September 2003
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Jim Purbrick
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks J C Lawrence
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Bruce Mitchener
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Jim Purbrick
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Bruce Mitchener
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks J C Lawrence
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Roy Riggs
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Jim Purbrick
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Sean Kelly
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Mike Shaver
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Eamonn O'Brien
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks ceo
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks ceo
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Lazarus
- [TECH] Server Bottlenecks Jeff Thompson
- [Tech] Garbage collection Brian Hook
- [Tech] Garbage collection Lars Duening
- [Tech] Garbage collection Bruce Mitchener
- [Tech] Garbage collection Jay Carlson
- TECH: Question about Bartle's new book Christer Enfors
- TECH: Question about Bartle's new book Richard A. Bartle
- Generating Cities John Arras
- Load Testing a MUD sszretter@hotmail.com
- Load Testing a MUD Ren Reynolds
- Load Testing a MUD Ben Greear
- Load Testing a MUD Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Load Testing a MUD Matthew D. Fuller
- Load Testing a MUD Marc Bowden
- Load Testing a MUD Lars Duening
- Load Testing a MUD Marc Bowden
- [DGN] Writing... a mud... erich-herz@uiowa.edu
- [DGN] Writing... a mud... Amanda Walker
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Yaka St.Aise
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Matt Mihaly
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Yaka St.Aise
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Michael Chui
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Amanda Walker
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Matthew Dobervich
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Justin Randall
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Yaka St.Aise
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Chris Duesing
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Crosbie Fitch
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Yaka St.Aise
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. John Buehler
- [DGN]: Ludicrous scheme. Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Corpheous Andrakin
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Scott Jennings
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matthew Dobervich
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Daniel Anderson
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Mike Shaver
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Daniel Stahl
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Tamzen Cannoy
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Mike Shaver
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? ceo
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Nathan Yospe
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Linder Support Team
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Marian Griffith
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Michael Chui
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Paul Schwanz
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? J C Lawrence
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Amanda Walker
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Jeff Cole
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Jeff Cole
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Amanda Walker
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Marian Griffith
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Jeff Cole
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Michael Chui
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Marian Griffith
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Jeff Cole
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? ceo
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? ceo
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Scott Jennings
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Daniel Anderson
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Scott Jennings
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? ren@aldermangroup.com
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Dave Rickey
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Baar - Lord of the Seven Suns
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Michael Chui
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ryan S. Dancey
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? John Buehler
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Dave Rickey
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Matt Mihaly
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Amanda Walker
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Amanda Walker
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Amanda Walker
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Marian Griffith
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Chris Mancil
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Zach Collins {Siege}
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ren Reynolds
- BIZ: Who owns my sword? Tamzen Cannoy
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Daniel Anderson
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Koster, Raph
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Scott Jennings
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Martin Bassie
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Chris Holko
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? burra@alum.rpi.edu
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Scott Jennings
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Daniel Anderson
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Matt Mihaly
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Threshold RPG
- Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever? Jason Smith
- MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 5 Jessica Mulligan
- [Tech] Functional languages Brian Hook
- [Tech] Functional languages ceo
- [Tech] Functional languages Brian Hook
- [Tech] Functional languages Kim
- [Tech] Functional languages J C Lawrence
- [Tech] Functional languages Joshua Judson Rosen
- [Tech] Functional languages sproctor@ccs.neu.edu
- SW:G Matt Mihaly
- Grief teaching? (Was: Why doesn't Lineage count asthe most pop burra@alum.rpi.edu
