*sigh*. Okay, let me clear up a few points.
In a recent post, I referred to "classic" RQ. By this I meant both RQ2 and RQ3; my intent was to differentiate them from the new RQ which will be published by AH, since the new system will purportedly be completely different.
Second: some of the responses to recent complaints about the state of the Digest and RQ are perfect examples of how to drive away players. Flaming people for saying that they feel that the fun has been taken out of Glorantha is not helpful, and will not bring in new converts.
Third: Personally, I've nothing to say against Greg. I've never been Gregged, because I've never had the slightest doubt in my mind about this issue. If Greg or anyone else declares some new version of Gloranthan reality that would invalidate my game, they'll have to come and GM my game themselves -- otherwise, it's *my* world. Not that Greg has been suggesting any such thing. In that regard, the term "Gregged" is inaccurate. Far as I know, he's never said "a campaign including 'X' is invalid"; that would be a bloody stupid thing to say (and come to think of it, Gary Gygax said exactly that long ago). Some gamers *have* tried to "Greg" others, but all that proves is that some RQ/Glorantha gamers are officious idiots. Surprise! -- the same can be said of a large percentage of the general population.
The problem isn't Greg. It isn't Chaosium. It isn't even Avalon Hill, since they are now completely irrelevant to Glorantha and may well be irrelevant to classic RQ, too. More than anything else, the problem is this Digest. There are a hell of a lot of "lowbrow" RQ/Glorantha players who get damn little out of the endless scholarly discussions here. Most of the gamers I know have long since unsubscribed. Several people have written to me since my first post, telling me that they feel the same -- not only is the Digest unfriendly, but it's *useless* to them as gamers. Many of us know old-time RQers who've given up on Glorantha, but how many new RQ/Glorantha gamers do you know?
The old RQ2 supplements were great fun. So were some of the RQ3 publications. In the old days, the Digest was a center of creativity too -- hell, I went out and got Internet access just to subscribe.
What has happened? We used to see NPCs, magic items, plot hooks, scenarios, strange creatures, and other fun game-useful stuff on the Digest. Over the years there's been less and less of that. True, no one is stopping newcomers from asking questions -- but if they do what's right and lurk a bit before posting, they're virtually certain to run like hell. Who'd dare post an elementary or junior-high school question to a seminar for advanced graduate students? How many new people have posted here in the last year? Answer: damn few.
Whatever we play -- RQ, Glorantha, G:TG, whatever -- we need to get a lot friendlier, more creative, and more productive. That's my point.
It has been suggested before that there could be two lists. One could be the "scholarly" list, devoted to Glorantha as a literary creation and philosophical exercise. The other would be for those who simply want to have fun and share specifically game-related ideas. As things stand now, the scholarly faction of Gloranthaphiles has virtually drowned out the roleplayers. Since Glorantha's public exposure is entirely due to roleplayers, this is not a healthy state of affairs -- not even from a scholarly perspective, since without new blood the world will *die*. Who'll care about Elmal/Yalmalio/etc. then?
(I should be clear here: I'm not talking about the new RQ-Rules list. I'm talking about a Glorantha *roleplaying* list, as opposed to Gloranthan philosophy/theology).
Maybe Chaosium/Issaries will get things going and start churning out quantities of great material for G:TG, but a good source of fun, useful material online could still make the difference between success and failure. No matter how great the new published material is, they'll need to *sell* it in order to keep producing. That means new people, new consumers, are needed.
The flames may well continue, I guess, and the state of affairs here might well remain the same. That may give some satisfaction to the flamers, but it definitely won't help RQ or Glorantha. And right now they do need help.
Putting my money where my mouth is: I'm willing to create and post new material (NPCs, plot hooks, whatever) here at least two or three times a year. If we could reach a consensus here or on a new Gloranthan roleplaying digest, we might even agree to all post one new NPC in one month, and a new scenario in the next. How about it?
-->Pete
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Maranci pmaranci_at_tiac.net Malden, MAEditor, Interregnum RPG/Science Fiction APA/magazine -- email for info. Interregnum WWW home page: http://www.tiac.net/users/maranci/index.html FRP adventures, art and more: http://www.tiac.net/users/maranci/rq.htm
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