Failed promises

[Kanegrundar]

This is odd. I didn't think that the author was a factor at all in this thread. But I suppose it's a more comfortable diversion than actually discussing what constitutes a "promise" from a game.

Much like your rants about how a group shoulders the financial load had anything to do with anything, huh?

Kane

 

[diaglo]

Given that no one cares about your answers, it seemed much more expedient.

ditto. edit: in that once again i agree with Storm Raven.

 

[eyebeams]

Given that no one cares about your answers, it seemed much more expedient.

The answers are taken directly from other posters' positions, so this is categorically untrue.

 

[eyebeams]

Much like your rants about how a group shoulders the financial load had anything to do with anything, huh?

Kane

I dunno. You brought it up as a reason why you couldn't be expected to investigate something before buying it. Really, if you don't want to talk about something, you might not want to mention it.

 

[The_Universe]

So, I guess there are books that some people found disappointing after they bought them (or, in some cases, just while they were flipping through them at the store). Does ANYBODY want to talk about that? I mean besides me.

And it would be really cool if we could talk about it without eyebeams blasting us with his righteous consumer wisdom, because he has apparently NEVER PURCHASED ANYTHING that was anything other than perfectly satisfactory. I mean, I appreciate his attempts to enlighten us, but this is getting retardiculous (yes, i just made up that word).

I wasn't a big fan of the original D20 Star Wars (even though I bought it). I thought the revision was pretty cool, though. Anybody else feel that way?

 

[Gomez]

So having chosen option 3 (Buy without thinking ahead of time, because if you bothered to think about it, you might make a mistake anyway, so why bother?), what exactly makes it defensible?

You can feel whatever you like. You merely cannot reasonably said to have been "promised" something you didn't get -- unless your definition of "promise" involves really likeing a logo, reading omens about the product from animal entrails and so forth. If your definition of "promise" includes the latter, then you may be of a mind with a few posters here, but again, it doesn't end up being particularly meaningful, either.

Well that’s the rub. I am not trying to defend myself from your snide personal attacks on my buying habits. What does it matter to you if I dislike a certain book? Do I have to give a complete critique and ways to fix some book that I happen to dislike? No! Plus in no way is my stating that I dislike a book a personal attack or insult to the writers, editors, or publishers of said book. And I am sorry that anyone feels that it is. I bought Gamma World d20 sight unseen because I am a FAN of the older versions. If that makes me a hick or stupid your eyes then that's your opinion. When it did not live up to my expectations then I have a right to not like it. I am sorry that if by voicing my said dislike that I have offended anyone. That was not my plan or intention. But to bash me because I bought a book unseen is just plain mean and elitist on your part.

I have the highest regard for Mr. Skarka, Mr. Upchurch, and any person who had the guts, talent, and drive to produce gaming material for my consumption. Nuff Said.

 

[Kanegrundar]

I never mentioned wishing harm on the authors. Not once, not ever. I was commenting on a matter that was brought up by another poster. Not you.

As far as the matter of me not be expected to investigate a book, well, we've hashed this out into oblivion. It's a dead issue. Drop it. Quit talking about it. Everyone else has. It's not getting anyone anywhere.

Kane

 

[Particle_Man]

Just wanted to say that I have found this very thread useful in finding out warning info ahead of time about various games. Sort of capsule reviews, as it were. It especially helps if people say *why* they were disappointed, since then I can more accurately judge if I would be disappointed in the same way.

Thus this thread has justified its existence for me, in a way that even Eyebeams would have to appreciate, since Eyebeams is apparently concerned with people finding out info about products before buying them.

In that light, I dug out of my memory an old regret (from my childhood, before I was a discriminating buyer, so Eyebeams's comments don't apply).

Fantasy Roleplaying: Sexist, Homophobic, and worst of all, too complicated. One of those Fantasy Heartbreakers you hear about.

And just for variety, here is my advice on board games:

For 2nd edition Talisman, all expansion sets beyond the first expansion set subtract from the game. Wow, wish I knew enough to stop at just the main game and the first expansion set (I do now: got pristine versions of them offa ebay). That said, 2nd edition Talisman itself rocks!

Starfarers of Cataan Expansion Set: Don't do it, boys and girls, it breaks the game! You get a traveller's planet that give Real Ultimate Power to the first trade shop to land there, so the game stops being about resource management and becomes a simple race to the Traveller's planet.

Lord of the Rings: Sauron Expansion set --- The game stops being cooperative as they add an antagonist. Again, destroys the original good points of the game, and becomes a version of Buffy the board game. And Buffy does it better.

There you go, folks! Be forewarned! (Marley rattles his chains a bit).

 

[Macbeth]

I mean, I appreciate his attempts to enlighten us, but this is getting retardiculous (yes, i just made up that word).

You, sir, are my hero. Consider that my new favorite word.

I've not bought Star Wars, as I can't weigh in on that subject. (If I do run Star Wars, it would probably be using Mutants and Masterminds rules, oddly enough).

One book that I felt dissapointed by was Gary Gygax's World Builder. Now, this one was entirely my fault. It was my problem that I expected something more along the lines of Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe or Magical Medieval Sociey: Ecology and Culture. I really should have thumbed through the book before I got it, but the shop I was at had it shrink wrapped. When I first got it I was greatly disappointed, but after I got used to what I should expect out of it, I thought it was a reasonably good book.

 

[Gomez]

*back to normal discussions. sorry for the rant*

I was disappointed in the duel stated Five Rings splat books. I could never get myself to purchase the darn things because half of the crunch in the books was useless to me. I was only interested in the d20 rules.