Re: PBM design: give away the formulas? (*FORMULAE !)

From: rob@ccc.govt.nz (Rob McNeur)

Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1993 15:51:28 +0000

In article <208pam$72k@runner.ccr-p.ida.org>, desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins) writes:
> Rob McNeur <rob@ccc.govt.nz> writes:
>> For those who are interested in optimization, having to do the
>> background work to learn from experience should all be part of it (and
>> may actually mean that fewer people try to optimize, and more people
>> try to just play for the fun of it).
>
> Now this is certainly true.  I was assuming that the designer's goal was
> to make the game appeal to _more_ players, not less.  If, as Rob appears
> to be assuming, the goal is to keep certain players from playing, so
> that others can have more fun, then I can see how hidden information
> might make a lot of sense.
I see no reason why not offerring complete formulae would turn people
off. Personally I become more interested if the rules indicate probable
outcomes given as good examples in the documentation/rules, rather than
as half a page of close-typed formulae.
i.e.
Rather than the exact figures being given, I prefer close indications of
probable results given as text (where possible), so that oldtimers can
still get some advantage if they want to experiment enough, but not a major
one, and enough close approximations are given as text that beginners have
most of the info they need.

>For that matter, so would introducing lots
> of random bugs into the game.
Good attempt to completely confuse the issues here.  :-)

>> Oldtimers may have a fairly good idea, learned by hard-won experience.
>> But even oldtimers should never be able to work out the formulae exactly,
>> merely to a best approximation from the final results.
>
> In other words, old timers deserve that advantage over new players, they
> earned it fair and square.  That's the surest way to turn off all of the
> new players that I can possibly imagine.
>
Doesn't have to be a major advantage if the rules/docs are complete enough.
I never said that information shouldn't be given out, just that it should not
be 100% complete as formulae, but 80% complete as text.

But then again, there will always be some that it won't suit.

Rob McNeur
Rob@ccc.govt.nz

References

PBM design: give away the formulas?
skrenta@rt.com (Rich Skrenta)
Sat, 19 Jun 1993 18:12:59 +0000
Re: PBM design: give away the formulas? (*FORMULAE !)
rob@ccc.govt.nz (Rob McNeur)
Mon, 21 Jun 1993 12:00:33 +0000
Re: PBM design: give away the formulas? (*FORMULAE !)
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Wed, 23 Jun 1993 05:22:30 +0000