Quote from: Ravenswing;1016727This was my biggest problem with the system: that "roll 3 against IQ" is vastly different when dealing with a 35-pt character than a 50-pt character.  I was working out how I'd do an "original stat" system, and then I had GURPS 0.5 in my hands, and that put paid to my musings.

That, and I never cared for the wizard vs hero dichotomy, and was likewise musing over something akin to GURPS Magery: a lump sum point cost at startup for the right to pick spells.

One simple way to keep TFT running well for characters with higher DX is to institute a house rule where you can trade an extra action per turn (like a second attack, or a parry or something) for an extra die rolled on all actions. Thus, if I parried with my buckler, cut with my sword and gave a kick, I'd roll all on 5d, which will fail often for characters having adjusted DX under 18-20. This keeps things spicy for a good while. High ST and IQ are not really problems in this same way.

Quote from: Omega;1016757Its been weird. Even back in the late 90s there were sporadic reports of odd behavior at SJG.

Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?

I can't decide if that's pathetic, awesome, or (Given some nerds) prudent.

Quote from: Willie the Duck;1016754I know nothing of Steve Jackson other than what he wrote and what his company published (so, like the Wikipedia version of the man). Does he have a reputation for something something that means people that work with him... something that precludes them selling their old stuff?

He said (paraphrasing) that in his ideal world, there would be no retro-clones of TFT.  Since he has the rights and can C&D them whenever, it's his ideal world.  So, if you want their version of the game, get it now.  He leaves open them being SJG "partners" for modules and supplements, so that stuff might stay, depending on whether they want to tie their supplement and adventure writing to Core Rules they no longer control.   If not, they're just gonna move to something else.  So...if you want their stuff...get it now.

Steve Jackson is, charitably, a perfectionist. Less charitably, a control freak. Still, it's kept him in business for 35 years and resulted in some great products. I too would recommend on stocking up on Dark City Games products while the going is good.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1016865Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?

Raven CS McCracken used to have strippers at his GenCon booth.

Quote from: kyle aaron;1016898raven cs mccracken used to have strippers at his gencon booth.

winner.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1016865Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?

I can't decide if that's pathetic, awesome, or (Given some nerds) prudent.

I never saw it. In fact I rarely saw SJG booths at cons. Or at least ones worth remembering for some reason. I know I got my copy of Gurps and Gurps Bunnies & Burrows from them at Gen Con. But seemed like any other gaming booth really. Fairly laid back.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1016865Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?  I can't decide if that's pathetic, awesome, or (Given some nerds) prudent.

Not at any convention at which I ever saw him, and I moderated panels at two different conventions (one being Worldcon) at which he was a panelist.  Never mind that as a landed baron and one-time society officer for the whole damn SCA, I expect he can handle himself perfectly well.

So I would say less by way of pathetic, awesome or prudent as an outright lie.

I thought SJ was just a nerd that didn't look his real age.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1016865Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?

I can't decide if that's pathetic, awesome, or (Given some nerds) prudent.

Nope.

 At every con I have seen him appear at there are no bodyguards or 'entourage' - pretty much a normal guy.
Heck, at Gen Con this past August he autographed my old copy of the original 'Car Wars' and 'Truck Stop' anf happily chatted for a little bit.
He recognized me from the SJG forums even without my Klingon gear on. (Age is catching up with e - my look is mostly Steampunk these days)

- Ed C.

Evidence. If they post none they probably have none. Just grinding some grudge.

Just asking about the bodyguard thing, no agenda. It was something I heard from a rando at a comics shop 20+ years ago.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1016865Is it true SJ used to show up at cons with a phalanx of bodyguards?

I can't decide if that's pathetic, awesome, or (Given some nerds) prudent.

He sure didn't show up at Bricks West (a LEGO convention) with body guards... And he was quite friendly...

Quote from: The_Shadow;1016896Steve Jackson is, charitably, a perfectionist. Less charitably, a control freak. Still, it's kept him in business for 35 years and resulted in some great products. I too would recommend on stocking up on Dark City Games products while the going is good.

And not a control freak, at least in regards to Evil Stevie's Pirate Game... We had some a nice chat about the game over burgers and soda at In N Out...

His attitude with GURPS might be different...

Frank

Like a number of people I know who make their living from creative work and IP he does take copyright and IP seriously. But that is to be expected. Pirate copies of his work are literally taking money out of his pocket.

There are a lot of people that take shots at SJ and KS from Palladium along the same lines and it never meshes with my experience. I've had great experiences when I've met SJ at GenCon or other conventions and I've never seen body guards.

In fact I've had better experiences with the "old guard" than the new hotshots. Last year at GenCon when my kids were at booths the old guard were much more interested in talking to my girls about the games they play, what they like about them, and asked them deeper questions about the games. I know there is the old joke about nerds talking the ears off of publishers at their booths about or PCs and campaigns but had great experiences with these old guards. When we stopped at the PEG book they were completely ignored by the help. So that kind of turned me off their products.