This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?  (Read 6354 times)

baran_i_kanu

  • Dave.B
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 326
    • http://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2019, 02:33:17 PM »
Sorry. I'm pretty bad at the forum thing.
Dave B.
 
http://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/

I have neuropathy in my hands so my typing can get frustratingly sloppy. Bear with me.

ArrozConLeche

  • No Más
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1761
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2019, 02:34:05 PM »
Sounds like a co-dependent mess.

Azraele

  • Smug bastard
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 545
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2019, 02:40:49 PM »
I think most of us are in essentially the same camp we were in before this latest turd hit the fan.

"I like some of his stuff, because it's good, but I don't care for him personally"

His stuff is still good. He still comes off as unstable any time he opens his trap. This latest thing is a problem if and only if
1) You know him and you've got some stake in his reputation and didn't already have a reason to keep associating with him regardless of this
2) You're professionally associated with him
3) You vote for people's personalities with your gaming dollar

You don't fall into those categories? Then who cares?

How is Mandy and Zak's personal life a matter of debate for people who buy his books? Seriously, why would you care? I'm not burning my copy of maze of the blue medusa over this. You know what it changes for me? I unfollwed Zak on twitter, because I'd unfollow anybody given the content of Mandy's post. Also, since I think people should make up their OWN minds about who to believe and how to deal with this, I shared her post for the benefit of my few fans. If I hadn't gone on public record talking about how much I was a fan of his, I wouldn't have (not that I'd need to, clearly).

My biggest single complication is whether to use the art I commissioned as a tribute to her "I Hit It With My Axe" days on the cover of my book. You know what I'm going to do there? I'm going to send her a message and ask when this whole kerfuffle dies down a bit. She's likely fine with it, since it kicks so much goddamn ass.

Bam, drama over.
Joel T. Clark: Proprietor of the Mushroom Press, Member of the Five Emperors
Buy Lone Wolf Fists! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/416442/Tian-Shang-Lone-Wolf-Fists

Ratman_tf

  • Alt-Reich Shitlord
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8331
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2019, 02:54:10 PM »
Quote from: ArrozConLeche;1074371
Sounds like a co-dependent mess.

That was my take. When partners butt heads, it's usually not as cut and dried as a Lifetime Made For TV Movie. Everyone want to look like the "good guy", and paint the other as the "bad guy".
So, who knows? It's not really any of my business.
The notion of an exclusionary and hostile RPG community is a fever dream of zealots who view all social dynamics through a narrow keyhole of structural oppression.
-Haffrung

sniderman

  • Cryptworld Thing
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 99
    • http://savageafterworld.blogspot.com/
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2019, 02:54:53 PM »
Quote from: bat;1074362
Apparently he doesn't make games anymore.
I beg to differ.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1070557469/demon-city-the-ultimate-horror-rpg
MY BLOGS:

The Savage AfterWorld - Rules, adventures, supplements, and discussion for many RPGs, focusing on the Old School Renaissance, Goblinoid Games, and the classic Pacesetter system!

SHARK

  • The Great Shark Hope
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5048
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #20 on: February 11, 2019, 03:09:15 PM »
Quote from: Brad;1074363
I agree with Tenbones, this has fuck all to do with games. Zak is a scumbag? You don't say!

Greetings!

LOL! Hah Brad! Yeah, like that is such a *surprise*!!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
"It is the Marine Corps that will strip away the façade so easily confused with self. It is the Corps that will offer the pain needed to buy the truth. And at last, each will own the privilege of looking inside himself  to discover what truly resides there. Comfort is an illusion. A false security b

jeff37923

  • Knight of Common Sense
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18318
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #21 on: February 11, 2019, 03:14:10 PM »
This is personal life drama and has very little to do with games, even though it is about someone who creates them.

It belongs in Pundit's forum, not here. Let other forums make it front page muckraking news.
"Meh."

jhkim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11749
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #22 on: February 11, 2019, 03:26:29 PM »
Quote from: jeff37923;1074382
This is personal life drama and has very little to do with games, even though it is about someone who creates them.

It belongs in Pundit's forum, not here. Let other forums make it front page muckraking news.
Definitely! Can we have a mod move it? (Or lock it if Pundit doesn't want it?)

GRIM

  • Purveyor of filth
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1108
    • http://postmortemstudios.wordpress.com
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2019, 03:29:14 PM »
Zak's an arsehole, no doubt, but there's arseholes and arseholes.

