I think these ideas are also applicable to the RPG hobby, specifically the idea of the expert amateur. So much product in this hobby is put out by people who are basically amateurs; they haven't been trained in writing or publishing or game design or cartography. Despite this lack of training, many of these individuals are the best possible people that could be chosen to produce the material they work on because of their expertise. It is because individuals like Thorfinn Tait and Daniel Collins and Jon Peterson and Anna Meyer, among many others, are experts in their respective areas of interest that such great products can be made. It is through the work of these amateurs who are also experts that this hobby continuously expands and pushes new boundaries. You don't need to be a professional to be an expert, and sometimes the lack of training can be beneficial, giving the opportunity to see things from different perspectives.
25 May 2019
The Expert Amateur
Alan McConchie has some interesting things to say about the work of so called amateurs; I recommend watching the whole video.
I think these ideas are also applicable to the RPG hobby, specifically the idea of the expert amateur. So much product in this hobby is put out by people who are basically amateurs; they haven't been trained in writing or publishing or game design or cartography. Despite this lack of training, many of these individuals are the best possible people that could be chosen to produce the material they work on because of their expertise. It is because individuals like Thorfinn Tait and Daniel Collins and Jon Peterson and Anna Meyer, among many others, are experts in their respective areas of interest that such great products can be made. It is through the work of these amateurs who are also experts that this hobby continuously expands and pushes new boundaries. You don't need to be a professional to be an expert, and sometimes the lack of training can be beneficial, giving the opportunity to see things from different perspectives.
I think these ideas are also applicable to the RPG hobby, specifically the idea of the expert amateur. So much product in this hobby is put out by people who are basically amateurs; they haven't been trained in writing or publishing or game design or cartography. Despite this lack of training, many of these individuals are the best possible people that could be chosen to produce the material they work on because of their expertise. It is because individuals like Thorfinn Tait and Daniel Collins and Jon Peterson and Anna Meyer, among many others, are experts in their respective areas of interest that such great products can be made. It is through the work of these amateurs who are also experts that this hobby continuously expands and pushes new boundaries. You don't need to be a professional to be an expert, and sometimes the lack of training can be beneficial, giving the opportunity to see things from different perspectives.
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