The Keith Baker *Kudos* Thread- No trolls.

[Monster Manuel]

'I go away from EN World for a few days, and *what* happened...?'

Since he's not here to defend himself, I figured I should try to do something. Keith Baker is an EN Worlder, and it's sad to see how some of us treat our own.

I'm staying far away from the other thread, which has become a 7 page monster, though I have to admit it has made me a little angry (I have seen that it has begun to turn slightly more positive). All we've seen is a sliver of a cross-section of what this world's about. It is possible that the writer of the Gaming Report Article had less than noble intentions in the information he chose to share. Giving the author of the blurb the benefit of the doubt; he *is* at Gen Con, I don't know how coherently I'd be able to describe something if I was having so much fun.

I've had a few brief conversations with Keith, and I have gathered that he is one of the most creative, and thoughtful people I've ever spoken to. All of the work I've seen from him has been well-thought out, and brings the subject matter in a new direction that no one else would have thought of, while maintaining it's 'heart'. He's also a Hella Nice guy.

I've started this thread as a grapes-free zone. Post any positive things you might have to say on Keith's behalf, regarding his previous work, the contest, or what we've seen so far.

With any luck, Keith will see this thread, and not think any less of EN World.
Here's some of info, to get us started.

His bio from the Goodman Games site:

Keith Baker was killed and replaced by a doppelganger over ten years ago. He spent some time as a computer game designer before focusing his attention on the more lucrative career of freelance game writing. So far he has written for Goodman Games, D20 Weekly, and Atlas Games' Over the Edge and Penumbra D20 lines. Keith's greatest interest in game design is challenging players and gamemasters to think in new directions -- to look at old subjects in a new light or to consider things they just haven't dealt with before. You can check out his web site at www.BossytheCow.com.

Complete Guide to Wererats

Complete Guide to Dopplegangers

If you have anything negative to say, especially if it's ill-informed, and based the brief Gaming Report blurb, please don't. This thread is to express interest, congratulations or excitement. I know I'm looking forward to a well implemented and sophisticated setting, and I know Eberron will not disappoint.

(Edit-removed speculation and spelling errors on my part)

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Agreed. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what he comes up with.

Also, that's a great user name. Reminds me of the Dilbert strip where Dogbert was running tech support and told the customer to find a big thick book by a Spanish guy named "Manuel"

 

[Emiricol]

You really shouldn't have had your longest paragraph be about how that other thread sux. Just a thought.

As for Keith - enjoy the hundred Gs. Hopefully it turns out better in practice than that horrid blurb made it sound. Obviously WotC thought it was worth winning, so...

 

[Monster Manuel]

You really shouldn't have had your longest paragraph be about how that other thread sux. Just a thought.

As for Keith - enjoy the hundred Gs. Hopefully it turns out better in practice than that horrid blurb made it sound. Obviously WotC thought it was worth winning, so...

Hmm. You're probably right that I shouldn't have done that, but having slept on it before posting, I was still annoyed (Which you can probably tell from the grammatical and spelling errors). I should have focused on the positive.

 

[Aitch Eye]

I was initially only curious about the results of the search, but the snippets now have me looking forward to seeing what he's come up with. WotC had a 100-page document to judge his world by, and they went with it despite some at the company reportedly being worried that it might be too different. I just think it's more likely there was something compelling about the manuscript that made them go with it than any of the thin or just insulting alternative explanations I've seen.

As I said in the other thread, good luck to him. I'm sorry he has to put up with so much just for writing a D&D campaign.

 

[Mark Chance]

 

[JeffB]

I'm fairly positive I'll not be fan of the setting, But I certainly have no malice towards the author. I'm sure he's a very talented writer .

I wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors, and hope he spends and/or invests his check wisely

At the same time though he's just been thrown into the RPG "limelight" and he's going to have to learn how to deal with criticism of his work. It's been no different for Gygax, Greenwood, Monte, Sean, AV, etc. etc.

 

[wizardoftheplains]

Congratulations, Keith!
Designing an entire world, whether it plays to the masses or not, is an immense undertaking. I'll definently purchase your setting just to see the depth you go into.

(btw. just picked up Midnight...and aside from the book falling apart an hour after I opened it, it is one of the most superb settings I've ever read. (including FR, Kalamar, Dark Sun, Scarred Lands.) Quality writing!)

gary

 

[EricNoah]

At the same time though he's just been thrown into the RPG "limelight" and he's going to have to learn how to deal with criticism of his work. It's been no different for Gygax, Greenwood, Monte, Sean, AV, etc. etc.

And so the question is (and not just to JeffB but to everyone) -- are we going to be the ones who drive him away from EN World? I'm hoping the answer is no, because a) I don't think we should be driving anyone away, and b) it would be neat to get his insights as he's able and willing to share them along the way.

I think the key here, then, is that criticism offered has to be fair and reasonable. I don't think it's fair, for example, to judge the whole thing before we've seen more. I don't think it's reasonable, as another example, to accuse WotC of unfairness in the setting search. I think if we go down that road we're only setting ourselves up to be "out of the loop" -- and while some might want just that, some would like to see how this thing develops. So I'm asking the early nay-sayers to not go out of their way to spoil things for the rest of us, I guess.

 

[JeffB]

.... because a) I don't think we should be driving anyone away, and b) it would be neat to get his insights as he's able and willing to share them along the way.

I know this was to everyone Eric, but just thought I'd give ya my two Lunars.

Wholeheartedly agree on A & B

I don't think it's fair, for example, to judge the whole thing before we've seen more

Respectfully I disagree with that statement. From that blurb, I've gathered enough to determine that it's not my thing. Never liked dinosaurs, don't care for that kind of "tech" in my D&D games...If I wan't a different "Spin" on fantasy, I'll play Earthdawn, or Tekumel of HeroWars. I play D&D because I LIKE all the classic D&D elements.

There are some things that totally will turn people off to something despite there being some other things that might be very cool. Kind of the like how some folks feel about Hackmaster for example.

I certainly don't begrudge others for liking it or wanting it though.