Re: DGW and Yet Another Traveller

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.