Mearls' "Stop, Thief!" Article

[The Human Target]

Its hilarious.

If WotC implies that older editions had problems, people go frothing at the mouth crazy.

If WotC implies that older editions were somehow fun, people go frothing at the mouth crazy.

Which leads me to the conclusion that given any topic and a forum, people go frothing at the mouth crazy.

 

[Incenjucar]

I concluded awhile back that Mearls was not communicating effectively, and so it was not useful for me to make any judgements on his actual thoughts based on his writings. I refuse to have a strong reaction over something I have to guess the point of, so I find it's no use to pay it any mind.

 

[Obryn]

I concluded awhile back that Mearls was not communicating effectively, and so it was not useful for me to make any judgements on his actual thoughts based on his writings. I refuse to have a strong reaction over something I have to guess the point of, so I find it's no use to pay it any mind.

You see, I think he's communicating just fine, but for some reason people are looking for the hidden messages between the lines.

I mean, what's so hard about taking this column at face value? "D&D has a long history, and some of it was awesome. Let's talk about it, since we spend the rest of the time talking about 4e."

-O

 

[Incenjucar]

Even if he's just rambling aimlessly, he's not making it clear that he's just rambling aimlessly. There's a communication failure one way or another, and so I personally find the article isn't worth paying attention to, as I personally only really care about information that goes somewhere and gives me something I can use.

 

[Matt James]

Someone more savvy than I could probably round up all of the posts here on EN World where people slam WotC for not being more communicative. It's extremely ironic and it's community threads like this one, and others, that have completely accelerated a bunch of non-issues.

If you are so unimaginative that you cannot possibly comprehend ignoring (or changing) what is written in a sourcebook, an errata PDF, or any other medium, you have no business trying to qualify anyone's creative experience. To assume (in any fashion) you have a superior understanding of how humans should enjoy a game, is one of the most seriously arrogant and ignorant qualities a person could have in this industry.

If the whiners spent half as much time improving their own experiences, instead of grandstanding, they would find life that much more enjoyable.

I'm also going to head off the inevitable reply of "This is how we improve the game". I say: B***Sh**. You don't improve the game by spreading a viral message of damn the man. You improve the game by discussing and sharing experiences and comparing them to what others have experienced. That's how things improve. Not griping on EN World or a WotC forum.

 

[Incenjucar]

Criticism and complaint are crucial to the development of the game. Being rude and clumsy about it, however, will only cause problems and sour moods. That there is criticism and that negative opinions are voiced is fine, it's just that there is a distinct lack of social grace in how it is being done. However, grace must also be shown in how one points it out, or else the same issues arise. Screaming matches and pointed accusations from either side just make everything feel like a skill challenge in Pandemonium.

 

[Matt James]

Criticism and complaint are crucial to the development of the game. Being rude and clumsy about it, however, will only cause problems and sour moods. That there is criticism and that negative opinions are voiced is fine, it's just that there is a distinct lack of social grace in how it is being done. However, grace must also be shown in how one points it out, or else the same issues arise. Screaming matches and pointed accusations from either side just make everything feel like a skill challenge in Pandemonium.

I would agree with all you said.

 

[LostSoul]

What I read is this:

"Hey, look at what these rules inspired me to do! I really enjoyed that."

I can't see how anyone would see those as bad rules.

*

In my opinion, good rules will inspire you to do things that you wouldn't normally do. If you would normally do such a thing, you don't need rules for it. Rules are there to guide you along a certain path, with the expectation of greater rewards than not having rules.

 

[Obryn]

What I read is this:

"Hey, look at what these rules inspired me to do! I really enjoyed that."

I can't see how anyone would see those as bad rules.

I think the disconnect is this, but I could be wrong...

I agree, AD&D and the Basic line had good rules. They were not balanced like 4e was, but they were solid enough that many thousands were sold, played, and enjoyed.

I think what some 4e players want is for Mike to basically say, in each and every L&L article, how older editions sucked and how 4e is the best. Not in so many words, mind you, but I think that's the gist. And when he doesn't say how great 4e is doing in his article, and doesn't say where the missteps were in pre-4e D&D, they read it as, "Mike loves older editions more than he loves 4e. Look at all the time he's spending on them!"

I think it's irrational, but then again, I've actually played 1e recently, and I have a ton of respect for both it and for the BECMI rules. (I'd also love to run the 0e retro-clone, although its name escapes me at the moment.) Do I think 4e's rule-set is a better chassis, mechanically-speaking? Yep. I think it is stronger mathematically, and I think it has a good handle on class balance. And I know it's made for some awesome fun at my home table. However, older editions - particularly way-older editions - have their own strengths, too.

At least, that's how I see it, and I could be completely wrong.

-O

 

[renau1g]

You are completely wrong

Older editions suckzorz! Viva la 4e (at least until 5e comes out and then that's the newest cool edition)....

Really, I have an enjoyment of all systems, I generally much prefer the options provided for PC's in 3.5e/4e over the older editions more streamlined approach.

Personally, I think people get way too bent out of shape about D&D, I used to get more hot under the collar, but end of the day, it's a game, one that I play only on Play-by-Post now, sadly, and I have far more important things in life to get bothered about