[snip some interesting bits and some harebrained comparison between Hero
Wars and D&D]
- Narrator vs. DM vs. GM - Dungeon Master is pretty inappropriate for most
games except for D&D. GM is inclusive and widely used. However, though I
initially disliked new jargon like Narrator, I have come around to the
opinion that Narrator is a novice-friendly term because it describes the
role of the game master to those people who do not know gaming culture. And
let's face it, game master sounds pretentious and dungeon master sounds
childish.
- You used the phrase MGF. I don't know what that means. Is it a common
Internet initialism? If not, using it is liable to alienate the casual
observer. (Can you let me know what it means in the mean time?)
- I've got to agree that I hate the TV references. If the game was
novice-friendly, then maybe they'd be okay, but I would still think that
they are patronizing.
- The game isn't novice-friendly: The world isn't clearly explained, yet
the mechanics are very world specific and certain abilities (especially
feats) are so vague as to even confuse those who are old hands at
Glorantha. On this fourth point (or any, but especially the fourth point)
please try to prove me wrong. I want to see a logical argument that
convinces me the Hero Wars is novice friendly. (Serious request)
Thanks,
Andy Dawson