| From: | xanth@****.uky.edu (Terry Amburgey) |
|---|---|
| Subject: | tongue in cheek |
| Date: | Wed, 21 Feb 1996 11:07:47 -0500 (EST) |
What is the biggest problem in the Shadowrun rpg? No, it's not your crummy dice
rolls. It's us: the players. The GM works hard to develop a plotline and we
screw it up by doing the unexpected. We create characters that evolve in
ways that don't fit the grand plan. We read rule books and expect
consistency. Face it, we are monkey wrenches in the GM's clockwork world.
What can be done?
Player emulators. Some of our fellow listmembers have worked hard to develop
programs to assist the GM in running the game. With a little work, they
could create player-emulator programs that would eliminate the need for
actual players. Consider the virtual player.
The virtual player would never be a munchkin or ruleslawyer; in fact the
virtual player would never argue at all. The virtual player would never
deviate from the plotline developed by the GM. The virtual player would
always ROLEplay and never
ROLLplay [the random number generator subroutine would take care of that].
With appropriate soundcard drivers/soundcard support, the virtual player
would always be an appreciative audience; oohing and ahing at plot devices
and groaning when the inevitable <evil gm grin> surprise is sprung.
The technology is here. A prime example is the "Fearless Leader" emulator
that Doom has been running for years. Some listmembers still believe that
"Robert Hayden" is a real person! With some creative programming [the
singing potato post springs to mind] Doom created a persona that almost
seems real.
With support from the list, a player-emulator package could be a reality in
no time at all. If you support the development of virtual players, please
send email to my GM at jrwick00@***.uky.edu. Terry
Terry L. Amburgey Office: 606-257-7726
Associate Professor Home: 606-224-0636
College of Business & Economics Fax: 606-257-3577
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506
