January 2001
- Proper MU* style list Kyndig
- Proper MU* style list Malcolm Tester
- Proper MU* style list Daniel A. Koepke
- Proper MU* style list Richard A. Bartle
- Proper MU* style list Christopher Allen
- Proper MU* style list Koster, Raph
- Proper MU* style list Kerem HADIMLI
- MU* styles Kerem HADIMLI
- Moving away from the skill system Inq Admin
- Moving away from the skill system Hulbert, Leland
- Moving away from the skill system jrb@kc.rr.com
- About.com article on Skotos Christopher Allen
- About.com article on Skotos Matthew Mihaly
- About.com article on Skotos Christopher Allen
- About.com article on Skotos SavantKnowsAll@cs.com
- About.com article on Skotos Christopher Allen
- About.com article on Skotos Matthew Mihaly
- About.com article on Skotos Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- About.com article on Skotos Klara
- About.com article on Skotos Jon Morrow
- About.com article on Skotos Matthew Mihaly
- Skill-Trees & Christopher Allen
- Skill-Trees & Phil Hall
- Skill-Trees & Wes Connell
- Skill-Trees & Travis Casey
- Skill-Trees & Christopher Allen
- Skill-Trees & Dmitri Zagidulin
- Skill-Trees & Travis Casey
- Skill-Trees & Travis Casey
- Player statistics Wes Connell
- Player statistics Marc Bowden
- Player statistics Wes Connell
- Player statistics Marc Bowden
- Player statistics Matthew Mihaly
- Player statistics rayzam
- Player statistics Klara
- Player statistics Wes Connell
- Player statistics Koster, Raph
- Player statistics Jake Song
- Player statistics Koster, Raph
- Player statistics Matthew Mihaly
- Player statistics Dave Rickey
- Player statistics msew
- Player statistics Jessica Mulligan
- Player statistics Vincent Archer
- Player statistics Koster, Raph
- Player statistics David Kennerly
- Player statistics Dave Rickey
- Player statistics David Kennerly
- Player statistics Jake Song
- Player Statistics Jessica Mulligan
- Player statistics Jake Song
- CGDC Dinner J C Lawrence
- Skotos Anthony R. Haslage
- Skotos Richard.Woolcock@rsuk.rohde-schwarz.com
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Koster, Raph
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Marc Bowden
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Koster, Raph
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Willowreed@aol.com
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Tess Snider
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Koster, Raph
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Michael Tresca
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Chris Lloyd
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" Tess Snider
- "Men are from Quake, Women are from Ultima" SavantKnowsAll@cs.com
- NomicWiki J C Lawrence
- more idiocy from graphical MUD developers Matthew Mihaly
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Jeremy Lowery
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework David Loeser
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Bruce
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Jeremy Lowery
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Bruce
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Miroslav Silovic
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Ben Chambers
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Justin Rogers
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Ben Chambers
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework John Buehler
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Bruce
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Jeremy Lowery
- An Idea... Mud Development Framework Chris Jones
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Bruce
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Koster, Raph
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Bruce
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Koster, Raph
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) J C Lawrence
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Valerio Santinelli
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Tess Snider
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Bruce
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Koster, Raph
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Ben Chambers
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Chris Jones
- New Muds Corey Crawford
- Dinner scheduling and possible roundtable J C Lawrence
- New Mud Fox McCloud
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Dr. Cat
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Matthew Mihaly
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Jake Song
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Jeff Freeman
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Par Winzell
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) J C Lawrence
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Bruce
- Server stability (was: Player statistics) Felix A. Croes
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs J C Lawrence
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Jake Song
