Jim Ward's latest 900 Words: More Bombast

[Felon]

Leopold, just use the links I provided on the first page to get to FFE's website.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Oh, thanks. Now you've gotten me saying "Tom Bombastdil."

Sorry, kinda.

It worries me when Jim implies that he'll only respond to opinions posted on his own boards, and even then only the "trained gaming professionals" are respected. I suspect that he'd have more fans for both his products and his opinions if he'd interact more with the community.

Somehow I doubt he really wants this. You are a Gaming Professional. Monte Cook is a Gaming Professional.

Do you think Jim Ward really would want to hear what you or Monte would say if you truly let loose and told him everything you thought after reviewing his products?

 

[Henry]

Have you ever tried to pronouce Bombadil backwards before?

I did, and was reminded of mush-mouth from the Fat Albert Cartoon.


As for Jim's opinions, he is certainly entitled to them, just as the game-purchasing community is entitled to take his opinions into account when they decide on a FFE purchase. To me, that's all that really needs to be said.

 

[Vpenman]

I concur with this as well. I've been gaming since 80, and don't recall seeing Jim's name until his 900 words.

Jim was co-author on Deities & Demigods/Legends and Lore plus a lot of other D&D/AD&D books and supplements. He created a role playing game called Metamorphisis (sp?) Alpha (or something like that). He was a designer on Spellfire (I believe).

He designed dozens of other products for TSR, but I don't have a list handy and my memory is none too good.

He was co-author of the Pools of Radiance book and other books. He was a designer on the original Pool of Radiance computer game and other computer games.

He was VP of the R&D department at TSR at the time it hit the financial skids in 1996 and resigned rather than lay off his people (Sort of a reverse Enron move).

His most-recent, extremely successful game design was the DragonBallZ card game.

He has vast experience in role-playing, collectible cards, and the gaming industry in general. One of the things that sets his opinions apart from so many posted on boards such as these is that his opinions are based on real world experiences.

Victor

 

[JacktheRabbit]

He has vast experience in role-playing, collectible cards, and the gaming industry in general. One of the things that sets his opinions apart from so many posted on boards such as these is that his opinions are based on real world experiences.

Victor

Oh give it a rest. You forgot the last item where you mention that his name is on your paycheck.

DragonballZ cardgame would be a winner no matter who put it out. That was a cash cow waiting to happen.

He was head of RnD at TSR when it slumped. Maybe that is hint about his game design skills.

His knowledge of DnD 3e as shown by his products is very shallow and his abilities to edit his products is even more shallow.

If you are going to fanboy then at least fanboy to someone who understands the rules of the game.

 

[kingpaul]

Jim was co-author on Deities & Demigods/Legends and Lore plus a lot of other D&D/AD&D books and supplements. He created a role playing game called Metamorphisis (sp?) Alpha (or something like that). He was a designer on Spellfire (I believe).

He designed dozens of other products for TSR, but I don't have a list handy and my memory is none too good.

He was co-author of the Pools of Radiance book and other books. He was a designer on the original Pool of Radiance computer game and other computer games.

He was VP of the R&D department at TSR at the time it hit the financial skids in 1996 and resigned rather than lay off his people (Sort of a reverse Enron move).

His most-recent, extremely successful game design was the DragonBallZ card game.

He has vast experience in role-playing, collectible cards, and the gaming industry in general. One of the things that sets his opinions apart from so many posted on boards such as these is that his opinions are based on real world experiences.

Thank you for the info. As I said before, my comment was not meant as a slam, just that I don't recall seeing his name.

 

[Duvall]

I think reading his 900 words and thinking its crap counts as a real world experience.

 

[Assenpfeffer]

Instead of listing his accomplishments (which are numerous)...

Doesn't Ward also get some of the blame for the creative and financial mismanagement that resulted in TSR's collapse?

 

[Felon]

His most-recent, extremely successful game design was the DragonBallZ card game.

OK, thanks. That was info I'd been asking for since the very start.

He has vast experience in role-playing, collectible cards, and the gaming industry in general. One of the things that sets his opinions apart from so many posted on boards such as these is that his opinions are based on real world experiences.

More FFE elitist piffle. *sigh*

Exactly what qualifies as "real world experiences" that the average gamer doesn't have access to?

At any rate, it doesn't really matter, as he doesn't draw upon his experience to further his position. Instead, he just says "Here are my credentials--well, I won't actually list them, but trust me when I say with total hubris that I'm in a class that only a handful of my cronies can touch. I'm knowledgable, you're not. "Nuff said." Did you read my previous post near the start of this thread about the priest and the mouth-breathing blowhard?

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Doesn't Ward also get some of the blame for the creative and financial mismanagement that resulted in TSR's collapse?

Well he was head of RnD in the mid 90's.


If memory serves some of the most munchkind of 2E stuff came out in that time frame when we got wonderful things like the Book of Elves and super killer unstoppable Bladesingers.

The products were not just munchkin fests. They were also putting out LOTS of stuff in sheer quantity and a good percentage was just bad products.