Re: [BNW] Re: bnw-digest.19990926

["Chris Aniballi" <aniballi@mc.net>]

> Really think so?  To me phenomenal customer service would have been giving
> me a complete set of rules in one book first--then providing
support/returns
> for unsatisfied customers--as it stands it's merely an "Acceptable level"
of
> customer service---

I wouldn't normally do this, nor do I feel entirely justified in breaking
character like this, but i've sat here and read all your posts, much like
the portion of the one above, for several days now. List moderator forgive
me, I know not what I do.

I don't intend to staunchly defend the game, not in the least, I have my
opinions, you have yours. As it happens, your are decidely more vocal, and
for that matter, repetitive. You seem quite solidifyed in your
disatisfaction in BNW, and I find myself wondering whay you're wasting your
time trashing it openly on a listserv designed to support the game. You
provide your own standards for what would have been the right way to do it,
yet don't seem to understand the general "law" of RPGs. 1) NO one book is
*ever* a complete RPG (Asside maybe from TFOS, but that's neither here nor
there), sourcebooks have alway been a great way to introduce new character
types. It worked for Deadlands, it worked for White Wolf, hell, Rifts has
made a killing doing it. I like the fact that just about every new Deadlands
book I pick up as a few new templates. They flush out the locales with a
touch of personality. 2) If you find yourself calling a main book
'incomplete', then you likely are unfirmiliar with the cardial fact for
GMing - good GMs make even the most medeocre games playable. Almost every
RPG on the market encourages creativity on behalf of their GMs an players.
Want to try something new? Make up a rule/power. Many of the gang on this
list have to do it every time they get behind a screen. This doesn't make an
RPG incomplete, there will *always* be plenty of opportunity for you to
stretch your creative wings and have fun with the format. 3) RPG companies
are not psychic. Plans change over time (Remember, Stone was supposed to be
a hero). There are thousands of great ideas that they stockpile for release
as their line expands. A good release schedule is a good way to ensure that
your game has a fighting chance at survival. PEG does this by seeding a good
story, packing books with new templates, rules, gizmos, et cetera. 4)Your
statement that they sell incomplete games is a half-truth. True: Yes, they
don't put everything in one book, as they do what you buy supplements (No
honest game publisher would ever deny that) they do, after all, have bills
to play, families to feed. False: They do it to force players into spending
money they don't have / shouldn't spend / don't need to spend / might spend
on another game. We all have to know our limits, for some of us it means
playing RPGs on a shoestring, and there a lot that perform well in this way
(Cthuhlu comes to mind). There have been no PEG rulebooks that have been
without some redeeming quality, BNW looks to follow suit. I don't buy a
suppliment just for the templates, do you? And why would you? There is a
*ton* of source material for setting, adventure ideas and hooks. If the
argument is cost, I refer to my previous statement, no one makes you buy a
gaming book.

You also mentioned you write you own settings, I find myself wondering if
your true dissatisfaction lies in the fact that you had to pay for a
setting. If that might be the case your argument is foolish, RPGs are
setting intensive, no setting / no RPG. You should be used to that by now
with all the game systems you've bought. If all a company ever sold was a
game system it would be tough for conventions, campagins, even support
formatslike this one to thrive. What would this (or more aptly the
Deadlands) listserve be like if we all supported the Pinnacle RPG Engine? A
whole lot of nothing, i'll tell you that much.  If there wasn't enough meat
to the rules then maybe you'be be better off with a more traditional style
superhero RPG, one that, as you so desprately need, have all the powers in
the main rulebook. Champions, as I believe you mentioned, for one example.
Me? I bought the setting, it so happens it came with some ready made rules.

Please don't respond, whatever you say will invariably be the same in
content as any of your other posts in the last few days, and i'm not sure I
want to hear it for the fifth time.

I certainly hope that this post doesn't read as being too harsh or rude. My
only attempt was to be direct, apoologies are out in advance if I have
offended anyone.

Chris Aniballi
Character Breaker

"Free yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds"
Bob Marley, Redemption Song