From:	Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject:	Shadowrun on Slashdot.org
Date:	Thu, 8 Jun 2000 22:47:35 +0200

> Adam J wrote:
> I don't really think so. Slashdot is "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters".
> The nerds that are already interested in roleplaying probably already have
> some sort of knowledge about SR or already play it.

I don't think this goes for all nerds. I know a lot of nerds that are to
down to earth and don't have enough imagination to really like roleplaying
games. Hell, most nerds I know don't even like computer games,...they like
to *make* computer games,...just not play them.

> The nerds that aren't interested in roleplaying probably aren't going to
> pick up a game just because Jon Katz thinks that it's Oh So Relevant.
> Moreso, the people who do pick up SR because of this article are probably
> not going to play it, only read it. Now I don't think this is a bad thing,
> per se - a sale is a sale, but unless the person goes "Whoah! This is
f'ing
> cool!" and continues to buy SR books for the metaplot and themes contained
> within, I doubt that many will continue to purchase SR books.

This is what I've seen happen with Vampire. I haven't played it, but I heard
that it became second biggest RPG because most of the people buy the books
just to read them, not to actually play the game. I must say, from what I've
seen the Vampire books do look rather good and I don't think this will
happen with SR books. Certainly not now that Mike M. has decided that
artwork is (relatively) unimportant.

> And let's not forget that a lot of tech savvy readers will hit FASA.com
and
> go "Ewwww!", then run away. <sigh>

This is true,...can't agree with you more.

DV8

"Abashed the Devil stood, and felt how awful Goodness is,..."
- John Milton, Paradise Lost