[Merged] Hackmaster reviews?

[Morrus]

Well.

Folks, we're talking about a few products in a database here. Sure, you may well have opinions on the matter, but let's get some perspective - it's certainly not anything that anyone should get excited about, let alone defensiveness I see in this thread.

I'm going to leave them in for now. Perhaps we can have the discussion again when everyone has cooled down - we'll leave it a week or so. Until then, I'm not interested in the subject.

 

[Celestian]

I recently added the Hackmaster items to the Enworld review database. This would make them open for reviews on the site.

It has caused a bit of situation due to them not being d20 products.

It has been decided to delete the HackMaster entries in a week.

I'm curious, Morrus reports news on Hackmaster and a lot of other games. Why are you guys going to remove the review section now? Obviously the site is not only visited by 3e players alone ... if so why would Morrus report news other than 3e? If you think its just 3e people and the news outside the 3e field was reported you obviously want to expose them to it... and having reviews would be just as good.

If this place was just about 3e I'd go elsewhere.

 

[Crothian]

Like that is going to happen?

Actually, it very much could. Only the people who play the product will be likely to review it. I have no interest in this product, so I'll never post a review on these products. So, I imagine only the people who actually like the product will review it. Plus you'll have people who are pro HM artifically rate the book higher just to see it on the list.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Like that is going to happen?

I would like to say, I went the their website to learn more about the product. The webiste really bites, I could not get any info on the basic structure of the rules system and the $40 price tag for an unknown produt really scared me.

Is there anyplace to pick up a used copy?

HackMaster uses the AD&D system. It's essentially AD&D with a few add-ons like Honor. If you know how to play AD&D, you know how to play HackMaster.

The Player's Handbook is $30, as is the GameMaster's guide. They are remarkably good values, with close to 400 pages and fairly small type.

 

[Psion]

No need for ire. I conceded.

My apologies. No reason to get bent out of shape over this.

 

[Breakdaddy]

So, what are you going to do when the HM fans put products on the "d20 top 20 list" and don't read the review? A lot of people only look at ratings and don't dive into the reviews (as much as I wish it weren't so.) When those people buy a product they think is d20 -- because we told them it is -- then harm is, indeed, done.

I doubt very seriously thats going to happen. However, assuming that it did, I would only fault myself if I bought something without knowing enough about it to know anything about its basic core rules (D20 or no)! I think of all the people here, you seem to be on some sort of crusade to eradicate HM from the review boards. No offense, but I doubt that it will hurt you or me much at all if a few honest people give their opinions of the game here on a friendly forum!

 

[Breakdaddy]

I'd also like to add, if I may, that nobody will endure physical pain or severe mental anguish if they see a favorable review for HM on this board. I would also like to point out that I am not "Pro HM" as it were. I don't play it and I may not ever play it. The facts are that it IS an AD&D derivative game, it IS new, and some people WILL be interested (while others will remain wholly calloused against the infidel non D20 compliant game)! All opinions are valid, and I feel that due to the rules similarities that HM should at least be reviewed. You don't like it? Give it a bad review! You don't know anything about the game? Ignore it! Your opinion is as valid as mine or anyone else's, and I hope that we get to see it on the reviews!

 

[BiggusGeekus]

To each their own.

But this is the d20 site. When I want Shadowrun I go to the Shadowrun site. When I want general RPGs I go to RPG.net.

If the other games want to be included as a d20 game they can toss in a final chapter for d20 conversion such as Godlike! did.

 

[Psion]

I doubt very seriously thats going to happen.

Oh, I don't. And I daresay I probably have a deeper understanding than nearly anyone here about the dynamics of the reviews page. The only variable is that I do not claim to understand the nature of the HM fan base. But if they are anywhere near as zealous as NG or Kalamar fans, it will happen.

 

[Theron]

Oh, I don't. And I daresay I probably have a deeper understanding than nearly anyone here about the dynamics of the reviews page. The only variable is that I do not claim to understand the nature of the HM fan base. But if they are anywhere near as zealous as NG or Kalamar fans, it will happen.

I find them, if anything, more zealous than either. I've seen a couple threads pop up in the past on "that other site", where someone made a critical remark about HM only to have dozens of newly registered people come out of the blue to whack them down for disparaging "the best game ever". It's like they put out the call for people to go defend the game or something. These folks show up, propagate a flame war, and then go home and never post again. Rather infuriating.