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Author Topic: Dungeon of Signs signing off  (Read 8170 times)

Mike the Mage

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« on: May 24, 2018, 05:51:00 PM »
http://dungeonofsigns.blogspot.it

Quote
Well some of you may have noticed this blog has been down, restricting access for some time.  For various reasons I've decided to step away from the OSR and the tabletop gaming web community - possibly permanently. Part my decision to withdraw is personal, I find myself with insufficient time and desire to write about games but I also have the sense that the 'OSR' scene this blog is devoted to has become a rather disgusting place where crass commercialization is strangling a formerly creative amateur community, and where destructive 'alt-right' views are becoming increasingly prevalent, even among some of the more significant publishers in the community.  This isn't to say that there aren't still wonderful creatives and writers within the OSR community, and that I don't consider many of those I've met there real friends.

To put it another way - the OSR isn't fun for me anymore, and as such I will be officially shutting this blog down.  I've been asked to maintain the site as an archive for others to use, and will do so - though I'm shutting down the comments.  I still appreciate that the blog's many readers have enjoyed it over the years and I've enjoyed comment discussions, but don't wish to keep up with trimming the spam.

So Goodbye and Good Luck, thanks for reading.

- Gus L.


Sad news, indeed.
When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed

Ras Algethi

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2018, 07:55:41 PM »
Those damm Nazis, ruined another blog.:rolleyes:

Ashakyre

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« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2018, 08:06:15 PM »
I'm wondering what horrible " 'alt right' " comments on his blog put him over the edge. Did someone not apologize for being born?

Just Another Snake Cult

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« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2018, 09:06:24 PM »
The OSR seems to me to be winding down and sputtering out as a creative movement. I guess it was inevitably going to happen sooner or later.
« Last Edit: May 25, 2018, 08:01:02 AM by Just Another Snake Cult »
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Ratman_tf

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« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2018, 09:11:50 PM »
Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1040520
The OSR seems to me to be winding down and sputtering out as a creative movement.

I would rather say that it's served it's purpose. There's only so much lore to be uncovered.
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Shawn Driscoll

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« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2018, 09:12:13 PM »
Alt-Right is mentioned, but not Ctrl-Left for some reason.

TheShadow

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« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2018, 12:50:40 AM »
Struggling to think how crass commercialisation might strangle the OSR...I guess someone else sold more copies than him?
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Spinachcat

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« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2018, 01:04:11 AM »
Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;1040520
The OSR seems to me to be winding down and sputtering out as a creative movement.

It's changing.

The OSR has covered so much territory and cranked out such huge amount of product (free and otherwise) in the past decade plus that most everything a gamer could want has been done...probably several times. I am quite sure the OSR has created x10 the page count of TSR. At certain point, there's gonna be fatigue.

I fully expect great OSR stuff to be produced in the future, but much of it might not be directly TSR compatible.

Mike the Mage

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« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2018, 02:59:26 AM »
Quote from: Spinachcat;1040541
I fully expect great OSR stuff to be produced in the future, but much of it might not be directly TSR compatible.

Agreed. I see no sign of "peak OSR". As for the man's reasons, I think that generally that publishers within the  OSR have been far less "crassly commercial" than other publishers like WotC and WW. In fact, with a few exceptions, the OSR is much more concerned with quality, substance and content than image and fads.

Moreover there are lots of creative newcomers still arriving on the scene: Just this year; Low Fantasy Gaming is getting regular excelletn support, Lion & Dragon too, Echoes From Fomalhaut is a new recent zine and Black Pudding has a new isuse while RPG Pundit Presents is stronger than ever. Greis Games is kicking out some great adventures, Beyond the Wall has a new release coming up soon and Stars Without Number has just released a second edition and thene ther is Midderlands new material that I am looking forward to receriving this Autumn...


No. I cannot agree with the "OSR ain't what it used to be".

Nor can I agree that the presence of the Alt-Right is somehow a thing of the OSR. Sorry but this leftie says bollox it is.

I am just sad to see a good blog and a good writer leave the hobby. I hope he reconsiders.
« Last Edit: May 25, 2018, 03:45:01 AM by Mike the Mage »
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JimLotFP

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2018, 03:25:17 AM »
I'm one of the people he thinks is "alt-right" (he's called me a cryptofascist), for as far as I can tell saying that assaulting people on the street for political beliefs is a bad thing to do, and that my criticism of Jordan Peterson doesn't reach the levels of total condemnation.

Mike the Mage

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« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2018, 03:44:01 AM »
Quote from: JimLotFP;1040549
I'm one of the people he thinks is "alt-right" (he's called me a cryptofascist), for as far as I can tell saying that assaulting people on the street for political beliefs is a bad thing to do, and that my criticism of Jordan Peterson doesn't reach the levels of total condemnation.

Well that just made me a little less sad to see the fellow quit. In fact, the word "flounce" is now springing to mind.

Cheers Jim!
When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed

Melan

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2018, 09:51:01 AM »
Yeah, I'm rather conflicted about this.

Great imagination, excellent reviews and posts, but he was part of a particular set on G+ who couldn't accept the legitimacy or even existence of politics other than a narrow far-left vanguardism. He was a creative guy, but also someone who seemed all too keen to become judge, jury and executioner. As for the "alt-right" label, it has lost any possible meaning in the sense he has been using it, having been affixed to anyone to the right of Lenin.

All in all, sad.
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Baron Opal

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2018, 10:04:30 AM »
That's too bad. I was hoping to see a HMS Apollyon sourcebook at some point.

crkrueger

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2018, 10:11:31 AM »
It's sad he chose to place politics over gaming.

But since he did, it's a good thing he had to leave because all of gaming wasn't marching in lockstep to his ideology.  When anyone, from any side, leaves because of that reason, there's only one response:
SPOILER (Hover over section below to view.)



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Omega

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Dungeon of Signs signing off
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2018, 10:16:50 AM »
Yeah if this is the nut Im thinking of then good riddance.