Re: PBM design: advice please

From: "[Tariz] The Dungeon Master" <adnd@mailandnews.com>

Date: Sat, 05 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Hi,

I thought I would thank everyone who responded to my original post at once.

I found the article in Flagship ("So you want to be a GM") to be interesting
although as I have run my own consulting company I was aware of most of the
business implications.  It did open my up to the industry which was what I
needed.

After reading the articles on the NG and the Flagship series plus some
interesting emails I have decided that making a commercial high complexity
space strategy definitely has potential.  Some things that I decided (which
you may be interested in):

1. Turn order system:

I've decided to offer turn reports by email, web, disk or paper (at
different costs) plus to create a client application to produce turn orders
for those that have a computer.  However, instead of using my initial
sem-natural language syntax for the orders system I'm going to make it a
simple code structure.  This should make the job of making a parser much
easier.

2. Rules & Complexity

I'm going to go with my gut and make the game as complex as I would like it.
However, as the majority of this complexity will be hidden within the game
engine, players shouldn't find the game abhorently difficult to play.

As it is an ongoing strategy game (with finite goals but with new players
being able to join mid-game without deteriment) I will make two "books" for
people: the basic rules and a sourcebook.  The rules will contain the
knowledge players need to partake in the different aspects of the game and
the sourcebook will have details pertenent to the campaign so far (perhaps
as a folder system with new sheets added when new knowledge becomes
available).

I've decided to keep most of the stastics and mechanics hidden.  Sure,
experienced players may be able to calculate the system but I won't make it
easier.

Thank you all for your help.  Watch out for the game in about six to twelve
months.  It will ROCK.

--
Cheers,

Seyed
Dungeon Master
Ascension at Tariz
adnd@mailandnews.com
http://strata.kmpinternet.com/adnd/

References

PBM design: advice please
"Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com>
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

PBM design: advice please
"Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com>
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000