Re: Does this animal exist?

From: Bob McLain <bmclain1@khan2.dandelions.com>

Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Why, Mike, you're a genius!  I also think the thread has become bare.

Here are my last thoughts to all participants...

I'm playing the game again.  So get off my friggin' case about the combat
system.  You can get back on after I've published my revised commentary
(and who knows, I may even sneak in some analysis, too.).

I'm writing my column in the same way I've always written it.  There's
just one judge, jury, and executioner here: the readers of Flagship (or
of White Wolf Inphobia, or of whatever).  As long as the majority of
readers like what I'm doing, I'll keep doing it.  This isn't a
philosophical debate.  There aren't any rules.  If every article in
Flagship were written as an entry in some vast debate, no one would
bother reading the magazine.  I try to accomplish two (often clashing)
goals in my column: entertain and inform.  The entertaining comes first.

And just because I'm playing World War IV again doesn't mean I've
retreated from my original point.  The combat system *is* mysterious,
though perhaps not from any inherent problem but rather from a poor
exposition in the rulebook.  I realize that John Hainly, the game
designer, made a decision not to lay out the entire combat system.  It's
his game, and it's his call.  In private email Greg Benage has explained
to me how the combat system works, and now it does make more sense.  I
wish all this information had been in the rulebook.  When I write the
upcoming WWIV diary for Flagship I will reveal everything I learn about
the combat system so other newcomers can better evaluate the game
themselves.

This whole business really comes down to that: evaluating a game
yourself.  Don't listen to me, don't listen to Benage, don't listen to
DesJardins (I kinda like Childress, so maybe you should listen to him a
little bit).  Take what we say and then decide for yourself.  Only a
moron lets someone else make his decisions.  The commentary in my column
is a perspective, my perspective.  It's one straw in the strand.  Benage
has a different perspective.  That's another straw.

Bob

References

Re: Does this animal exist?
bmclain1@khan2.dandelions.com
Thu, 07 Sep 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Does this animal exist?
mikec@asylum.net (Mike Childress)
Mon, 11 Sep 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Does this animal exist?
bmclain1@khan2.dandelions.com
Tue, 05 Sep 1995 00:00:00 +0000