[TSR History] Brian Blume Article

[Havard]

James Maliszewski has an interesting article over at The Black Gate:

http://www.blackgate.com/2014/04/08/bla ... more-72138

Brian Blume may not have been a saint, but perhaps history has given him a worse reputation than he deserves?

-Havard

[finarvyn]

The thread on this finally earned a lock at OD&D Discussion.

[Havard]

Yeah I noticed

I think the article has a good point about us tending to view people as villains or saints. It seems to me that alot of TSR's early history is about how money made people make poor decisions. But in this case it is also interesting to see how Blume too was a gamer and gaming entusiast, not just a corporate suit.

-Havard

[finarvyn]

I think it's always tricky to look at history, and we tend to generalize and stereotype in order to create a mental pictue that helps us to "understand" a situation. Running a company probably requires dozens of decisions per day (or at least per week) and one bad decision could wipe out the effects of a hundred good ones. Of course TSR moved from a personal hobby to a money-maker, but that doesn't mean anything bad in itself. When I go to work in the morning I do so because I love teaching kids, but I probably wouldn't bother to do it if they didn't pay me.

Anyway, I try to stay away from those discussions about why TSR failed and who did what to whom. It just angers people and I don't have any real firsthand knowledge so I would just be parroting something told to me by someone else who probably didn't have firsthand knowledge, either. :oops:

[Rafael]

I commented there as well - as I said, Maliszewski is a sour grape for me. IMO, the guy should not be writing such stuff, and instead atone.
The, honestly, very bipolar D&D fan scene is not only very irrational in their treatment of, as Havard said, "saints and villains", but also in their general view of who gets a voice, and who not. Maliszewski continuing as a spokesperson for our hobby? Good riddance, OSR.

As to the general atmosphere on the '74 - I love it there, but then, I don't follow everything, of course. Swinging the banhammer one time too soon might not be so bad, if people don't behave. By the way, if I ever write something you find out of line: You know I respect you tremendously, man, so feel free to tell me whenever I am too harshin my tone.

[Havard]

Anyway, I try to stay away from those discussions about why TSR failed and who did what to whom. It just angers people and I don't have any real firsthand knowledge so I would just be parroting something told to me by someone else who probably didn't have firsthand knowledge, either. :oops:

I think this is a good philosphy.

-Havard

[finarvyn]

By the way, if I ever write something you find out of line: You know I respect you tremendously, man, so feel free to tell me whenever I am too harshin my tone.

You, my friend, are quite tame compared to the ones that are problematic on my boards. If I look at all of the reported posts, probably 75% are by or about 2 posters. Logic tells me to give them the heave ho, but they are also good posters when they are on topic. Sigh.

[Rafael]

Hehe, thanks, man. I know who you're talking about, tho.
Frankly, in your place, I'd ban those. As the Frenchies say, not every truffle is worth the pigs.

As in, to be honest, it's probably not just me who would post there more if every more-than-basic discussion
wasn't brought to down to the level that involves namecalling on just about every occasion. :?

I am glad you do something. Perhaps things will get better, after all.

[Havard]

Do any of you have any thoughts on Brian Blume and his contributions to the hobby?

-Havard

[Rafael]

Well, he devised the "setting + novel" marketing strategy that remains at the heart of all modern RPG and game franchises, back when he hired Hickman and Weis.

Not too shabby a contribution to the hobby, I'd say.