- Grief teaching? (Was: Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever?) ghovs
- Grief teaching? (Was: Why doesn't Lineage count as the most popular MMOG ever?) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- R: MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 5 Ghilardi Filippo
- Ghostmode (was: SW:G) Lars Duening
- Ghostmode (was: SW:G) Michael Tresca
- Ghostmode (was: SW:G) Marian Griffith
- MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 5 Crosbie Fitch
- BIZ: Who holds your cahonas in their hand? (runs your infrastructure...; ) ceo
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Tess Lowe
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Vladimir Cole
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Erik Bethke
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Erik Bethke
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Corpheous Andrakin
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Mike Shaver
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Vladimir Cole
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Lars Duening
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Peter Harkins
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Lars Duening
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Marian Griffith
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Scott Moore
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Justin Coleman
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) David Cooksey
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Marian Griffith
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Rayzam
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Rayzam
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Marian Griffith
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Rayzam
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Corpheous Andrakin
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Spot
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Acius
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Rayzam
- ghost mode (was SW:G) J C Lawrence
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Mike Shaver
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Smith, David {Lynchburg}
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Eli Stevens
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Rayzam
- ghost mode (was SW:G) John Buehler
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Vladimir Cole
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Mike Shaver
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Chris Duesing
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Michael Chui
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Yaka St.Aise
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Michael Chui
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Yaka St.Aise
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Xyrrus
- Ghost Mode Pat Ditterline
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and standard deviation) Crosbie Fitch
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and standard deviation) John Buehler
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Katie Lukas
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Paul Schwanz
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Amanda Walker
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and standard deviation) Crosbie Fitch
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Matt Mihaly
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and standard deviation) Kerry Fraser-Robinson
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and standard deviation) Torgny Bjers
- Player malleable worlds (was expected value and standard deviation) Chanur Silvarian
- Player malleable worlds (was expected value and standard deviation) Corpheous Andrakin
- Player malleable worlds (was expected value and sta ndard deviation) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value and sta ndard deviation) Sean Kelly
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value andstandard deviation) Richard
- ghost mode Tess Lowe
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Mike Shaver
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Vincent Archer
- ghost mode Tess Lowe
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Corey Crawford
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode ceo
- ghost mode Rayzam
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Rayzam
- ghost mode Tess Lowe
- ghost mode David Cooksey
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Tess Lowe
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- ghost mode Matt Mihaly
- ghost mode Marian Griffith
- ghost mode Tess Lowe
- ghost mode Richard
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Draymoor {Philip Loguinov}
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Bo Zimmerman
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Frank Crowell
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments J C Lawrence
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments J C Lawrence
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments J C Lawrence
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments J C Lawrence
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Paolo Piselli
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments J C Lawrence
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments ceo
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Crosbie Fitch
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Pat Ditterline
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Brent P. Newhall
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Roy Riggs
- Seamlessly Distributed Online Environments Sean Kelly
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Vladimir Cole
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Amanda Walker
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Derek Licciardi
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Amanda Walker
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Samurai Cat @ Catacombs
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) David Loving
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Samurai Cat! @ Catacombs
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Walton, Gordon
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) David Kennerly
- Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- variable difficulty levels (was: ghost mode) Corey Crawford
- variable difficulty levels (was: ghost mode) David Snyder
- variable difficulty levels (was: ghost mode) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- variable difficulty levels (was: ghost mode) Michael Tresca
