[RANT] Mongoose - sloppy editing, WTF

[Wraith Form]

This is the second time I've downloaded a Mongoose PDF preview of a product and found a blatant, obvious, unacceptable editing mistake in it--this time, within the VERY FIRST SENTENCE of the first line of the PDF. (The first mistake I saw was in one of their Babylon 5 previews, in which the Designer's Notes contained several strange and easily-corrected mistakes. I was dumb enough to buy the Bab5 book anyway, and it was rife with inexcusable editing blunders.) In fact, there are mistakes in every Mongoose product or PDF I own. This time they're offering the brilliantly-edited CybernetPreview.pdf for us to scratch our heads over.

The last part of the first sentence of CybernetPreview.pdf states "... the basic classes only have 10 levels ability [sic]." I couldn't read any further without stopping and shaking my head sadly. I understand most of the Mongoose writers are from the UK, but what the hell is this??? I mean, as I understand it the UK speaks English, right? They're not translating from some foreign language...correct?? I can't even get past the first line of the PDF without tripping over an editing error. What makes Mongoose think I'm going to give them my money?

The preview PDFs are supposed to be "teasers" to entice us to buy Mongoose's books, so I'd think they'd want to offer the best they have. This is insane...no wonder Mongoose puts out thirty thousand books a month--they're typing as fast as their little fingers can fly across their keyboards, and then immediately putting them to press with (apparently) no editing, proofreading or spell checking. I will NOT buy another Mongoose product as long as I see these editing mistakes, and I encourage you all to do the same. (Although I know many of you won't, because you don't care.)

I can understand a few printing errors in graphs or tables, and even the "high class outfit" of WotC makes editing mistakes now and then. But WotC doesn't make them consistently, in every product (don't get me started on the Errata from the 3.5 core books). If Mongoose can afford a printer, how can they not afford an editor?

P.S. Yes, I'm aware that certain words (i.e. colour, specialised) are simply variant, UK spellings, and I'm not bitching about them. I prefer to use the word grey instead of the "proper" US gray, so that's not what I'm saying...I'm talking about missing words, genuine mis-spellings, or sentence structure that is just plain awkward or clumsy.

 

[Loki3]

Problem falls under trying to ram out new product every other week to stay competitive and keep there name out there on the shelf.

I too have seen this with Mongoose, and a few others however Mongoose is the worst offender. But I do have to admit I like some of there stuff.

 

[Wraith Form]

Problem falls under trying to ram out new product every other week to stay competitive and keep there name out there on the shelf.

I too have seen this with Mongoose, and a few others however Mongoose is the worst offender. But I do have to admit I like some of there stuff.

I understand your comments, and I sincerely appreciate them.

But be competitive by selling QUALITY PRODUCTS, you know?

[Edited for...sigh...spelling mistake.]

 

[VorpalBunny]

I remember reading a post from Matt Sprange somewhere (probably the d20 publishers forum here) that they're aware of the problem and have hired more editors to proofread their stuff.

 

[Loki3]

I understand your comments, and I sincerely appreciate them.

But be competitive by selling QUALITY PRODUCTS, you know?

[Edited for...sigh...spelling mistake.]

Oh I agree totally, it is a pet peeve of mine to spend 15 - 30 bucks on a manual to find these kinds of problems. I guess the old saying ya get what ya pay for doesnt apply here..

 

[Wraith Form]

Mongoose is the worst offender.

That's the other thing--it's not like I have a beef against Mongoose simply for fun; it's that they're consistant. We could swap ANY publisher's name in place of Mongoose. If WotC started putting out books as poorly edited as these, I'd stop buying WotC's books too!! (Arguably I already have stopped buying WotC...but for different reasons...and that's for a different thread.)

I do think Mongoose should be embarrassed for allowing an "imperfect" preview to go out, however. (If their previews begin to improve, I won't know whether the rest of the product is garbage. Then they might be able to "sucker" me into buying their books again..! )

 

[der_kluge]

I'm willing to overlook the occasional typo or editing mistake. I should... the last book I released (Artificer's Handbook) has several in it that I'm quite annoyed by. And that was after I personally read through it like three times. It's tough to find them all.

But, for such blatant mistakes, that's unexcusable. I won't _not_ buy Mongoose's books because of mistakes, however, but I'll not buy them because I have no use for them. Until I see a Mongoose book (or any other companies book) that I think I will actually use, I will not purchase it.

 

[Mongoose_Matt]

Hi guys,

I have to hold my hand up here and say yes, in many cases, you are right. I get very annoyed when these little errors do creep in, as our staff will testify to.

However, we are making changes that should correct these flaws. Last week, for example, we employed another full-time editor for no reason other than a) annihilate these errors and b) improve the look of our books. Another staff member, not to increase production but to simply make books better.

You should see the fruits of our changes in design process within the next month. And if you spot any mistakes then, let me know and heads will roll. . .

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Thanks Matthew, that is good news.

BTW, got any Conan news?

 

[Wraith Form]

Hi guys,

I have to hold my hand up here and say yes, in many cases, you are right. I get very annoyed when these little errors do creep in, as our staff will testify to.

However, we are making changes that should correct these flaws. Last week, for example, we employed another full-time editor for no reason other than a) annihilate these errors and b) improve the look of our books. Another staff member, not to increase production but to simply make books better.

You should see the fruits of our changes in design process within the next month. And if you spot any mistakes then, let me know and heads will roll. . .

I'd also like to offer my congrats, and I hope you don't take what I wrote as a personal attack, like, "I hate you as people" or something (ahem, just the editing on many of your products).

I'd also like to acknowledge that there is NO WAY I'd be able to come up with some of the amazing ideas that are written about, and that I'm not trying to say "I could do it better" from the perspective of quality of concepts.

If you say you've made moves to improve your editing, I'll take your word on it and give Mongoose's products a chance--especially Conan d20, which I'm looking forward to!

Thank you for the reply, Matt.