tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post3836581576076308472..comments2024-03-28T17:27:58.052-07:00Comments on Playing D&D With Porn Stars: Time To D.I.Y.Zak Sabbathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-28865916090724230782011-11-30T21:10:18.786-08:002011-11-30T21:10:18.786-08:00Such is the grand tradition in which we participat...Such is the grand tradition in which we participate, Zak. Try to enjoy it if possible.Danny Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064520578164166666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-2929623700572875262011-11-30T20:11:26.926-08:002011-11-30T20:11:26.926-08:00@danny
If I worried that much about brainless fuc...@danny<br /><br />If I worried that much about brainless fuckheads misinterpreting my blog entries I'd never write any.<br /><br />Seriously, you could write "Grass is green" on a role-playing game blog and the next day there'd be a link to it on some forum about how you were encouraging people to sell pregnant teenagers into white slavery.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-25939793484625077922011-11-30T19:51:45.150-08:002011-11-30T19:51:45.150-08:00Those objections are all fine by me. All I'm s...Those objections are all fine by me. All I'm saying is that it would be a shame if folks took your words for permission to commodify the stuff they would be doing anyway. I can see it now: "Zak said we should all start self-publishing because of punks or something! My first effort will be available on lulu for 3d6 dollars (plus or minus my self-importance modifier). It will consist of all-new rehashes of the bard, mountebank, jongleur and monk classes and a primer on my house setting, Onne Myllyion Nyghts of Humanoid Caves."<br /><br />My quibble about the retroclones is a separate issue. I think we have enough of them now, let's cool it on the retroclones for a while.Danny Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064520578164166666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-53053993336265301512011-11-30T18:06:51.393-08:002011-11-30T18:06:51.393-08:00@Danny
1. I am not asking anyone to commercialize...@Danny<br /><br />1. I am not asking anyone to commercialize what they're doing. Only if they were only going to that they should do it in a certain way.<br /><br />2. Nearly every rules clone I see is downloadable for free. LOTFP, S&W etc. Who are you talking about?<br /><br />3. I dunno about anyone else but the commercial product I put out is fucking awesome.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-74617630005798591392011-11-30T18:02:07.784-08:002011-11-30T18:02:07.784-08:00I don't have any problem with somebody making ...I don't have any problem with somebody making the leap from freelancer to self-published. More power to them, I say. But I would argue that commercializing the hobby that we already have can only do harm to the collective output.<br /><br />Speaking for myself, I like to pick rules fragments and setting details from whatever's at hand on the blogospace. If someone's new character class or dungeon is mediocre or doesn't fit my taste I still benefit from cannibalizing the ideas that I like. On the other hand I've found many commercial products of the OSR to be disappointing because I had to shell out for them and only a few are appreciably different or better than what I can already get for free. OSR, I love what you're about. Please don't make me pay four dollars for a half-assed pdf of what you should be giving away. I'd like to add a special emphasis to those developing new retroclones. Do us both a favor and ask yourself "Am I adding anything valuable to the discussion?"<br /><br />I'd also like to take a parting shot at the shameless hucksterism that plagues many commercially-directed efforts in the OSR. Posting endless "sneak peek" screenshots and updates on your latest negotiations with the printer is worse than worthless, it's a dilution of my RSS feed!!Danny Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064520578164166666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-16236111306913079972011-11-30T08:46:33.334-08:002011-11-30T08:46:33.334-08:00Self-published games? Bah, nobody buys those!
