Re: Olympia Lore Sheet vs. Rumors

From: bigmac@erg.sri.com (Bryan McDonald)

Date: Fri, 15 May 1992 23:51:50 +0000

In article <167E89A61.M22367@mwvm.mitre.org> M22367@mwvm.mitre.org writes:
>Weeeell... I'm not sure about the idea of PC-created rumors.  I like the idea
>of game-created rumors for disseminating information from/about distant events.
>Perhaps this should even be limited to the arrival of entities from the area
>in question.

PC created rumors will work if it is hard to create them.  Make it
the sort of thing that requires an effort to do, and people will
only use them for rumours that they have a motivation to spread.

I keep comparing with the PBM I play, Out Time Days.  In OTD, to
spread a rumor requires a significant effort.  Unless you are someone
with a very high Social Rating, you have to try to spread the
rumor at various locals in the city, spending money on parties and
the like to increase your credability in the eyes of the natives.  Sometimes,
especially for a newer player, it can takes days to get a rumor started.

Of course, in OTD, rumors have half-lives, based on who spread them,
how well they were spread, and how much truth is in them.  Some rumours
(like the one saying that a prominent female PC is pregnant) have
persisted for years, while others come and go in days.  You automatically
get rumors in OTD as well, whenever you do things like eat or party, the
number and uniqueness depending again on your Social Rating.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan McDonald                   |   Computer, Hardware, And Operations Support
bigmac@erg.sri.com               |                     CHAOS
Postmaster-Systems Administrator |            ITAD - SRI International
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."

References

Olympia Lore Sheet vs. Rumors
M22367@mwvm.mitre.org
Fri, 15 May 1992 14:58:41 +0000