thread: 2011-02-21 : Into the Unknown?
On 2011-02-23, Bwian wrote:
I gather Vincent is interested in the links between the things that specific game procedures instruct players to do and a more general description of the players' roles in the game.
But some of David's examples are more like flavour text describing the kinds of activities/ questions characters are involved in.
If I understand it, there seems to be some ambiguity about the use of 'you' in David's various examples.
From Vincent's post at 9, Vincent is talking about Vincent's job 'as a player' (emphasis added).
If I am right, some of David's original lines about 'you' (e.g. in "Can you learn any of their powers for yourselves?") refer to what the characters do in the fictional world.
Replacing 'your character' with 'you' is fairly common in RPG writing. It can easily get in the way when one is trying to explain game procedures.
It is quite possible for 'you' (character) to solve the problem which has been both posed and solved by 'that other person' (GM).
If I understand David, the game's overall framework includes an idea like the players portray the actions of adventurers working to discover secrets and solve problems in a fantastical world/ situation invented by the GM. The specific play procedure examples include a planning activity that the GM undertakes: choosing relevant elements from his 'tree of mysteries' and weaving them into the fabric of the fictional situation, where the players' characters will (assuming the players follow various other game procedures) probably discover them.
This seems like a strong, practical link to me, even though the many other procedures the group will use are not included.
Vincent: Can you clarify for me what your main interest is in this discussion? Are you interested e.g. in the fitness of specific game procedures to general design goals? Or clarity of expression in rules text? Or what?
Cheers
Bwian
