We are the Gamers

[ColonelHardisson]

Nice breakdown, BTW. Longest post I've even seen.

You haven't been here long; that's actually a fairly average-sized post for Edena. I was thinking he might be ill, owing to it's brevity...

 

[kibbitz]

There I was 3-5 days ago wondering where all the old-timers were, and now, out of the woodwork, we have Edena_of_Neith and ColonelHardisson! As for length, well, it's been a while, I don't remember stuff much longer than this

Impressive as usual, Edena_of_Neith When will we get one of those about your characters?

 

[shurai]

{turn on philosophy}

As opposed to anything else your species does? Fly a rocket to the moon, write a poem, find a cure for cancer, take a walk, conquer a country, eat a good meal, build a better mousetrap, roll a d20 - in the context of the universe, ultimately they all accomplish nothing.

{turn off philosophy}

But what a good D&D game accomplishes is provide a few hours of pleasure for the participants, presumably while letting them exercise their imagination and creativity. That's pretty cool, as Edena was saying.

I dunno, I tend to believe that curing cancer would be a pretty worthwhile way to spend my time, the universe be damned. Although rolling d20s seems to be a lot more attainable, heh.

-S

 

[Angcuru]

{turn on philosophy}

As opposed to anything else your species does? Fly a rocket to the moon, write a poem, find a cure for cancer, take a walk, conquer a country, eat a good meal, build a better mousetrap, roll a d20 - in the context of the universe, ultimately they all accomplish nothing.

{turn off philosophy}

Stupid existentialist. Kirkegarde sucks.

And are you insinuating that you are not human?

{turn on Angcuru-Style philosophy}

WHO CARES WHAT YOU ACCOMPISH AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME!! He who dies happy wins. He who dies lamenting the apparent pointlessness of his existence loses.

{turn off Angcuru-Style philosophy}

 

[shilsen]

Stupid existentialist. Kirkegarde sucks.

And are you insinuating that you are not human?

{turn on Angcuru-Style philosophy}

WHO CARES WHAT YOU ACCOMPISH AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME!! He who dies happy wins. He who dies lamenting the apparent pointlessness of his existence loses.

{turn off Angcuru-Style philosophy}

Not existentialist, and I've never read Kierkegaard. And I wasn't lamenting the pointlessness of my existence.

And I agree with Angcuru-style (TM?) philosophy, except that I figure he who lives happy wins. He who dies happy just...well, dies

As for insinuating that I'm not human, you betcha. I seceded from the species a long time ago. And if you talk to my friends, family, colleagues and students, they'll all be willing to sign a testimonial that I'm not human

 

[Angcuru]

Angcuru-style (TM?) philosophy

You betcha.

...except that I figure he who lives happy wins.

Same difference.

THIS PHILOSOPHY IS MINE, PEOPLE! No touchie.

 

[Norfleet]

Well, one trick I've used is to simply not describe anything that anyone not engaged with in combat with the player is doing. If the player asks any questions about the combat area that he is not personally involved in when it is not his turn, I refuse to answer, and simply ignore him.

If it's the player's turn, and he asks, I tell him, then forget it's his turn and immediately begin either interrogating another player for his move, or having the monsters attack. If the player complains that he hasn't taken his turn, I let him take his turn after the current creature's turn has been taken. Otherwise, he loses his actions, and is assumed to be in a defense posture instead. Hah!

Players generally quit asking too many questions at that point, and combat remains suitably chaotic.

 

[Merlion]

Thank you Edena. I think you've reminded us of a few things we some times forget. Beauty and imagination are their own reason, and accomplishment.

 

[Angcuru]

Most realistic combat system: Pick an opponent(or group of opponents) and kill it till it's dead. THEN you look around to see if anyone needs help. IF you hear a scream for help, THEN you can look around to see if anyone needs help.

 

[Wayside]

{turn on philosophy}

As opposed to anything else your species does? Fly a rocket to the moon, write a poem, find a cure for cancer, take a walk, conquer a country, eat a good meal, build a better mousetrap, roll a d20 - in the context of the universe, ultimately they all accomplish nothing.

{turn off philosophy}

But what a good D&D game accomplishes is provide a few hours of pleasure for the participants, presumably while letting them exercise their imagination and creativity. That's pretty cool, as Edena was saying.

Err, I've done some philosophy. That aint it. A philosophy, perhaps? In fact, it's fairly misleading to say "in the context of the universe," since "my" species is the context, whereas the universe provides none in itself. It would be the contextlessness of the universe that thwarts meaningful achievement.

Anyhow, you're free to believe that you achieve the impossible and create beauty (and somehow create genius, though I'm not sure what that means) when you game. Say hi to Elvis for me.

I agree, at least, that we certainly can create stories together.