Re: long-term fun

From: Andy Gaw <andy.gaw@zetnet.co.uk>

Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 00:00:00 +0000

The message <79q3df$7o0@enews2.newsguy.com>
  from  skrenta@pbm.com (Rich Skrenta) contains these words:

> Sports PBEMs mananage to achieve long-term playability, by essentially
> doing a reset after each season and starting over.  The record of
> wins & losses becomes something to play for, without overly
> influencing the outcome of a specific match.  I may have won the
> last 11 games, but that doesn't mean I'm doing to win the next 11.

> I don't know how this technique would map into a standard
> strategic game though (e.g. space opera or fantasy wargame).

> I agree that it's a fascintating problem though.  As Greg Lindahl
> once put it, it's the Holy Grail of PBM.  :-)

The sports sims can do it by adjusting players as they age, but that
can be overcome by better strategy in the long term.  And not just in
games, ask your local Man Utd. or '49ers fan.

How about ageing monarchs, generals, troops?
Characters/troops/whatever age, hit (and pass) physical and mental
peaks, then weaken, and eventually die/retire, forcing players to
find replacements, or fight off challenge(r)s.  It seems to me that
this would make an interesting addition to the traditional racial
stats for fantasy-type games.  Different lifespans, earlier peaks,
slower rates of decline.  Imortality!  As a penalty! The only way of
removing the docile old sod is by assassination, and what would that
do for racial/national morale?

But, just as in real life, the strong would overcome.

Oh, and if this turns out to *be* the Holy Grail, I claim it as my
intellectual property :)

Surely someone's done this?

--
Andy
(in England)
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References

Re: long-term fun
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 05 Feb 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: long-term fun
skrenta@pbm.com (Rich Skrenta)
Tue, 09 Feb 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: long-term fun
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 05 Feb 1999 00:00:00 +0000
Re: long-term fun
skrenta@pbm.com (Rich Skrenta)
Tue, 09 Feb 1999 00:00:00 +0000