[Blog] Being a Fan of Both Dave and Gary

[Havard]

Amen. I've got the highest respect for both Dave and Gary, and could never understand why appreciating one meant that folks felt the need to tear down the other.

Yeah. To be fair it was a lot worse in the past. After both men passed away people did get a bit more respectful. What I am seeing now though is this much more subtle criticism of Dave found in published works, Wikipedia edits, internet articles etc. I don't know if all of these people intend to attack Dave, but the type of scrutiny directed towards all of Dave's statements, examining whether he wrote this or that, when the Blackmoor campaign began, whether it was all really just a glorified Chainmail game etc. It just doesnt seem like any other game designer has to go through that sort of thing. A critical approach is important, but IMHO it needs to be balanced.

What the more serious researchers also need to keep in mind is that they are not operating in a vaccuum. Everything they write will be read in a certain context whether they intend that or not.

-Havard