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Post by Zulgyan on Jun 29, 2008 21:51:55 GMT -6
This will be a controversial thread, but...
Why have 2 magazines with almost identical scopes? Why not unite efforts and have just one magazine? Why "competition" (not in the bad sense of the word)?
1 strong mag will be better than 2 less strong. Much better if all contributions go to one. Why not all friends under one zine?
I don't wish to anger or hurt anyone's feelings, but I think the community will be better with 1 zine instead of 2.
There is so much S&W can do different from magazine. Supplements, modules, settings, accessories, etc.
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Bard
Level 3 Conjurer
The dice never lie.
Posts: 87
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Post by Bard on Jun 30, 2008 7:00:09 GMT -6
I think that two is more than one. I visualize a scenario where I submit my rpg article to a magazine, and it is rejected... Too much better articles... Oh well, I submit it to another magazine... Eventually somewhere it gets published. But in the process I feel that the hobby is alive.
It's not just about healthy competition, but it's a sign that there are a lot of us...
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Post by Zulgyan on Jun 30, 2008 8:48:36 GMT -6
Oh yes, this are good signs indeeds and i would love to be discussing: why 12 OD&D fanzines?
Matt is doing a GREAT job!
I'm just giving an opinion on what I think would be best.
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mythmere
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 293
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Post by mythmere on Jun 30, 2008 11:05:02 GMT -6
Short answer: the OGL. Cal's not using the OGL, and I am. I can format things and use certain material that he can't, and vice versa. Both formats are required in order to cover all the ground.
Here's the answer I gave over at my blog, where you asked the same question:
I had to think about this pretty hard, and I contacted Calithena about it a while ago. The main reason is that Fight On! isn’t going to use the open gaming license, so specific rules using “open game content” can’t be put into Fight On! This cuts out the retro-clone games, and I think the retro-clone games are a very important development, especially in terms of bringing new players into games that have, let’s face it, poorly organized rules in their original books. A number of people have been introduced to the 1e rules through OSRIC, and our hope with OSRIC has always been that after trying out the rules, people will go and get the original books. There’s no way to know if they’re getting the original rules, but definitely OSRIC has been widely used for one-off 1e games in the 3e community, and I think that’s a good thing. I completely respect Calithena’s effort to create a magazine for the out of print original versions of the game. As you said, the magazines have a very similar scope, so Cal and I are on the same page about what’s a cool project. I disagree that the method of using code words for various stats is the best way to go with it, but that’s Calithena’s decision and I certainly could be wrong. However, because of the non-OGL format of Fight On!, there’s a huge area of old-school gaming - the retro-clones - that are left out of Fight On!. Knockspell Magazine is going to format everything using the original, real terminology. We can do that because of the OGL. Also, keep in mind that part of my goal here is specifically to support a 0e retro-clone. 0e has had very little exposure beyond a fairly small circle, and I’m hoping that Swords & Wizardry will open some doors. Fight On! specifically prohibits much in the way of mentioning brand names - it’s all supposed to be unified using Cal’s new terminology. That doesn’t allow me to support S&W through a periodical publication. My goal is the same as Cal’s but we’re taking radically different approaches toward that goal. I respect Cal’s approach, and I’m sure he respects mine. But the approaches don’t blend with each other. It’s likely the same reason that Cal hasn’t thrown his resources toward supporting Footprints over at DF, choosing instead to create a publication that aligns with his own goals and preferences. If Swords & Wizardry turns out to be a complete dud, I’ll likely spew my excess creativity toward either Fight On! or Footprints. I’m actually not the sort of person who tries to always be in control of a project - I handed OSRIC over to Stuart, I handed Monsters of Myth over to the First Edition Society, I’ve edited books for Castles & Crusades, I’ve done artwork for Solomoriah’s Basic Fantasy Role-playing Game. I don’t seek the limelight. But the whole plan for Swords & Wizardry is to approach “marketing” in a different way than OSRIC did, and to specifically promote 0e types of play. These goals just don’t match up with Cal’s methods for Fight On!. Again, if my scheming and efforts to advance Swords & Wizardry turn out to be a failure, I will likely work with Cal or with Footprints, or send more material over to Joe Browning at Expeditious Retreat Press.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2008 12:39:15 GMT -6
I love Fight On! and I look forward to loving Knockspell. Mythmere did I miss it somewhere or do you have a timeline of where publishing Knockspell fits in?
