This is not meant as a rant, but more as a request for other's perspective.  There is a Burning Wheel KS going on over here.  And while I like BW as a game (and am supporting the KS), I have been, well, frustrated with the overly dramatic language being used in the updates and most of the comments.  Luke, and many of the backers, seem to relish in speaking in obtuse and archaic prose, while those of us asking for plain English are told to lighten up or get into the spirit (so to speak).  

Am I being thin skinned that I don't want to dig out my SCA Dictionary with companion Thesaurus?  I'm all for flavor text, and generally give authors a wide birth in terms of their creative muse, but this feels over the top for me.  Appreciate your perspectives whether this would annoy you too...

p.s. One request - can we keep the discussion on language use and not the system or author.  I like both, but also know that they can be polarizing.

I am a fan of being direct and brief.  I tried reading that- no thanks.  That being said, best of luck to him and his endeavor.

When you are buying into Burning Wheel, you are buying into all it entails. In short, the game is written more for its creators than for any customers.

Quote from: Tyndale;877047This is not meant as a rant, but more as a request for other's perspective.  There is a Burning Wheel KS going on over here.  And while I like BW as a game (and am supporting the KS), I have been, well, frustrated with the overly dramatic language being used in the updates and most of the comments.  Luke, and many of the backers, seem to relish in speaking in obtuse and archaic prose, while those of us asking for plain English are told to lighten up or get into the spirit (so to speak).  

Am I being thin skinned that I don't want to dig out my SCA Dictionary with companion Thesaurus?  I'm all for flavor text, and generally give authors a wide birth in terms of their creative muse, but this feels over the top for me.  Appreciate your perspectives whether this would annoy you too...

p.s. One request - can we keep the discussion on language use and not the system or author.  I like both, but also know that they can be polarizing.

That seems to be his style, though.  It's hardly atypical.

QuoteCan you write in plain English what the book will contain?

Lo, friend. Think of what you ask. If you and I cannot come to an accord here, through this simple medium, how will things go once we begin to summon the powers arcane? Think carefully on your decision then to support us here. It could be deleterious.

Personally I like it when someone tells me that giving them my money would be a bad investment...for me.

QuoteYou talk funny. I don't trust you to finish this project.

You are a fool. We have never failed to deliver as promised on any endeavor to which we have tasked ourselves. Please take your lucre and be gone.

While "You are a fool" should probably be read as intentionally over the top, I think the last sentence would fit, sound, and read better as "Please take your filthy lucre and be gone."

It is ridiculous to sacrifice comprehensibility to be cute.

I briefly considered reporting the campaign to Kickstarter when it first launched because the "risks and challenges" section is written in the same obtuse language, defeating the purpose of having such a section.  In the end, I didn't, mostly because I couldn't be bothered to invest that much in caring about such idiocy.

EDIT:  fixed a voice recognition derived typo

Quote from: Sytthas;877064I briefly considered reporting the campaign to Kickstarter when it first launched because the "risks and challenges" section is written in the same obtuse language, defeating the purpose of having such a section.  In the end, I didn't, mostly because I couldn't be bothered to invest that much in caring about such idiocy.

That and maybe the fact that Luke is the head of Kickstarter's game division.

Crane is a pretentious dick. News at 11.

Quote from: One Horse Town;877068Crane is a pretentious dick. News at 11.

I personally wouldn't go that far.  Luke is just Luke, a impassioned and idiosyncratic game designer.  And I dig his passion - mostly.  Hell, I think game designers can learn a lot from his dedication and loyalty to his designs.  Guess I was just expecting a balance between cute and direct.  I was aware the original language in the launch, but thought it would eventually transition back to Common.  

But I would disagree that this is Luke's standard style.  Sure, he intermittently evolves into transcendence of the Oracles, but would then return to our human realm.  I'm still committed to the project, but guess in the end of things that I am just saddened that I am no longer the BW groupie that I fashioned myself to be.  I'll get over it and still enjoy the game despite my frustrations with the niche (and retro-hipster) marketing.

I feel that it is pretentious and shitty to users.

Look, I get that they're going for a brand, making everything esoteric and flowery. But my web usability hat can't come off and this sort of thing makes me angry. What a way to alienate and/or annoy potential customers.

"You must be THIS eloquently pompous to play this elfgame." haha whatever; we're just a bunch of fucking nerds playing make believe.

EDIT: it's triggering my bad memories of digging through pages of prose in 90s WoD books trying to find the goddamn rules. I just want the facts, not more hyperbole.

No PDF? No thanks.

Quote from: ZWEIHÄNDER;877086No PDF? No thanks.

Mouse Guard, check.  Tourchbearer, check.  Burning Empires, check. Burning Wheel, doh! #opportunitymissed.

Language and Tone are things you have to be aware of when marketing a product.

The wrong tone especially.

On the language front I've seen "Staying IC" used in other products and its ever been more miss than hit unless you are really buying into the product. I want to know what you are selling. Not enguage in a LARP session just to buy your product. Especially when dealing with the producer.

I'll extend this to players or GMs who refuse to break character even when trying to discuss setting up a RP.

It can be fun as an attractor add. But it can be anything but fun when trying to get product info to make a purchase decision.

Dumb, totally dumb, but hey, people buy dumb shit.

Quote from: Necrozius;877083EDIT: it's triggering my bad memories of digging through pages of prose in 90s WoD books trying to find the goddamn rules. I just want the facts, not more hyperbole.

My recollection of Vampire the Masquerade was me flipping through that big green covered book

Spoiler

https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic516746.jpg

in my local game store and thinking, 'These rules are illegible. Screw this.'