I was on the fence for Acquisitions Incorporated. Truly, I was. I like Penny Arcade a lot, but I don’t play D&D right now.
But then this review made the sale.
Bought that sucker on the spot, I did. I mean, sure, it’s almost too on the nose as being a bitter old fellow who wants us all off his lawn. But ‘like playing D&D in the Discworld universe’ is a powerful selling point anyway. So what the heck. If it’s just a cunning marketing ploy, well, it succeeded and well done. Game respects game.
Moe Lane
I don’t even play D&D and I’m thinking of buying it.
Ditto, but I have also been keeping up with the AI games they’ve been streaming/podcasting for … ages, now. (Oof.) It would still be the only D&D book I own or have ever owned.
Playing with Will Wheaten is the only downside I can see.
(Shouting “Shut up, Wesley!” would have to get old at some point. Wouldn’t it?)
Jerry’s word-smithing prowess has driven fans to plea for a novel for ages. He has stated several times on the streams, “At this point, my D&D campaign is my novel.”
Okay. I’ll be that guy. He’s got a valid complaint.
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Seriously, is it really that difficult for folks to wrap their thoughts around the idea that others may not want comedy in their game? That maybe they’d like their gameplay to be more like Conan than like Cohen? That maybe reading about The Unseen University is a lot different experience than having to deal with them in game? Or just maybe that if “Zap” isn’t the default setting for Paranoia, then it probably shouldn’t be assumed that it’s the prevailing setting for the Forgotten Realms?
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And note, I watched Tycho DMing “The C-Team” for about a year. His world building skills are fine, but they’re not on the same level as Pratchett’s. Comparing the two suggests that the reviewer doesn’t know enough about either to have their opinion paid attention to.
I think that what people were having difficulty was the suggestion that the Discworld books could rapidly grow tiresome for their lowbrow comedy. 🙂 Which is an opinion that that fellow is entitled to have as part of his birthright as a human being and an American citizen, to be sure.
1) “Others” would have to find an entire group that felt the same way. In a game system still strongly influenced by Gygax’s sense of humor, and which often has absurd results. Especially if you extrapolate how the “physics” of the game mechanics would affect the world and the societies within it.
In a hobby infamous for breaking into spontaneous recitations of Monty Python and The Princess Bride.
In a species that reflexively uses humor to deal with tension.
Good luck with that.
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2) REH wasn’t exactly humorless, himself. You’re talking about the creator of Breckinridge Elkins, after all. The Conan series does use horror more than humor, but humor is still definitely present.
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3) You specifically invoked Forgotten Realms, the home of Cyric, Finder, Elminster, Drizzit, Jaraxle, etc. ad nauseam. Absurdity is kind of baked into the cake, here. I can’t think of any setting that embraces full on gonzo quite so enthusiastically. Not even Discworld measures up.
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In other words, your arguement as presented is ridiculous.
You could validly argue that you prefer a different tone of humor.
But that’s not what you’ve done. You’ve argued against including humor, and your chosen examples undercut, instead of buttress, your arguement.
I prefer a bit more drama to comedy …
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Let’s be clear, we’re talking about a game that’s 1/3 math, 1/3 improv, and 1/3 social ..
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That last third means whether your crew are more into Ankh-Morpork or Mordor or Cair Paravel or Laputa or Seireitei will have a lot to do with your game ..
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.. and how much (and kind of) humor will be involved.
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If your games trend absurdist, then this is the book for you!
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Mew
It’s valid as an opinion. Not as a complaint. I draw the line at saying this material to impure to be published and that furthermore, Your Fun Is Wrong™.
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No one;s making you buy the book.
#wrongfen having #wrongfun!