The Nature of Splatbooks

[TwistedBishop]

Just curious, what is everyone's definition of "Splatbooks"?

The two options I know of are:

1- Any book dedicated to a character class

2- Any sparse book done mainly for a buck

 

[Humanophile]

Quick history...

The asterix is usually used as a wildcard in programming. You put a * there to mean any value you can think of.

A while ago, someone realized that you could call the Fighters handbook, the Wizard's handbook, etc (fighters/wizards/etc)books, or *books in computer parlance. (Well, not actually. It wasn't with the old D&D books. I think it started being used with White Wolf Clan/Tribe/Tradition/etc books, but I might be mistaken. Same general idea, though.)

And since it's hard to say "asterix" in regular speech, computer nerds referring to the asterix in verbal communication called it a "splat", similar to how they called the exclamation point "bang". So the *book, or splatbook name managed to stick from there.

 

[Norfleet]

Quick history...
similar to how they called the exclamation point "bang".

Really? I've always pronounced it "*ngh*", as the exclamation point indicates to put volume or emphasis on the thing which comes before it, and if it's by itself, you put the emphasis on nothing, which results in a sort of from-the-stomach wheeze, or "*ngh*".

And I always thought "splatbook" was named that because they went "splat" when you slapped them down onto the table.

 

[Umbran]

And since it's hard to say "asterix" in regular speech, computer nerds referring to the asterix in verbal communication called it a "splat", similar to how they called the exclamation point "bang".

Hm. As I was told, the "* = splat" comes from typesetter parlance, rather than from computer geeks. This makes a bit more sense to me, because most geeks don't work in fonts where the asterisk looks like a bug that's gotten splattered, while typesetters do.

Whichever version is correct, the logic is the same.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

As far as I know, the tradition of splatbooks arouse with the "Clanbooks" for White Wolf's "Vampire: The Masquerade". Other companies, most notably TSR, were quick to qump on the badwagon with their "Complete" series, but White Wolf still does the most...

 

[bekkilyn_rpg]

Hmmm, I always thought of a splatbook as being any book I happen to have handy when a spider or insect startles me in my home and I decide it shouldn't be in my home any longer.

Ohh you mean in gaming terms...

 

[Crothian]

But now people are using Splatbook when they are fed up with all the suppliments it seems. It used to be a neutral term, but now I see it being used more negatively.

 

[Umbran]

It used to be a neutral term, but now I see it being used more negatively.

Well, that's not surprising. It includes the word "splat". Just as a sound, it sure isn't pretty.

 

[Vocenoctum]

But now people are using Splatbook when they are fed up with all the suppliments it seems. It used to be a neutral term, but now I see it being used more negatively.

Probably people that don't know what the Splat Book term actually refered to.
Splatbook, from my experience, is just a generic term to include all the tribe/clan/ class/ whatever books in one catagory.
Twist doesn't agree, so he wants to get you guys to prove otherwise.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I think the negative connotation comes from the fact that many of these books were seen as lower quality, or at least of variable quality. It's since been extended more and more to other products, and is definitely used in a more derogatory light because of this history.

I think once someone actually puts out a good set of classbooks, that maybe these connotations might change a little. But right now there's no classbook series on the market that I personally (read: my opinion) would say is overly great, and that just furthers the negative stereotype.