Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller

A thread of 3 messages, 25 September 1991 to 26 September 1991, in the order they were sent.

#2901 Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller

Richard Johnson · 25 September 1991

In last night's TML, Mike Metlay asks "What is A.I...?"

According to Joe Fugate, very UNofficially, last October, in Boise,
was asking a bunch of us what we thought about a "different kind of
fantasy/sci-fi rpg."  One where (I truly hope I don't step on any
toes here, and also that I get it right.) for some strange reason,
(something like Vinge's singularity, I think) a portion of humanity
has sort of "outgrown" bodies and planetary constrictions by
downloading their personalities into AI constructs (hence the name).
There is also another class of PC, (mundanes, if you will) who
chose not to make the change, and are semi-barbaric, using a
priestly class, truly intelligent (magick?) devices etc.  Both sides
of the coin are playable.

(disclaimer:  I have *NO* idea what DGP is really up to now, nor
do I know how Joe's plans have changed in the last year.)


Last night, Mike also bemoaned GDW trying to (again) resurrect
Star Viking.  Joe sort of warned us about that, too, although
I don't remember it well.  It was very late at night, and...

I think we should step back a little and discuss models and values.
The RPG is a moderated virtual reality.  Traditionally we have
built this virtual reality strictly within the minds of our
players, using abstract rules systems.  Computer games, to date,
have not followed this approach, but rather gone after single-
player, limited-interaction, scripted scenarios.

I assert that GDW (and TSR and FASA and Steve Jackson) only
pursue nostalgia when ther introduce Yet Another RPG based
on a simple abstract rules system.  Hence, using Twilight
2000 rules as a "house" system will eventually spell their
doom.   UNLESS (and here is where TDR and CAT were on the
right track) the game houses (or someone) manages to begin
to properly meld 21st-century habits and technology with the
entertainment world, and start building (granted, primitive)
virtual reality enhancements to RPG's.

I reckon that means I agree completely with Mike.  TML is
IMO the *BEST* place to thoroughly play test and user-test
whatever it is they come up with...if they'll listen.  After
all, we're the ones who are so addicted to this stuff we
take it to work with us...
- --
Richard Johnson     [email removed]          [email removed]
Pax Electronica.                                         Propogate.

#2903 Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller

Bertil Jonell · 25 September 1991 · reply to #2901

> From: Richard Johnson [email removed]
> Subject: (2901) Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller
>
> I assert that GDW (and TSR and FASA and Steve Jackson) only
> pursue nostalgia when ther introduce Yet Another RPG based
> on a simple abstract rules system.  Hence, using Twilight
> 2000 rules as a "house" system will eventually spell their
> doom.   UNLESS (and here is where TDR and CAT were on the
> right track) the game houses (or someone) manages to begin
> to properly meld 21st-century habits and technology with the
> entertainment world, and start building (granted, primitive)
> virtual reality enhancements to RPG's.

  I suspect that you are referring to a multimedia approach, ie 'MegaTraveller
the RPG, MegaTraveller the Computergame, MegaTraveller the Movie,
MegaTraveller the Online-MUD, MegaTraveller the Boardgame, MegaTraveller the
Novel and so on?

  I agree in that, for example, Novels and computer games generate interest in
a game system and leads the 'newbies' to that system if they have a positive
initial contact. A negative initial contact, on the other hand, will be very
damaging to the system, so quality in this is extremely important.

  When it comes to the MUD type of virtual reality enhancements I see their
purpose as creating interest, because they cannot, at present, emulate the
flexibility of a human referee. Computer games like MegaTraveller II and Pool
of Radiance and all that are very far from MegaT and AD&D, but they don't claim
to be anything they are not. A TravellerMud would be a different beast from
both real Traveller and a computer game version, and it would be non-smart of
it to claim that it was *real* Traveller.
  Any advanced powerglove/glasses scheme must build upon existing technology,
since the development costs to do it from scratch probably will be large.

  The other ways a system could use electronic resources are PBEM/FRP and
communications and I'm not sure that a PBEM/FRP could be run on a commercial
basis. If the workload the referee handles was handled by a salaried operator,
the per turn cost would be rather prohibitive. (Interpret this as: "You're
doing a great job, Richard!" :)

  Communications on the other hand, is very useful, and many companies have
already started their BBS-es and areas on commercial services. In some companies
this seem to be something that the design crew and managers (if those groups
are different people, the company is too large:) do if they are interested on
their spare time and in others this has been formalized as a part of the
normal operation of the company. Steve Jackson Games seems to be an example on
the latter, and I think this is the way to go.

> Richard Johnson     [email removed]          [email removed]
> Pax Electronica.                                         Propogate.

- -bertil-
- --
'Det a"r oo"versa"ttbart...'

#2916 Re: (2903) Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller

MacGyver · 26 September 1991 · reply to #2903

......
> this seem to be something that the design crew and managers (if those groups
> are different people, the company is too large:) do if they are interested on
> their spare time and in others this has been formalized as a part of the
> normal operation of the company. Steve Jackson Games seems to be an example on
> the latter, and I think this is the way to go.

	I quite agree, and this is a new trend. The designers have found
on-line services to be a good way to keep in touch with the gamers.
Not only SJG has this as part of the normal operation of the company,
but FASA, WEG also does the same.

Wilson MacGyver                      | Everytime you have an idea, I get
Internet:[email removed] | grounded for a week!
=====================================| 			- Gloria
Disclaimer:All opinions are mine only|=======================================