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mythmere
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 293
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Post by mythmere on Jul 31, 2008 8:43:44 GMT -6
I love Fight On! and I look forward to loving Knockspell. Mythmere did I miss it somewhere or do you have a timeline of where publishing Knockspell fits in? I don't think so, but James M can probably answer that question better than I can, since he's going to be the editor along with Philotomy. I think the big push on Knockspell comes once the two games (core and whitebox) are ready for distribution.
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Post by James Maliszewski on Jul 31, 2008 16:04:00 GMT -6
I think the big push on Knockspell comes once the two games (core and whitebox) are ready for distribution. That's correct. I've been a bit distracted by a couple of other projects that are now safely in bed, so work on Knockspell will begin in earnest shortly. The goal is for the first issue to appear not long after the release of the S&W core rules, but a lot depends on how many submissions I get and/or can commission from people. As it stands now, I could certainly use some more!
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akiyama
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 103
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Post by akiyama on Aug 3, 2008 6:57:17 GMT -6
I'm slightly confused now. Is Knockspell going to be solely publishing articles for S&W, or will it also publish stuff compatible with other OGL games, such as OSRIC, Labyrinth Lord etc?
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Post by joethulhu on Aug 3, 2008 11:15:54 GMT -6
Um - pretty much anything published in Fight On! or Knockspell is usable with OD&D, AD&D, S&W, OSRIC, LL, etc. The games are so close to each other than anything published for any of these systems will work "as is" or with very, very little modification with any of the systems. I'm slightly confused now. Is Knockspell going to be solely publishing articles for S&W, or will it also publish stuff compatible with other OGL games, such as OSRIC, Labyrinth Lord etc?
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Post by Random on Aug 3, 2008 12:52:48 GMT -6
True, but the reason for Knockspell isn't play-wise compatability with the retro-clone games, it's more for the use of copyrighted materials and terminology from the orginal games that are only allowable through the OGL.
At least that's how I understand it.
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Post by calithena on Aug 17, 2008 19:08:46 GMT -6
I don't have any animosity towards knockspell and wish for a market more than big enough for both of us, but it's true that dungeons, spells, rule variants, etc. for all the games Myth mentions are welcome in Fight on!/i] Some of them (e.g. Labyrinth Lord) are, by arrangement with Mr. Proctor, even mentionable by name, though I don't fully understand the legal status of this. Best of luck to all.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
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Post by benoist on Apr 26, 2009 14:40:52 GMT -6
1 strong mag will be better than 2 less strong. Much better if all contributions go to one. Why not all friends under one zine? I disagree. I think that what matters in this instance with what type of relationship there is between KS and FO!. Competition, when it is friendly and healthy, is a good thing, IMO. It inspires everyone to give the best of themselves and outdo themselves. What I don't want to see is sniping, backstabbing, and predatory, or exclusive competition (I keep this author and you won't get him! I sell there and not you, etc). That would be very bad for us. So long as we're all friends and cooperate to strengthen each other rather than try to trip and backstab the competition (and thus, ourselves), it's good for us.
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 26, 2009 15:16:08 GMT -6
Well put, which is in part why I'm trying to support both with forum space here.
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Post by harami2000 on Apr 26, 2009 16:19:53 GMT -6
1 strong mag will be better than 2 less strong. Much better if all contributions go to one. Why not all friends under one zine? Could make the argument that we all should've been supporting A&E in the first place, in that case. Bring back the days when there was a choice of 20-30 at the FLGS, no?
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