Nope, that indeed doesn't count as "sincere" in my book. The only time I've seen you apologize for anything in a seemingly sincere way was when some freelancers complained they had not been payed by you for months, if not years, which prompted apologies on your part. Of course, the sincerity of such apologies is discussable in itself, since the fact that the complaining took place on public forums pretty much demanded a response on your part.

Look, Gareth: you're not willing to take any responsibility for your behavior online without attaching some caveats to it that other people are morons, just don't get you, or have this or that fundamental congenital flaw that makes them handicaped when it comes to having a dialog with you. Fact is, you seem perfectly comfortable with your attitude. You've got to defend your business, and there's that ego thing going on that just won't let you let these sorts of knee-jerk reactions go. I get it. It's just that it's rather plain to me you're not here to engage in any type of dialog (you know, that thing that's supposed to go both ways) whatsoever.

And really, I'm fine with that.  

Now I'll let you talk about your game, because I'm sure others would prefer that to our little back and forth at this point. I appreciate the attention you are giving my posts, but I don't really want it, or need it, for that matter.

Have a nice day.

Benoist -- I fully admit that the way I say things pisses off folks who disagree with me, and that I also kinda do it on purpose, because I've always been a fan of a well-turned poison-pen bit of snark.

That's sincere, with no caveats.


You, on the other hand, go on a search to dig up a 3-year-old series of posts which have no bearing on the discussion (other than an attempt to make me look bad).    A little bit unhinged, don't you think?




I opened the opportunity for you to ask me anything you wished, so I could clear up any misconceptions you have.   A sincere offer, whether you believe it or not.

Your response was to insist on a recognition of my culpability as a prerequisite.

When it's pointed out to you that I've already done that, you backpedal further, and lash out some more.


Not really sure what your problem is, exactly, but it's pretty big -- and pretty obvious to any casual observer.

Quote from: GMSkarka;453650Benoist -- I fully admit that the way I say things pisses off folks who disagree with me, and that I also kinda do it on purpose, because I've always been a fan of a well-turned poison-pen bit of snark.

And you've got a thread discussing your upcoming game, so you take the opportunity to argue with Benoist about which of you is more of an asshole. I can understand if you'd rather let your work speak for itself once it's available, but this?

I'd certainly love the thread to drift back to Tales of New Crobuzon, BRP, China Mievelle, or something vaguely relevant to the original post.

Quote from: GMSkarka;453650You, on the other hand, go on a search to dig up a 3-year-old series of posts which have no bearing on the discussion (other than an attempt to make me look bad).    A little bit unhinged, don't you think?

That's not unhinged, nor was it Benoist's attempt to make you look bad.  You made yourself look bad by not paying a guy who did work for you for three years.  That's a matter of public record, not a smear on your reputation.

Seriously, do you really have no idea why people think you're a person of low character?  The fact that you'd rather argue that you're only an asshole to rile up the plebs rather than actually promote your products speaks volumes.  Might as well re-title this thread "Unsell me on Tales of New Crobuzon."

Quote from: hanszurcher;453532I'm going to give Miéville another go. Do you or anyone else have some suggestions? Anything but Perdido Street Station, the sting of not liking it is still too fresh in my mind.

If you didn't like PSS, I'm not sure you'll like The Scar much better.  Both do the same kind of thing (vivid, engaging world-creation) very well, and the same kind of thing (offering a satisfying conclusion to the plot) not quite so well.  I for one enjoyed PSS more than Scar; maybe this was because I read the latter immediately after the former, so I was a little jaded to its charms, or maybe it's just a matter of idiosyncratic taste, but I think Mieville really shines at something like fantastical social 'realism'.  

I'd guess Iron Council is going to divide opinions pretty sharply.  Its politics are a bit more on-the-sleeve (without, imho, being ham-handed about it), for one thing, but the big thing -- the great virtue or vice, depending -- is that it's quite a bit more literary.  As to whether he's successful or not, and whether that's a good thing or not to try to do with a fantasy novel, YMMV.

I've also read Kraken & The City and the City.  I enjoyed both well enough, and the former's got some great grist for a UA game, but the Bas-Lag setting remains the best thing Mieville's done, imho.

Quote from: jdurall;453671I'd certainly love the thread to drift back to Tales of New Crobuzon, BRP, China Mievelle, or something vaguely relevant to the original post.

Me too!
Like I said, I did like Mr. Skarka's Underworld setting... which does seem to have a Mieville influence to it. I'd initially ignored it because I thought it was an attempt to 'homage' the old Beauty and the Beast television series... not that that's a bad thing... I don't think.

I like many of the New Weird/Slipstream authors... such as Jeff Vandermeer, Thomas Ligotti, K.J. Bishop... and Mr. Mieville... but I've found it hard to work that flavor into RPG sessions because a lot what appeals to me is the kind of dream-logic those stories often run on... and some people just don't respond well to that sort of absurdity in a game (or maybe I just suck at it).
It will be interesting to see how the game brings that out, or if it even tries to.

Quote from: jdurall;453671I'd certainly love the thread to drift back to Tales of New Crobuzon, BRP, China Mievelle, or something vaguely relevant to the original post.

Has anyone here run a campaign in this setting already? If so, how did it go? What game did you use?

Quote from: Cole;453690Has anyone here run a campaign in this setting already? If so, how did it go? What game did you use?

I'd be curious of the same...
Much as I like it I've only ever used elements of it... such as having an NPC villain based on Mr. Motley and his 'dreamshit' farm... but that was in a space game and used 'wifething' clones rather than giant moths.
We also had a version of the Weaver in a CoC game.

Quote from: Cole;453659And you've got a thread discussing your upcoming game, so you take the opportunity to argue with Benoist about which of you is more of an asshole. I can understand if you'd rather let your work speak for itself once it's available, but this?

Quote from: jdurall;453671I'd certainly love the thread to drift back to Tales of New Crobuzon, BRP, China Mievelle, or something vaguely relevant to the original post.

You're right.

I apologize.

Thanks for the reading suggestions everyone. I've placed an order for The Scar.

I'm sure I just need a different way to approach the material, having had similar problems with with other authors. In school I had a hell of a time with and hated Louis-Ferdinand Céline's novels, until I started reading them out-loud with a terrible French accent...now they're among my favorite books.

Quote from: hanszurcher;453705Thanks for the reading suggestions everyone. I've placed an order for The Scare.

I'm sure I just need a different way to approach the material, having had similar problems with with other authors. In school I had a hell of a time with and hated Louis-Ferdinand Céline's novels, until I started reading them out-loud with a terrible French accent...now they're among my favorite books.

I always keep going back to the "When you're in, you're in" from chapter 2 of Journey to the End of the night. I remember laughing out loud like a crazy person in the library when I first read that line.

Quote from: Cole;453706I always keep going back to the "When you're in, you're in" from chapter 2 of Journey to the End of the night. I remember laughing out loud like a crazy person in the library when I first read that line.

Fantastic book

Quote from: GMSkarka;453704You're right.

I apologize.

Thank you.

Oh, here's a question, if you're at liberty to discuss it - will the Tales RPG address the governance of the city or how PCs might navigate or interact with that system?

And, speaking broadly to anyone reading, does anyone have any interesting anecdotes or observations about gaming in a premodern fantasy setting that includes political systems associated with the era since the age of reason - whether a realm that has already experienced its "revolution," or a major NPC driven by a distinctly 19th or 20th century political ideology...etc.