[MUD-Dev] banning the sale of items

[Ryan Palacio]

Paul Schwanz wrote:
> While you are correct that true role-playing is based on the skills of the
> character and not the skills of the gamer, trying to defend your decision
> regarding what many refer to as "Levelquest" on the basis that your game
seeks
> to remain true to its role-playing roots will be hard for many to swallow.
What
> most participants in MMORPGs are engaged in (as dictated by the games
design in
> many cases) is a form of Avatarism and not true role-playing.  A game
which
> simply converts _time_ to _levels_, IMHO, is a greater detraction from the
> assumption of a role.

    I may work for Verant and developed for EQ,  but it was a collective
decision in many aspects and not necessarily reflective of my own personal
opinion or goals.  My personal purpose for being a member of this list is to
both contribute and learn, mainly the latter through exposure to
perspectives I have yet to consider, _NOT_ to defend "LevelQuest", as you
put it.  As a game designer, it is my personal belief, that a game designer
can never have enough perspectives of any particular issue.  Each may have
its own merits, despite its flaws.  EverQuest too falls into this category -
some good - some bad.  But let's keep this a general discussion with
specifics used for example or reference.  There is no need to "judge", or
assume inference, regarding a specific game based on mere association unless
otherwise admitted or stated.

    Personally, I tend to agree with you on the avatarism vs. role-playing
issue.  It is the same reason why pen-and-paper players tend to prefer
rolling their own characters as opposed to being handed them.  It provides
an extension of their "being" into the virtual space and therefore creates a
stronger bond to both the game and the character.

    That said however, there is a point of where the amount of personal
extension drastically changes the nature of the game.

    For purposes of understanding my use of nomenclature, I would like to
specify my interpretation of terms.

Role-playing: the assumption of a role inside of a virtual environment where
the game reflects/weighs on character/avatar skill
-- games such as MUDs, MMORPGs, Torment, Baldur's Gate, Final Fantasy fall
under this category

Action-Adventure: a game that revolves around player skill and reflexes to
determine character advancement/progression
-- games such as Diablo, Revenant, and Nox fall under this category

Obviously all examples fall under fantasy.  But not all fall under this
definition of role-playing.

~Ryan Palacio




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