Hey Rube! and other archaic knowledge

[occam]

<derail>This is what I find sad. As a teacher, I often wonder, "What's so wrong with challenging folks?" That they might have to actually look something up or, gods forbid, learn something new?</derail>

On that note, I've actually been quite pleased with some 4e material at times. While most of the text is a bit breezy, they've been sneaking in esoteric terms here and there, more frequently than in the 3e days. The other day I looked up the term dujun, from the name of a warlord paragon path. I love finding things like that!

And now I also know what "Hey, Rube!" means.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I know about that "explanation." But a man who could come up with 9 words for "fighter" (level names) and "thief" and "magic-user" surely could have come up with a few synonyms for "level," and just skip the excuse. ;-)

Bullgrit

They did.

level=dungeon
power=spell
rank= character power
order= monster power

.........and decided to skip it due to possible confusion.

 

[Desdichado]

We get it, Hobo. Your hat of EGG know no limit.

Weren't you just saying earlier today in another thread that you don't put words in my mouth?

Saying he had an overly affected writing style is a far cry from limitless hat.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Weren't you just saying earlier today in another thread that you don't put words in my mouth?

Saying he had an overly affected writing style is a far cry from limitless hat.

Putting words into Hobo's mouth = "Hobo said this". I didn't say "Hobo said this". I am well aware that Hobo is not likely to say this, even if true. That would not match Hobo's posting style at all, at all. Instead, I extrapolated from what you said in a multiplicity of threads to glean an underlying message.




RC

 

[Desdichado]

Pedantry aside, in other words, you put words in my mouth.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Pedantry aside, in other words, you put words in my mouth.

Whatever. Again.

Please find someone else to have a slapfight with.

 

[cattoy]

FWIW, the first time I encountered the phrase "Hey Rube" was in an X-MEN comic. The editor's note explained its use and context.

 

[billd91]

FWIW, the first time I encountered the phrase "Hey Rube" was in an X-MEN comic. The editor's note explained its use and context.

Cyclops yelling it as the Beast romps through the circus? That's my recollection - right about in the middle of the glory days of the new X-men. Before Banshee burned out his powers, before Jean killed herself to save the universe, before it was all Wolverine this, Wolverine that...

 

[Raven Crowking]

For the record: I love, love, love reading the AD&D1 DMG.

Me too!

I viewed the archaicisms and esoterica as a real bonus!


RC

 

[Flatus Maximus]

In a general sense, there's nothing wrong with challenging folks.

But, let's be clear - selling RPG books is not a "general" activity. It is a very specific business. Educating and challenging the customer's vocabulary is a far lower priority than getting them to buy the product, and have the product be good at its primary purpose as a gaming supplement.

I'm not suggesting anyone write anything with the purpose of making it challenging. (Well, at least outside the classroom.) Instead I'd suggest that people write at whatever level they feel comfortable, and let the reader handle the challenge, if any. Why purposely dumb it down just to reach a wider audience when we have, you know, dictionaries and many other resources? You never know: We might just raise the bar for the next generation, but we certainly won't if we keep dumbing things down just because there are folks that can't be bothered. And if your answer is "money," then shame on you. (Well, not you in particular....)