Two last comments on Sean's rant

[Arcane Runes Press]

Originally posted by me:

Slightly different alloy? Mithril (however you spell it) is a completely fictional concept. It's a precious, lightweight, silvery supermetal. That's what it is in Tolkien, that's what it is in D&D.

Darkness said:

Your point being...?

My point being that WoTC took a concept created by someone else long years ago and replaced the I with an A. They didn't change what it was, they just changed the spelling. In other words, to paraphrase, a rose by any other name is still the same darn thing.



Which connects to....

Heh. But it does - WotC are the authority on this. If you want to publish, say, a chemistry journal, you'd better use the definitions - as well as spellings - that the accepted authority uses. If you want to be compliant with the accepted standard, at least.

Have to disagree. WotC is NOT the authority on the word Mithril. They pulled the word, and the concept, wholecloth from Tolkien. His definition (and spelling ) is the authoratative.

 

[Wolfspider]

His definition (and spelling ) is the authoratative.

True, BUT WotC doesn't have the right to use the word "mithril"; only Tolkien Enterprises and those they give permission to can. So, in the context of D&D, mithril doesn't exist, but mithral does.

Words words words....

 

[Akunin]

So whose decision was it to use the word "glamer"? "Glamor" or "glamour" are correct spellings of the word.

Sorry, but that one really irked me.

 

[herald]

"You say Tomato...

...and I say tomato, You say Potato and I say potato...
...Let's call the whole thing off...."


Which once again, leaves us in a quagmire of standards that will be anything but clear.

What it all boils down too is that there will be no hard and fast way to resolve this.

So...where is my cup of tea?

 

[Wolfspider]

So whose decision was it to use the word "glamer"? "Glamor" or "glamour" are correct spellings of the word.

I was wondering about this myself...very strange.

 

[number6]

It's all just a matter of personal perspective people....even so-called experts on the english language disagree on proper usage. One of my professors (educated at Cambridge and Harvard and on the board that determines the MLA standards) would be the first one to tell you that a lot of aspects of the english language and what is and is not allowable just depends on which texts you decide to use, or which "experts" you listen to.


And on the whole magic, magik, and magick thing: if you study western ceremonial magick you would know that each has a distinct and different meaning to modern practicioners (of which there are a surprising number). Once again it all depends on the perspective of the individual and what they BELIEVE is right.

 

[Simon Magalis]

STOP!

JEEZ! The rant is for game designers. All he is saying is use consistent terms in game products to avoid confusion. That's all. There is no need to pull out the OED.

 

[Darkness]

So whose decision was it to use the word "glamer"? "Glamor" or "glamour" are correct spellings of the word.

Sorry, but that one really irked me.

Glamer... Is that even a real word?

 

[green slime]

--snip--

Teachers and professors generally think that know more about English than they actually do.

I agree on one point. It would not be acceptable to use armor and armour in the same document, or specialized and specialised, but to use specialized and armour would be.

So this "can't use both" is, at best, an unproductive attitude...

Don't know about that generalization there...

But I'll agree with your point. Try Australia, where, when I grew up at least, armor was a no-no (along with color, valor and honor), but you could specialize or specialise to your heart's content. As long as you stuck to your preference.

English is a huge language, spoken by many people. The point is to communicate your intent clearly. If that is done, what is the problem? If you aren't, THEN you have a problem.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

JEEZ! The rant is for game designers. All he is saying is use consistent terms in game products to avoid confusion. That's all. There is no need to pull out the OED.

Uh-huh. I AM a game designer. The tone of the rant bothered me when it first came out and it continues to do so after his addendum. If you don't want to read about our discussion, then don't.