- J...Self-published games? Bah, nobody buys those!<br /><br />- JJared Sorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05782107670388783619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-508448009692219932011-11-29T23:07:45.651-08:002011-11-29T23:07:45.651-08:00@Danny Z
I get the (maybe wrong) feeling where th...@Danny Z<br /><br />I get the (maybe wrong) feeling where this is one of those comments where you make a provocative statement and I give a completely reasonable answer and you ignore it and never write back but I'll do it anyway:<br /><br />I am not saying "follow the money". I am saying "If you are going to try to make a commercial product ANYWAY, do it independently or on a profit split, not for a work-for-hire basis".<br /><br />As for free material: I OBVIOUSLY AGREE WITH YOU there are free D&D tools published per month on this blog than almost anywhere else. I like and approve of the mostly-free DIY D&D spirit.<br /><br />However: there are things (like Vornheim) which take SO long to produce, that they would start eating into your ability to feed yourself if you didn't get something back from them.<br /><br />NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO OR SHOULD MAKE SUCH A THING: however some people are inclined to, and those people should realize that traditional freelancing is the less-optimal and (coincedentally) less creativity-friendly way to go.<br /><br />If you have any actual desire to participate in a meaningful way in this conversation I ask that you write a response to this comment and tell me whether you understand and agree with what I'm saying. If not, let's have a conversation about it. Hit and run comments help nobody.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-39303071984329147472011-11-29T21:55:11.749-08:002011-11-29T21:55:11.749-08:00Zak, please explain the relationship between "...Zak, please explain the relationship between "do it yourself" and your advice to follow the money.<br /><br />Everyone else, please continue releasing your work gratis. The last thing our hobby needs is encouragement for blogwriters banging their heads against the publishing wall in order to justify "monetizing" their houserules in imitation of a few successful outliers. The OSR is not an industry, it's a running dialogue built on a free(!) exchange of information. At its best, it produces more and better material than anyone on the market.Danny Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064520578164166666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-86466501081360791682011-11-28T10:13:16.803-08:002011-11-28T10:13:16.803-08:00Only half? Thanks!Only half? Thanks!Peter Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12222974411493312737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-32616188034754900482011-11-28T08:44:58.521-08:002011-11-28T08:44:58.521-08:00@peter
post it on the dragnsfoot, rpgsite and od...@peter<br /><br /> post it on the dragnsfoot, rpgsite and odd74 forums and on G+ if you don't have a blog.<br /><br />ignore half of what you hear.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-40474085290587082422011-11-28T08:42:28.696-08:002011-11-28T08:42:28.696-08:00If one had, hypothetically, drank a litre of cold-...If one had, hypothetically, drank a litre of cold-brewed-all-day hypercoffee and written a seven or so briefing doc on a low-fantasy city partly ruled by a liche priesthood, drawing slightly too heavily on a politics 'n' history education...<br /><br />How would one ask people to read it and give feedback?<br /><br />It's the first piece of (semi)creative writing I've done in forever, but given how much it gripped me in the six hours it took to brainstorm and write up, I don't want to ignore it.Peter Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12222974411493312737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-4371633431303356182011-11-28T04:02:27.883-08:002011-11-28T04:02:27.883-08:00Great words Zak, you're really one steap ahead...Great words Zak, you're really one steap ahead.<br />If you do porns like you write of rpg I gotta buy a couple of your dvd's, maybe I'll learn something on that topic too :PMTNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389626031147642433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-62259315999708754432011-11-28T03:45:15.457-08:002011-11-28T03:45:15.457-08:00Bloody inspiring.Bloody inspiring.T1000https://www.blogger.com/profile/07156934381373511727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-65649879165778967222011-11-27T19:33:22.581-08:002011-11-27T19:33:22.581-08:00Mostly I agree with this. I'd even say that th...Mostly I agree with this. I'd even say that the chance of coming away with *absolutely nothing* from your indie venture is slightly lower than the chance of coming away with nothing from the bigger RPG publisher who goes bust (often after having released and sold your product!).<br /><br />The chance does exist, though, even in that friendly indie market, so do pick your 50%-of-the-profits publishing buddy with care, or better still, just go it alone.