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Bruce
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #277 - 13 msgs Mark Watson
- ANNC: .NET Frameworks based Mud Codebase Justin Rogers
- ANNC: .NET Frameworks based Mud Codebase Bruce
- ANNC: .NET Frameworks based Mud Codebase szii@sziisoft.com
- ANNC: .NET Frameworks based Mud Codebase Justin Rogers
- ANNC: .NET Frameworks based Mud Codebase szii@sziisoft.com
- Announcing: Pan J C Lawrence
- Announcing: Pan J C Lawrence
- Announcing: Pan Kyndig
- Experience System Differences Alornen
- Experience System Differences Malcolm Tester
- Experience System Differences Hulbert, Leland
- Experience System Differences rayzam
- Experience System Differences Ben Chambers
- Experience System Differences rayzam
- Experience System Differences Ben Chambers
- Experience System Differences Travis Casey
- Experience System Differences Mark Watson
- Experience System Differences rayzam
- Experience System Differences Kindred321@aol.com
- Experience System Differences Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Experience System Differences Brian M. Schkerke
- Experience System Differences Ben Chambers
- Experience System Differences Malcolm Tester
- Experience System Differences Warren Powell
- speaking of symposia... Robert Zubek
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #281 - 18 msgs Dr. Cat
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #281 - 18 msgs Jeff Freeman
- I Want to Bake Bread Neeby
- I Want to Bake Bread Richard
- I Want to Bake Bread John Buehler
- I Want to Bake Bread Richard
- I Want to Bake Bread Ryan
- I Want to Bake Bread Patrick Dughi
- I Want to Bake Bread Siobhan Perricone
- I Want to Bake Bread Hal Bonnin
- I Want to Bake Bread Travis Casey
- I Want to Bake Bread John Buehler
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) Corey Crawford
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) Lord Ashon
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) John Buehler
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) Philip Loguinov, Draymoor
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) nbossett@pierb.com
- Exploration Exp (was: Experience System Differences) Warren Powell
- MUD research, good ideas and designers who care? Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Baking Bread Lord Ashon
- Baking Bread John Buehler
- Distributed PSW design Stephane Bura
- Distributed PSW design Frank Crowell
- Distributed PSW design Bruce
- Distributed PSW design Stephane Bura
- Distributed PSW design John Buehler
- Distributed PSW design J C Lawrence
- Distributed PSW design Justin Rogers
- Distributed PSW design John Buehler
- Distributed PSW design Eli Stevens
- Distributed PSW design John Buehler
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #282 - 18 msgs Dr. Cat
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #282 - 18 msgs Koster, Raph
- IOWA project / Request for addition to FAQ Bruce
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Corey Crawford
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Hulbert, Leland
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) msew
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Travis Casey
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) rayzam
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Michael Tresca
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) msew
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Michael Tresca
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) Alistair Milne
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) J C Lawrence
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) J C Lawrence
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) John Buehler
- No Exp? (was: Exploration Exp) J C Lawrence
- C# Greg Miller
- Player Created Object System Philip Loguinov, Draymoor
- Player Created Object System Richard
- Player Created Object System Philip Loguinov, Draymoor
- Player Created Object System Christopher Allen
- Player Created Object System Richard
- Distributed PSW design (Frank Crowell) Peter Yu
- Distributed PSW design (Frank Crowell) Frank Crowell
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #282 - 18 msgs Jeff Freeman
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #282 - 18 msgs J C Lawrence
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #282 - 18 msgs Jake Song
- Room Generation Nathanael Dermyer
- Room Generation J C Lawrence
- Room Generation George Greer
- Room Generation Bruce
- Room Generation Bruce
- Room Generation Richard
- Room Generation Mordengaard
- Room Generation Kwon Ekstrom
- Room Generation Jon Lambert
- Room Generation Patrick Dughi
- Room Generation Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Room Generation Travis Casey
- Room Generation Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Room Generation Eli Stevens
- Room Generation Richard
- Room Generation Richard
- Room Generation Colin Coghill
- Room Generation efindel@earthlink.net
- Room Generation Ryan P.
