Post/Author/DateTime	Post
flaiquiri 07-04-07, 03:06 PM	Why do people have to be so reductive? I see these posts everywhere in response to people's projects asking "why don't you just use (something pre-existing?") The answer is that they want to express their creativity to create something NOVEL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF CONTENT-GENERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (pulls hair out)
snakeman830 07-04-07, 03:12 PM	Agreed. I hate it when people do that.
Lawlicron 07-04-07, 03:14 PM	Why do people have to be so reductive? I see these posts everywhere in response to people's projects asking "why don't you just use (something pre-existing?") The answer is that they want to express their creativity to create something NOVEL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF CONTENT-GENERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (pulls hair out) Sometimes the ideas aren't novel or really creative. They are just rehashing something thats already been done. I've done it before though, I don't mind most of the time. Just please, no more elf sub-races.
Artifact 07-04-07, 07:41 PM	Many years ago, I used to think I had what it took to be a game designer. Of course, I was smart enough to realize nothing would ever come of it, but still, in my mind, I could create stuff better than Gygax anyday. As I've gotten older, I've come to realize that, while I am indeed very creative, I have absolutely no talent for game design. Its no coicidence that D&D 3rd edition arrived about the same time ;). I have to face facts, when it comes to game design: I DO suck!! (to paraphrase a classic thread title from these very boards). So, that being said, I'm typically one of the first to suggest (and yes, that's ultimately all it amounts to) that if someone thinks they have a novel idea to check and see what the professionals have designed first. I think Seeker95 says it best: Why reinvent the wheel, if you don't have to? I do understand what you're saying however, creativity should never be stiffled. That's one reason I enjoy visiting these boards so much, because of the ideas presented. I love having my imagination stirred, and its ideas that do this, not actual game mechanics. Just my few coppers :). [Edit: As I re-read my own post, it comes across a bit condescending. Its not intended that way at all; I just mean good game design is a lot harder to come by than an actual good idea or two :).
knuck 07-04-07, 10:58 PM	By looking at the CO forum alone you can see why game designers shouldn't be treated as gods. Yeah, they're good since their stuff sell, but they're not perfect.
Artifact 07-04-07, 11:29 PM	By looking at the CO forum alone you can see why game designers shouldn't be treated as gods. Yeah, they're good since their stuff sell, but they're not perfect. I'll trust a published game designer more readily than I will some hack on a message board any day. Just teasin' :P. Seriously though, there are some really, really talented people on the CO boards. They really do know their stuff and some of it is wicked. The only thing about min/max that concerns me is that in order for it to work, pretty much anything ever published is fair game. In order to build the perfect "gish" for example, you might need access not only to the core rules, but the Complete series, Races series, and Draconomicon. I find my games more "managable" (for lack of a better term) when I start with core and add only as necessary. I would however be interested in building the perfect two-weapon fighter. Ahh, maybe someday :). And on the subject of game designers (such as those who work for say, WotC). They get paid for their work, which is good enough for me. I honestly can't judge if their work is actually good or not. Why? Because I am simply a player (or DM, as the case may be). If any design becomes problematic, I simply houserule it, even though I have no actual experience with game design. Yeah, some are great, some not so much, but by now, I know those whom I prefer and those I don't. Whew, this is a longwinded post (for me at least). Must be the caffiene. Have a good day :).
Captain_Kobold 07-05-07, 08:27 AM	Why do people have to be so reductive? I see these posts everywhere in response to people's projects asking "why don't you just use (something pre-existing?") The answer is that they want to express their creativity to create something NOVEL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF CONTENT-GENERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (pulls hair out) Often one of the questions that people ask when designing something new is "Is this balanced?" Generally because they want to play one or have a player wanting to play one. By referring them to an example that already exists withing the rules, they can get a better idea even if they decide to go along with their creation. We generally assume that when someone posts a new idea that it is a case of "Have a concept that I want to play" as opposed to just "Isn't this a cool idea!" By mentioning how they could translate that concept into existing rules, it gives them a better chance of getting their DM to agree to it and so actually being able to play it. It also makes things easier on both the DM and the players. While the existing rules aren't completely balance-perfect, most of them are, and so the exceptions (Feral template, Whisper Gnomes etc :) ) remain exceptions. In a decent campaign, the player will get to express far more creativity in actually playing his character than anything he could have done in creating new rules.
knuck 07-06-07, 10:21 AM	Artifact: No, I meant, there's some stuff from the CO forum that is only doable due to poor rules in the books. Pun-pun is a good (overused, I know) example. :P
Count Nerindil Van Seraph 07-06-07, 10:41 AM	Why do people have to be so reductive? I see these posts everywhere in response to people's projects asking "why don't you just use (something pre-existing?") The answer is that they want to express their creativity to create something NOVEL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF CONTENT-GENERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (pulls hair out) To that I say "Why make something new if what you need already exists?"
Mindolin 07-06-07, 11:27 AM	I often point to something that already exists because it might work better. As an example, there are many race questions about Saiyans from Dragon Ball Z. Quite a number of the races made are insanely overpowered, and so I suggest using a modified Giff or Scro so that it is playable before epic levels.
Radagast, the brown 07-06-07, 09:00 PM	To that I say "Why make something new if what you need already exists?" Precisely, if you're trying to create Y which only has a microscopic difference then X, why not use X and tweak it to what you want.