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<blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 5565426" data-attributes="member: 54877">Here is a simple example of pattern matching that is both gamist and narrative at the same time:&nbsp;In most of my fantasy games, I use a finite set of monsters, divide them into factions, give each faction different goals, and off we go.&nbsp; Then I throw in regional or cultural clues for futher distinctions.&nbsp; &nbsp;The party meets some orcs that seem open to negotiation, use certain equipment, perhaps employ certain tactics.&nbsp; Based on nothing more than similarities, the party guesses that the orcs are allied with the mage guild in the previous town.&nbsp;Now, this may not be entirely accurate.&nbsp; Or it may be.&nbsp; But it is true that if the two groups aren't allied, they are at least sympatico.&nbsp; Or maybe they are rivals after the same thing.&nbsp; In any case, the pattern means something, because I set it up to mean something.&nbsp;I'll typically have 10-15 broad factions like this.&nbsp; About two thirds of all &quot;monsters&quot; will be placed into such a faction.&nbsp; The rest are left unaligned for color and to throw the occasional monkey wrench into the works.&nbsp;When we start a new campaign, I start over from scratch.&nbsp; The players know I do this.&nbsp; Part of the fun is recognizing which patterns apply, and what they mean.&nbsp; As the campaign progresses, some fairly subtle guesses can be employed.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Crazy Jerome, post: 5565426, member: 54877"] Here is a simple example of pattern matching that is both gamist and narrative at the same time: In most of my fantasy games, I use a finite set of monsters, divide them into factions, give each faction different goals, and off we go. Then I throw in regional or cultural clues for futher distinctions. The party meets some orcs that seem open to negotiation, use certain equipment, perhaps employ certain tactics. Based on nothing more than similarities, the party guesses that the orcs are allied with the mage guild in the previous town. Now, this may not be entirely accurate. Or it may be. But it is true that if the two groups aren't allied, they are at least sympatico. Or maybe they are rivals after the same thing. In any case, the pattern means something, because I set it up to mean something. I'll typically have 10-15 broad factions like this. About two thirds of all "monsters" will be placed into such a faction. The rest are left unaligned for color and to throw the occasional monkey wrench into the works. When we start a new campaign, I start over from scratch. The players know I do this. Part of the fun is recognizing which patterns apply, and what they mean. As the campaign progresses, some fairly subtle guesses can be employed. [/QUOTE]

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