[MUD-Dev] "short" Introductory Message (fwd)

[clawrenc at cup.hp.com]

In <199706260350.WAA23128 at dfw-ix6.ix.netcom.com>, on 06/25/97 
   at 09:46 PM, "Jon A. Lambert" <jlsysinc at ix.netcom.com> said:

>> From: clawrenc at cup.hp.com

>This is very very very interesting.  It seems to be a nearly
>fixed/finite pie of RPs.  Not quite fixed because it will fluctuate
>with the number of players in the game.  Perhaps it needs a bit of
>mathematical work to make it sound.

It does.  But now I look back on it, its not bad for a quite brain
fart late one afternoon while waiting for a compile.

>This reminds me of Diplomacy (one of my favorites).  Essentially 
>players with the best leadership, cunning and persuasive powers  will
>elevate themselves into leadership roles.  

Bingo.  

<<Diplomacy: A game that fascinates me, but also one I've never gotten
to play.>>

>This would seem to be a very easy way of engendering conflict, drama,
>interest and produce player-run political/alliance  systems.  

>I think this is a good start. I have some notes below.

Thanks.

>> A simple model:
>> 
>>   Player characters can award each other "rank points" (RP).
>> 
>>   Each player character is given (free) 1RP per day.

>Surely this must be at least 2RP per day.  One for Boffo and one for
>Bubba.  Player characters might not want to keep all their eggs in
>one basket.  

That's a possible extension.  Ut in essence it really just multiplies
all the values by two.  I'd be more interested in rolling into the
gradated RP earnings as I just posted to JeffK.  (Tho I suspect the
one RP per hour limit needs accellerating)

>Q. Are there any other ways to obtain RPs and still keep the pool
>relatively fixed?

NPC's?

>>   A player character with sufficient RPs can be automagically 
>>   promoted to a high status position.

>Perhaps multiple players might contend and bid up the cost of of
>entering position.

Good idea.  You then of course enter the spectre of bought positions
with all its host of favouritism and cronyism (well, they were there
before, but you've added more support for them).

>Q. Should the numbers of positions be fixed?  Can there only be one
>city mayor?  Are we talking about a general or specific
>status/position?  

I don't see any reason it couldn't be used for all sorts of things
from city guards, police, mayors, kings, earls, heads of guilds, etc.

>>   Maintaining a high status position costs a player character 
>>   XXX RPs per day (automatic debit).
>> 
>>   A player caharacter can promote other player characters to other
>>   (lower) status positions.  
>> 
>>   Such a promotion costs the appointing player a one time cost of 
>>   YYY RPs.
>> 
>>   The promoted player has his own daily RP cost for his position.
>> 
>>   Should the high ranking player lose his position thru lack of 
>>   RP's, all appointees will also lose their position as it they 
>>   had failed to acquire enough RPs to maintain their own position.
>>

>Oh.. the resulting chaos and struggle for control. 

Which is the real value -- actual in-game rewards for plots, schemese,
cooperation, and treason.  Something that is damned rare to vanishing
at the game level in current systems.

--
J C Lawrence                           Internet: claw at null.net
(Contractor)                           Internet: coder at ibm.net
---------------(*)               Internet: clawrenc at cup.hp.com
...Honorary Member Clan McFUD -- Teamer's Avenging Monolith...