When I stumbled upon TGMS, I thought it was an amazing idea. I used to do a weekly internet radio show "live off the floor" as it were, 6 hours each and every Friday night. (albeit, about metal and not roleplaying) I applaud anyone that does the same. It's a tremendous commitment of time and energy and creativity, especially if you're doing it for free.

I went through and listened to all the back episodes to catch myself up on what I had missed. Me and my friends sit around, tip back a few drinks, and talk about the ins and outs of roleplaying in general, GMing in specific, quite frequently and it was interesting to say the least to listen in on some old friends and gamers that had clearly been in each others lives for quite some time doing the same. What I found was at first really really cool...but the more I listened the more I heard the same advice, the same opinions, and the same inside jokes over and over again.

The play sessions that are captured, while a good way to break new games to listeners, got pretty boring pretty fast. They started very quickly to come across as long boring plugs for games designed by the hosts friends or associates in the roleplaying industry. Quite frankly, they are my least favorite shows for one much more specific reason though; I couldn't play in a group where the GM says "uhhhhh...ummmmm...uhhhh" so often. It was said on here (or maybe it was in a voicemail) that a listener was interested in hearing the hosts playing a game they were familiar with as maybe it would be more fast paced. I certainly hope that your regular campaign sessions are indeed that way, because what is captured in the show is simply painful. It sounds to me like something being made up and winged on the spot (which maybe it is, who knows); made up and winged very poorly. The players sound just as bored as the GM in most of these.

The frequency of the show became a problem as well. I can tell by their (very rare and very brief) commentary on these boards that the hosts are aware of this, and they have very good reasons for not doing new shows often (if at all). Still, listeners come to rely on things (likewise readers of blogs, or etc). If those things aren't provided, they drift away to other things. If your listeners drift away, then what's the point? If you aren't going to provide regular content (or at least communicate with your estranged listeners via a message board that you plug in pretty much every show), I honestly don't understand the point of your endeavor. It's disappointing to say the least.

The message board is another matter all together. Logging in at the main page instead of in the forums is the first annoyance, followed by it's ghost town ambience. I am certain that if the hosts took the time to post here it would be a more active place. Being engaged with your audience is an extremely important facet of any radio show.podcast...and you lot simply are not. I understand, of course, that time is a factor in everyones life...but reading and posting a few things on a message board takes almost no time at all and I refuse to accept from anyone that they odn't ahve the time, at elast a couple tiems a week, to poke their head in and get involved with your core audience. (as an aside, I've been a member of the forums for montehs and my profile picture still isn't approved for posting...if that doesn't indicate laziness I really don't know what does)

I know that real life gets in the way...it's why I stopped doing my own show two years ago. That, and all the drinking during the show was killing me. I made a conscious decision to put the breaks on and walk away from it. I announced to my listeners that it had run it's course and I closed up shop completely. They were disappointed to the extreme, but they respected my honesty at not leaving them hanging, and by now have probably forgotten all about me and my little corner of The Cloud. Maybe TGMS should consider this? And if this nonprofit labor of love is too important to them to do that, then they should step their game up with fresh and regular content. Emphasis on fresh.

I know this review of your show states a lot of complaints and offers no contructive criticism or notions on how you can improve it; but that's kind of the point. It's your job to do that, not mine as the listener. I guess if cornered into giving ideas in point form they would be:

- Actually record episodes on a regular basis

- Post on your forums so your listeners feel like they're part of something

- Stay fresh and stop repeating the same advice on each topic

- Stop doing play sessions of games you're plugging; those episodes are tedious at best

- Pack it in if you can't do the above

I'm sure you're good people. I'm sure we would enjoy each others campaigns were we to roleplay with each other. I'm sure we could make beer vanish and talk into the wee hours of the morning should we ever find ourselves in the same room. Don't take my critique personally (I'm sure you won't), as it's just one persons opinion. It just seems to me that you've either lost interest, run out of ideas, or you are simply too busy with real life business to be bothered with your listeners. All three of those are perfect reasons to shut it all down or pass it on to someone else.