- Variant Methods for Related Skills Christopher Allen
- Variant Methods for Related Skills Travis Casey
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? J C Lawrence
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? Koster, Raph
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? rayzam
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? Travis Casey
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? Jon Lambert
- Anyone know of plans for an I-Mode MUD/LARP? Jeff Freeman
- Room and Terrain Integration in Textual Environments vognsen@post10.tele.dk
- Project Entropia the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Project Entropia John Vanderbeck
- Project Entropia Christopher Allen
- Project Entropia J C Lawrence
- Project Entropia J C Lawrence
- Project Entropia John Vanderbeck
- Project Entropia the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Project Entropia Batir
- Project Entropia the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Project Entropia Frank Crowell
- Project Entropia Jessica Mulligan
- Project Entropia Frank Crowell
- Project Entropia Jessica Mulligan
- Project Entropia the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Project Entropia the_logos@www.achaea.com
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Dr. Cat
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jeff Freeman
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jake Song
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jeff Freeman
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jake Song
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Koster, Raph
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jeff Freeman
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jeff Freeman
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #285 - 32 msgs Jake Song
- Skill System Kwon Ekstrom
- Skill System Travis Casey
- Skill System justice@softhome.net
- Skill System Ben Chambers
- Skill System Batir
- Skill System Ben Chambers
- Skill System Batir
- Skill System justice@softhome.net
- Long Day's Journey Into Tights J C Lawrence
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Dr. Cat
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs the_logos@www.achaea.com
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Nathan F.Yospe
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs justice@softhome.net
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Dave Rickey
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Vincent Archer
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs msew
- MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs Travis Casey
- When Do We Get the "Right" to Privacy? J C Lawrence
- When Do We Get the "Right" to Privacy? Nathan F.Yospe
- When Do We Get the "Right" to Privacy? Koster, Raph
- Cybercafes a fluke? (was: MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs) Scion Altera
- Cybercafes a fluke? (was: MUD-Dev digest, Vol 1 #289 - 8 msgs) Holly Sommer
- An interesting concept Richard.Woolcock@rsuk.rohde-schwarz.com
- [iggamedes] WAKE UP! :) Tomb Raider style games? J C Lawrence
- [iggamedes] WAKE UP! :) Tomb Raider style games? Jon Lambert
- Cultural Differences in Gaming and Gamers SavantKnowsAll@cs.com
- Cultural Differences in Gaming and Gamers Koster, Raph
- Cultural Differences in Gaming and Gamers the_logos@www.achaea.com
- System burps and outages J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Peter Yu
- Semi Graphical Muds Christopher Allen
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds David Loeser
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds David Loeser
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Corey Crawford
- Semi Graphical Muds Kerem HADIMLI
- Semi Graphical Muds Jon Lambert
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Kerem HADIMLI
- Semi Graphical Muds Frank Crowell
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Koster, Raph
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Caliban Tiresias Darklock
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds Jay Carlson
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Jon Lambert
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds Christopher Allen
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds Felix A. Croes
- Semi Graphical Muds Christopher Allen
- Semi Graphical Muds Felix A. Croes
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds David Loeser
- Semi Graphical Muds Marc Bowden
- Semi Graphical Muds Felix A. Croes
- Semi Graphical Muds Bruce
- Semi Graphical Muds Felix A. Croes
- Semi Graphical Muds Adam Casbarian
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Koster, Raph
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Koster, Raph
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds John Buehler
- Semi Graphical Muds Koster, Raph
- Semi Graphical Muds Dave Rickey
- Semi Graphical Muds Hulbert, Leland
- Semi Graphical Muds Dave Rickey
- Semi Graphical Muds geoffrey@yorku.ca
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds rayzam
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Sanvean
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Tamzen Cannoy
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Frank Crowell
- Semi Graphical Muds rayzam
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds rayzam
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds rayzam
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds rayzam
- Semi Graphical Muds Kevin Littlejohn
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Ben Chambers
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Semi Graphical Muds J C Lawrence
- Semi Graphical Muds Adam Casbarian
