this at you, with the inevitability of your uncle forwarding you an email that you don't want to read. The ancient hotness: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Yesterday's hawt taek: Is a taco a...
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