WP: BITE

1. WP: BITE

   #1

   I'm a heavy wikipedia browser, infrequent user. That being said, I generally find myself reading the articles more than editing them.
   
   Doesn't mean the recent discussion on the Law of the Hammer didn't remind me of a Wikipedia guideline page, more specifically: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:BITE
   (The Following should be taken as my opinion, not as Word of God.)
   Strolen has a lot of bite for newcomers. Submissions are expected to be polished, flowery, and very flavorful. Writing acumen is valued over gameplay, oftentimes to the extent where the use of a submission in an RPG would be impossible for too much focus on chrome (IE: Where do my -players- fit into this submission?), as it were.
   
   Frankly, the citadel is pretty imposing. There's the established, respected writers who weigh in heavily. There's the expectations of what makes a good submission. There's voting which can seem pretty merciless. There's the clashes between people like me who want a resource and inspiration for games, and the people who enjoy the outlet for their creative ideas.
   
   It takes some pretty thick skin to read through a harsh comment without feeling hurt that your creation is being criticized.
   
   I definitely think stopping squabbles over how someone decides to place their vote is a good move. However, this won't stop the sting of someone's first or second submission meeting an overly critical comment early on.
   
   The Citadel's got BITE.

2. Re: WP: BITE

   #2

   Hmm. That about sums it up. Only had a minute to speed through the article but it is in a tab for further review. 
   
   Good topic!

3. Re: WP: BITE

   #3

   So, this has actually bugged me forever.
   
   And sorry Cheka, but you're the one who bit the newbie over Game Mechanics in http://strolen.com/viewing/The_Arbiter_-_Two-Bladed_Sword. (Now, don't get me wrong, Cheka is awesome, and the coming tirade is at the Citadel at large, not Cheka.)
   
   Now, about the FIRST thing I learned coming to Strolen was that my expectations for a good sub and the Citadel's expectations for a good sub are wildly different. I'm a DM first, and that means for me, I'm asking myself how I'd use a submission in a game. Oftentimes, this requires mechanics. Anything I post on Strolen, could (from my position) be used in some way in a campaign.
   
   My stuff won't cut it for everyone, and you can be sure some of the most lauded pieces on Strolen will never grace the same table as any of my dice.
   
   The SECOND thing I learned was that game mechanics are some scary boogeyman most of the old farts around here can't stand. Tack a simple +X to a weapon name, and OH NO I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS SUB CAUSE YOU'RE INCLUDING GAME MECHANICS.
   
   Seriously? Really? Are you so unable to enjoy the content of a submission based on the sole inclusion of a gameplay suggestion? As a DM, a mechanics block helps me immensely. There's a reason a lot of games out there use statblocks, and that's because you can glance at it and get a pretty quick picture of what's going on.
   
   I understand that many do not find mechanics useful. However, I feel it would be unwise for the convention that any mechanics info in a submission gets it blacklisted as some pariah leper to continue at Strolen.
   
   You want to retain authors? Stop biting them for adding MORE to a submission. If they include a fat stat block for RPG X, let 'em. Don't like it? Ignore it!
   
   *Climbs off the soapbox*

4. Re: WP: BITE

   #4

   I agree with you, Infested-Jerk.
   
   I have voted down subs in the distant past for inclusion of stats but mellowed on it as time went by. My current stance is to only penalize subs that rely on stats too heavily, making them too tied to a specific system.
   
   If anyone wishes for me to revisit a sub I may have voted low on due to stats - I would have commented that way if it was the case - let me know.
   
   

5. Re: WP: BITE

   #5

   These are both taken from comments to the submission listen in my first post:
   
   

   The only thing stopping me from making it a 4 are the stats. So have a 3.5 ;)

   
   This was posted to an author's first submission. It's practically a "Remove those stats and I'll up my vote by .5"!
   
   

   I'd hate to deny stats to those who may benefit from them, but at the same time, I'm beginning to feel like I've offended the Citadel by posting more info than necessary.

   
   Great job! You've made the newcomer feel like he's screwed up.
   
   No wonder author retention around here is terrible.

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