Why?--Well, you got me there, but the general consensus that I can draw is that people have begun to hate Palladium RPGs simply because they don't work upon the d20 system.
Bleh. The d20 system? Oh, you mean Dungeons and Dragons?--Screw you.
The problem now is that, because the D&D people have pretty much given the world free-reign when it comes to designing role-playing games based upon their system, people are creating stats for everything--including Robotech--based upon the d20 system.
Where does all of this come from?--Well, on several posts on Robotech.com (a site that I love very much), I've heard the ramblings of a very specific person who pretty much always says something like he did here:
"I don't like Palladium anymore. The head guy has an Egocentric Paranoid complex when it comes to d20. Their stance on not touching d20 has made me very angry. Angry enough to punch K.S. in the nose for being so obstinate."
Of course, "K.S." is Kevin Siembieda, the self-made man when it comes to an entire company that has created some of the most popular role-playing games on the planet: RIFTS, Robotech, The Palladium Fantasy RPG, amongst many others. And, to be honest, the fact that the person above would take such offense to Siembieda and Palladium just because they refuse to use somebody else's system (the d20) is laughable, but very angering to me, to say the least.
In my opinion, the d20 system is unnecessary--Why? Well, consider the fact that Robotech is and has been part of the Palladium Megaverse for pretty much as long as Robotech itself has been around. (I do believe that the RT RPG was designed in 1985--the same year as Robotech was released on television.) So why bother with adapting every single mech, character, and setting to a new system?--Again, you've got me there, but in my opinion, it comes down to the fact that people are, as is the case in many aspects of life, keen to bend to the most popular response, in this case, the overwhelming popularity of the d20 system.
I say that the d20 system can go screw itself. Robotech is Palladium forever. On the same level, Palladium game players (Robotech or otherwise, including all of you RIFTS players out there) have to take a stand against a world which is quickly becoming oppressive toward any system that is not the d20 system. In a sense, it's like Palladium will become an underground game--a game that only small sects of people will continue to acknowledge. And as unfortunate as this may seem, its becoming more and more apparent as more and more people simply ditch the Palladium system in favor of the Nazi-ish regime that is d20.
I don't like d20. I've never played d20. I don't intend to, because Palladium is my game, and unlike so many others, I'm not gonna change my mind, my characters, or my life just because a bunch of other poseurs think that d20 is the only system that should exist.
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Subject: I'm Calling-Out 'Elton' On The Stand of Role-Playing Games
Posted On: November 19, 2003 - 3:45:34 PM
Most of you know that I deal myself in a professional manner on these boards; a lot of the time, people disagree with my opinions and it does get on my nerves, but I deal with it.
However, Elton, I'm not gonna take what you're saying sitting down anymore.
For those of you unfamiliar with past events, the fact is that the user known as Elton has consistently bashed the Palladium RPG system, and, taking it a step further, has on more than one occasion, chastised the leader of Palladium Games, Kevin Siembieda. In my opinion, Elton, you have taken things way too far, and I'm tired of dealing with it.
I can understand that you support the d20 system and/or the Guardians of Order role-playing system, and you are free--as are we all--to express your opinion. However, your past insultings of the Palladium Game system are beyond forgiveness.
When you decided to say: "The head guy [Kevin Siembieda] has an Egocentric Paranoid complex when it comes to d20" I was ready to punch my screen. What are you trying to say, that every role-player should simply dump his playing system and bow to the growing populace of d20 players? To say this to Siembieda is more of an absurd statement, because the man built an entire company from the ground-up, using his own creativity and dedication to creating enjoyable games to create Palladium, one of the most popular role-playing games in the world. And to criticise him for not changing his entire world and using the d20 system (instead of the Palladium system, which has been in use for over twenty years now) is strange indeed.
I don't know why you hate Siembieda (and subsequently, Palladium) so much for simply being an individual. Indeed, it is people who choose not to conform who make innovations which keep the world turning. And this may be a bit of a stretch, but who knows where RPing would be today without a rebel like Siembieda who has always refused to bow to the popular state of role-playing games?
I've also heard the statement that "Palladium is based more on roll-playing than role-playing"; Well, to this I cannot argue, but the fact is that, with all role-playing games, the game master (GM) controls the way that the game is played. Indeed, where two groups are placed in the same situation, using the same playing system, the pace of playing can be very different.--I've played D&D games where the pace is hindered by constant rolling, and I've played D&D games where rolling dice is only necessary in certain situations, and other aspects are simulated by the GM. This, too, applies to the Palladium game and, I can guess, to all role-playing games. The simple fact is that the system of play is always subject to the style of the players and game master; that is the beauty of pen-and-paper role-playing games, and that is that it can be bent to whatever direction that you want. In this way, d20 and Palladium are on equal footing, because, after all, we're all players, are we not?
I hope to get you to understand that, whatever your opinions, that there's nothing wrong with Palladium. In saying this, I am not saying that there is something wrong with the d20 system. However, I just think that your constant criticisms of Palladium (and unnecessarily-personal criticisms of Kevin Siembieda) are beyond the limits of both good taste and logical thinking. And as a final note, I want you to know that I do value your opinion as a fellow role-player, and I hope that this has not caused too much offense, but that, yes, in the name of Palladium players, it had to be said.
Respectfully yours,
Khyron_Prime
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