Hey everyone I have a question.
What do you perceive the value of a "celebrity" write a forward of an RPG book? This would not be an RPG person, but someone in a similar fandom. For example a comic author/artist or an actor for a supers game.
So as an off the wall example. Getting Robert Downy Jr. to talk about how playing a super hero is fun or Vin Diesel talking about his D&D character?
Mind you the cost with the book is no different, just something extra for the book.
Thoughts?
I find it of great entertainment value. Such as when Vin did the forward for the Anniversary book for D&D. It was really cool to hear such praise from someone who works in the film industry. I liked the common experiences, and his obvious passion. I guess it's kind of a "validation" of sorts. Uur hobby has always been short on "cool" points. So, things like this are nice to see.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Vin Diesel thing, too. It helped to illustrate how far the hobby really reaches. It has little value past that, unless said celebrity wants to write up a new class for us!
ReplyDeleteBruce Campbell did the intro to one of the Deadlands books, which was highly appropriate given that the game is basically Brisco County Jr. Meets the Evil Dead. Plus let's face it, anything involving Bruce Campbell is automatically cooler.
ReplyDeleteSo I think it's good, but only if the celebrity is somebody awesome like Big Bruce.
If you had asked for an author, I would say R.A. Salvatore, hands down.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'd like to see Brian Posehn. He's funny and he's into it.
Elsie
AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge
minimal value, although I've enjoyed such forwards
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun extra, but wouldn't influence my decision to buy the book. I'd be more likely to be influenced if the celeb was someone that I followed on social media and they posted a "Bob asked me to write a foreword for their game, so I played it and liked x and y about it" message.
ReplyDeleteI think it adds a bit of fun to it. I have an idea that is sort of along the lines of what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteSince The Big Bang Theory gang spends a lot of time playing these sorts of games, then say a forward by "Sheldon" or "Leonard" might be fun. The actor himself would only be appropriate if he (or she...) was actually a RPG fan. It needs to be someone who is really into it, in my opinion, so why not a very popular fictional character?
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
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