<br /><br />The real benefit to the indie route is you don't compromise your vision as an artist, man. You don't have to write an entire book about whatever dull power-gaming munchkin stuff the big publisher wants. As someone who has written enough dull power-gaming munchkin books (at the publisher's request) that my artistic vision is dim and foggy if I can find it at all, I can guarantee that that's worth it in itself.Ian Sturrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07449065244623947284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-48981805027639809012011-11-27T10:58:39.254-08:002011-11-27T10:58:39.254-08:00Working on it, though I'll try to hit folks si...Working on it, though I'll try to hit folks sideways.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508594597349248576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-52389748497143510732011-11-27T08:28:23.105-08:002011-11-27T08:28:23.105-08:00Anyone can spout off. However, it takes someone wh...Anyone can spout off. However, it takes someone who's been there to do so authoritatively, and with numbers. You give me some hope for the future.Tom O'Bedlamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11821487402927475042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-85644256970179219252011-11-27T07:07:26.417-08:002011-11-27T07:07:26.417-08:00I needed this pep talk right now, Zak, thanks. I D...I needed this pep talk right now, Zak, thanks. I DIY'd magazines, bands, events and comix as a kid in the 80's. Somehow when I got all 'growned up and shit' I forgot my punk rock roots...Hailz yeah, my dream game that I've been jerkin' around with, 'Total Fucking Annihilation', is gonna see the light this coming year. You wanna play test the beta?Vicg61https://www.blogger.com/profile/03216752541301867593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-61851722613820277592011-11-27T05:39:19.053-08:002011-11-27T05:39:19.053-08:00I loved that quote from Ron. It summarizes so well...I loved that quote from Ron. It summarizes so well what this is all about.<br /><br />The games that have come out of the indie movements are great, the talk not always that great...AndreasDavourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17170806742393291962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-7626354725608393572011-11-27T04:00:16.993-08:002011-11-27T04:00:16.993-08:00Very good advice, Zak. Though you may want to keep...Very good advice, Zak. Though you may want to keep a close watch on James because making midget dance is really tempting.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00801468265072232351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-40234071404144617192011-11-26T20:14:04.761-08:002011-11-26T20:14:04.761-08:00Well, WELL said Zak. I have to get my shit togethe...Well, WELL said Zak. I have to get my shit together...toddroehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05668825555921002430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-36235194098207485572011-11-26T20:06:36.622-08:002011-11-26T20:06:36.622-08:00Maybe not RPG, but certainly a world of Vornheim...Maybe not RPG, but certainly a world of Vornheim( one that day that is).I.F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04345074915911014741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-40782149354890601342011-11-26T15:14:02.490-08:002011-11-26T15:14:02.490-08:00Watch it mate, you're beginning to sound like ...Watch it mate, you're beginning to sound like a mogul. Ha.<br /><br />Nice post.Adelaide Gamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052999343460635401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-69361568028465446942011-11-26T14:46:41.520-08:002011-11-26T14:46:41.520-08:00@Steve
I have no plans to do that, since retreadi...@Steve<br /><br />I have no plans to do that, since retreading and reorganizing old stuff isn't fun for me, but if you want to do it and stick in art from my webpage and then show it to me, I might be like "Hey, looks good to me" and sign off.<br /><br />Might.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-78905088210174662842011-11-26T14:41:28.905-08:002011-11-26T14:41:28.905-08:00Zak, are you (or you and Raggi) gonna put together...Zak, are you (or you and Raggi) gonna put together a "How to DM Like a Porn Star" book or something? Something that took a lot of your existing posts about creating and running a game and polished them off and stitched them together with more art?<br /><br />I'd like that item to exist, so I would put it together for you to lightly edit and sign off on.Steve Lawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05850475794529316211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-51569980700857663852011-11-26T14:20:19.508-08:002011-11-26T14:20:19.508-08:00@evernevermore
I would never write a book i mysel...@evernevermore<br /><br />I would never write a book i myself would not use. And I play D&D, so i don't need to write a game.<br /><br />though if you want an idea of what i'd do, just look at gigacrawler.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.com