If there's some kind of life catastrophe or the like that has taken you away from the listeners, understand I meant no offence. But even that could have been communicated here on the forums in less than 5 minutes. I know it's a pain in the ass to login in here compared to other forums, but come on...it takes only a few moments.

Honestly, you sound like a jilted lover.

According to the post, you took hours of your time and energy to get caught up with the long time listeners only to be emotionally abandoned by the lack of consistent content. Listening to all the episodes in order over a short period of time, those boring and exciting, was your choice. You have complete control over when, how, and why you listen.

Having been a listener of the show since the beginning – in real time – I can tell you that the show has never been on a regular basis. The hosts have lives outside of the podcast and that has affected the consistency and, occasionally, the quality of the show. As you plainly stated, they are recording it for free. I’m sure they’re doing their best to put out a great show in a timely manner, but, as the saying goes, life is the thing that happens when you're making plans.

I know you have been active for some time and are probably getting tired of seeing the same people post on the same topics over and over again. I get it. It’s not an ideal forum. But there is a whole world outside of your headphones and the intertubes. Maybe you should focus on other things until the group can get together for another show.

My advice to you: Enjoy the shows. Give positive feedback. Be active. Vote early and often. Keep you feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

That is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Oh please...a jilted lover? You have got to be kidding me. Your overly dramatic opinion that I am somehow emotionally abandoned speaks volumes about how you view others through your own lens. It's called solipsism, and you good Spartan are guilty of it. One of us is very certainly having an emotional reaction to the topic at hand and I can assure you it isn't me. Why should I get emotionally engaged over something that I've found to be bland at best?

Yes, I have complete control over when how and why I listen. I didn't comment on that and have no idea why you even mentioned it. No, I do not resent TGMS for "wasting my time and energy on them...oh woe is me letmegocutmyselfnowhowdarethey"; because yes, it was my choice...so what does that have to do with anything? You seem pretty proud of the fact that you've been a listener of the show from the beginning -in real time-. Good for you. Many props and all that. Just because I listened to them over a short period doesn't make my opinion any less valid. A review is exactly that...an opinion piece. I am aware of this because I write them frequently. People who "review reviews" are commonly referred to as jackasses in my line of work. I'm not calling you a jackass because I don't even know you and wouldn't stoop to judgeing your character...but some of my peers certainly would.

As for the whole world outside my headphones and the intertubes; I think you may have a very narrow view of people you meet on the internet, assuming them to somehow conform to a predefined image you have created in your mind. Let's see...just to humor you...I run two campaigns, play in another, am a property manager for a large boutique hotel company, a freelance writer, a downhill skateboarder, an avid camper and hiker (both in the winter and the summer), the singer in a hardcore band, a regular at my local pub for Guiness with other writers of many stripes, an ex chef who cooks three meals a day from scratch after buying fresh ingredients at the market each and every day, and a commited and attentive boyfriend to a wonderful and beautiful girl. The world *inside* my headphones and on the intertube makes up only a very very very small percentage of my time.

TGMS is a creative endeavour, and like all creative endeavours will have it's critics and detractors. Putting yourself in the public eye (or ear as the case may be) is a open invitation for said criticism. Honestly, I've never heard or read anyone saying anything other than "TGMS is great, you guys are awesome, keep up the good work" and in my experience fanboys and fangirls never made anyone better at anything that they do. I've had bands thank me and invite me to their shows for free just so I could rip them apart afterwards; they like it because it drives them to reach even higher than they normally would. Giving "positive feedback" as you suggested I should do is only good if there's only positive things to say. Positive feedback doesn't help anyone grow or get better at what they do. In fact, reviews I would write for books or music or etc were once much more positive than the ones I write now; a seasoned and successful reviewer, the kind that people would hope-yet-fear would critique their work, told me exactly this, "You sound like a pansy. Pull it out, and if something sucks say it f**king sucks. That or be a minister, they're always bringing good news." Losing a fair amount of the skin on my right arm in a 70kmh downhill mishap was the best feedback I ever got on my powerslide technique, made me about 20 times better overnight, and I would hardly consider that to be positive feedback. (Well, the nurse was cute. That part was positive)

