When I went to Origins in Columbus a few weeks ago I was
extremely excited. First of all, I had never been to anything so mind
bogglingly huge in relation to role-playing games, and secondly, I don't only
make games, I play them . . . lots of them. The twenty or so hour
drive was a small price to pay to show off my product and to hang with
other geeks much like myself. More so than fraternizing and publicizing, I was
looking forward to all those spiff nifty and shiny new games that pop up
at events like this. I was shocked and amazed when I popped over to the
Games Workshop Booth and found out what great and amazing things
they have to rape my wallet of more money with. I was reminded of the
good old days when I visited Green Knight and saw Pendragon and instantly
reminisced back to my good old 2nd edition AD&D games of political intrigue (. . .
back when AD&D was a good game). I met lots of freelancers and artists
and game gurus and got to ask all the stupid nerd questions you ask game
designers.
And then, like a dark wave of rolling and espousing
pointlessness, I saw it . . . the d20 fad.
My heart sank into the bowels of my soul as I saw booth after
booth of cardboard pop-up companies with their great new gotta buy
d20 modules and expansions for 3rd Edition AD&D. I saw titles like Legends
and Lairs, Creature Compendium, Labyrinths and Lycanthropes, Sewers
and Swamprats, and God knows how many other pathetic and utterly useless
supplements for use with a completely useless game. Eager to leave this maze of
mediocrity, I ran to the AEG booth, hoping to see something
new and innovative like the new Farscape game coming out.
"What kind of system are you guys gonna use for it?" I asked.
"d20" they replied with a look of total satisfaction.
Desperate for some glimmer of hope, I crawled with weakened
knees to the Pinnacle Group. You know, those brilliant great and creative
guys that make Deadlands. As soon as I got to their booth, I saw it.
Emblazoned all over their new books like a "I'm Special" badge you give to
the dunce in the corner, d20 system.
Sure, 3rd Edition made the NY Times Best-Seller List . . . But
so did Mick Foley. Mick Foley's a great guy . . . Has all my respect in the
world . . . but come on. Sure, they've sold millions of copies . . . but so
has Microsoft. Come on people. When everyone knows who you are and you
monopolize multiple industries, you're bound to hit a lot of sales
and a bestseller here and there. Why? Because of you. It's the same
mentality that makes N'Sync "Pop." It's the same stupid whoring of an
asset that made things like Tele-Tubbies and Beanie Babies marketable. I
expect so much more from you people. You're gamers! Like you give a
damn about what's fad or popular. You play these games because you're
creative, intelligent, think on multiple levels . . . or just don't date enough.
You don't play them because the cool guy that all the girls like
plays it.
If that's the case, you'd all be in football.
Timothy Till
President Rune's Law Inc.
15915 North Bend Dr.
Houston, TX 77073
(281) 443-1457 Phone
(281) 397-6640 Fax
-- Makers of Wayfarer Infinity: Science-Fantasy Role Playing
-- Hosts of "I Think Therefore I Con" in Houston, Texas
"Good . . . Bad . . . I'm the guy with the gun."
- Army of Darkness (Ash)
