I got some information / speculation on the subtle mystic benefits from a kind reader, who I won't incriminate here. Thanks for the tip. The data I got only reinforces the point I was making. I'm provide a detailed analysis tomorrow.
My last self-admitted flame (though a good natured one) on the topic was:
Helpful GM wrote:
(yawn)
Ok, a word to the Zos:
The whole POINT of "subtle" is that you (yeah YOU!) can't discern a cause and effect relationship. This spawns rumors and superstitions. These are good things, and are part of the design of several aspects of the game. It's part of what makes CL so cool, compared to those stupid "here's your stats-sheet" games.
Worf responded:
The only reason there is a rumor about this is from Usenet posts. Nothing in the game caused anyone to believe this. It's nice that YOU are in a position to do brain-farts into usenet and have them dogmatically accepted into the canon of Clan Lord, but this does not make Clan Lord a better game. It simply means the actual observable signal of game mechanic dynamics is so low, and in game content generation so weak, that we have to supplement it in an out-of-character way by GMs calling attention to their pet projects in venues external to the game.
Helpful GM wrote:
The fact that about once every 3-6 months I have to go back and verify "is this working right?!" just proves that it's working in exactly the cool way it was designed.
Worf responded:
If it takes 3 to 6 months to determine if it's operational, and you are in possession of all data, then it will take a player how long to reach the same conclusion?
Helpful GM wrote:
If your better-game that you write when you quit your job and start your own company doesn't have any of this cool subtle stuff, I ain't buying any copies. FYI.
Worf responded:
Obscurity is not subtlety. Things being entirely concealed and undetectable is not a mystery. Introducing game canon via Usenet is not subtle or cool, either.
Helpful GM wrote:
This isn't something mysterious that you're supposed to figure out. This is something that 1/2 of you are supposed to not believe, 1/2 of you are supposed to argue about and the other 1/2 of you are supposed to swear is true. Fun, huh? (Zos: use fingers to track halves, if necessary.)
Worf responded:
But none of us can actually argue for with any reason. So it's superstition at best. This is great, perhaps, for dramatic content, but weak for game dynamics. Why should I share with a mystic? Maybe it does something, maybe it doesn't. Am I having fun making these coin toss choices yet? Does having that type of indeterminite bullshit help mystics in any way?
Determining how the Clan Lord world works is a fundamental part of player experience. Saying "Sharing with mystics provides benefit X" should be verifiable, from individual player experience, because it's a cause-and-effect statement. If you want players arguing and discussing things, focus on game history or characters, like Tenebrion. The statement "Tenebrion is our friend" is the type of statement where you WANT people disputing things.
And you're also saying, basically, "I say things in Usenet to stir things up in the game." Which means, roughly translated "Anything I say may be bullshit." And, if you'd notice, a lot of people feel many of your statements in this forum are exactly that. So I'd suggest you stick to truthful statement in Usenet, and go stir things up and generate bullshit in the lands, where fiction belongs.
I don't want the world spelled out to me. I'm not a stat chaser, and you, of all people, should know this. I enjoy mystery and discovery and drama. I don't enjoy cheesy attempt at "mystery" by a GM making vague claims on Usenet about a concealed aspect of game-world mechanics.
I meant to elaborate a bit on how HGM has underminded his perceived trustworthiness with his usenet conduct, but I suppose that generally a pretty obvious sentiment. Not that HGM really cares what the rabble thinks (and often for good reason). It's still a bit of a loss from a customer community standpoint though.
posted 5:55 PM | link |