From: dart@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Dartanyan the Witchling)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: No longer Re: Dangerous Journeys
Keywords: Gygax,
Date: 20 Aug 92 09:46:12 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

In article <1992Aug19.180240.680@uwm.edu> buzzsaw@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Michael Elias Campbell) writes:
	In relation to EGG, and his lack of merits:
	
> His only secondary crime is deflating the egos of stuffed shirt
> gaming-geeks like yourself. That's a big problem in the gaming hobby
> today: There are a handful of people out there who feel free to
> play "efficency expert" with every game system under the sun, but 
> lack the cajhones to put one out themselves. They feel free to
> derogitorize and insult, but scream in agony when their victum fires back,
> giving him names like 'overweening, self-important ass.'
	
	And there are those who state their opinions.  I am glad to have
yours on a dislike for EGG.  Now, shut up.

>
> I ask you, can you:
>
> Speak with intelligence on no less than five seperate eras of human
> history?

	I can.   Gygax, unfortunately, can only bullshit using catch-phrases.

>
> Design games that have been recognized as modern classics in their
> field?

	I can, except, that they haven't been, yet.  It probably comes from
the fact that AD&D could be put out on the budget that was established from
sales of D&D, and I have no D&D income to rely on to put out a bunch of crap.
	Not that I'd put crap out.  I'm not that traditional.
	D&D was a modern classic.  Dave Arneson and Frank Mentzer designed
it.  AD&D was the most successful ripoff of D&D ever, and it suceeded
because of that TSR logo and the right to use the name Dungeons & Dragons, 
which both made it "official" To be honest, when i bought the first AD&D book,
the MM1, I thought it was a D&D product.  I had no idea that "advanced" meant
another game entirely.

>
> Write with skill in areas that are not your forte?
>

	Not only that, but I can write with skill in areas that ARE my forte.
	Both of which the EGG cannot.

> and (IMEO) most importantly:
>   Reply to cheap shots at you by immature little cretins who's
> historical knowledge is limited to Rambo movies and Tolkien rip-offs.
	
	Like I'm doing now?
	Yes.
	Oh, and rambo movies that inspire things like, what was it, "cyborg
warrior or somesuch, and by tolkein ripoffs, do you mean AD&D, or just
all his Dragon articles?
	(those that weren't attempts at defending him from onslaughts of
pointed observations of his stupidity.)

>
>   Stand behind your opinions when you know you are right but the
>   rest of the industry is slobbering and drooling over that "magic
>   5%"??

	To "know" something it must be true.  EGG has never had that
grace.
	Stubbornly insisted that he is right in the face of logic and even
facts?
	If a game sells well, it indicates that people like it, at least,
if it sells supplements.  I suppose that is an important note in AD&Ds favor,
except that, now that sales have been steadily DROPPING due to better games,
maybe it just indicates a previous near-lack of competition?
	That 5% indicates popularity, not just money.

>
> Let me state right now that I do not agree with everything Gygax says.
> I do however, admire the fact that in an industry that bands with the
> winds of geek opinions and rampant brown-nosing there is an individual
> who says what he means and means what he says and is not afraid to
> put it in firm, solid, print.

	Too bad he has absolutely no Idea how to write a game.
	Both those abilities, I suppose, would be wonderful if they were in
tha same person.  Add the previous fame as an interest point, and viola,
you have the start of gaming all over again.

>
> Can any of you do the same?
	
	Tell ya what, I'll do better.
	And Illustrate it to boot.


			D