Post by LostTrainDude on Aug 6, 2015 11:55:55 GMT -8
I was thinking about posting this in the Siboot>Gameplay section, but then I figured out it was actually more related to the engine itself, rather than the specific game. Nonetheless, feel free to move this thread, if it's the case!
Apologies in advance if I happen not to be very clear sometimes. While I speak it daily, English is not my main language, therefore I may use some words inappropriately!
Yesterday I played a little bit with the Encounter Tester and, some time later, all of a sudden some questions struck my mind.
While trying the "Box Pusher" Encounter, having Koopie as an antagonist, when I read the following (which is the same for both Koopie and Skordokott, actually) excerpt:
I knew I had to go for it and "help him without a word"!
My quick immersion in the Encounter was enough to make me put my social "skills" to practice. I thought: someone who appears to have been a strong and capable individual "in his early days" now is facing the truth that it's not something that keeps being the same as time goes by. This means he probably wants help but doesn't really want someone to explicitly remark how he's growing older.
It turned out to be (according to the results in the bottom-right corner) a fairly good choice (if not the best, given my goal of being helpful without "offending" him). It felt like we both "silently agreed" that I was right.
I don't know how many of the variables are "true" to the characters' traits and how many are "randomly put" for testing purposes. I didn't read the Novel yet, so I'm really not familiar with the characters traits and backgrounds.
Being aware of this is what triggered the questions in my head!
I was able to find the "best" way to approach that situation by interpreting the character's description "on the fly" on that specific occasion.
I know that probably these questions have an easy answer, but I'm curious about the inner gears of this engine. I actually have lots of other questions, but I'll take some time to lay them out properly!
Thanks for all your dedication, Chris and Knights!
Apologies in advance if I happen not to be very clear sometimes. While I speak it daily, English is not my main language, therefore I may use some words inappropriately!
Yesterday I played a little bit with the Encounter Tester and, some time later, all of a sudden some questions struck my mind.
While trying the "Box Pusher" Encounter, having Koopie as an antagonist, when I read the following (which is the same for both Koopie and Skordokott, actually) excerpt:
He's just beginning to show his age. The powerful torso and rippling muscles are still there, but he does not use them with the swagger and abandon that he once did. Koopie is having trouble getting the box up the ramp.
I knew I had to go for it and "help him without a word"!
My quick immersion in the Encounter was enough to make me put my social "skills" to practice. I thought: someone who appears to have been a strong and capable individual "in his early days" now is facing the truth that it's not something that keeps being the same as time goes by. This means he probably wants help but doesn't really want someone to explicitly remark how he's growing older.
It turned out to be (according to the results in the bottom-right corner) a fairly good choice (if not the best, given my goal of being helpful without "offending" him). It felt like we both "silently agreed" that I was right.
I don't know how many of the variables are "true" to the characters' traits and how many are "randomly put" for testing purposes. I didn't read the Novel yet, so I'm really not familiar with the characters traits and backgrounds.
Being aware of this is what triggered the questions in my head!
I was able to find the "best" way to approach that situation by interpreting the character's description "on the fly" on that specific occasion.
- How much can the Dramagine let the characters' traits "speak for themselves" and how much has to be crafted by design, whether written or drawn (i.e. facial expressions)? What rules how "right" I am in my intuition?
- Who is more "responsible" for having the player understand what's the best thing to do? The engine, the designer, the player or all of them?
I know that probably these questions have an easy answer, but I'm curious about the inner gears of this engine. I actually have lots of other questions, but I'll take some time to lay them out properly!
Thanks for all your dedication, Chris and Knights!