First Spam!
I have heard it be said that you’ll know you have a real website when you get your first spam. Well today my site went legit as I got what I consider to be my first spam, although in the lexicon of the web it would more likely be considered a troll.
Someone using the handle “Anonannoyed” and the clever email legitimatebusiness@realemail.com decided to come all the way over to my little corner of the interwebs to start a D&D edition war and tell me the products I’ve worked on “aren’t D&D products”.
When 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons released in June of 2008 there were a lot of “annoyeds” around, but edition wars are nothing new. When 1st Edition was replaced by 2nd, there were people who said the game would die. This happened from 2nd to 3rd and from 3rd to 3.5. In fact, I know of people who consider OD&D to be the one true version of the game (ducks as Chainmail fans throw a fit). Change is initially difficult for most humans to cope with, but over time people adjust and move on. Once these “annoyed” fans get over the inevitable nature of new editions, they move on, hopefully going back to play the edition of the game that makes them the happiest. Two great things about Dungeons & Dragons are that: a) if cared for, books will remain useful for decades b) the game is made for user generated content and play is only limited by the DM’s imagination or desire to create adventures.
Anonannoyed, I hope you have gone back to enjoying the version of the game that makes you happy and thanks for making me chuckle today.
Here are some other D&D products I have worked on, unless of course AD&D is your thing 
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December 11th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I didn’t know you’d worked on Red Hand of Doom! Red Hand of Doom was awesome.
For encountering your first war troll you get a…*roll* Cape of the Mountbank. Welcome to blogging.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hurray! You’re more legit than my site is then! I haven’t gotten any spam yet.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Way to go for speaking out, Scott. While some things about 4e at first annoyed me I’m now firmly in the ranks of the rabid fans of the game, as are my players. You done good. Sure, there’s a few wrinkles in there but the joy of this hobby is that we’re not locked in to what we’re given. Role-playing isn’t a console game with the rules, look and feel dictated by what’s on the disc; it’s freeform, open and the only limit is the imaginations of the GM and players. That’s the same regardless of edition. I love me some Classic D&D, AD&D, 3/3.5e D&D and 4e D&D. They all feel different in play, and to my mind that’s more power to the game as a whole.
And you know what to do with Trolls, right?
December 11th, 2009 at 11:56 am
@Wyatt My contribution to Red Hand of Doom was very different from the work of the authors, artists, editors etc and they deserve the real credit for making it great. My job was to make sure their creation made it onto the shelves and ultimately into the hands of gamers.
I agree it is a great adventure, maybe the best of the 3e era. In 4e the Dungeon “Scales of War” adventure path picks up about 100 years after where Red Hand of Doom left off.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I’m late to this particular party – but I just found the site
Book of the Nine Swords was one of my favorites. Lots of cool stuff in there. I tend to lean in the 3.5 camp (though we did play 4e for 9 months – it’s a decent system – just not our system – and this group has been together since 1e). We are currently playing Pathfinder – and I would like the opportunity to play a little Dark Heresy as well. Scott – are you planning on doing some freelance stuff or jumping back on board with another company if the opportunity arises?
January 27th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Matt,
Thanks for stopping by. Book of Nine Swords was a great book, providing a lot of fun options for martial type classes. I am also a fan of the 3.5e Player’s Handbook II. Glad to hear you are still enjoying 3.5, it is a great system. I am playing in a 4e game again but have also been picking up some classic AD&D modules on ebay that I may end up playing. My son and I have started playing the the original d20 Star Wars RPG and I am keen to try out Mouse Guard.
I have had a few offers to work on RPG projects but I have not accepted anything. If the right opportunity presented itself I might get back into the RPG publishing business but most of my current focus has been on interactive games (console & social games). I’ve been doing some consulting work with a interactive game developer while I look for a permanent gig.
Cheers,
Scott