*Feedback* is requested by creative individuals (including the hosts of this show...often), not platitudes and compliments. As soon as I open my mouth (er...keyboard?) I always get someone jumping down my throat; but that comes with the mantle of reviewer and I'm not emotionally attached to the outcomes of those dialogs; but they are always a hell of a lot of fun, as I sincerely hope this one will be.

Along with any creative endeavour drawing critics and detractors, it also draws apologists. I seem to have just met one.

*tips hat, orders next round, waits for rebuttal*

First off I would like to say thank you for the comments about the show. I myself while reading your post can think back to the recording sessions for numerous shows and remember thinking to myself that most of the things being said had been said before. I also know that the frequency of the show was also a problem. I think that the second part was mainly due to various peoples work schedules and that more often than not when it came down to getting together to record sometimes seemed like a chore. I myself do not like saying this but looking back at it now it is pretty much true. There are times that I miss recording the shows but I know that most of us have either given up on trying to get together and record or that we just figured that we were all done with it and just stopped doing it. For me it was the after Gen Con month and a half of interviews that we generally only tried to release if we didn't have a show recorded for the week that killed us.

As for the website and posting on here I still check it about once a week and try to read in on new posts if there are any but I regret to say that most of the time it is either right before I leave for work or right before bed (like now) and I am usually too tired to post or in a hurry to leave. As for the site design itself I had no control over any of that stuff all I did was talk on the show and edit it before it was released.

I know that there are some of us that are still interested in recording and we will probably eventually start something back up again whether or not it is going to be TGMS or not who knows but I am sure if we do get something going that we will be sure to post here and let those who are interested know if they are still around. But I think we had a pretty good run while it lasted.

So thank you for listening and I hope that while some comments were repetitive that something useful at least came from some of it.

Okay, not a jilted lover. I'm leaning toward a wise fool.

The evidence is in what you said, plus the time and energy you put into your “review” only to conclude that it is “bland at best”. Either you think your opinions are from God’s mouth to you ears, or you have a skewed view of your own importance in this, admittedly, small pond. People like that have graced these boards before and have since moved on to other endeavors.

Look, your list of extracurricular activities really doesn’t impress me. I’m a random poster with an anonymous handle. I did just as much, and a fantastic boyfriend (my ex-girlfriend may take issue with that), when I only had to worry about myself. I know what you are not just by the list you have presented. When you reach another stage in your life, you will understand that long-winded posts and laundry list of accomplishments tend to disappear. As does the patients to deal with tantrums. Especially in a forum on the internet.

You made some good points. Your presentation sucked. Like you said, “Putting yourself in the public eye (or ear as the case may be) is a open invitation for said criticism”. Agreed. I’m honored to be the jackass that reviews the all mighty reviewer. Is there a certificate, trophy, or awesome medal for being a jackass? Look into that. Hell, just ask your peers.

@Squee;

I fully understand the sentiment of trying to pull people together being more a chore than a joy. When I did my radio show back in the day I had two co-hosts. One was just there to get drunk and the other was using the show as his personal venting ground for all the problems in his life. When I asked one to drink less and the other to concentrate on the topic...metal, not his dilemnas...they started to show less and less often. Eventually, at the two and a half year mark, I was doing the show alone. It dawned on me while I was on the air one night that ultimately I was drinking beer and listening to metal all by myself. The listeners were there...I could see them all on the server tuned in...but I felt just plain alone sitting in the studio going crazy speaking to an empty room full of people I had never met. The following week was my last show.

