House Rules Suck

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

I'll get in on Azlin's "troll within a troll" thread...

To compare the way D&D did in the 80's in not a very good form of reference.
What all those reference books may have downplayed was the prejudice your average gamer got.
Which occassionally included a barrage of rocks being thrown at you by a mob of church women.
D&D was evil, and would get you watched by the cops just as hard as smoking pot. (Look up the Stackpole Report sometime)

As for: Abnormal children...
I was normal. I was in Cross Country, and in Track. I liked to fight, hang out with my friends, and I spent a LOT of time staring at one of the female gamer's rather large unattributed features which were more common on an adult woman than a 14 year old girl. LOL
I got C's in school, and hated school. I competed in racing BMX bikes in 1982, and listened to Heavy Metal. The left side of my hair was dyed blue, and I wore spikes.
I was normal.

Saying that the rest of America couldn't understand or have what it takes to play D&D is insulting, and a sign of sloppy thinking. It's not very scientific, nor is very exacting.
Could you provide proof of this? Hard scientific data?

I've found your "troll within a troll" subtext interesting, and while I'm not impressed with EGG (especially after meeting the man at GenCon 83), you can tell what he did solo **cough** CYBORG COMMANDO **cough** and what he did with assistance. What disappoints me about him is the image he fostered in public about gamers, his hypocrisy, and his arrogance.

I liked 1E, and house ruled it for circumstances.
I liked 2E, and house ruled it for circumstances.
I like 3E, and house rule if for circumstances.

And unless WotC starts hiring a goon-squad that can take me, I'll houserule whatever I want, since I'm an American, and I'm permitted to do such things as innovated thought.

Of course, innovative thought is often frowned upon, especially by people on the internet, which was originally intended to express and exchange free thought and ideas.

 

[Azlan]

There is a four-letter noun that I'd like to replace your "GOAT" with, Talath, but I've heard mentions about someone's grandmother reading these message boards, so I'll refrain. I'd also like to tell you what you can do with that +1 baseball bat of yours... but I'll refrain from that too.

 

[Azlan]

As for: Abnormal children...

I didn't say role-playing gamers are "abnormal"; I said they're "not typical". Big difference, there. But for those of you who have difficulties with words and their common definitions, I'll illustrate...

Daytime temperatures of 75 degrees, outdoors, in the middle of July, in southern Texas, is not typical. Daytime temperatures of 50 degrees, outdoors, in the middle of July, in southern Texas, is abnormal.

Saying that the rest of America couldn't understand or have what it takes to play D&D is insulting, and a sign of sloppy thinking. It's not very scientific, nor is very exacting. Could you provide proof of this? Hard scientific data?

There are many reasons why the majority of the American population doesn't have the interest or the wherewithall for roleplaying games. But since you guys want to dwell on the most negative aspect of that -- i.e., the "wherewithall" part, which seems to indicate that most American's lack the intelligence or education (but can also include the lack of free time and other resources) to play RPGs -- I will offer the following...

According to data in a report titled "Adult Literacy in America", which was compiled in 1993 by the US Department of Education, half of Americans do not have the most basic reading skills. Now, doesn't a roleplaying game like D&D, whose Player's Handbook alone is nearly 300 pages of dense reading material and game mechanics, require at least the most basic reading skills... ?!

Wake up and see reality, you guys.

 

[Ace]

Fine...it might be a troll, but I'll respond anyway.

I house rule because many of the 3e rules drive me up the wall.

Here's a copy of my house rules (so far) if anyone wants to see them:

Thanks. Those house rules aren't too bad

 

[Harlock]

Originally posted by Azlan baah baah blacksheep
I didn't say role-playing gamers are "abnormal"; I said they're "not typical". Big difference, there. But for those of you who have difficulties with words and their common definitions, I'll illustrate...

Daytime temperatures of 75 degrees, outdoors, in the middle of July, in southern Texas, is not typical. Daytime temperatures of 50 degrees, outdoors, in the middle of July, in southern Texas, is abnormal.

For those of you who have trouble with synonyms and hairs being split I'll illustrate with the aid of www.dictionary.com

ab·nor·mal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-nôrml)
adj.
Not typical, usual, or regular; not normal; deviant.

For those keeping score at home, please look directly into this:

Originally posted by Azlan
I didn't say role-playing gamers are "abnormal"; I said they're "not typical". Big difference, there.

Originally posted by a Dictionary
ab·nor·mal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-nôrml)
adj.
Not typical

Result for "Big difference, there."

Originally said by Yoda (emphasis added)
No, no different. Only different in your mind.

EDIT: Drats, you added more while I was posting. Now doesn't this

Originally posted by Azlan
According to data in study titled "Adult Literacy in America", which was compiled in 1993 by the US Department of Education, half of Americans do not have the most basic reading skills. <snippage> Wake up and see reality, you guys.

seem even more funny now in light of the abnormal vs. not typical debacle of '03? Hey Azlan, play nice please, you're making a mountain out of a goathill.

This has been a Public Service Announcement of the troll within a troll within a troll network serving this area of the net proudly with support of goats like you.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

GAR LADDIES!

Be Still and have yee ale, blarmy!


Have at thee women and fill yee coffers with bousom abound!

 

[Azlan]

Originally posted by Harlock
For those of you who have trouble with synonyms and hairs being split I'll illustrate with the aid of www.dictionary.com

It takes more than just a dictionary to know and understand the subtleties and nuances of the english language (or of any language, for that matter).

When I say someone is "not a typical" person, it doesn't necessarily mean there is something bad or wrong about the person, but it does mean that the person in question is in some way not like the average person.

When I say someone is "abnormal", it most definitely means there is something bad or wrong about that person.

But I digress. I really think some of you here are merely being quick to take umbrage, or itching for a fight, or just wanting to get as much mileage and amusement out of Talath's troll as possible.

 

[Harlock]

or just wanting to get as much mileage and amusement out of Talath's troll as possible.

DING DING DING! Don Pardo, tell Azlan what he's won!

originally not posted by anyone, but in a Don Pardo voice
Azlan, you've won an all expenses paid round trip to Shovel Land, the amusement park where you dig a hole, then get a bigger shovel and dig it deeper. You've also won a version of our home game, "Troll me this, Azlan..." where you can spend countless hours knowing how clever you are because you outwitted some bored folks with a sense of humor and of course you win the grand prize: A Year supply of Rice-A-Roni, humble pie flavor!

And once again, thanks for playing!

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Thanks for playing! No Wanna Vight will tell you what you've won!

A brand new penny!
Thanks right, stright from the Canadian Mint! this penny has a feature of Canada's most beloved creature! The moose!

It also doubles as a good luck charm! AND as an additional prize, you get a brand new PIE! Which comes with its very own orc!

thank you for playing, we are not responsible for any physcical damage you take from playing with the orc and his pie.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

hold on a second!

There is a troll here?!

How much XP do i get for killing it?!

*holds out his Longsword of Acidic Burst*