Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 10:55:16 +0000

>>There are some things that I can put up with, even though I don't like
them. In the case of special actions, you're a bit stuffed really.
They involve a per-unit cost in GM time, so if you want them readily
available you have to charge for each one.<<

Im only playing devils advocate.  I quite like special actions.  But then I
also dont have anything against "pay for power" as long as its pretty clear in
the rules how it works.  After all, each person participates in what interests
them and pays what they think its worth.  So no mechanic is technically wrong
as long as its not disguised.  "Pay for power" would only be wrong if, for
instance, it involved secret bribes to the GM.  (Tenners to me by 1st class
post please.)  : )

>>There are other approaches, either keeping them very rare and
'unofficial' (a bit like DungeonWorld, I think)<<

There are no special actions in DungeonWorld's main module at all, unofficial
or otherwise.  Frontier, a spin-off module has special actions of the normal
type, and is clearly publicised as mixed-mod due to that.

>>or some kind of
rationing (like Quest GME). Neither are really satisfactory in an
epic-scale game.<<

Many epic scale games have no special actions.  Special Actions are not
necessary for scale or depth, they are really only necessary for complete
flexibility of action. They're an interesting mechanic, and one I enjoy very
much, but not really necessary except in very certain types of game
environment.

Steve T.

References

Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Tue, 27 May 2003 20:01:34 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Are web based games the future of pbm/pbem.
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Tue, 27 May 2003 20:01:34 +0000