Basic Roleplaying Review

[frogspawner]

Originally Posted by Ars Mysteriorum

Jason, you are our hero and messiah. ...

Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick. Just get it right, Durall, or you're toast.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by frogspawner

Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick. Just get it right, Durall, or you're toast.

You sound just like my wife!

[Ars Mysteriorum]

Originally Posted by frogspawner

Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick. Just get it right, Durall, or you're toast.

Hey now! I don't criticize your beliefs.

Just because I've started the Supreme Church of the Grandly Magnificent, Moste Holy, and Completely Flatulence Free Ascendant Master Durall (SCGMMHCFFAMD) gives you no reason to go about proclaiming your nausea!

And We pronounce Our acronym "Skuhghemmhukkfffamd." However, every time We do so, a passerby always offers Us a lozenge and Russians offer Us drinks. Weird.

[Atgxtg]

I think a review of zero isn't a good idea. It really wouldn't be fair. Of course there are a few things wrong with it. More than there should be for a RPG. But zero isn't finished. So nearly any fair review could only shred the thing and note that the finished game looks promising and will probably be a lot better.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

I think a review of zero isn't a good idea.

I agree, it's a GREAT idea!

So nearly any fair review could only shred the thing and note that the finished game looks promising and will probably be a lot better.

It could go through the book, give opinions about the "changes" for BRP, and evaluate whether they would recommend getting it now despite the typos, or wait for the final version to arrive sometime in the future. Lots of stuff to review.

SGL.

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I agree, it's a GREAT idea!

Triff, I think you are looking at the game through rose colored glasses. Not really the way for a reviewer to go.

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

It could go through the book, give opinions about the "changes" for BRP, and evaluate whether they would recommend getting it now despite the typos, or wait for the final version to arrive sometime in the future. Lots of stuff to review.

SGL.

But any fair review would have to draw attention to the errors, missing information and lack of clarity. Based on what little I've managed to get from a few glispes and what's been brought up here, I'd say Zero is only for die-hard Chaosium fans who can't wait for the finished product.

I don't believe a fair reviewer could give the game a good review as it is now. It would come up short when compared to it's predecessors. Not shame in that. It is still not finished. Saying anything more positive than "it has potential" or "it collects a lot of rules from previous Chaosium products" would probably be inaccurate.

Reviews have to deal with what something is, not what it might become after a little more work.

A Glowing review would be a disservice to fans, and probably result in some ticked off people who buy it and then have to wait for an update. A poor review would discourage some who have an interest, but might judge the final product by the review for zero.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

Triff, I think you are looking at the game through rose colored glasses. Not really the way for a reviewer to go.

Any reviewer should give their opionion of the book. If it's rose tinted, then that's your opinion. I doubt I would even give the final version 6 beetles (perfect) as I think I won't like the powers chapter that well, together with the shift from RQ to Stormbringer combat.

But any fair review would have to draw attention to the errors, missing information and lack of clarity. Based on what little I've managed to get from a few glispes and what's been brought up here, I'd say Zero is only for die-hard Chaosium fans who can't wait for the finished product.

Then that's what the review should say. What's the difficulty?

Reviews have to deal with what something is, not what it might become after a little more work.

But of course.

A poor review would discourage some who have an interest, but might judge the final product by the review for zero.

Couldn't they read the review for the 1st edition instead when it's out? It is very clear that this is a "Zero" edition. A review getting stuck in typos should not discourage people from getting the finished copy. Though I would hope a review went into the new mechanisms presented too.

SGL.

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

Any reviewer should give their opionion of the book. If it's rose tinted, then that's your opinion. I doubt I would even give the final version 6 beetles (perfect) as I think I won't like the powers chapter that well, together with the shift from RQ to Stormbringer combat.

I think a reviewr shouldn't let his desire to like something prevent him from being critical. I don't think BRP Zero would get a good review. As is, it seems to be confusing and doesn't work. As the types & errata pages seem to show. While a lot of the errors are things than can be easily fixed by those familiar with BRP (apparently, that is partly the reason for the errors), they are things that could be difficult for someone new to BRP to work out. Folks like us and, say, write up dagger stats for BRP in 5 seconds, with the hardest part being deciding on 1D4+2 or the older 1D6 for damage. We can figure out what attack& parry rules make the most sense based on our familairity with the system.

But for someone new to the game, it would be very confusing, hard to pick up, and be a failure.

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

Couldn't they read the review for the 1st edition instead when it's out? It is very clear that this is a "Zero" edition. A review getting stuck in typos should not discourage people from getting the finished copy. Though I would hope a review went into the new mechanisms presented too. SGL.

That is assuming that they have enough interest to read two reviews. A lot of people won't, or won't know the difference between an advanced/proofread copy and the finished product. Heck, some might claim that there are some RPG companies that can't tell the difference, as the term "Atlantean Edition" illustrates.

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

But for someone new to the game, it would be very confusing, hard to pick up, and be a failure.

I don't think there are many people who are new to BRP that would stumble into this website, read a review of the Zero edition and the order it. All potential buyers are old BRP fans.

That is assuming that they have enough interest to read two reviews.

If they don't have enough interest to read two reviews, they probably don't have interest enough to buy the book either. Anyway, the program averages the scores and % of recommendations it gets at the top.

SGL.

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I don't think there are many people who are new to BRP that would stumble into this website, read a review of the Zero edition and the order it. All potential buyers are old BRP fans.

There have been a few BRP newbies here. I hope all potential buyers are not old BRP fans. That would not bode well for the future. Every year more and more of the customer base would die off.

"Ve must huv new bluud!"

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

If they don't have enough interest to read two reviews, they probably don't have interest enough to buy the book either. Anyway, the program averages the scores and % of recommendations it gets at the top.

SGL.

I don't have enough interest to read two reviews on most RPGs. For starters, in order for a review to be worthwhile you need to know enough about the reviewer and his tastes and how they compare to your own to interpret the review. Otherwise a review is worthless. Case in point soltakss has done a lot of reviews for MRQ products. Now we know soltakss likes MRQ, and that I don't, so if I were to read one of his reviews (and I have) I would need to keep that in mind. Now to those who have bought something and reacted to it is a similar fashion as soltakss, his reviews are more useful. There are a few people over at the MRQ boards who take a positive review from him as reason enough to make the purchase.

I don't think a lot of people read multiple reviews on a game. Typically they read none or one and go with their gut reaction. If the first thing they see is a reivew of "zero" then the game will get a rep it won't deserve.

I think it would be better just to ask questions of people with the book and see what they like or dislike. Start a thread a get a few "reaction to zero" responses.