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Index

January 2004

The last days of Discord PVP server on EQ Frank Crowell
- The last days of Discord PVP server on EQ szii@sziisoft.com
biggest muds Matt Mihaly
Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
- Congratulations Horizons... Brad McQuaid
- - Congratulations Horizons... Marian Griffith
  - - Congratulations Horizons... Brad McQuaid
    - - Congratulations Horizons... T H
      - Congratulations Horizons... Matt Mihaly
      - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
        Congratulations Horizons... Chanur Silvarian
      - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
      - Congratulations Horizons... Brad McQuaid
      - Congratulations Horizons... Marian Griffith
      - Congratulations Horizons... Chris Duesing
    - Congratulations Horizons... Mike Shaver
    - - Congratulations Horizons... Marian Griffith
    - Congratulations Horizons... Tom "cro" Gordon
  - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
  - - Congratulations Horizons... Brad McQuaid
    - - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
    - Congratulations Horizons... Christopher Kohnert
    - Congratulations Horizons... Vincent Archer
    - Congratulations Horizons... Chanur Silvarian
    - - Congratulations Horizons... Vincent Archer
      - Congratulations Horizons... Chanur Silvarian
        Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
        Congratulations Horizons... Chanur Silvarian
  - Congratulations Horizons... Matt Mihaly
  - - Congratulations Horizons... John Buehler
- Congratulations Horizons... Philip M. Hofer {Frumph}
- - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
  - Congratulations Horizons... Paul Schwanz
  - - Congratulations Horizons... Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
    - - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
    - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
- Congratulations Horizons... Matt Mihaly
- - Congratulations Horizons... Lee Sheldon
[DGN] The psychology of random numbers Ted L. Chen

It's been a while since my last post, and it has taken some time to
catch up on the interesting reading.

The old thread about hiding numbers from players has got me thinking
about the probability-based formulas that rely on said numbers.
This musing has generated an interesting dilema:

How does one convey, to the player, the fact that the output is
probalistic when most numeric measures appear determinant?

To illustrate, take your standard RPG combat roll and answer the
following two cases:

A) Bubba is fighting Buffy. He has a STR of 255, she a STR of
240. Who will win?

B) Bubba is fighting Buffy. He is very strong. She is also very
strong. Who will win?

My supposition is that most people are inclined to say that Bubba
will win in A (strong expectation), while they remain unsure as to
the winner in B (weak expectation). While both win-distributions
are almost even, the weaker expectation matches reality more
closely.

Why the fuss? When Bubba plays and sees his stats greater than
Buffy, his expectations of winning are skewed by the concrete
measuring yardstick. When he loses to Buffy, his world view is
shattered and the game becomes bugged, Buffy is cheating, or he
somehow has nerfed equipment.

Working on the loose assumption that displaying some sort of measure
is inevitable, is there some way we can better manage player
expectations?

NB: The discretized vagueness of case B is one obvious way. I'm
just looking for other possibilities here.

