thread: 2005-05-02 : Person vs. Protagonist
On 2005-05-03, Vincent wrote:
Charles: "We agree. Not stepping up is cool. Not stepping up builds tension. I go one further and say, sometimes, not stepping up can be resolution (so long as it ends the situation for the moment). 'I walk away, having not confronted my demons, leaving the argument for another day,' can be resolution."
Yes! Yes! Absolutely. You also said "I'm arguing that the 'Do I step up?' question is much more important than the 'Does it turn out well when I do' question..." and yes! yes! absolutely to that too.
I'm uncomfy with the "you win" part, but otherwise I agree with every word you just wrote.
"Not stepping up is something that most existing games (including free-form games such as my groups) don't address very well. Perhaps this is obvious. It certainly isn't obvious from the way that most people talk about dramatic games, and it isn't obvious from the way Neel was talking about dramatic real people games."
Very true. When I talk about taking on the issue - well, it's not obvious that I include "taking on the issue by refusing to take on the issue." It's not obvious that there's even a difference between "taking on the issue by refusing to take on the issue," which I fully support, and "not taking on the issue," which I think sucks.
But there is. I do.
Everybody: Some enterprising designer should please take up Charles' internal monologue challenge. You could handle it kinda like the confessional in InSpectres, maybe.
