*chuckles* I think I can sum up all my replies to each of your points
by pointing out that the goal of development is always to develop
something new and additional, rather then change the existing. In
other words, it doesn't matter what one thinks about the existing
because, if one feels the need to develop a given element, then that
element is going to be sufficiently changed with only the initial
effort such the the original opinion is meaningless. This is an idea
occasionally forgotten by game designers and authors alike.
To use one of your examples, you have mixed views about the Knights of
Takhisis. Well, as soon as someone develops the Knights further, you
will need to re-evaluate your views based on the new added to the old
(or else confess you're always going to be closed-minded and move on).
There's been a few too many Dragonlance fans out there too ready to
condemn all future developments of a given, disliked setting element
for no other reason then the fan's dislike of the initial element (even
though, in many cases and as one would expect, further development of
that element significantly improved the quality and character of that
original element).
Please pardon the over-generalization, but the points I make have to be
applied more or less evenly to a number of very different points of
view, including the ones mentioned previously.
I would also point out that having a neutral, blah opinion about a
setting element should be channeled towards motivation to make it
"un-blah". One can develop a lot by just improving on setting elements
one has a "blah" opinion of.
Finally, most people don't "get" the concept of fantasy technology,
because they allow their suspension of disbelief threshold to swing
dispro****tionately low when the word "technology" is thrown out there
(the word "fantasy" gets tossed right out of people's minds when the
word "technology" is spoken, which is an unfortunate reflection of
modern narrow-mindedness). It's astounding what people will not accept
because of their preconcieved notions of "scientific fact", which is
intimately interwoven in most people's minds with the word
"technology". As I implied previously, this is a problem for
Dragonlance, for some of the reasons that might be collected under your
"DL feel" generalization. The simple fact of the matter is that there
is no "feel" for technology in many fantasy settings, including (indeed
especially) Dragonlance. And therein lies both the problem, and the
challenge to be overcome. A very interesting one, at least for me
personally.
Frank the Wanderer
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