Talk:List of role-playing game writers

message: * Seems a duplication of effort to me. Percy Snoodle 11:25, 16 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree that system design is separate from setting design; but List of designers of role-playing games doesn't make a distinction (probably because many do both).  The term "writers" here is horribly vague - do tie-in fiction writers count? Percy Snoodle 13:43, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: If they are going to be separate, and I think they should, then it seems to me that there should clear critera for inclusion. Writers of settings (such as Kingdoms of Kalamar)/supplements (such as Clan books for V:TM)/comics about gaming (such as Dork Tower, Knights of the Dinner Table, and the like)/tie-in fiction (I can't think of an example right now) should be included in the writer category, while system designers should be on the designer list. There will be duplication of effort, and the inclusion criteria should be clear. I'm just making some suggestions for inclusion criteria. I don't really care if fiction and comic authors are excluded, for example. oops that's me Vampyrecat 03:36, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm not convinced that "writers" vs. "designers" is a sensible distinction to make - I think it would be better to include anyone who's worked on RPG design in designers, and remove this list, as any criteria we can come up with won't be obvious from the article names.  Perhaps I should have AfD'ed it rather than suggesting a merge. Percy Snoodle 06:47, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Deleting this list is not a good idea.  It is the designer list that should be merged or deleted if you're going to hack-and-slash. If you're not going to make a distinction between roleplaying game writers and system designers then the lists should be merged and this list should not be deleted. If you do a merge then the designer list should be merged into the writer list because designer is a subset of writers but writers is not a subset of designers.  Writers who are also designers could have a notation by their name on this list after the merge. I don't think a merge or deletion is necessary or adviseable, but if one is done the only one that makes sense to me is a merge of designers into writers. Vampyrecat 14:39, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I disagree - writers are a subset of designers.  I think we're using the terms differently - to me, a writer would be strictly limited to text, whereas someone who had contributed to any aspect of the game - system, setting, illustration, or whatever - could be called a designer.  I absolutely don't think it's worth our while maintaining two lists. Percy Snoodle 18:21, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  Yes, it does sound as if we are not on the same page concerning definitions. It may not be worth the time to maintain two lists, in which case I would like to advocate for a merge and not a deletion. I still think all writers/designers should be on a list of some sort, and I don't care what it is called.  I guess I don't really have a strong opinion about which is a subset of the other. Vampyrecat 02:35, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  OK then, I shall go ahead with the merge. Percy Snoodle 11:02, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Merge