05-10-2017, 07:59 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ronkonkoma, NY
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Dave Arneson's True Genius
So Rob Kuntz, Gary Gygax's co-DM in the original Greyhawk campaign, has published a book, Dave Arneson's True Genius. In it he describes the invention of RPGs using systems theory and concludes that Dave Arneson produced a transcendental breakthrough by creating a gaming framework wherein rules could be changed on the fly to accommodate any gaming need.
I have not read the book. I consider it overpriced. But I've heard a lot about what's in the book, including from Rob himself, over on the Ruins of Murkhill forum. In their little bubble on the web, the participants are very favorable to the book, to the point that one poster just compared Rob to Einstein and his book to General Relativity. I've seen a couple of brief online reviews of the book that didn't come from OD&Ders, and the forumites have slammed the reviews. I'm asking here whether anyone has read the book and has any thoughts on it. I'd like to know what someone outside of the group of people who inhabit OD&D and OSR forums make of it. I respect the critical judgment of this forum, though I'm not sure anybody here would have read it. |
05-10-2017, 11:49 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: Dave Arneson's True Genius
In direct answer to your question, no I havent read the book, even though its a topic that I should find riveting.
Why is that? Well.... At what they're asking for a 72 page book, Im disinclined to purchase it. That combined with this facebook review leaves me less inclined to do so. For $20, Id rather by the next 2.5 GURPS PDFs :) As for the Ruins of Murkhill, Mr.Kuntz carries a lot of geek cred with a certain cache of people so him finding alot of love writing about a topic that interests that group doesnt suprise me at all. Yes, having read the thread, it does seem a bit fanboy-ish and fawning at times, but among his crowd, in his element, with his history, thats kind of to be expected. If (HYPOTHETICALLY) Kromm wrote a book titled Shake untill Stirred : A life story of 3d6, Tango Buttocks, and Mixology then you could reasonably expect that people here who enjoyed that book would respond enthusiastically, while that response might be a bit more modulated elsewhere. Nymdok p.s. I dont think they are comparing him to Einstein. |
05-10-2017, 11:54 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Chicagoland
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Re: Dave Arneson's True Genius
At first glance, it seems like just the type of book I buy sight unseen.
But at second glance, it is rather expensive for the page count...and that page count is inflated by addenda that's basically a sales tool for his next book! I'll pass on this one.
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GMing Since 1982. Last edited by GM Joe; 05-10-2017 at 12:34 PM. |
05-10-2017, 12:13 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ronkonkoma, NY
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Re: Dave Arneson's True Genius
Yep, the price is outrageous.
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05-11-2017, 10:29 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Castle, PA (north of Pittsburgh)
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Re: Dave Arneson's True Genius
Dudes, Quantum Mechanics doesn't compare favorably to Generaly Relativity. So no way is a single book about a guy in the latter half of the 20th century going to....
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