thread: 2011-02-21 : Into the Unknown?
On 2011-03-28, David Berg wrote:
Paul, good to know. Thanks!
Vincent, thanks for the examples, they helped a lot!
Attempting the unknown
I think there's something interesting going on here about the criteria for resolution. All of the outcomes on your "attempt the unknown" list look interesting and fun and clearly relevant to the purpose of progressing in the mystery. Thus, if the list is known to the players, engaging the mechanic that produces those outcomes provides the kind of strong, clear connection that we've been getting at, right? Between what we do right now and what we're here to do.
Relevant to Delve specifically, I must ask, how strong and clear do you think that connection remains if:
- a) the outcome list is known to the players, but the probabilities governing which outcome occurs are completely unfathomable?
- b) the outcome list is unknown to the players?
- c) the outcome list is expanded to include "nothing happens" (i.e., something not clearly fun/interesting/relevant), with odds that it comes up once per session?
There may be times when one of these (or a combo of these) may (1) best model the certainty a character takes into an attempt, and thus, (2) best provide the experience of deciding to try it and see what happens.
Insights
I'm used to thinking about factors, barriers, benefits, consequences, etc. in terms of "how do I think this works?" but not in terms of "how do I think this works in a way that's unique in RPGs, where I can really provide value to players on a moment by moment basis?" So, thanks for digging into that; point taken!
Would you agree that, as long as Delve interrogations are uniquely Delve-y in some valuable way, and my insight into real-life interrogations fits within that, that it doesn't matter whether that particular insight is brilliant?
GMing by design
I think I get your general point about unnatural dynamics, but I'd love to get into some specific examples from AW to solidify it. Whaddaya think? Probe deeper, or leave it for now?
