D&D General Who is this made for (Not Beginners) - the New D&D Starter Set

[Paul Farquhar]

The value to my mind is to see the opinion of something known not to be a WotC fan.

Why would someone buy four copies (without even checking it out first) if they are not a fan?

Does not make sense.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I do agree it would be hard for any of us to judge the suitability of this box for completely new players without giving it to some and letting them learn to play it without help.

That's true, but possibly overrated.

Unless you've done that (as the OP has to some degree),

They didn't though. They did the exact same thing that I did, only I did it with more groups (though some of my groups had a few experienced, or at least, 'have played a few sessions' players). I played with some people who didn't know which dice were which!

we can't learn how it's intended to work because our own experience colors our choices and reasoning.

We can, though. Just not perfectly. For example, I have spent decades learning to understand the difference between my own knowledge and the capabilities of a new player. I can tell you from experience that the real truth is... they are all different. It's unfortunate that @GreyLord didn't have anyone in the group who managed to read the Read Me First and understand it, or spot the big red Spell DC box on their Character Card. That was bad luck.

 

[Parmandur]

So you think having and voicing an uninformed opinion adds value to the conversation in some way? How exactly?

Repeating or credulously amplifying misinformation is definitely not of value.

It's certainly possible to have meaningful contributions to a discussion about a book one hasn't read, a movie one hasn't seen, or a game product one hasn't played with or even read, but there are obviously some limits and lines.

In general, I'm personally tired of the negativity that has infused online discourse. It takes little courage or effort to say something sucks, is overrated, or someone is a hack, so I tend to push back. I get a sense that negative views are often expressed in a condescending way, that someone is wrong for liking things, and that the critic is the smarter party for rejecting it. I like horror movies, and the negativity and complaining that dominates those spaces is draining. I'm often left wondering if they even enjoy the genre they claim to be fans of or just like griping?

Actually liking something requires conviction and putting yourself out there, so all things being equal, I respect it more, even if I don't agree.

Apropos of nothing...have y'all heard the Good Word of the Ignore feature?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Why would someone buy four copies (without even checking it out first) if they are not a fan?

Does not make sense.

They seem to have a problem with online stuff.
The QR code was seen as a trap to lure them into dndbeyond. Possibly a virus.

I'd say while caution is always good, that is quite some fear of normal practices these days and actually what younger people expect.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Apropos of nothing...have y'all heard the Good Word of the Ignore feature?

I think the problem is that you can't let misinformation stand on the internet uncommented.

So if everyone ignores it, people who google search for the new starter ser might somehow find exactly this review...

 

[Micah Sweet]

Why would someone buy four copies (without even checking it out first) if they are not a fan?

Does not make sense.

Well, I certainly wouldn't have done that.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The trouble with ignore is that sometimes people have something interesting to say (or just something I agree with).

 

[Parmandur]

I think the problem is that you can't let misinformation stand on the internet uncommented.

So if everyone ignores it, people who google search for the new starter ser might somehow find exactly this review...

I was referring to whatever the back and forth was about, as it seems like a bunch of people calling for reason and positivity for some reason

 

[Micah Sweet]

The trouble with ignore is that sometimes people have something interesting to say (or just something I agree with).

Ironically you are responding to someone who has blocked me.

 

[Parmandur]

The trouble with ignore is that sometimes people have something interesting to say (or just something I agree with).

But of evwry interaction is "please stop dragging the conversation down, this feels like threadcrapping"...maybe not worth the risk.