I'm glad you understand that I wasn't attacking any of you personally. In amongst the repetition I found many gems of humour or good advice, most certainly. It was only the play session shows that I didn't enjoy listening to. And yes, you had a totally badass run; I may not have been around for the whole ride as others were, but I caught up and that counts for just as much as the hardcore that have been around from day one. I'd be happy to listen in to anything you record in the future.

@Spartacus;

You seem intent on attacking my character despite my civil tone. I find that amusing, and so I fully intend to ride this horse into the ground.

I would rather be considered a wise fool than a meek one who is willing to take whatever he is given and not ask for improvements. I don't feel that my opinion is somehow important, but like anyone with an opinion (take, for example, your opinion of me) I like to have it heard. Yes, I put time and effort into my review of the show only to declare it bland at best. Should I have not spent the time? In your opinion I shouldn't have...at least that's what I'm picking up from you. I find that amusing as well, and frankly it's a stance I'm confused by. Let's say someone requested your feedback on a project at work. You present them your project, they analyze it, and in the end determine that your results were lackluster or somehow not living up to their expectations or your own potential. Should they then turn it back over to you without a word, not even explaining why they were reluctant to be hoest with you about it? Or perhaps they should just do nothing, not even mentioning it ever again, passively aggresively making excuses for why they haven't critiqued it for you yet?

My list of life activities is in no way intended to make me sound like a better person or to brag or any other such thing. You presented to me an attitude of beligerence through your assumption that I needed to get a life outside of TGMS, an attitude that was not just ill-informed, but dangerously presumptuous in it's nature. An attitude that you further perpetuated by later stating that by what I am you can tell that which I am not. As to reaching another stage in my life...I assume you are some hyperexperienced lifeform that knows more than me? Some guru so personally developed that it is now his place to comment on my development as an individual? Perhaps you are not better than me...but rather just different. Perhaps I have reached that stage you speak of and found it painfully mild and so I stepped back down to a place where life is vibrant and I speak my mind regardless of the consequences. Or perhaps I reached it and moved one step further to find yet another plateau that you are unaware of? Again with your presumptuous and elitist mentality.

If you're all out of patience to deal with tantrums, then why are you throwing one in the midst of a mature and level headed conversation? Are contrary opinions so offensive to you that when faced with your own inability to rebut my content you must instead focus on my delivery, and indeed my very worth as an individual? That denotes an inability to handle the issue at hand maturely and a desire to start a confrontation in the most passive aggresive manner imagineable.

I'm thrilled you thought I made some good points. I'm dismayed that you think my presentation sucked though. My presentation prompted a response from one of the hosts (thus letting me know that the feedback they request is indeed welcome and digested whether it's agreed with or not, and also setting my mind to rest on some points I was curious about such as the future of the show) and an emotional reaction from those who read it (you, in this case). A writer hopes to prompt emotional responses, be they positive or negative, and welcomes both. So in truth, my presentation did exactly what I hoped it would. Whether or not your response sucked is another question, one which we will never agree upon.

And yes; there is a medal for being a jackass, and a trophy awarded once a year at a secret festival of reviewers held in a dank basement in Ohio. It's already been awarded for 2009, and I'm sure between now and the end of 2010 we'll come across someone much more vitriolic and intolerant towards freedom of speech than you to give it to, but this weeks medal is all yours brother.

As for the award for overly long posts that my detractors read word for word anyways despite their insistance that I be more succinct; we call it the "Long Ass Post Award For Baiting People That Love To Hate Us And Hang Off Our Every Word Despite Their Insistence That Our Words Mean Nothing", and I win it every single year.

At the very very least, this conversation is injecting some life into the message boards so there's no way it's a bad thing. Unlike the others that you mentioned who drifted away, no doubt due to not wanting to be shown up by an intellectual behemoth such as yourself, I'm not going anywhere friend. Get used to me.

*takes a bow and steps away from the mic so Spartafuss can resume his assassination of my character*