(Message wick:182)
Subj: For what it's worth . . . (Rules of Criticism)
From: ork@lightside.com (John Wick)

  To: l5rrpginfo@frpg.com
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 17:37:38 PDT
-- /blue/homes/cowell/Mail/mhl.format --

. . .  I've never told anyone to stop playing the game.

I listen to every criticism, and have even tried to apply those I thought
were valid (we're using a very different font for the Way of Shadow, which
will be in a very similar format to Book of the Shadowlands).

I have responded very vocally to those who have said, "This
book/School/Clan/Family/rule is worthless and I should not have shelled out
$15 bucks for it. I deserve better."

Quite frankly, I don't know what people deserve. Only God knows what people
deserve.

I try to develop the best RPG suppliments in the industry. Sometimes it
works out really well, sometimes it doesn't work out as well as I would
have liked.

Someone once said on this list, "Don't criticise unless you can create." I
don't know if I agree with that. However, sometimes, I do sympathize with
the sentament. (Please note, I did say "sometimes" and not "all the time").

John Stepp - very politely and respectfully - asked for some rules of
criticism. Here we go. By the way, these rules apply to me and me only.

Rule 1: If you say a rule/School/book "sucks", I will ignore you. This does
not help me. You cannot please all the people all the time, and if you just
fundamentally disagree with my design policy, then there is _nothing_ I can
do to change your mind. If you like Rolemaster because it's got a chart for
every single condition you could think of (and we've got a guy in the
office who runs a _very_ good Rolemaster game), then you will _not_ like
the L5R RPG. Different strokes for different folks. I will not try to sway
you to our side of the boat. Doing so will just throw us all into the
drink.

Rule 2: If you point out something that is obviously in error, I will try
to correct it as quickly as possible. If you _think_ something is in error
and ask me about it, I will clarify it as quickly as possible, or correct
it, whichever is most appropriate.

Rule 3: If you are rude, you will be ignored. I am too busy to deal with
rude people. I don't do it in restraunts, I don't do it in stores and I
don't do it in movie theaters. I will not do it here.
There has been a lot of rude talk on this list, both attacking me and
others and defending me and others. Both sides of the fence have been rude,
and I will ignore it from now on.

Rule 4: Speaking of "defending" and "attacking" me  . . .
There has been much too much focus on me on this list. The game and I are
two different things. If you want to complain about me, send it to me. I'm
right here. Stop talking about me, and start talking _to_ me.

Rule 5: Be specific
I've said this before. If you have a problem with the rules, or have a
question, please be specific. I get 400 e-mails a day these days, and don't
have a specific amount of time to deal with them (one hour). If you have a
specific question, make it specific. If you have a general gripe . . .
well, try to specify what your gripe is so I can adress it.

That's it. If I come up with more, I'll let you know.


John W.
(www.7thsea.com)

"You never learn to laugh 'till you learn to laugh at yourself."
- Shinsei, stealing almost directly from Mark Twain



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