Hi there. I know I haven’t been around much lately. I probably will maintain a lower profile for weeks to come. Please bear with me. I’ll be less chatty for some time, but I’m still around.
One of the things I found myself having a knack for as a blogger is to get people together, to create links (both Web and otherwise) with people and grow networks of like-minded individuals. When I started out, I would spend hours every week reading other people’s blogs, linking to some of their content and adding my new voice to what they were saying.
The response I got was amazing and it started me on a path that brought me to what I’ve achieved here.
I don’t do this anymore and I miss it sometime. With real life barging in on my blogging, I progressively lost track of other blogs and what others were talking about.
Thing is, with the RPG Blogger’s Network exploding like it did in these last few months, there are now many, many great RPG themed blogs out there that you might not know all that much about.
That’s why I’d like to try out something new. I’d like to present to you, on a semi regular basis, one or 2 RPG blogs that I find worth perusing. I’ll then post annotated links to 3 or 4 articles they have published.
Please note that I do not ask anything from the blogs I link to, consider this a community service I give while I’m looking to find my muses again.
If you are interested in getting your blog featured here, send me an email as chattydm@chattydm.net with the following:
- The name and URL of your blog
- A 1 paragraph description of what your blog is about and/or what it means to you
- Give me titles and links to 3 of your best articles (or those you are most proud of)
If I select your blog in a future “Chatty DM Presents” post, I’ll read each post provided and write a a short editorial paragraph about each.
Okay, let’s start shall we?
I asked my buddy Zachary Hougthon of RPG Blog II to be the headliner for this. (BTW: He’s just released a self published campaign setting, have a look).
Here’s what Zach has to say about his blog:
RPG Blog II is my second foray into running a gaming blog. My first, rpgblog.org, did really well, but I hit the blogging wall pretty hard, and that was it for that. Since then, I’ve come back with this effort, which is a low-key, welcoming, sustainable effort. I blog about everything in gaming I find interesting; from old school to small press, from the silliness of the Edition War front lines to little snippets of our hobby’s history. At heart I’m not a hardcore idealogue, a One-True-Wayer, or vaunted gaming seer–I’m an average Midwestern gamer who loves this hobby, and that’s how I blog.
Zach’s philosophy of blogging in a relaxed, at my own pace, style is apparent in his blog. (I should definitively be taking notes). I especially appreciate how he makes fun of the D&D Edition Wars by going the satire way about it. He’s not afraid to stir up controversy and he’s an active forum goer on most of the big RPG forums.
Here’s a Sample of Zach’s work:
Is D&D A Product of the Midwest?
In which Zach writes an essay on how much the American MidWest mindset may have influenced the origins of tabletop RPGs. He argues, along other authors, that the midwestern ethos of hard work for incremental gains left thier fingerprints in the game. He mentions that had the hobby been born elsewhere, there likely would heve been fundamental differences in style and genre that would still prevail in the original game that would come out of it.
Not being American and not knowing much about the Midwest, I can’t really appreciate the veracity of this thesis. It does have a slight whiff of the ethnocentric. Although I’m sure he’s got a valid point.
It’s however clear to me that the D&D’s genesis was heavily influenced by what the first players read and defined as Fantasy at the time, in fact if you look at the 1ed Dungeon Master Guide’s reading list, there’s a chance that many players playing 4e have never heard of some of the books on that list… Yet they shaped much of the game that we love, regardless of the edition.
On the 4e Edition Wars, Blogging, and Levels
In which Zach explores the subject of Edition Wars (something he often observes and comments on) and how he chose to not go the 4e way because his gaming group relishes some of the elements that were removed from the game (the whole Zero to hero concept). He deplores that so many people chose ‘sides’ and are launching attacks at the other side.
In his own colorful way he presents a system that represents levels of attack intensity so to classify the various debates seen on blogs and forums.
I have long ago tired of the Edition Wars. I get the some people are annoyed that Wizards of the Coast stopped supporting a version of the game they prefer. Really I want you to enjoy your game, whatever it happens to be. Heck, invite me and I’ll gladly play it at least once… (Except 2e… just kidding). But people who’ve been here for some time know this.
I’m happy that companies like Paizo are stepping in to fill the gaps left by D&D moving on to other. I’m even more amazed to see some things like the Old School Rennaissance publishing group gathering momentum and getting people to start producing material for older editions of the game. That’s the way to go!
Zach does a poll of many of his friend (many from his time in the military) and notices trends that shows how many have stopped playing altogether. He muses that with the availability of GM tools and resources online, we should see more GM not less.
Zach makes no attempt to generalize his observations to the rest of the world. He does however seem to forget a key point: He’s growing older and so are his GMing buddies. As time moves on many people, faced with the factors Zach mentions (Unhappy with state of Hobby, too hard to find players, scheduling issues, etc), just put RPGs progressively lower in their life priorities.
I believe there are more GMs out there than we think. There’s probably a good chance that it just happens to be younger players that oldsters like myself and Zach don’t hang out with (except digitally).
Based on the discussions I’ve had with readers, there are a lot of new or aspiring GMs out there and the Internet does indeed bring many of them closer together.
Maybe I should have a ‘New GM’ feature…
All right that was my attempt at starting a new tradition. Tell me if you like it and send me your info if you want me to look at your blog.
