02-25-2003, 06:39 PM
Hi,
Well, first, a game is the rules. Otherwise all you have is chaos.
Now, in many games there is a trade off between two ill defined concepts: playability and complexity. As exemplified by Risk and Third Reich. One can play a whole game of the former in less time and with less thought than one turn of the latter ;)
So, it sounds like White Wolf (which, BTW, I'd never heard of) replaces the two axis of D&D with two of its own. And instead of making you choose from the extremes and the middle, it gives you more choices. That does sound like an improvement. However, you are still describing very complicated behavior on two axis. So, while you've increased the complexity some and bought a somewhat better system for describing your character, it is still a bit simple.
For a start, what you've done makes you what you are. I think you have to dig a little deeper than just characteristics to motivations and experiences before you can come up with a "good" character basis. That's why I feel that a good requirement for roleplaying is that each player has to supply the DM with a bio of the character. That, and behaving consistently, are the best I know of for doing characters well. However, I'm at a loss for how to program "Find a good DM, give him the info and follow his lead" into a computer. ;)
--Pete
Well, first, a game is the rules. Otherwise all you have is chaos.
Now, in many games there is a trade off between two ill defined concepts: playability and complexity. As exemplified by Risk and Third Reich. One can play a whole game of the former in less time and with less thought than one turn of the latter ;)
So, it sounds like White Wolf (which, BTW, I'd never heard of) replaces the two axis of D&D with two of its own. And instead of making you choose from the extremes and the middle, it gives you more choices. That does sound like an improvement. However, you are still describing very complicated behavior on two axis. So, while you've increased the complexity some and bought a somewhat better system for describing your character, it is still a bit simple.
For a start, what you've done makes you what you are. I think you have to dig a little deeper than just characteristics to motivations and experiences before you can come up with a "good" character basis. That's why I feel that a good requirement for roleplaying is that each player has to supply the DM with a bio of the character. That, and behaving consistently, are the best I know of for doing characters well. However, I'm at a loss for how to program "Find a good DM, give him the info and follow his lead" into a computer. ;)
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?