Zak stood up for me and put his pedantry to work defending me against spurious accusations, so I guess I owe him a little for that. I also think he did a fantastic amount of good work for the public image of TTRPGs and in making them 'cool' again, even if the apex of that has been elsewhere.

Many of the accusations against him have been bullshit in the past (transphobia etc), and I admired the way he stood up against accusations and nastiness directed at him or his friendship circle. I also appreciate, intimately, how such a siege mentality can twist your thinking.

But yeah, he's an argumentative arsehole.

I also know he's manipulative.

I thought we were friends, or at least cordial acquaintances, but despite defending me he blocked and dropped me in a cold minute for political expediency, even saying so directly to me, with all the guile and stealth of a dayglo brick.

I always strive to do the right thing, and usually have a strong sense of what that is, plant my feet and take an informed stand.

But what's the right thing to do when someone who may have been abused is being used to definitely destroy someone else's life?

I don't know.

I disapprove of sexual assault etc, obviously (d'uh), but I also disapprove of trial by social media and being completely unpersoned on the basis of a Facebook post.

Tricky.
Reverend Doctor Grim
Postmortem Studios - Tales of Grim - The Athefist - Steemit - Minds - Twitter - Youtube - RPGNOW - TheGameCrafter - Lulu - Teespring - Patreon - Tip Jar
Futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis

ArrozConLeche

  • No Más
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1761
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #24 on: February 11, 2019, 03:33:06 PM »
His accusers are basically people who were very much 'ride or die' in public about him not that long ago. This turnaround makes me think they are being truthful.

Piestrio

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2708
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #25 on: February 11, 2019, 04:23:02 PM »
The worst thing to happen to this hobby and many others is we allowed people to frame these things as "communities".

Playing RPGs or boardgames or liking Star Wars doesn't make you part of a "community".

It's a fundamental lie of the modern internet that we are somehow community members because we like/do the same things.

There is no "RPG community" or "Star Wars Community", etc...

There might be communities of fans but that's a huge leap from thinking there is some vague community that encompasses all gamers.

MY community is my friends and family that I play games with. We don't have a misogyny problem or a sexual harassment problem. Maybe yours does but that it fundamentally not my problem and I will not be coorced into changing my behaviour because of your problem.

Zack S isn't my friend or a member of my "community". Maybe he's a scumbag, maybe he's not. I just don't give a shit and my feelings on the matter are 100% irrelevant to the situation.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2019, 04:25:13 PM by Piestrio »
Disclaimer: I attach no moral weight to the way you choose to pretend to be an elf.

Currently running: The Great Pendragon Campaign & DC Adventures - Timberline
Currently Playing: AD&D

jhkim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11749
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2019, 04:35:43 PM »
OK, there's now a thread in Pundit's forum for this. I'd suggest discussing there.

Some pretty untoward allegations against Zak S have come out

baran_i_kanu

  • Dave.B
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 326
    • http://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #27 on: February 11, 2019, 04:40:45 PM »
Thanks. Sorry for the confusion.
Dave B.
 
http://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/

I have neuropathy in my hands so my typing can get frustratingly sloppy. Bear with me.

Alexander Kalinowski

  • Dark God
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 624
    • http://www.knightsoftheblacklily.com/
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #28 on: February 11, 2019, 05:11:16 PM »
Quote from: baran_i_kanu;1074347
I'm surprised, I figured it would be a massive thread.
Did i miss something?


I have no way of verifying the veracity of any claims about Mr Smith's private life and I have no intention of entering in a relationship with him. So why would I even care?
Author of the Knights of the Black Lily RPG, a game of sexy black fantasy.
Setting: Ilethra, a fantasy continent ruled over by exclusively spiteful and bored gods who play with mortals for their sport.
System: Faithful fantasy genre simulation. Bell-curved d100 as a core mechanic. Action economy based on interruptability. Cinematic attack sequences in melee. Fortune Points tied to scenario endgame stakes. Challenge-driven Game Design.
The dark gods await.

S'mon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13315
No discussion of the Zak S drama yet?
« Reply #29 on: February 11, 2019, 05:30:56 PM »
Quote from: Mistwell;1074359
It's front page of ENWorld.

Pretty scuzzy of Morrus to open with a link in the OP to some random's post from 2015 where he attacks Pundit and James Desborough as being part of an Axis of Evil along with Zak S. One of these things is not like the others.