Monday, May 19, 2008

Moving Right Along


In an effort to keep my sanity and pride intact, after removing my last post, I’ll be moving on to greater and greener pastures. No, sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not shutting the doors at the Grog ‘n Blog. What I am doing is putting away my soapbox for now. I’ve made my opinions on old school gaming quite clear, and I don’t want to continue to decry the modern versions of D&D. I know for a fact that if some local D&D club recruited me to play in some 3.x version of the game, I’d do my best to role-play my arse off and have a fun time. So, rather than be a hypocrite in regards to old school vs. new school, I am going to take James Raggi’s thoughts to heart.

What does this mean? It means my creative output is going to be less observation and commentary on the ceaseless edition wars, and more on bringing life and vitality to my preferable genre, old school D&D.

I think enough has been said on this topic, by writers, posters and bloggers with far more insight than myself. As far as I am concerned, bashing my rather thick head against that wall isn’t going to convert or influence anyone to change their opinions. Perhaps, though, I can embrace this notion of the old school renaissance. In my own enthusiastic fashion, perhaps I can, in some small way, help breathe a bit of life back into the old school genre.

Why am I assuming this attitude? Because really I am not educated enough, or even inspired enough, to comment on modern D&D. I have neither the time nor inclination to explore the many facets of 4e D&D. I realize that my tiny blog is really only reaching out to fans of the old school genre. For the most part, these fans do not need another site that only preaches to the choir. There are other better written blogs with a much broader audience that can take up this task.

I will nevertheless stand by my primary principle, but not in an effort to belittle modern D&D. In fact, I hope that eventually the Grog ‘n Blog will not be limited in scope to such fans, but will, ultimately, reach out and offer something, however minor, to all of us. Us fans, players and referees of the greatest game ever made, D&D.

So, with that I am off to consider exactly how I might move forward in my efforts to aid in the proverbial old school renaissance.

~Sham, Quixotic Referee

2 comments:

Jeff Rients said...

It means my creative output is going to be less observation and commentary on the ceaseless edition wars, and more on bringing life and vitality to my preferable genre, old school D&D.

Well said.

Max said...

Right on, can I get a witness, etc.

I leave the advocacy to James M. and try to stay out of the "future of the past" arguments about how to best ring in the old school renaissance. I figure one way to help the revival is trying to show the fun to be had with retro and neo-retro gaming.

And, frankly, I'm at a place where I just wanna throw some dice around, y'know? If the cats round the way want to play 4e, I'll show up and give it a go.