- Semi Graphical Muds the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Ebay bans character selling the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Ebay bans character selling susie
- Ebay bans character selling Frank Crowell
- Ebay bans character selling Frank Crowell
- Ebay bans character selling the_logos@www.achaea.com
- Ebay bans character selling Richard.Woolcock@rsuk.rohde-schwarz.com
- Ebay bans character selling Kevin Littlejohn
- Ebay bans character selling Travis Casey
- Ebay bans character selling Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Ebay bans character selling Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Ebay bans character selling rayzam
- Ebay bans character selling John Buehler
- Ebay bans character selling Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Ebay bans character selling Dave Rickey
- Ebay bans character selling Eric Lee {RAT}
- Ebay bans character selling Frank Crowell
- Ebay bans character selling Timothy Dang
- Ebay bans character selling Paul Robinson
- Ebay bans character selling Peter Yu
- Ebay bans character selling Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Ebay bans character selling David Kennerly
- Ebay bans character selling Willowreed@aol.com
- Ebay bans character selling Travis Casey
- Ebay bans character selling rayzam
- Ebay bans character selling Jeremy Music
- Ebay bans character selling rayzam
- Ebay bans character selling Yves K
- Ebay bans character selling the_logos@www.achaea.com
- front end clients.....was Semi Graphical Muds Willowreed@aol.com
- front end clients.....was Semi Graphical Muds Frank Crowell
- front end clients.....was Semi Graphical MUDs Christopher Allen
- Meta-gaming: (real <--> game) transfers David Kennerly
- EverQuest Study Dave Rickey
- [pol-core-test] New file uploaded to pol-core-test (OT) Jeff Freeman
- [pol-core-test] New file uploaded to pol-core-test (OT) the_logos@www.achaea.com
- [pol-core-test] New file uploaded to pol-core-test(OT) Dave Rickey
- [pol-core-test] New file uploaded to pol-core-test(OT) Valerio Santinelli
- [pol-core-test] New file uploaded to pol-core-test(OT) Frank Crowell
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Jon Lambert
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems Federico Di Gregorio
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems gmiller@classic-games.com
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP systems Greg Miller
- PvP systems John Buehler
- PvP systems gmiller@classic-games.com
- PvP systems John Buehler
- PvP systems gmiller@classic-games.com
- PvP systems John Buehler
- PvP systems gmiller@classic-games.com
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP systems J C Lawrence
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP systems J C Lawrence
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP systems Dave Turner
- PvP systems gmiller@classic-games.com
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP systems S. Patrick Gallaty
- PvP systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems Federico Di Gregorio
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Jake Song
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems Corey Crawford
- PvP Systems Jon Lambert
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Jon Lambert
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Sanvean
- PvP Systems J C Lawrence
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems J C Lawrence
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems J C Lawrence
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems J C Lawrence
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems J C Lawrence
- PvP Systems Michael Tresca
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Jon Lambert
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems Travis Casey
Jon Lambert wrote:
> John Buehler wrote:
> > Jon Lambert writes:
> >> Like I said above this is an entirely different animal. When RPing
> >> players outnumber GOPing players 10-1, then you a have framework
> >> for RP. The number of NPCs is irrelavent, because NPCs can't
> >> role-play, unless of course a player or GM is running them. ;-)
>
> > The number of NPCs is relevant in that it establishes a setting,
> > just as the buildings, buckets, horses and other items establish a
> > setting. There are no laser guns or automobiles, so people don't
> > think in those terms. With enough NPCs doing things that establish
> > the setting, the players are encouraged to behave in a given way.
>
> Those are just props. They aren't necessary to role-play. And they
> often distract from role-play. They spoil scenes because they
> introduce actions, events and dialogue that just isn't wanted or
> appropriate.
They aren't *necessary* for role-play, but, properly employed, they can
help roleplay. The problem is in the proper employment -- in most
games, NPCs are set up in a way to aid GoP, not to aid roleplaying.
> > NPCs roleplay very well. They simply don't speak to players very
> > intelligently. Something that will be addressed someday, but not
> > this decade.
>
> You can get a baker to bake, run about shopping for flour, talk about
> baking, sell bread, but you cannot get them to roleplay.
This depends a great deal on your definition of roleplaying. Under the
definition I use (that of making decisions based on "what would my
character do", rather than on the basis of things external to the
gameworld), NPCs *can* roleplay. Now, I'll be the first to admit that
to have an NPC roleplay a complex set of character traits *well* would
require either GM intervention or strong AI, but one can roleplay a
simple character and still be roleplaying.
