When you Have to Pay to be on a "Top XX List" is it REALLY a List of Value?

ENWorld last week had a posting about their being #2 on the Top 100 RPG Blogs List. Now, there are some really obscure sites listed on that list - which currently only goes up to 75. There is some sort of equation using Twitter, Facebook and Alexa ranking that pulls it all together.

Following the link to the Top 100 RPG list I found on ENWorld, I noticed you had to submit your site for consideration. I figured, what the heck - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Then I received the above email this morning.

So, in order to be listed, I would need to subscribe for 3 bucks a month. A list of 100. The list can potentially bring in 300 bucks a month, 3600 a year.

And Feedspot has "Top XX" lists for everything.

But if you have to pay to be on such a list, what is the true value of the list?

First, they aren't all blogs. Youtube channels and Reddits are also on the list. Which is why the competing titles are confusing.

Second, Congratulations for paying to be on a list!

Third, the list is FAR from the "most comprehensive list of best RPG blogs on the internet." But I guess Anuj is "honored" to take your cash every month.

Last, as I said above - the list doesn't even hit 100.

In any case, I won't be paying to play and neither should you.

Smell Adventure? Get Some Adventure Scents (For Real - Really)

Ever wonder what a sewer smells like? A dungeon perhaps? A dragons lair? Horse stables? I always guessed they all smelled like piss, shit and rotting flesh and vegetation of various degrees, but here's your chance to smell such for real!

Yep, as if it wasn't bad enough to occasional game with gamers with bad hygiene habits, no you can smell the true smell of roleplaying.

Maybe its just me, but smell-orama was never a selling point for me.

But hey, Adventure Scents has for those of you that want to experience adventuring "for realz!" the opportunity to enjoy such smells.

While you are at it, maybe a FeBreze for Cons.

 

Another WTF Kickstarter - RPG Gaming table

If pictures can say a thousand words, this is worth about three. What The Fuck?

Notice it isn't a picture of a prototype table.

Here, let me give you the whole sales pitch for RPG Gaming table (don't worry, he has a modest goal of $8,500):

He's in Indy? Maybe he'll be at Gen Con.

Wait, I forgot to mention the rewards:

Why is the supply list and build instructions shipping 3 months AFTER the tables?

WTF Didn't I Think of This - Thank God I Had a F@cking Helmet On!

In the category of WTF Didn't I Think of This, we have +Joe D 's most awesome houserule for his Blood Island OSR rules hack / setting -

Thank God I Had a F@cking Helmet On:  If you are wearing a helmet and take a melee hit in combat (not including missiles/arrows unless large, like a boulder, nor does it apply to critical damage, backstab damage, magical damage, or damage from small weapons like daggers) that would reduce you to zero hp or less, hence dead, you can instead declare that the helmet took the brunt of the damage and you are at 1 hp, with the helmet irrevocably destroyed, whether it was magical or not. In addition you are unconscious for 10 minutes plus 1-100 minutes, and cannot be awakened before that time unless healed magically in some way.

That is a reason to wear a damn helmut.

Well done Joe. Well done.