And now I'm pissed.

[gridlore]

Back when Kirsten and I had our dinner with Steve Jackson, he encouraged me to get back into writing. I've been dealing with health issues and work, so haven't had the chance. But today's Daily Illuminator announced a playtest for a product called Tactical Shooting. They want playtesters with real-world gun experience, preferably police and military. Sounds perfect, right? A chance to get back into the GURPS-mode of thinking, look at the current state of writing, and get into the flow again.

The problem? From the announcement:

Playtesters must be registered e23 customers who have spent more than $50 at e23 in the past 12 months.

In case y'all missed it, Kirsten got laid off from her good-paying job just over a year ago. She was out of work for ten months and her new job pays significantly less than what she was bringing in before. Since we're sort of addicted to food, shelter, and car payments, my purchases of RPG material has dropped off significantly. I doubt I've spent $50 on games in the past year anywhere. Dark Heresy and GURPS Character Assistant 4 are about it.

So because I'm broke, I can't contribute.

Very frustrating.

Comments

Apply anyway

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

Explain both your background and the situation. Exceptions might get made. Or the author might run the MS by you on the side.

Re: Apply anyway

[crankyoldgoat.livejournal.com]

yes, apply anyway.

if you are familliar enough with the SJ in SJ Games, I'm certain he'll inform the proper parties that you *will* be a playtester.

And now I'm pissed.

[jonathonbarton.livejournal.com]

What they said.

How many of their prospective playtesters can start a blog entry with "Back when Kirsten and I had dinner with (loosely paraphrasing with my own take on how I perceive that event) ZOMG STEVE FUCK*NG JACKSON!!!!!"

Re: And now I'm pissed.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Fourthing the "what they said."

Re: And now I'm pissed.

[psychoticdreams.livejournal.com]

I'll fifth it. At worst they say no and at best you get in.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

What they said - I've sweet-talked Smarsh into waving the requirement for a couple of domain experts during the past year of playtesting, so if Doug and/or the author(s) want you, they can get you in. Your existing GURPS credits and the rec from the publisher and being a former professional tactical shooter won't hurt either.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

All of this.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

One thing that does need to be done (free) is to make sure Doug (or whoever) *has* an account at e23 that can be granted access to the materials if he gets picked. There are plenty of freebies to practice this on, no actual purchase necessary, and will let them track the purchases that you do make as money becomes available.

[mikkop.livejournal.com]

I'll recommend also that you ask, can't hurt.

This also reinforces my impression of SJ Games playtesting: it's mostly done by fans. Of course that's the usual case, but from a very small sample of games I've played (mostly Chez Geek and Munchkin) and which have apparently been playtested, I got the impression that the playtesters probably didn't give that much criticism.

That is, from playing a couple of games of each I had multiple things to say how they could be better games and what annoying parts they could improve. Of course, they're good enough games now, apparently, but I'm still annoyed at Chez Geek that the random dice roll of a nookie card is a very big part in winning the game.

GURPS sourcebooks, on the other hand, are usually excellent. I buy those.