Harniacs vs. d20/D&D players

Falstaff · Jul 16, 2002

I have spent some time recently at a webpage forum devoted to the roleplaying game HarnMaster. The people there, once they discovered I also played D&D/d20 roleplaying games, started bashing me. They talk about ENWorld and d20 players like they are a bunch of moronic rolplayers obsessed with munchkin type, power gaming. One guy said "it is people like you (me being a representative of D&D, I guess) that have ruined the concept of good rolplaying." What has caused this rift? Is there some history I am not aware of between HarnMaster players and D&D players?

The web address for the forum is http://www.shadowharn.net/ if you want to check the place out.

Alejandro · Jul 16, 2002

History? Not really. But extremism can be found pretty much anywhere.

Vaxalon · Jul 16, 2002

To be honest, most people who play DnD *are* lowest common denominator types, because it's the easiest to get into, and LCD's don't like spending energy to go outside of their comfort zone.

Of course, they're being chauvinistic to assume that just because you play DnD, you're one of them, but that's their problem.

Crothian · Jul 16, 2002

It happens everywhere. I go to the Palladium boards and they bash the D&D crowd. But the D&D crowd here ussually bashes the Palladium Crowd, so it's fair. The WW people bash everyone it seems on their boards. It's a real shame really. Gamers as a whole really can't be divided like this so easily.

Arravis · Jul 16, 2002

Human nature.

Undead Pete · Jul 16, 2002

Harn players are the LINUX users of the RPG world.

Kaptain_Kantrip · Jul 16, 2002

Don't be dissin' my Harn, yo!

Falstaff, I am a member of that forum and as a newbie was given some good-natured ribbing about playing d20/D&D (and trying to integrate that with Harn--which took a bit of tweaking, but I accomplished and was praised for). I was never humiliated, attacked or ostracized for playing d20/D&D. I have found the Harn forum to be a haven of thoughtful, intelligent and creative gamers willing to help answer any question. Many These are experienced gamers with a lot to offer, given the chance. You also get more personal attention because there are only 220 registered users there vs. 5 billion here at ENWorld (no offense intended, Morrus!).

Falstaff, the problem was that you behaved poorly there, posting complaints and proposed inflammatory "changes" just to make trouble, sending out abusive emails and/or private messages, and generally causing trouble when you didn't get the answers you hoped for to your posted questions... This is what I have been told by those who received them, anyway. Not being a party to any of this private correspondence, I can't speak as to its exact contents, but you left some very irate people behind at the Harn Forum, and your actions did little to endear them to d20/D&Ders, which makes it harder for the next newbie who comes along. I did witness some of your board posts and would consider some of them to be quite rude and inflammatory (some were even deleted by the admin in toto). On the upside, Harn Forum now has a newbie board.

Yes, some of the old time Harniacs can be a bit curmudgeonly (mind you, I'm not naming names!), but you'll find that in every forum.

Falstaff · Jul 16, 2002

yes it was all me, I am to blame. That's why the saying goes, "It takes only 1 person to tango"

Psion · Jul 16, 2002

Geeks calling geeks geeks!

"My brand of fun is better than yours!"

To be fair, Harn does have a real cool damage system. But that fractured resolution system -- GAH!

Kaptain_Kantrip · Jul 16, 2002

Vaxalon said:
To be honest, most people who play DnD *are* lowest common denominator types, because it's the easiest to get into, and LCD's don't like spending energy to go outside of their comfort zone.

Sad but true.