(I have no idea if this is an appropriate forum area for this ... someone move it if it isn't!)
It's been sixth months now since I went to GenCon, chatted to Malcolm and decided to stop being a lurker here and start actively participating in Collective Endeavour. I thought it might be useful to have a sort of retrospective on my experience as a new member and share it with everyone.
The Good Bits
1. One of my objectives was to learn from people who have done what I wanted to do and I have done that in spades. The openness of the forum and its users means that you can really see whats happening and how small press games work at the coal face.
2. I've gained invaluable advice about the game design process, not only from the forum itself but also by email from members of the forum. Without this advice I don't think I would be anywhere near as confident as I am in the integrity of D&H.
3. I've gained focus and the ability to set myself realistic benchmarks in the design work that I do. The professional nature of the board cuts the crap out and means that realistically we are only talking about design, theory or our games. Thats good.
4. I think I've gained a lot more confidence to speak my mind within the 'indie rpg community'. I don't know whether it is an increased understanding of its workings, a personal frame of reference to use in conversations or whatever, but I'm definitely finding it easier to speak my mind.
5. I've found my way around the hobby side of rpgs a bit better and got myself a nice little convention calendar mapped out. Moreover I have gotten over my preconception about the futility of convention games
6. Hey, I've got a whole new bunch of mates on t'interweb!
The Bad Bits
1. Still not really got the hang of pimpin' out D&H yet. I'm still quite shy about it (I know, those that have met me will be shaking their heads at the concept of me being shy, but for someone who can be horrendously gregarious in some cases, I have problems ordering a taxi through chronic shyness in others!) as if everyone is going to laugh and mock and point and sneer. Need to get over that one.
2. I find some of the messageboards mechanical nuances to be ... challenging. I'm sure there is a reason why they work like they do so I will grit my teeth and be tolerant.
The Ugly Bits
1. Its still a confusing message thats being sent out by the site. It welcomes new people to come to it from the UK design community and it seeks to expand its brand and yet at the same time it complains about those new people posting on the board and giving out more 'noise'. I think thats my only real negative. Even though I am confident that I am a 'member' I still find it occassionally intimidating when I have to second guess my posting isn't annoying someone.
So there you go - all in all its been a massively positive experience hanging around here and trying to contribute where I can. Thanks.
Neil
And as if ...
Submitted by Neil Gow on Thu, 07/02/2008 - 00:04.
... to illustrate my points:
Someone on Story Games asks about Duty and Honour
One member of SG emails me and tells me
Another member of SG politely answers his query and points him in the right direction
Moments later a copy of the rules are in his hands
THATS whats cool. Appreciate it loads
Neil
Take the King's shilling at http://www.omnihedron.co.uk/dutyandhonour/
Great post Neil
Submitted by Matt on Thu, 07/02/2008 - 10:22.
Before people post their own thoughts, I'd suggest considering starting your own thread for your own reflections.
-Matt
Realms Publishing
Glad to be of help!
Submitted by Iain McAllister on Thu, 07/02/2008 - 12:36.
I should have just emailed you directly Neil but at least he got his hands on a copy.
I still have trouble pimping my own games but am getting a lot better at it. I don't really see it as out and out 'my game is cool you should buy it' more engaging with my friends and peers on the games I am working on. Numerous bad design deciscions have been avoided because of the fine folks I have met through sites like this one.
Once we hear back from the other new arrivals to the site we can look at how we go forward in 2008.
Cheers
Iain
Mob Justice now available!
'The Giant Brain':Small games, big ideas.
The Ugly
Submitted by Geoff Hall on Thu, 07/02/2008 - 20:18.
I know I'm not exactly what you would call an active participant of the CE ('no shit Sherlock' I hear you cry) but I was down at Conceptions and surrounded by the CE crazies there every evening and what you describe as 'the ugly' was certainly discussed.
Essentially what people were meaning was that the site needed to retain its focus with a mantra of (I believe) 'less posting, more content.' In other words people should make fewer hollow posts (like, for instance, I could easily have replied 'that depends if Rich is playing' in the 'Are protagonists bollocks?' thread) and more posts with useful content. If what you're (collective you, obviously) posting is just going be be a 'me too' post without adding anything to the discussion then does it really help the signal to noise ratio to post it? The consensus seems to be not.
Of course given that I know I'm not a member (just a crazy hanger-on) you should take the above with a pinch of salt but that was the gist of what I gleaned at Conceptions.
~Geoff
Dread Fuzzy Blog