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- Player malleable worlds (was Expected value andstandard deviation) Ren Reynolds
- R: BIZ: Who owns my sword? Ghilardi Filippo
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Chanur Silvarian
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Joshua Uyehara
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Lars Duening
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Rayzam
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Brian Hook
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? J C Lawrence
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Matt Mihaly
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Zach Collins {Siege}
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Matt Mihaly
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Matt Mihaly
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Sheela Caur'Lir
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Lee Sheldon
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? David Cooksey
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Lee Sheldon
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Rayzam
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Kwon J. Ekstrom
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Ben Chambers
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Russ Whiteman
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Ben Chambers
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Russ Whiteman
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Amanda Walker
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Derek Licciardi
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Chanur Silvarian
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Mike Shaver
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Sheela Caur'Lir
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Amanda Walker
- DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Chanur Silvarian
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Crosbie Fitch
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Michael Tresca
- play styles and difficulty settings ceo
- BIZ: Markee Dragon katie@stickydata.com
- BIZ: Markee Dragon Mike Shaver
- BIZ: Markee Dragon Frank Crowell
- BIZ: Markee Dragon Frank Crowell
- BIZ: Markee Dragon Derek Licciardi
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) ceo
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) Crosbie Fitch
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) ceo
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) Mark Cheverton
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) Michael Sellers
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) ceo@grexengine.com
- Meta-games (not META list ;)) ceo
- [DGN]: Ludicrous speed. Yaka St.Aise
- variable difficulty levels Matt Mihaly
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Amanda Walker
- ghost mode (was SW:G) Freeman, Jeff
- Terra Nova, virtual world blog Castronova, Edward
- R: Rewarding Beta Testers (There's Pricing Deal) Ghilardi Filippo
- ghost mode Amanda Walker
- [list] DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Scion Altera
- [list] DGN: Why give the players all thenumbers? Rayzam
- [list] DGN: Why give the players all the numbers? Marian Griffith
- [list] DGN: Why give the players all thenumbers? John Buehler
- ghost mode ceo
- Class hierarchies for objects Brian Hook
- Class hierarchies for objects Bo Zimmerman
- A Theory of Fun Paul Schwanz
- The State of Play: On the Second Life Tax Revolt J C Lawrence
- The State of Play: On the Second Life Tax Revolt F. Randall Farmer
- Hidden Character Attribs Spot
- Hidden Character Attribs Owen Matt
- Hidden Character Attribs Sheela Caur'Lir
- Hidden Character Attribs J C Lawrence
- size Matt Mihaly
- size Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
- size Amanda Walker
- size Matt Mihaly
- size Sheela Caur'Lir
- size Sheela Caur'Lir
- A world without charity Eamonn O'Brien
- A world without charity Corpheous Andrakin
- A world without charity Eamonn O'Brien
- A world without charity Marian Griffith
- A world without charity Matt Mihaly
- A world without charity Mike
- A world without charity Eamonn O'Brien
- A world without charity Castronova, Edward
- A world without charity Erik Bethke
- A world without charity gbtmud
- A world without charity Dave Rickey
- A world without charity ceo@grexengine.com
- A world without charity Samurai Cat @ Catacombs
- A world without charity Crosbie Fitch
- A world without charity Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- A world without charity Jeff Crane
- A world without charity eric
- A world without charity David Cooksey
- A world without charity Eli Stevens
- A world without charity Michael Tresca
- A world without charity Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- A world without charity (was Discussion of MUD system design, development, and implementation) Chanur Silvarian
- In Norrath, Tattoine and Rubi-ka, Just What Are Your Legal Rights? Vladimir Cole
- C# as MUD Language, Linux as platform =?koi8-r?Q?=22?=Andrew Batyuck=?koi8-r?Q?=22=20?=< javaman@mail.ru>
- MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 30 Chanur Silvarian
- MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 30 Rayzam
From: "Chanur Silvarian" <chanur@guildsite.com>
> "Rayzam" <rayzam@travellingbard.com> wrote:
>> For example, when you read a book, you're immersed in it. Yet it
>> has chapter and page numbers. So at any point, you can see how
>> much you've advanced (page #). You can see what general level
>> you're at (chapter). These don't take away from immersion just by
>> their existence.
>> In a mud, exp and player stats are metagame numbers. They measure
>> advancement and progression.
> This particular analogy falls flat because the author does not
> (generally) number the pages. Two different copies of "The
> Hobbit" published on two different sizes of paper or in two
> different size fonts would not match up in page numbering. >
> Well, take an analogy for what its worth: the spirit behind it,
> not the specific mechanics. However, that said, the author does
> determine how much goes into a chapter. And how much goes into a
> scene in it. How much description and words are necessary to get
> the point across. But if you want to push the fact that the
> author doesn't number the pages, the author and the developer are
> similar, the reader and the player are similar. The developer
> measures the chapter. The players determine how much killing they
> need to get there, by a variety of factors. 2 different level 20
> players killed different numbers of different creatures to get
> there, but they're both level 20 now [both 'The Hobbit'].
