[MUD-Dev] Virtual Chemistry

[Brandon Van Every]

> From: Jon A. Lambert <jlsysinc at ix.netcom.com>
> 
> Solve all the equations for all axis and one would be a master alchemist
> and know all the laws of the alchemy.

But what is this going to "buy" a player?  It seems that this is a
satisfying way to spend one's time only if one LOVES to do math AND doesn't
get enough mathematical exercise in a day.  I've got news for you.  If you
go get a job in 3d computer graphics, you can spend a fair amount of time
doing math and get paid real $$$$ for it.  To the point of getting sick of
it.  This is one of those areas where I think one's satisfactions in life
really change after you get out of college.  At some point I discovered
that solving equations and accumulating wealth/power in wargames was pretty
much equivalent to the mental activity required for my job.  And after
doing the latter for 40+ hours a week, I ceased to be interested in more
such mental exercise in my free time.

> > 
> > This sounds rather complicated to me. Isn't there a way to do this
> > without math?

It would be nice if the INTERFACE to the system didn't require a knowledge
of math.  i.e. that one could easily and empirically deduce properties of
the system - heuristics if you will - without having to have a background
even in algebra.  This would be appealing to non-mathematicians, and even
for the mathematically inclined I think it would come closer to providing
"instant gratification."  "Instant gratification" is the pleasure of
exerting a bit of effort, and then not getting stuck with something that
doesn't work.  Exploration of the system then becomes a pleasant romp in
the countryside, rather than a tedious exercise in head-banging.  Systems
without instant gratification have about the pleasure value of a debugging
session, which for me is none, owing to the head-banging component.  Once
again, I'd prefer to get paid to debug stuff and bang my head against the
wall.

> 
> Yikes, it would be nice but it's all these dang computers understand. :)

Um, computers don't understand math.  They only understand 1's and 0's. 
:-)
Well ok they've got FPU's and all, but you find out pretty quick that they
only understand discrete approximations to math.


Cheers,
Brandon J. Van Every  <vanevery at blarg.net>      DEC Commodity Graphics
http://www.blarg.net/~vanevery                  Windows NT Alpha  OpenGL
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The anvil upon which you hammer another's words is as hard or as soft
as you care to make it.  Wherein lies insight?