Do you like it when an writer tells you in their book their ideas are cool?

[Crothian]

In some books in the introductions writers will say something like "I had to devote a full book to[ithis topic[/i] because the idea was just so cool." They do it as a way of explaining and showing how the book came to be. Is this something that you like to see in your RPG books?

 

[I'm A Banana]

a) It doesn't tell me much about the product (okay, they're cool, so what?)
b) It tells me too much about the author (why should I care what you think is cool?)
c) If I disagree, I probably won't by the book; whereas if it was the same book, and they didn't say that, but played up it's virtues, I may come to agree in the end. Kind of that the book may convince me that they're cool, but I'm not just going to take the author's word for it.

So a bit bad, but usually I agree, so....

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Sure, that's what the introduction is for. Why they wrote the book and what the goals of the book are is important.

Although, frankly, I think a better way of doing that is including a sample adventure. But then I'm a little nuts about that.

 

[jsewell]

I will read short introductions, but it would bother me to no end if I read something akin to "Man, this idea is SO COOL! You'll be using my product all the time!!!!" But, I'm not bothered by introductions that simply explain the author's rationale behind the new rule.

 

[Campbell]

I will read short introductions, but it would bother me to no end if I read something akin to "Man, this idea is SO COOL! You'll be using my product all the time!!!!" But, I'm not bothered by introductions that simply explain the author's rationale behind the new rule.

Barsoomcore (Corey Reid) seems to be the only game designer who can pull this off without making me hurl my innards to and fro.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I love to read why authors made design decisions. Heck, I could read the rationale for design decisions for hours on end and consider myself totally enthralled.

However, when instead of rationale I find self-congratulation... blech.

 

[Psion]

It depends on (sorry Gareth if you are around, but it's SOOOO true) how pretentious they are about.

I mean there is a fine line about being enthusiatic and being arrogant.

Also, or should I say especially, reminding me every few pages about how cool your product is will not make it so.

 

[Crothian]

Barsoomcore (Corey Reid) seems to be the only game designer who can pull this off without making me hurl my innards to and fro.

What has he done this in? I'd like to see it.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

It's a style thing. Some authors could do it and get away with it - you have to earn the right to be that cavalier. I don't know if Barsoomcore actually says it in any of his stuff, but his writing style is right for it. Monte Cook could do it. I don't think I'd buy it from Mike Mearls or Sean K Reynolds, but then I don't think they'd ever do it - its not their style.

I suspect most of the time it would irk me. Show me, don't tell me.

 

[DMH]

The only intros I have read with interest are those by the Sigil (ST Cooley). He is willing to write a page or two on why he worked on the topic and a little bit on the how. It gives me a feel for the whole book before I read it.

I wish the XPR did that with Ecology and Culture since it is in the back of the book, the impact was decreased a lot.