Post originally by Spike at 2005-06-28 05:24:02
Converted from Phorums BB System

Hmm...
I wasn't attempting to ignore the responses. I was attempting to remain non-combative, non-defensive about the opinions presented. If I appeared to be ignoring responses, I apologize.

As for the second part, I am struggling to communicate what I thought a proper response would have been. As I said before, I thought all the responses on this thread, initially at least, were making good, valid points. They weren't what I was trying to ask for. To illustrate:
I say in a review: This is bad because of x, y, and z.
Counter: x is actually good because of this, then there are points c, d, and e that you either marginalize, missed, or simply failed to consider.

What I got, and again these are not necessarily bad responses, curse my literal mind for not blindly accepting them, was that 'we like it because we play it this way' or the other response was 'we like point c', in this case the strong dichotomy between light and dark, leading to strongly heroic games.

Being able to spin good games from the setting is useful, valuable, and in fact is a counter to my earlier statements about how 'blah' the setting was. Both points can be equally true, but the existance of a balanced rational counter arguement proves that I don't speak for everyone, far better than blind irrational attacks did. In short, that is why I started this thread.
As for our point C, which several people posted, I admit, without having to re-read my review, that I marginalized this aspect of the setting. Personally, the Light/Shadow dichotomy doesn't speak to me, I don't dismiss it automatically, I realize there are other points of view, but I hardly wanted to dwell on an aspect of the game that I was completely neutral towards.

As for 'point c' refuting my entire case, well, I hardly tried to claim Aldis is crap because you can play a Dolphin. I may have mentioned it as a contributing factor, but one thing alone does not a case build.

In short: I was not trying to shoot people down for disagreeing with me, quite the opposite, though I regret if it came across differently. I only commented at all because I didn't want to ignore the responses received, or marginalize their good points. I don't need more points to continue my tirade. If anyone wanted to ask me, I could elaborate on just about anything I stated in the review (positive as well as negative) and probably add a few more points as well.