I stopped buying Palladium Books pretty much solely based on customer service issues, and prior to that, I had already decided that I would never consider submitting writing of any kind to them.

Although I didn't have much interaction with Siembieda, himself, the interactions with his wife and staff (which includes the message board staff) pretty much permanently killed my interest in them. The fact that in the face of Palladium's problems, they STILL haven't improved those areas really tells me that they are going to no matter what.

I prefer to buy the book, not the guy, but sometimes the absolute rudeness of the freelancers and the message board administrators gets in the way.

I don't need a publisher or designer to kiss customer ass; in fact, I don't mind someone who states his opinion sharply and puts idiots in their place. On the other hand, I refuse to buy stuff from designers who have a contempt for gamers and roleplaying games. Such lack of honesty isn't just bad for the PR, it is bad for the product as well.

I find the only authors whose online presence bothers me enough to consider a personal boycott produce games that totally fail to excite me. Big Uncle Ron and Sorceror, for example, or the lumbering manchild that is the Palladium experience. It's pretty win-win that I'm loving FATE and the Evil Hat guys are fucking -solid- on support and personal interaction.

Quote from: J Arcanejachilli is the most egotistical prick I think I've ever met in the entirety of the RPG hobby.  

Was. Past tense. He's apparently working at Target or a Wal-Mart or something now that WW fired his douchey ass. Or so I've heard.

Karma, baby.

Quote from: YamoWas. Past tense. He's apparently working at Target or a Wal-Mart or something now that WW fired his douchey ass. Or so I've heard.

Karma, baby.

Speaking of douches...

Anyhow, he's writing a bunch of stuff for WW. It seems he's been re-working a lot of Changling stuff. That game was always big with some I knew, but the poor  focus and design stopped me from ever giving it a second look. Maybe it'll be better with the re-do and NWoD's overall better design.

Quote from: Thanatos02Speaking of douches...

Anyhow, he's writing a bunch of stuff for WW. It seems he's been re-working a lot of Changling stuff. That game was always big with some I knew, but the poor  focus and design stopped me from ever giving it a second look. Maybe it'll be better with the re-do and NWoD's overall better design.

*snicker*  Yes, overall better design.  Good one.

Y'know there was Dark Ages: Fae which was pretty much what everyone wanted out of Changeling but too late to matter, right?

Quote from: RedFox*snicker*  Yes, overall better design.  Good one.

Y'know there was Dark Ages: Fae which was pretty much what everyone wanted out of Changeling but too late to matter, right?

Hey, I just find the NWoD to be a better design. OWoD doesn't give me any trouble to speak of, though, from a general mechanics standpoint. Though, my dislike of Vampire's powers is pretty savage.

I heard about Dark Ages: Fae, but never got a chance to look at it, despite my curiosity. The whole Dark Ages line came really late to the OWoD, especially when it seemed like they were closing up shop and everyone already had their favorite games. Besides, though, the dark ages aren't really something that appeals to me, so even if it was a sharp piece of work, there's a fairly good chance I still wouldn't like it.

Quote from: Thanatos02Hey, I just find the NWoD to be a better design. OWoD doesn't give me any trouble to speak of, though, from a general mechanics standpoint. Though, my dislike of Vampire's powers is pretty savage.

I heard about Dark Ages: Fae, but never got a chance to look at it, despite my curiosity. The whole Dark Ages line came really late to the OWoD, especially when it seemed like they were closing up shop and everyone already had their favorite games. Besides, though, the dark ages aren't really something that appeals to me, so even if it was a sharp piece of work, there's a fairly good chance I still wouldn't like it.

A friend of mine, mrlost, was a huge Changeling fan so he managed to snatch a copy before the oWoD ended and I got to browse through it.

It's got a build-your-own-kith character creation system, a more free-form magic system, less dependance on vamping mortals for glamour, and a bunch of stuff on the magical enforcement (and benefits) of things like oaths and quests.

It was nigh perfect, despite being saddled with Storyteller.  And it was very easy to adapt to a modern-day campaign.

Of course, there's probably only about 3 extant copies.  

Although i'm no-one, i posted something about this on the 11th January on my blog and there's an older thing on my blog discussing the same thing.

I find it really hard to stay emotionally detached from something i'm involved in and inwardly cringe whenever i see a writer/designer engaging in an internet spat.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstExtrapolated somewhat from discussions in this thread, how much does the perceived courtesy and professionalism of a small-press game designer or author factor into whether or not you'll buy their product?  