- TLC
- [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Ammon Lauritzen
- - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Chanur Silvarian
  - - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Michael "Flury" Chui
    - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Zach Collins {Siege}
    - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers David Kennerly
- [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Paolo Piselli
- [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Sean Kelly
- - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Chanur Silvarian
  - - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Alex Chacha
  - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Ted L. Chen
  - - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers ceo
    - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Dave Bacher
    - - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Ben Hawes
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Byron Ellacott
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Kirinyaga
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers szii@sziisoft.com
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Brian Hook
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Mike Shaver
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Byron Ellacott
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Byron Ellacott
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers J C Lawrence
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Rayzam
        [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Vincent Archer
      - [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Robert Zubek
- [DGN] The psychology of random numbers Travis Casey
[BIZ] Defining 'churhn' in relation to MMO games Tom "cro" Gordon
- [BIZ] Defining 'churhn' in relation to MMO games ren@aldermangroup.com
Moderation delays J C Lawrence
NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Peter Seebach
- NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Jon Leonard
- - NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Peter Seebach
- NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Lars Duening
- - NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Peter Seebach
  - NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Mats Lidstrom
  - - NEWS TECH: Welcome to the "MUD-Dev" mailing list Lars Duening
Expected value and standard deviation. Michael Tresca
- Expected value and standard deviation. Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- - Expected value and standard deviation. Michael Tresca
  - - Expected value and standard deviation. Ola Fosheim Grøstad
levels (was: ghost mode) Ola Fosheim Grøstad
Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue 9) Paul Schwanz
- Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) John Buehler
- - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Paul Schwanz
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) John Buehler
    - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) Paul Schwanz
      - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) John Buehler
  - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Freeman, Jeff
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) John Buehler
    - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Dave Bacher
  - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Ian McDonald
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Paul Schwanz
- Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Rayzam
- - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Paul Schwanz
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) Rayzam
    - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) Paul Schwanz
      - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) Eli Stevens {WG.c}
  - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Sheela Caur'Lir
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) John Buehler
    - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Dave Bacher
  - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
  - - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) T H
    - Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue9) Rayzam
- Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol7, Issue9) eversilver@yahoo.com
Camping (Was just named as a generic MUD-DEV reply) Chanur Silvarian
- Camping (Was just named as a generic MUD-DEV reply) ren@aldermangroup.com
- Camping (Was just named as a generic MUD-DEV reply) Brent P. Newhall
Exploits and hacks in MMORPGs Björn Morén
- Exploits and hacks in MMORPGs Daniel Anderson
- Exploits and hacks in MMORPGs Sheela Caur'Lir
- Exploits and hacks in MMORPGs Kirinyaga
Do players enjoy farming? Chanur Silvarian
Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue 9) Paul Schwanz
- Do players enjoy farming? (was MUD-Dev Digest, Vol 7, Issue 9) Tom "cro" Gordon
Online worlds and behavior... etykwins@fcbayern.de
ANNOUNCE: MUD-Dev conference, 26 and 27 March 2004 J C Lawrence
MudWorld.Org Anthony R. Haslage
New MMORPG from the Army Amanda Walker
- New MMORPG from the Army Dave Rickey
- - New MMORPG from the Army Amanda Walker
  - - New MMORPG from the Army Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
FedExing ghovs
- FedExing Sean Middleditch
- FedExing Ben Hawes
- - FedExing Alistair Riddoch
  - - FedExing Jesus Lopez
    - - FedExing Alistair Riddoch
      - FedExing Sean Middleditch
Play styles and world interactionsistilldontwantitposted@phlange.com J C Lawrence
Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Sean Middleditch
- Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval T H
- - Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Ben Hawes
  - - Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Sean Middleditch
- Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Spot
- - Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Sean Middleditch
- Death and Permadeath and Corpse Retrieval Daniel.Harman@barclayscapital.com
[DGN] Senior Focus Mentor Needed Andrew Budd
[BIZ] HOW TO SCREW UP A PERFECTLY GOOD GAME COMPANY IN TEN EASY STEPS Michael Tresca
[BIZ] TEN MORE EASY WAYS TO SCREW UP YOUR GAME COMPANY Michael Tresca
Crafting systems Björn Morén
Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex David Lyttle
- Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex eversilver@yahoo.com
- - Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex Chanur Silvarian
  - - Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex Sean Howard
    - - Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex Chanur Silvarian
      - Do Quests need to be Fed-Ex Sean Howard
