Tabletop Botches the Rules!

This is outrageous! I buy ALL the games on Tabletop and play them by the rules Wil Wheaton teaches me on the show. Neither myself nor anyone I game with ever even opens the rulebooks that come with our games. Now I find out we may have been having fun COMPLETELY wrong. I didn't support or even know about that crowdfunding shit, but I think Wil Wheaton himself definitely owes me some money. My group's entire boardgaming experience has been ruined by these so-called "minor" errors. Thank you, Mr Weeks, for bringing Wheatongate/Tablegate to our attention. Otherwise my group may have continued enjoying those games oblivious to the errors.

Well, I will say that Weeks bringing this to light has completely reversed my opinion of Wheaton. Previously I had regarded him as on par with the Risen Christ and board game divinity on par with Vasel, Schloesser and Thornquist. If it were 2005, he would have been vested with a caricature avatar. However, now that I know that he is human, I am quite crestfallen.

Should I ever game with him, I will be sure to perform a thorough audit of the rules.

"Place the board in the middle of the table."

"Are you SURE, Wil?"

JonJacob wrote: Apparently Will thinks you're a nitpicking übergamer... ha

I’m annoyed and disappointed that we’ve aired two episodes this season, and we’ve made a rules error on each of them (not such a huge deal in Tokaido, but a huge deal in this one, because we unintentionally made the game much easier on ourselves.) I know there’s a big mistake coming up later this year in Stone Age, too.

Ultimately, the goal of Tabletop is to be entertaining, to introduce people to boardgames, and to get people excited about playing games. If we misunderstand a rule here and there, it’s not the end of the world, because that happens in real life when we play at home, but I do hold my show to a higher standard, for obvious reasons.

I don’t think this is going to get in the way of anyone’s enjoyment, except for the übergamers who nitpick and complain about every mistake or sub-optimal play we make, but I’m honestly not making this show for them, anyway.

Look, I play lots of games wrong and I don't give a shit. Now this show... clearly should be held to a higher standard (as Will himself echoes) but this is truly not my business because I don't like the show. It's between him and his audience. If they're ok with it... fine. If not.. well then we have an issue that luckily I won't be involved in.

I think boardgaming is becoming cool. I see little cafe's with TTR and Dixit on their shelves, there's bars/cafes that cater to that clientele almost exclusively. There is a hipster bar here in Vancouver that is all about selling to geeks. Geeky names for drinks, geeky games on the shelves, a couple in the corner playing magic...

I can't stand the fucking place. I go to the Legion where everyone leaves me alone and set up a game there if I want.. or I go to the PCOV (Portugese Club of Vancouver) that's filled with old men drinking wine and if we play cards in the corner they really don't fucking care. There isn't a parade of people coming by and asking questions.

Boardgaming is growing, the net is a big part of that and probably vlogging is too. Unfortunately I don't think it's growing the direction I would like... but it's a minor quibble and I figure there will still be a niche crowd for pretty much anything you're into.

I admire this attempt to elevate the conversation at hand, but bringing reason into a Steve Weeks thread is like bringing your debate team to a pie fight.

The Lone Voice wrote:

The faux pas so egregious, that it truly is proof that such videos are killing the hobby.

Get my god damn pitch fork and torch.

Please Mr. Crayons, lets show some civility. I think a pink slip delivered by Mr. Barnes is all that is necessary.

Whadya mean? I'm totally on your side, man. I think the overwrought angst about wheaton's error calls for his balls on a stick roasting over a fire fueled by copies of Next Generation. My jackboots are in lockstep with yours.

Oh, and a pink slip for making fun of such superb hyperbole? What is this? BGG? And Barnes is Octavian? XD You crack me up.

Weeks is very misunderstood around here. He has one of the most unique senses of humor in the hobby and is a generally pretty civil guy too... although he is making fun of all us in a way he is still passionate and interesting. His threads bring out a lot of people..


I guess I just think you guys are too hard on him.

JonJacob wrote: I guess I just think you guys are too hard on him.

Wait until he starts bashing gays, harassing people until they leave, and posting death threats to moderators. Then tell me we're too hard on him. If it were up to me the guy would be banned for life.

I interrupt my usual Friday night shagging to bring you this special report on WheatonGate.

I contacted Matt Leacock via Twitter here is his response to Wheaton's hack job on Forbidden Desert:

Steve Weeks
@stevebuzzer

@mleacock What do you think about Tabletop screwing up the rules to Forbidden Desert? They earn over a mil for the show and botch the rules!

@stevebuzzer They're juggling a huge number of things--all at once on that set. I was happy they had a great time & brought it to new people.

Bless their hearts, juggling those things on the set after cashing their million dollar check. Maybe they need a nap between games? Scott Nicholson used to take nap breaks with a teletubby after drinking some mint tea.

I must say Leacock's response is the expected political correct response especially since he has had 3 games on tabletop and no doubt was happy with the "Wheaton Bump"

I agree with Barnes that making rule mistakes is par for the course, I do it on rare ocassions myself. But there is a big difference, Wheaton was paid over a million dollars to produce a high quality video series on board games. He might wanna read the rule book! He says next season he will hire someone to make sure the rules are right. I have to laugh because it reminds me of Tom Cruise not reading the script and having his lines fed to an earpiece on the set. Read the rules Wheaton! I promise you won't strain yourself!

What a dick. I always forget what an asshole Mr voice of ameritrash can be because he acts civil at first...and you can't help but wonder why he hasn't grown up just a little bit.

I watch Tabletop and enjoy it because it recreates and shows the public how much fun you can have with board gaming--plus, it's funny. I'm not sure that anyone watches it for rule reviews, do they?

In any event, what would someone's job be on a film set be called to check the accuracy of board game rules? Would it be a game-tweaker? Is that a SAG job? Can we apply? I want to have fun getting paid to play games on a film set too.

one time I pooped so hard I gave myself the hiccups