Zach’s got some great stuff posted on his blog, and I’m not just saying that because one of those posts talked about my own blog. I especially appreciate his columns regarding RPG publishing – for those of us who hope one day to be able to publish our own gaming material, those posts are definitely worth A) reading carefully and B) taking notes.
Badelaires last blog post..Sixty-Six Blogs and Counting
Zach is a pretty cool guy. Eh blogs about RPGs and doesnt afraid of anything.
(/end old meme)
More seriously, Zach’s nifty.
Wyatts last blog post..Speaking of bugs…
Thanks for sharing this Phil. I got too busy for my own good too and stopped keeping track of what’s hot in the blogosphere. I’d love more of these “Chatty Presents” features.
Keep up the great work.
Yaxs last blog post..Retro Traps: 5 Evil Scenarios from the Bad Old Days
I really enjoy Zach’s blog. It’s definitely one I visit every time there’s new content. Some sites I can wait or decide it’s not of interest but his site is one I usually want to visit right away when he posts something.
Tony Laws last blog post..Adventure Seed: Curses!
Definitely one of the better blogs out there. And a nice feature, I love it 🙂
Viriathas last blog post..Interlude: Short Takes 01/26/09
Besides having one of the better blogs and having just self-published his setting, Zach has the distinction of being one of my fellow Hoosier bloggers. Indiana, the Mecca of roleplaying!
I don’t know if I could get passed my humility to submit myself to this feature, but I think I would like to submit other blogger’s sites. Would that be acceptable, or would you rather not have third party submissions?
Mad Brews last blog post..If RPGs Were Religions
I have always lived in the midwest, about one hour from where E. Gary Gygax developed D&D. I too have wondered if this particular geographic location had anything to do with the game’s development.
Perhaps Mr. Gygax was bored with cowtipping and wanted something more exciting.
Oh boy the response is more rapid than I expected. Altough since a lot of you are bloggers, I assumed that it would be well received. 🙂
@Badelaire: Its funny, Zach is among the few I feel I know the most while still never having seen or spoken to. I like what he does a lot and I admire his courage in standing for what he believes in.
@Wyatt: Har Har har! I got your subscription, you’re definitively in the queue!
@Yax: Long time no see man! Us old dinosaurs should hang out more with the kids no? (I’m joking people!) 🙂
@Mad Brew: Does that mean that I may see you in Indianapolis in August? I’d love to have a huge RPGbloggers beer fest night!
@Zed: Lol! Let’s just say that I’m happy he didn’t develop an obsession for model trains!
@Chatty: Oh, I’m going to be there… trying to decide what exactly I’m going to do, but if there is an RPGBloggers beer fest night, count me in! If food or drink is involved, I’m a fan. *pokes his belly*
Mad Brews last blog post..If RPGs Were Religions
Thanks for the love, Phil (and all)! The RPG Bloggers community is something fantastic, and I’m proud to be part of it!
I hope some meetups and seminars are being planned as we speak for Gen Con! I’m game for whatever! 🙂
(Thanks for the plug for Irrin as well. I figure if I sell 12 print and pdf copies total, it’ll be a major success). 😉
Zacharys last blog post..Shocking D&D 4E Revelation
Did I hear “beerfest?” Because now I’m really going to be at GenCon! 😉
Tony Laws last blog post..Adventure Seed: Curses!
Great post, Phil! I really like your new feature and I am looking forward to the upcoming posts. RPG Blog II is actually one of the blogs I have subscribed to using Google Reader and I enjoy most if not all of Zach’s post. And I think some congratulations to his published setting is in order! That’s an impressive feat. I wish I could put some more love into my own campaign setting. *sigh* Perhaps that’s a project for the later half of that year.
Stargazers last blog post..Five tips to improve your roleplaying
My presence at Gen Con is not yet confirmed (I have to finance it outside of using family money), but if I do go, a RPG beerfest is something to plan for sure!
@Zach: Hang in there and get the word out about Irrin. It’s your first foray in an extremely fragmented market. Try to get it noticed by the Old School blogs and you could get an honest shot at this clientele.
Thanks everyone for the excellent feedback.
re: is the GM a dying breed?
I think you’re absolutely right about getting older, chatty. The post-college adult world forces many mature concerns on a person, which are more troublesome the less maturity they are handled with. So many of my roleplayer friends can’t be bothered to grow up about the hobby. It was easy to play when we were in college, with lots of free time and an easy common meeting spot. Now with schedules to arrange around work and the need to create a meeting spot and go there at times we wouldn’t just happen to be there anyway, I’ve found that some of the people I’d really like to play with most are yet unwilling to put forth the extra effort.
Hey, chattydm. I didn’t know this blog is active again. I used the email thing. So, I went to renew my email on here and can’t find it. Can you please point me to the right direction?
I’m also a fan of this new feature.
I think you’re on the right track about age and roleplaying availability. It’s harder to make space– the more juggling you have to do, the better the session has to be to be worth the effort. Unless you’re lucky enough to game alongside your wife… but even then, there are trade offs.
@Cpanthersfan: Sorry man but I quit Feedburner after it kept borking my feed. You can subscribe to it with a RSS reader at http://chattydm.net/feed/.
@Ian and Scott: This is a huge reality for post-college age adults. The value of free time skyrockets and RPGs with their customary ups and downs are in competition with so many other activities. I’ll likely revisit this soon.
To chattydm: Okay, no problem. Thanks for letting me know.