Atlantis, Wargame? (Was :Re: PBM design: give away the formulas?)

From: kosakd@reis36.alleg.edu (David Ulysseus Kosak)

Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1993 14:20:56 +0000

In article <20akfu$714@tang.ccr-p.ida.org> desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David
desJardins) writes:
> Well, I don't know who said that Atlantis is _supposed_ to be an FRP
> game.  I think that most people who read the rules could see that
> Atlantis was going to be primarily a wargame, not a role playing game.
> That's why a lot of us went out loaded for bear on turn one.  (And, at
> least for me, why I signed up in the first place.)
>
>                                         David desJardins

I have to disagree.  The atmosphere and simple rules, as well as
the need for player interaction and complicated diplomatic situations (Do
I lie and not ALLY with this guy?  Do I Let this guy into the Alliance?)
actually sets up a very good backdrop and provides a game where the flavor
is determined completely by role-playing.  I've formed an alliance with
several other players and we're having the damnedest good time
'role-playing' while trying to decide strategically what to do next.  Some
arguements to the 'council' have even been expressed in prose form several
times.  I disagree that it's primarily a wargame - the conflict element is
merely a backdrop for a richer game of diplomacy, interaction, and
role-playing as much as a particular player feels like.
	I guess different people get different things out of a game - not
to say that if someone plays it differently and still has fun that they're
wrong.  Oh, and by the way, I didn't have to load up for bear on turn one.
I just made lots of friends.  (:

____
      ======        -Dave Kosak     (kosakd@alleg.edu)
      (-)(O)         in charge of
     !  ||  )        Captain Karl's Merry Midshipmen
     C (__)
      / ___\         "AAAAArrrrr!!"
      \____/
      |    |

References

Re: PBM design: give away the formulas?
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Wed, 23 Jun 1993 22:12:14 +0000