Post originally by Polaris at 2004-01-29 20:16:15
Converted from Phorums BB System

Mr. Norwood,

First of all thank you for your thoughful reply. It always helps when rational discussion is possible especially with the author of the game. Before I respond point by point, I have bought TROS and I would like to try it (other than the system testing I have already done). However, I must admit that I have reacted (at least in part) to the tone in your book. That may be proverbial water under the bridge now, but IMHO that explains some of the rancor here.

That said let me respond to what you have said point by point with my own thoughts:

You wrote:

"Likewise, with due respect, I don't feel that you read my post carefully enough to respond that way, and it seems to me that you are confusing anything that I say with your distaste for the way that Ralph and others have handled your questions. That probably sounds harsher than I mean it, so please take it with a grain of salt."

That particular post perhaps not, but my point above about the tone in your book when combined with my post set me off. Not all RPGs are the same and being lumped together this way not just by you but by some of the other posters (who will remain nameless) is IMHO a big mistake.

You wrote:

"I played GURPS constantly for 3 years, so I am quite familiar with the system. The only place that I referenced GURPS in my original post was here:

"In every game that even attempts simulating the actions or results of a fight with lethal weapons, somebody dies.

D&D, Earthdawn, L5R, Shadowrun, GURPS, younameit, it's all the same in that if two guys (or two sides of a conflict) set about to killing each other, at the end of the fight only one group is left alive (assuming the other didn't flee). TROS is no different in this respect at all."

How does this in any way express an ignorance of GURPS mechanics or potential lethality? As I read it, it says "TROS is no different in this respect at all." "

Lumping all these systems together annoyed me and I will be the first to admit that the reason it did is because your opinion w/r/t DnD [at least as I read it based on the TROS main book] seemed to be well known.

I will skip the description about the TROS combat system. The realism and deadiliness are selling points to me, make no mistake, and I think the Spiritual Attributes are revolutionaly (but why oh why didn't you emphasize and explain them in the book! They deserve a more in depth treatment!).

The thing that bothers me the most (and it is not unique to TROS by any means) is the metagaming issue. As *I* see it, you have a wonderful combat simulation system for mediaeval/rennaissance combat but it requires a lot of *player* skill to run right. That makes (again as I see it) problematic for a new player to play a combat intensive character. I think that is a very serious flaw.

As for production quality, I am willing to put up with a lot of the "small @!#$" from an independant (misspellings, poor grammar in places, 2nd class artwork). After all, you are right, it is a hobby and you do have a very limited budget when compared to larger games.

That said, IMHO there is no excuse for not editing and playtesting the game beyond your immediate group. I hope this doesn't sound too harsh, but even for a small company there is no excuse for messing up the BIG stuff....and given the state of the hobby tone, layout, rules that are balanced (perhaps not numerically but at least enough to give everyone an equal shot to enjoy themselves),are all what I regard as minimums....and I lament this even more from companies that *do* have the budgets to do better and don't (WOTC anyone?)

Finally, I was not and never intended to personally attack anyone, certainly not you, and if you read my post above that way than I am sincerely sorry. I will say (yes once more and I know you have addressed this) that the tone in the main book itself while not a direct cause of this trainwreck (looking around the response area to this review) certainly IMHO contributed....but I think you know that and I have said more than enough there.

-Polaris