> I mentioned
> in my previous post that functional or immersive roleplay only
> represents _one_ end of the roleplay spectrum.
Tangent/nitpick: I think the term "roleplaying spectrum" is too
limiting. There is more than one possible axis on which to measure
"roleplaying".
> There is a large
> audience of role- players that views dialogue with NPCs as a patent
> waste of keystrokes and time. Unless of course there is a human
> audience present, it serves no purpose. It's sort of like tickling
> yourself. Unsatisfying. ;-)
There are also roleplayers who do not view it as a waste of time -- a
much smaller group, to be sure, but there.
> > Not very much effort has gone into the NPCs of the big graphical
> > games. They merely serve a functional purpose, encouraging only
> > goal-oriented gaming. Ever played Caesar III? The NPCs there are
> > fairly simplistic, but they are quite entertaining and produce the
> > atmosphere of a roman city.
>
> Even so in a mud, these "smart" NPCs become little side-quests of
> guess the magic words to activate them and get what you want. That's
> an additional level of game that rewards the GOPer, it doesn't do
> anything for the RPer. RPers need audiences of humans not bots.
> There's a difference. You see, this is forcing players to react to
> the world. You are casting the roles...not players. The other way is
> allowing the players to create the roles and character.
NPCs are, as a I mention above, normally set up to support GoP, but they
can be used to support roleplay. For example, a player might decide
that his/her character has a wish to attract a certain NPC, and set out
to find ways to impress that NPC. A player might choose to have his/her
character be a loyal follower of a particular NPC leader. And so forth.
> > Imagine, in contrast, a town with only players in it. Nobody
> > establishes the atmosphere of the town, so it becomes whatever the
> > players say it is.
>
> The only reason there isn't an atmosphere established in such a town
> is simply because you are starting from a base of game players. Start
> with role-players and you'll get an atmosphere.
Possibly -- but if you *want* an area to have a *particular* atmosphere,
rather than whatever atmosphere the players wind up gravitating towards,
then NPCs and other "props" can be useful.
> You can force these players to dress up in fancy medieval clothes, put
> them in a medieval town, force them to say good day, thee and thou and
> other magic words to make the little robots wandering around do
> unusual things. You still won't get them to role-play. You just get
> mice in your maze looking for cheese in funny outfits and saying
> strange things because the cheese happens to be easier to come by that
> way.
That's true. However, if you tell a group of roleplayers "this is a
town", and refuse to give them any sort of further clue as to what
*sort* of town it's supposed to be, then you may end up with any kind of
town -- or with no consensus on what sort of town there is at all.
(Now, you could simply *tell* the players what you want, instead of
setting up props. Some might consider that to be a better way to go,
but others might disagree. In particular, setting up actual props helps
to ensure consistency.)
> > And there's no guarantee that such an atmosphere is entertaining for
> > anybody. The atmosphere certainly isn't set by the game, letting
> > the players know what the game world normally expects from them.
>
> Of course not. But the purpose of role-play is to entertain other
> players.
IMHO, to say that anything is *the* purpose of anything is a guarantee
of overstatement. People roleplay for many different reasons; at best
entertaining other players is *a* purpose of role-play. It might be the
most important purpose for many people -- but for others, it's not.
> It requires 2 or more humans, not a human and a machine.
I disagree -- mainly because I do not accept that entertaining others is
*the* purpose of role-play. It is only *a* purpose, and other purposes
of roleplay can be achieved without having other humans about.
--
|\ _,,,---,,_ Travis S. Casey <efindel@earthlink.net>
ZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ No one agrees with me. Not even me.
|,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-'
'---''(_/--' `-'\_)
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems Kerem HADIMLI
- PvP Systems the_logos@www.achaea.com
- PvP Systems The Druid
- PvP Systems rayzam
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems msew
- PvP Systems Koster, Raph
- PvP Systems msew
- PvP Systems msew
- PvP Systems John Buehler
- PvP Systems msew
- PvP Systems Vincent Archer