[MUD-Dev2] [DESIGN] Excellent commentary on Vanguard's diplomacysystem

[John Buehler]

cruise writes:

> Thus spake Michael Sellers...
> > http://ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20070216
> >
> > Like I said before - equating social gameplay like diplomacy with any
> > form of combat (even as an "alternative form") is just wrong.  Wrong
> > wrong wrong.
>
> "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock."
>   - Will Rogers
>
> Combat can be social, if you're in a team.
> Persuading someone to your viewpoint is a /competition/, which combat is
> a subset of.

And the reason for going through that persuation is the resulting
cooperation.  You say potato and I say au gratin.  A competition-minded
individual wants the diplomatic victory.  A cooperative-minded individual is
using diplomacy to build a team.

> > But when all you have is a hammer...
>
> I agree we need more in games than combat, I really do. But games are
> inherently about competition in some form, in that they present a series
> of challenges which you must overcome.

So stop calling the confounded things "games" and call them "entertainment".
That may help take the blinders off the industry.

JB