Subj : Re: Gamelists To : All From : yl112@cornell.edu Date : Sat Dec 09 2000 02:16 am From: yl112@cornell.edu Subject: Re: Gamelists On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Michelle & Boyd Bottorff wrote: > > BTW, as far as the interface between computer games and "tabletop" > > roleplaying goes, has anyone heard anything about the Vampire: The > > Masquerade computer game that came out and its mode for "GMing" a game? > > The way I understood it, in multiplayer the GM can generate monsters, > > levels, etc. but can also facilitate player interaction and storytelling > > through the text, and this leaves the computer to handle other > > mechanics. While I imagine there are limitations to what you can do, it > > sounds closer to a "real" roleplaying experience in a computer game than > > anything I've heard of before. > > I would imagine there are severe limitations on it, especiall since V:tM > is so freeform a game. I can't picture it doing much beyond being a > mechanical dice roller. Well, basic combat might be put into it, but if > your group does any serious imagining, there could be problems. But if you want to do basic combat with mechanical dice rolling among friends who aren't in close geographical proximity, it's one option. I personally prefer the play-by-email format because then you don't have to coordinate time zones as well, but I'm biased. :-p > I think it all goes back to the troll test. You're facing a troll, you > don't have much in the way of fire, so you pull out your lighter and set > your hair on fire, then head-butt the troll. You're playing a werewolf > character, so you actually have a chance. > > Game comes back, asks for the relavent skill or stat and difficulty > level, because there's *no* way that's programmed into the machine. GM > probably choses agility, with a real low chance of success, followed by > stamina with a reasonable chance, to tell if you're in shock from > personal pyrotechnics. Click, click, scrollscrollscrollclick, click, > click. [snip] Good point. I'm not so familiar with V:TM. But I'm familiar with Over the Edge, which is the most freeform dice-based game *I've* seen, and it would be a nightmare to code it in any reasonable manner. And for that matter, there are web-based "dice rolling" services for the use of web-based campaigns. Still, I can see people passing an amusing evening in the computer game version, as change of pace. :-) YHL -- |Fidonet: yl112@cornell.edu |Internet: scott@conchbbs.com | | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own. --- # Origin: (1:106/357.99) * Origin: ConchGate (1:106/357.0) .