Moving toward Massive Multiplay (was Congratulations Horizons...) Paul Schwanz
- Moving toward Massive Multiplay (was Congratulations Horizons...) Mike Shaver
ADMIN: Policy change J C Lawrence
[TECH][TOOLS] SCM systems ceo
- [TECH][TOOLS] SCM systems Erik Bethke
- - [TECH][TOOLS] SCM systems ceo
  - [TECH][TOOLS] SCM systems Jon A. Lambert
Problems with current RPGs Björn Morén
- Problems with current RPGs Koster, Raph
- - Problems with current RPGs Sean Howard
  - Problems with current RPGs Björn Morén
  - - Problems with current RPGs Koster, Raph
    - - Problems with current RPGs Björn Morén
      - Problems with current RPGs David Johansson
  - Problems with current RPGs Yaka St.Aise
- Problems with current RPGs Hans-Henrik Staerfeldt
- - Problems with current RPGs Björn Morén
- Problems with current RPGs Yaka St.Aise
Character Perceptions John Buehler
- Character Perceptions Derek Licciardi
- - Character Perceptions John Buehler
  - - Character Perceptions ceo
    - - Character Perceptions John Buehler
- Character Perceptions Scion Altera
- - Character Perceptions John Buehler
- Character Perceptions bjoernen@hotmail.com
- - Character Perceptions John Buehler
[BIZ] Warcraft Interview Michael Tresca
- [BIZ] Warcraft Interview ceo
- [BIZ] Warcraft Interview Björn Morén
Raffle at the MUD-Dev Conference, March 27th and 28th 2004 Ann
R: Moving toward Massive Multiplay (was CongratulationsHorizons...) Ghilardi Filippo
Python script as stand alone MUD server... Jason Slaughter
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Sean Middleditch
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
- - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Jason Slaughter
  - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Sean Middleditch
    - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
      - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Kwon J. Ekstrom
      - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
    - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Zach Collins {Siege}
    - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
    - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
    - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Byron Ellacott
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Mats Lidstrom
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... ceo
- - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Zach Collins {Siege}
  - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... ceo
    - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Zach Collins {Siege}
      - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Byron Ellacott
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Edward Glowacki
- - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Brian Hook
  - - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Sean Middleditch
    - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Frank Crowell
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Byron Ellacott
- - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Mike Shaver
  - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Alistair Riddoch
- Python script as stand alone MUD server... Thomas Clive Richards
- - Python script as stand alone MUD server... Zach Collins {Siege}
[BIZ] Apparent acquisition of Yantis (mysupersales) by IDE Rudy Fink
- [BIZ] Apparent acquisition of Yantis (mysupersales) by IDE Bruce Mitchener
Meaning and entertainment - Farming and FedExing (was Do players enjoy farming?) Michael Sellers
Power games Ana Valdés
- Power games Mats Lidstrom
- - Power games Ana Valdés
- Power games Byron Ellacott
- - Power games Ana Valdés
Mage 2 Mage gbtmud
- Mage 2 Mage Travis Casey
Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Brad King
- Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Chris
- Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Nick Yee
- Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Paul Schwanz
- Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Ola Fosheim Grøstad
- Interpersonal Relations in Virtual Worlds Lee Faris
Platform choice Gary Whitten
MUD client popularity Brian Hook
- MUD client popularity Frank Crowell
- MUD client popularity Ammon Lauritzen
- - MUD client popularity Brian Hook
  - - MUD client popularity Rayzam
    - - MUD client popularity Brian Hook
      - MUD client popularity Rayzam
    - MUD client popularity Edward Glowacki
    - - MUD client popularity J C Lawrence
      - MUD client popularity Edward Glowacki
  - MUD client popularity Travis Casey
  - - MUD client popularity Ammon Lauritzen
    - MUD client popularity Byron Ellacott
    - - MUD client popularity Frank Fisher
    - MUD client popularity ceo
    - MUD client popularity Edward Glowacki
    - - MUD client popularity Emil Nilimaa
      - MUD client popularity Tom "cro" Gordon
        MUD client popularity Edward Glowacki
    - MUD client popularity Sean Middleditch
    - - MUD client popularity Zach Collins {Siege}
      - MUD client popularity Sean Middleditch
- MUD client popularity Alistair Riddoch
- MUD client popularity Byron Ellacott
- MUD client popularity Brian Hook
- MUD client popularity Brian Hook
- - MUD client popularity Sean Middleditch
  - MUD client popularity Edward Glowacki
  - MUD client popularity Brent P. Newhall
SMOG - small multiuser online game Frank Crowell
- SMOG - small multiuser online game Miroslav Silovic
- - SMOG - small multiuser online game Frank Crowell
- SMOG - small multiuser online game Crosbie Fitch
- - SMOG - small multiuser online game Frank Crowell
  - SMOG - small multiuser online game Byron Ellacott
  - - SMOG - small multiuser online game Crosbie Fitch
- SMOG - small multiuser online game Byron Ellacott
- - SMOG - small multiuser online game Tom "cro" Gordon
  - SMOG - small multiuser online game Crosbie Fitch
- SMOG - small multiuser online game Crosbie Fitch
- - SMOG - small multiuser online game maddog
[BUS] How to build an MMOG... ceo
[DGN] Subjective randomness (was: The psychology of random numbers) Robert Zubek
- [DGN] Subjective randomness (was: The psychology of random numbers) Felix A. Croes
- - [DGN] Subjective randomness (was: The psychology of random numbers) Sean Kelly
Solutions for smarter NPCs Björn Morén
- Solutions for smarter NPCs ext.Christer.Enfors@tietoenator.com
- - Solutions for smarter NPCs info@castwide.com
- Solutions for smarter NPCs Kirinyaga
- - Solutions for smarter NPCs Vincent Archer
  - - Solutions for smarter NPCs Valerio Santinelli
    - Solutions for smarter NPCs Olivier Lejade
    - - Solutions for smarter NPCs Kirinyaga
      - Solutions for smarter NPCs Olivier Lejade
- Solutions for smarter NPCs Michael Sellers