Re: PBM design: give away the formulas?

From: ulim@coli.uni-sb.de (Ulrich Mayring)

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1993 13:41:10 +0000

Well, formulas, eh?

I guess it depends on the game. If you have a game like Legends or Monster
Island, where you focus mainly on the roleplaying aspect of it, you won't
need rules and it is conceivable, when an order fails, that it did so because
of _magical_ reasons. Also, I am not supposed to know each and every thing
about the game world (especially in Monster Island), because finding out is
half the fun.
In other games, like the strategic Gladius et Pilum (available in Germany,
UK,Finland at least) it would be bothersome not to know the formulas. Do you
think you can play chess, when you don't know how the opponent's pieces move?
Of course, it might be fun to play it that way, but it is then not a serious
strategy or tactics game anymore.

Also, if you don't understand how a square root works, chances are you will
be destroyed anyway in Gladius et Pilum and similar games. Serious strategic
games can be a lot of fun, funny even like Monster Island, but when you plan
your moves you had better know what you're doing, at least if you play against
me :-)

Ulrich

References

PBM design: give away the formulas?
skrenta@rt.com (Rich Skrenta)
Sat, 19 Jun 1993 18:12:59 +0000

Referenced By

PBM design: give away the formulas?
skrenta@rt.com (Rich Skrenta)
Sat, 19 Jun 1993 18:12:59 +0000