thread: 2005-04-25 : Technical Agenda
On 2005-04-29, Vincent wrote:
Again, though, it's the pretense that's socially destructive, not the rules. The rules might very well mitigate or overcome the natural social destructiveness of the pretense.
I need to make a post all about only technical simulationism, clearly. Everybody, let's put this conversation off until I do, okay?
Meanwhile, Charles: exactly, when you bring your poor horsemanship into a conflict, it'll contribute to you winning the stakes. You'll still be a poor horseman. You'll still fail at horsemanship-related tasks, because failing at horsemanship-related tasks is how you bring "I'm a poor horseman" into play. It'll work out to your benefit in the end.
It's self-correcting: bringing "I'm a poor horseman" into play in a conflict where victory depends on who's the better horseman will be hard. You'll have to justify it well to make it a sensible see or a raise. And if you justify it well, then it won't seem odd that it helped you win!
Bringing "I'm a poor horseman" into play in a conflict where what's at stake is like "do I get her to tell me the truth" and it happens to take place in a stable - that's wicked easy, as it should be.
