Re. EN World staff reviewers and good/bad reviews

[Psion]

It really bugs me that a publisher would do something like this. I know it's probably the right thing for Morrus and Psion to take the moral high ground and not say who it is, but there's some part of me that wishes they would so I would know not to buy from them.

I certainly know where you are coming from. For example, I have resolved to never buy anything from Hyperbooks Online simply because I detest the proprietor's behavior so much.

But OTOH, this statement makes me glad that we were obtuse. The company in question has some very good stuff and ultimately this is just one person in the company. I don't think it would be fair to exercise our position to damage a person who sent us a pissy email, especially considering he is only one person of many in the company, most of whom I know little about (except for two staff authors and one freelancer whose work I can say I am honestly fond of.)

 

[Blacksad]

But OTOH, this statement makes me glad that we were obtuse. The company in question has some very good stuff and ultimately this is just one person in the company. I don't think it would be fair to exercise our position to damage a person who sent us a pissy email, especially considering he is only one person of many in the company, most of whom I know little about (except for two staff authors and one freelancer whose work I can say I am honestly fond of.)

That makes me wonder, are you sure that this person is from the company? or spoke with the advertisment department or the one in charge before sending this mail? Perhaps you could try to enter in contact with the one in charge in this company.

As a side note, I think you have given too many clue on the company identity, perhaps you'll want to edit your first post.

 

[Mystic Eye]

As a publisher I am of the same mind as John Nephew, Nicole, and Hal.

If I were to consider pulling a reviewer from a review list it would not be around a bad review unless they consistently proved they did not read the material and do the homework a reviewer needs to do.
Or, I keep sending them stuff and never see a review go up at all.

The other reason that I would pull someone from a review list is due to poor and unprofessional conduct. Like attacking consumers (name calling and the like) who disagree with the review, etc.

I would never pull a reviewer from the list simply based on a negative review as long as it was written in a well informed and professional manner.

 

[Psion]

That makes me wonder, are you sure that this person is from the company?

Oh, yes.

As a side note, I think you have given too many clue on the company identity, perhaps you'll want to edit your first post.

Well, it is hard to be more obtuse without gutting my point. However, as I have already received one wrong guess by email, I'm not concerned its too obvious.

But then, perhaps I shouldn't have said anything. But I had to vent somehow. I was this close to going to Nutkinland and blowing a gasket.

 

[Adlon]

My take on reviews...

I like reviews. It gives me insight as to what i might expect from a source. Of course, I immediately discount 50% of the review, as I know that you can have 10 people look at a product, and 8 of them would have differing opinions.

But, when a reviewer gets into using language in his review, which is degrading the product outright, i take issue with that.

I have yet to see, from 1E, 2E, and now 3E/d20, ANY product that didnt have SOME merit.

If a reviewer is going to write say 500 words in his review, and 350 words are negative, I think he owes it to the publisher to use the additional words to point out the positives in the product.

Any DM worth his weight should be able to find merit in 99% of the products out there.

If you buy an 8 dollar product, and get 2-3 PrC's, or a handful of Stat blocked NPC's, isnt that worth it? Whats your time worth?
You pay 8$, and have 3 PrC's ready to use, if you like them How long , in retrospect, does it take to make your own from scratch.

Thats just ONE angle.

But I've seen reviews that destroy a product (in the review), and offer NOTHING to build on. THATS the part the publishers need to hear, so they can enhance further product releases.

I've seen nothing but excellently done reviews here on EnWorld. Some of the reviews I have disagreed with, but, none the less, they were done professionally, with opening criticism, and closing building blocks.

At least in my mind, i have mentally fixed a price tag on a new useable PrC, and a new useable NPC, with stat blocks.
I look at a PrC costing me about 5-10$ to make, to judiciate obtaining good balance for said PrC. Same for an NPC. After all, one must build up the stat block, and again, check for balance.

That, to me, equates to about 10-20$ in savings. If the product costs 15$ retail, then, I consider that a good trade off.

Anyways, I look at things that save me time, and aggravation.
I'm ALLL FOR reviews that lambast a product, if indeed its that bad. But, if the review is simply coming from the negative only, I have no respect for that reviewer.

Just my .03 (cost of living an' all )

 

[drnuncheon]

OTOH, this statement makes me glad that we were obtuse. The company in question has some very good stuff and ultimately this is just one person in the company.

Yep, that's what the next line was all about:

"On the other hand, there's also a part of me that worries it's a publisher whose stuff I really like, and that ignorance is bliss."

In fact, looking at who you've given 3s to it more than likely is someone whose stuff I've bought and liked. So yeah, I don't want to know. I just hope they read my previous post, cool down, and do the right thing.

J

 

[Lady Dragon]

I'd like to say that I looked through all of Psions reveiws today and I have to agree with him like 95% of the time The 5's are outstanding the 4's and good and the 3's are average.which I take to mean just that not great not losey average.

And yes I do own most of the products he reviewed(my weakness)So to me Psion is a competent reveiwer.

Asfor who the publisher is that sent that E-mail I have to admit I was on the boards at about the time Psion posted this morning and I read the comments and clues before the post was edited.

I've lowered it down to 4 possible publishers all of which put out excellent material which makes me sad especially since the 2 I suspect the most are two of my favorites I guess it would be better if I never do find out the truth.

 

[Eosin the Red]

Last night in a fit of rightious anger - I looked through all of Psions reviews to find the felon.

If he rates one co. consistianly lower than another, I need to hit the dictionary. I must not understand the word.

 

[Monte At Home]

I'm pretty surprised to hear that someone objects to Psion's reviews. While I think that there are a dearth of good reviewers for rpg products in general, I think that Psion is one of the better ones.

 

[Blacksad]

I'm pretty surprised to hear that someone objects to Psion's reviews. While I think that there are a dearth of good reviewers for rpg products in general, I think that Psion is one of the better ones.

Have you seen his Jade Dragon and Hungry Ghost review?

Some people tend to consider that a good reviewer is someone who have the same taste as they have, that's probably why some doesn't consider him a great reviewer.

I find that Psion is a good reviewer I know what the product is by his description, but the taste part is a factor for me, that's why I'll be more interested by a product that Morrus find to his taste than any other, and that's why I'm still waiting to see him update his chaos magic review if the playtest goes well or not