In a perfect world, I would sit and read roleplaying game products half the day, write reviews the other half of the day, and get paid a living wage to do it. Sadly, we do not live in that perfect world, and things I very much want to read and review pile up as I do things like write research papers, work on freelancing gigs and do volunteer work. It really bugs me, because there are so many great products worthy of your attention and so many people making things worth of your hard-earned money that I want to give proper shout-outs to them all.
Right now I’ve got some criteria on reviews, and while I don’t always stick to them I think it’s a pretty good list.
Is it a game I’m playing?
This makes sense, right? Focus on material I may actually use, or do actually use. It makes the review stronger because I can cite practical applications, it’s something I’m likely reading anyway so it saves time, and it has credibility because I’m familiar with the core system/setting. This is why you’ve seen so many Pathfinder reviews of late.
It’s perfect for idea mining
Even if I’m not using the system of setting, it has useful ideas that translate well to other games. I do this a lot, lifting plots, stories, characters, monsters, gear, etc. from one game to another. I like writing these reviews because if I can get players of game A to support material for game B, and game B is worthy of support and attention, I’ve done a good deed.
Games I want to play
Allow me to amend the “perfect world” statement above; in the evenings, I’d game every night. Then there would be time to play and/or run every game I’ve ever drooled over. Sometimes reading the book and writing a review full of my own ideas is the closest I’ll ever get.
How much attention is this getting?
When we’ve gone through all of the above criteria, we land here. I used to participate in review carnivals, generating a lot of press for big, newly-released products. I’m not really one of the cool-kid RPG bloggers any more, so I don’t know that me saying things about a big product has any impact. I’d rather give attention to things that are really exceptional (big or small), and the stuff that every blogger and their brother isn’t writing about.
I have something to add
This goes along with the point above, but even if I’m the only person writing the review I want to have something to say. “This is what it is, this is what it does, I like it” is boring. I want to talk about ideas I puts in my head, the bits that pump me up and make me want to play it or run it. If i can’t do that it isn’t necessarily a failing of the product, just my inability to come up with an interesting angle.
This week I wanted to get back to writing reviews, and I even blocked out time for it. Unfortunately, I was sick for two days, and that threw my schedule off. Here’s hoping next week works out better.
But in a perfect world our illness would not hamper out desire to write and communicate with the readers of our blogs. Our desire to communicate with our fellow gamers can be whr=etted to\ by playing which in turn leads to less time to communicate witth the others not directly invovled. Always trying to find the time is most importqnt but ranking whqt needsto be done is how a writer grows. Entering in the dreaded word counts is the stage that makes or breaks most freelancers.
So hang in there Berin you will make it just fine.
Posted by Tim Riley | October 16, 2011, 11:15 pm