Personally, I can only think of a very few instances when a designer's online behavior has made me not want to purchase their games.  However, professionalism goes a long way in deciding to support a company; for example, when Guardians of Order went months without responding to inquiries or shipping out ordered products, that was a no-brainer for me, much as I wanted to pick up some of their stuff.  There are companies like HinterWelt, who I think deserve credit for really focusing on acting in a professional manner with their customers.  (Nice work!)

So how about you?  How much does a designer/authors courtesy and professionalism facotr into whether you'll check out their game, good or bad reviews aside?

I would advise game designers to stay away from Internet boards; goodwill is unlikely to help, and looking like an ass can really hurt. All things being equal, unless you've got a really unique product, I'd rather buy from someone who's not arrogant or unplesant.

I'll also say this: fans can hurt. For smaller games, having a loud, irritating fan base makes me think "I don't want to play that."

Of course, I'm pretty much... done. I mean, I think I have the systems I need, so no one selling games should pay a whole lot of attention to my opinion here.

Cheers,
-E.

-E,

Get off it. I ever actually come out with something I'm talking with my customers. They'll want to hear what I have to say, and I damn well want to hear what they have to say. I expect to improve I'd better solicit feedback and advice.

The worst thing you can do is hide from your customers. Dell Computers is hurting because of bad customer relations. They don't listen, and they don't respond. It's all about communicating, and if that means getting slammed by some anal retentive with a phobia for winging it, then you get slammed.

Quote from: mythusmage-E,

Get off it. I ever actually come out with something I'm talking with my customers. They'll want to hear what I have to say, and I damn well want to hear what they have to say. I expect to improve I'd better solicit feedback and advice.

The worst thing you can do is hide from your customers. Dell Computers is hurting because of bad customer relations. They don't listen, and they don't respond. It's all about communicating, and if that means getting slammed by some anal retentive with a phobia for winging it, then you get slammed.

Talking to *customers* is *fine* -- that's "customer service" and I'm a huge fan.

What I was talking about was mixing it up on boards like this one and RPG.net.

There, you're talking to a wide audience of potential customers, but unless you're ruthlessly on-message and flawlessly professional, you're probably doing your business harm.

That might not matter: I suspect a reasonable number of people doing RPGs have priorities other than running a business... but to the extent that being successful in the market *does* matter, off-message, unvetted communication is probably neutral at best and can do serious damage at worst.

Once someone has given you money (or made a reasonable committment to give you money) that changes *everything* -- support that guy like he was a brother. Answer his emails, etc.

Cheers,
-E.

Quote from: -E.Talking to *customers* is *fine* -- that's "customer service" and I'm a huge fan.

What I was talking about was mixing it up on boards like this one and RPG.net.

There, you're talking to a wide audience of potential customers, but unless you're ruthlessly on-message and flawlessly professional, you're probably doing your business harm.

That might not matter: I suspect a reasonable number of people doing RPGs have priorities other than running a business... but to the extent that being successful in the market *does* matter, off-message, unvetted communication is probably neutral at best and can do serious damage at worst.

Once someone has given you money (or made a reasonable committment to give you money) that changes *everything* -- support that guy like he was a brother. Answer his emails, etc.

Cheers,
-E.

I see a venue for communication, I'm using it. I support anyone using any venue of communication they have available. I'm not hiding myself away just because somebody might get pissed at what I said. You don't tell me I can't talk with somebody just because they might get insulted. That, sir, is insulting in itself, and I shall not tolerate it.

I shall post in the forums, I shall post in the mailing lists, I shall post in my blog and comment in the blogs of others. I shall never be silent.

I don't buy games just because the Designer is nice to me on the web. However, if they seem like good people it is a lot more likely that I will take look @ their games. If their games are good, then I'll buy.

A publisher that is a complete ass will not get a single $ from me. Skarka,Wick,Achilli, and Luke Crane will get no more business from me.

Quote from: mythusmageI see a venue for communication, I'm using it. I support anyone using any venue of communication they have available. I'm not hiding myself away just because somebody might get pissed at what I said. You don't tell me I can't talk with somebody just because they might get insulted. That, sir, is insulting in itself, and I shall not tolerate it.

I shall post in the forums, I shall post in the mailing lists, I shall post in my blog and comment in the blogs of others. I shall never be silent.

Power to you.

My recommendation not to use a communication channel was aimed at someone who might prioritize their business success over other priorities (like self expression).

Informal, unvetted self expression all too often has unintended consequences -- for example, I've insulted you here (apparently) without meaning to.

If I were trying to sell you something, wouldn't it have been better if I'd never posted?

Cheers,
-E.