> The complete removal of chapters and pages from a book would not
> reduce enjoyment of the book because the chapter numbers and page
> numbers have no impact whatsoever on the story being told.
> Conversly the level and experience numbers have a very direct
> impact on the gameplay of these types of games. Complete removal
> of experience, level, attributes, etc. would change the basic
> mechanics of the game, a game without levels is very different
> from one with levels (level vs. skill systems).
Chapters are defining constructs of the book and the story it tells.
Removing chapter numbers doesn't remove chapters. Removing level
numbers, but still having all the benefits/actions of levelling
occur at those times wouldn't remove levels.
To push these analogies, I expect a skill-based system is like a
choose-your-own-adventure book. In that case, yep, page numbers and
chapter numbers are meaningless.
But I digress! I mean, what's the point here? My original thesis was
that there are 2 types of numbers: In-game numbers and Metagame
numbers. Specific analogy aside, I still defined what I meant by
those in terms of a game. I don't see any disagreement of those
points, just the analogy here. Do you find fault with In-game vs
Meta-game numbers and which need to be presented as description and
which as numericals?
> Hiding the level/exp numbers from the player does not change the
> underlying mechanics, but changes the "focus" of the game. I
> still don't agree that a player needs to know what level their
> character is or how much experience is necessary for the next
> level. I believe that this information only contributes to
> experience grinding and does nothing to improve the quality of
> play. Think of it this way... if you progressed in an MMO by
> reading (as you do in a book) then people would read as fast as
> they could to move through pages and chapters without ever
> enjoying the story of the book. If, however, progression metrics
> were removed from the player's view then it will change focus on
> enjoying the game rather than grinding out as much experience as
> possible. Some will still grind experience, of course, but when
> it is removed as the central focus those who do not enjoy that
> play style won't feel forced into it.
I agree with the fact that reading a book as fast as possible to get
it done would detract from the fun for me. However, we do call
levelling, a treadmill. That description has a basis in fact. If the
games were as fun as books outside of advancement, then what you
said is right, some will still grind, but again, as you point out,
many won't because it's not the central focus. The problem is that
in most of our current worlds, it is a central focus.
> I can just imagine if Tolkein had written according to the idea
> that putting meta information into the "world" was okay... "No,
> Frodo, I cannot take the ring! Only hobbits with their +35 magic
> resistance are able to withstand its effects." or how about
> "... and they awoke in the house of Tom Bombadillo, the level 63
> naturalist." Even as a footnote at the bottom of the page this
> type of information would have detracted from, rather than
> enhanced, the book.
Right, because as a reader, that's not your advancement. Hundreds of
people level a day in games that you don't care about, and being
told everytime it happened, or everytime someone got a new piece of
phat loot, would detract from your experience in the game.
And again, reading the book doesn't have advancement of the
characters [i.e. not advancement of the reader] as a central focus,
so it's a different issue.
> The meta information does not belong in the world whether the
> world is a book or a game.
I'm not speaking in an absolute, I'm speaking in my opinion, and
from an empirical point of view. The games that are currently
successes, owe part of that success to the ability to see
advancement on a treadmill. And that ability is based on giving them
access to the meta-game numbers. If you went back in time and
removed all those numbers, I'm basically predicting that we would
still only have small niche commercial games, instead of UO, EQ,
SWG, etc... So, spiritually you may feel it doesn't belong in the
game, but practically it's been an inherent part of the success [and
addiction].
By providing a framework for metagame vs in-game numbers, I'm trying
to point out places were more of the numbers can be replaced by
descriptions. This is to increase the immersion. There's a
continuum, and treatments like this can help determine where to set
the bar. That's how science works ;)
rayzam
www.travellingbard.com
- MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 4, Issue 30 Rayzam
- The Automated Online Role-Player Michael Tresca