What do you want from a Designer's Notes article? - Page 2

sir_pudding · 03-08-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Wait -- I haven't seen one of these articles since 4th ed came out. Am I dense? Where are they hiding?

The "Resources" section of each book's page. FREX, Powers.

ULFGARD · 03-08-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not another shrubbery

A lot of the old ones are accessible as free sample articles from the older Pyramids. Just search on "Designer's Notes" using the search box from SJG's home page.

But where are the new ones from Powers, etc., that are referenced here? I haven't purchased all of the Pyramids, but pretty much every one of 'em dealing with magic. Are these all crammed into the issues without magic? I doubt I'd purchase an issue of Pyramid just for designers notes, but it might tip the scale on a couple of issues I've been toying with purchasing...

sir_pudding · 03-08-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

But where are the new ones from Powers, etc., that are referenced here?

On the page for that specific book under "Resources".

ULFGARD · 03-08-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

On the page for that specific book under "Resources".

Thanks! Now I feel stupid...

baakyocalder · 03-08-2011, 09:34 PM

I prefer to know what the author was thinking when writing. Inspirational music, art and books and how they influenced the work are more interesting to me than rules which did not make the cut.

I also appreciate the author's opinion on the genre for worldbooks, including what they think about various materials.

Pragmatic · 03-09-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Wait -- I haven't seen one of these articles since 4th ed came out. Am I dense? Where are they hiding?

Seems they're mostly in hardcovers.

Not all, though. (I just went through and searched. :-P) Magic and Low Tech are missing them.

And not always hardcovers. Dungeon Fantasy 1 has one, as does Supers.

Kuroshima · 03-09-2011, 02:17 AM

Personally, what I want to see in Designer's notes is:

Why some decisions where made. Every book (and hell, everything) is the end leaf of a big decision tree. Why was that branch taken? It would provide interesting insights on why some sections are as they are, allowing you to more easily internalize them. If your base assumptions clash with some of those decisions, then knowing why they were done, you can adjust them with a decreased chance of unexpected consequences.
Stuff that got cut due to word space, not being sufficiently playtested, etc etc.
Stuff that elaborates on what was written: The moment you hit the send key is the moment where inspiration strikes. This means that (going from personal experience) the best moment to write something is immediately after sending it (catch 22, I know).

Rotwang · 03-09-2011, 09:28 AM

I've always liked the ones that have included little nuggets that had to be left out for space reasons:

-an expanded bibliography/filmography
-a few optional rules
-worked examples: a sample character/vehicle/etc.

sir_pudding · 03-09-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Magic and Low Tech are missing them.

The former was more complied than strictly designed and the latter's potential designer's notes became Fantasy Tech 1 and the Companions, I suspect.

walkir · 03-15-2011, 12:28 AM

I prefer stuff that didn't make it into the book, but texts about why the author(s) chose to write the book the way it is are very interesting, too.

03-08-2011, 09:34 PM	#15
baakyocalder Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sacramento metro, California	Re: What do you want from a Designer's Notes article? I prefer to know what the author was thinking when writing. Inspirational music, art and books and how they influenced the work are more interesting to me than rules which did not make the cut. I also appreciate the author's opinion on the genre for worldbooks, including what they think about various materials. __________________ Currently Running: Without Number family games which use a lot of GURPS material for details when the players start asking(online, sporadically) Waiting For: Schedule Sanity to Play Car Wars and my Fnordcon special alt Car Wars cards!

03-09-2011, 02:17 AM	#17
Kuroshima MIB Pyramid Contributor Mad Spaniard Rules Lawyer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The ASS of the world, mainly Valencia, Spain (Europe)	Re: What do you want from a Designer's Notes article? Personally, what I want to see in Designer's notes is: Why some decisions where made. Every book (and hell, everything) is the end leaf of a big decision tree. Why was that branch taken? It would provide interesting insights on why some sections are as they are, allowing you to more easily internalize them. If your base assumptions clash with some of those decisions, then knowing why they were done, you can adjust them with a decreased chance of unexpected consequences. Stuff that got cut due to word space, not being sufficiently playtested, etc etc. Stuff that elaborates on what was written: The moment you hit the send key is the moment where inspiration strikes. This means that (going from personal experience) the best moment to write something is immediately after sending it (catch 22, I know). __________________ Antoni Ten MIB3119 My GURPs character sheet My stuff on e23

03-09-2011, 09:28 AM	#18
Rotwang Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, MA	Re: What do you want from a Designer's Notes article? I've always liked the ones that have included little nuggets that had to be left out for space reasons: -an expanded bibliography/filmography -a few optional rules -worked examples: a sample character/vehicle/etc.

03-15-2011, 12:28 AM	#20
walkir Join Date: May 2006 Location: Germany	Re: What do you want from a Designer's Notes article? I prefer stuff that didn't make it into the book, but texts about why the author(s) chose to write the book the way it is are very interesting, too.

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