Kudo's to the Trolls

[jman5000]

So, a long time role playing friend of mine went to gencon this year and I begged and pleaded with him to pick up a few things for me. He does not play D&D - he's an Indy role player. Thought I'd share what he said to me... I'll just post the whole thing...

From: Friend 4:53 pm (5 hours ago)

to jman

date Aug 23, 2007 4:53 PM

subject Re: Stupid scheduling cockups, plus you as GM

BTW, those two Castles and Crusades things I bought

are pretty bloody impressive in terms of production

values. You should really come and get them tomorrow

night or on the weekend or something. I glanced at

them at lunch today, and even I was impressed. That

kind of eye candy goes a long way to improving the

experience. I didn't pull anything out of the folder

though, because you should have that priviledge.

so, well done... even those that don't like this kind of fantasy gaming is impressed..

Cheers,

J.

[Breakdaddy]

Nice.

[serleran]

Production value... the meat and potatoes of roleplaying. Heh.

Its good to hear, sure, but I'd rather see something like "so, it looked so awesome I had to read it... and when I did, I was further blow away." Looking pretty is good for the girls... they only stay a night, but for a RPG, its got to look good and be good for the sack (of dice.)

Seriously, its very cool news, and something the Trolls need to hear more often (hint, Steve, hint)

[jman5000]

sure, you're right, but if you don't look good to begin with.... nobody will be reading how awesome the content is.

Cheers,

J.

[Telhawk]

I don't know if that's true one hundred percent of the time - I recall watching a news segment some time ago about a dollar store/curiosity shop-type operation that had a fairly thriving business...their ads were mimeographed, not terribly well laid out, cheap colored paper, but they had a certain...cache to them, I guess. After the management hired pro ad guys to design new ads for them, business actually went down: the reason being that people would look at the old ads and think, Hmm, kind of interesting...the sort of place that I might be able to find buried treasure, maybe... The new ads had wiped away that image, and replaced it with something "professional"; and to a certain mindset, professional equals programmed.

One thing I've despised about WotC's releases over the last several years is just how slick and over-polished the whole thing seems to have been...a Webster's definition of style over substance. I like books and games that have a certain atmosphere of stuff jumbled together a bit, which in turn encourages jumbling and new mixes on my - or another CK's - part. Organization is, of course, key...but there's also something in me that worships a mindset that follows the KISS dictum (hence the reason Raven McCracken's nightmarish World of Synnabarr [sp?] never caught on), yet with enough elements to allow new combinations to arise.

Anyway, yes, I do agree that the nature of the production is an important element, but I'd also like to think that the population here has looked at other house's works - impressively packaged as they might be - and pronounced them unfit for human consumption. Knowing the quality of the work as I do, I'd continue to purchase the Troll Lords' stuff even if it were printed on Bounty sheets.

[Omote]

Still, it's a damn good impression to leave on sombody. Production vlaues plus or minus, it's getting the guy to read the books that counts. Good job jman5000000000.

....................................Omote

FPQ
_________________
> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

[Fat Dragon Games]

The first time I opened the C&C PHB it felt like I was 11 years old again thumbing through the 1E AD&D PHB. It completely brought back that feeling of wonder and excitement for the possibilities the game offered, not like the current WOTC stuff that spells everything out for you and gives you very little maneuvering room to make it your own.
_________________
Thomas A. Tullis

Fat Dragon Games
www.fatdragongames.com

Castles & Crusades...more D&D than D&D.