This could be very good, or very bad. Such is the word of online videos.
We decided early on that any materials likely to be used only once had to be eliminated from the set or kept to a minimum. One example would be a tutorial that teaches the rules through a scripted adventure. And in deciding that such a tutorial is something we didn’t want, we were able to think about how that kind of resource would be much better suited to other media—such as online video. Because we’re giving players the opportunity to learn the game without investing any money in it (with our move to make Basic D&D a free download), a new player who downloads the rules can then make use of video tutorials that provide a much better experience of how D&D works. This approach would be like packaging a master DM like Chris Perkins in every Starter Set.
As a side note, I have some thoughts on jagoffs that refer to those in the OSR that aren't falling all over 5e prior to release (in other words - "sight unseen") as "OSR Taliban", but I'll probably need to put that post to virtual paper when I'm a tad more sober. I'd hate for anyone to get butt hurt too badly.
The video tutorial's a novel idea, I suppose. Not sure how well it'll go, though; I've tried watching others play online and it was a little boring
ReplyDeleteThat OSR Taliban thing's pretty ridiculous. Have they even read the playtests? I don't recall seeing anything in those worth stealing (my usual test for determining the worth of RPGs). Seems perfectly reasonable for someone to not get all excited about 5e. This coming from someone who could at best be described as a "neo-grognard", which I'd think would exclude me from membership in such a fundamentalist group
This new edition's got me feeling like I'm either crazy or the only sane person left. I'm seeing lots of comparisons to 3E, but it's nothing like what I enjoyed about 3.0, and the people saying it's old-school have got me thinking I've completely misunderstood what that term even means
I don't think that you're crazy - but I do think that the comparisons to older editions tends to be done as people see some of their favorite parts of their games in this new edition. There's a lot there but I think that we have to wait for the final version before any of us can really say much.
DeleteI only hope the videos are as good as the VHS tape that came with Dragonstrike!
ReplyDelete"OSR Taliban"?
ReplyDeleteMY, how *classy*.
"As a side note, I have some thoughts on jagoffs that refer to those in the OSR that aren't falling all over 5e prior to release (in other words - 'sight unseen') as 'OSR Taliban', but I'll probably need to put that post to virtual paper when I'm a tad more sober."
ReplyDeleteMy cold sober thought is that they can go screw themselves. I don't want or need ANYTHING from WotC. Anybody who thinks we're required to support so-called "D&D" just because it's currently in print... well, a certain type of person and their money are soon parted. Not this boy!
I don't think anyone needs to be "falling all over 5e prior to release". Waiting and seeing is good option. However, repudiating D&D out of ignorance (not doing thorough research) belittles the entire hobby, as well as, our hobby's chances of survival.
ReplyDeleteThe OSR can support paper & pencil tabletop fantasy roleplaying without forking out any cash. No one is required to love 5e, just as no one is required to reject it sight unseen like a "jagoff"... also classy, by the way.
I did say I was intox ;)
DeleteMy initial thoughts were damn nigh unpublishable :)
Turns out that I had a lot more to say on the topic than I realized. It's all in my latest blog post. Basically, I think a lot of people (including me, I'm sure) have taken the 5e debate a little too far.
DeleteIn the end, 5e shouldn't effect our personal relationships with each other. If my hyper-enthusiasm bummed people out, then sorry, guys. My bad.
I must not hang around the right blogs, I don't know of too many people who are getting all up in arms about 5E in defense of it. Game looks fine to me, I playtested it and do think it moves back to a more comfortable OSR-friendly zone but it's important to remember that I think AD&D 2E is on the margins of OSR, and also that in order to really appreciate what 5E is doing you have to have actively suffered through 3rd and 4th edition; 5E looks downright ancient compared to the last two editions, even if it's mechanically still a bit savvier than its forebears 1st and 2nd edition.
ReplyDeleteOh, hell, I just used Teh Google and guess who's the source of the "OSR Taliban" comment - that lil' scamp, RPGPundit.
ReplyDeleteGawddamn, I KNEW he was behind it. What a douche. As if I needed another reason to not give a good damn about anything he says, beyond his demented theory that "Dungeon World" is some kind of SEEEKRIT CONSPIRACY to brainwash the OSR into playing story games.
Yeesh.
Sure, he can be a jerk (and maybe a douche at times), but let's not go overboard. I'm sure RPGPundit's heart is in the right place and he's an alright guy deep down.
DeleteThere's a phrase for scaling back on fighting and trying to leave the war zone as peacefully as possible but it escapes me right now.