Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy
Subject: Re: Chili Wars
From: canders@isr.harvard.edu (Carl E. Anderson)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 17:45:19 GMT
Organization: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

In article <4850@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp) writes:
>In article <1992Aug17.154150.7510@burrhus.harvard.edu> canders@isr.harvard.edu (Carl E. Anderson) writes:
>>	Sir, I cannot account for your taste or mine, but perhaps you are
>>unaware of the health _benefits_ of house rule BEER systems and related
>>games.  It is well known that several short sessions per day significantly
>>reduce the risk of heart diesease (though it is well known that too many
>>sessions can lead to severe problems with your character - too much of a
>>good thing ...).
>
>	I'm afraid you've been misled by distorted PUBlicity on this matter.
>While it is true that people who indulge in the more advanced WINE system
>in moderation tend to do better in the physical endurance arena, this may
>simply be a statistical correlation rather than a cause and effect 
>relationship. Moreover, this smacks of minmaxing.

	Minmaxing!  Sir, I am wounded.  While the potential for minmaxing
abuse might exist, this is so in any game system.  Even the popular CHILI
game system (as we know) can be minmaxed all to death.  Need I repeat the
old maxim that the enjoyment of the meal/game is almost entirely dependant
on the artfulness of the cook and diners, er, GM and players?
	While I believe the statistics referred were gathered by examining
the WINE system, the basic similarities between the WINE, BEER, and related
systems provide similar health benefits and easy conversion.
	I might note that the compacted form of these system, games termed
HARD or DISTILL have significantly altered mechanics which, while
significantly streamlining certain aspects of the game, remove much of the
detail inherent in the more complete systems (WINE, BEER, etc) such that I
doubt similar health benfits could be claimed.

>You completely neglect the
>established fact that even a single game... er, glass of BEER reduces your
>effective Wisdom and dex stats, putting you at penalties for judgement.
>Is this questionable character longevity benefit worth the constant 
>penalties to your other intellectual and coordination stats?

	The effectsd you describe good sir, are certainly true.  I might
add that overplaying these systems can lead to permanent loss of Int and
Con (not to mention Chr!).  In fact overplaying will result in the
reduction of almost every stat directly or indirectly.  Even playing a
single session for too long will result in undesirable effects upon ones
character.
	Nevertheless, when played, er, imbibed in moderate quantities there
is little danger of such calamities.  We are well aware of the campaigns by
various organizations against role-playing games and associated products -
they make exagerated claims that such activity leads to Satanism,
dengeneracy, and general Lack of Moral Fibre.  As responsible gamers we
know that such generalizations are false.
	Clearly there are times when BEER gaming is inappropriate - I would
not recommend playing, er, eating CHILI while driving either!  As
responsible gamers, we have a duty to demonstrate that our hobby is not
only fun but respectable when in the hands of responsible and intelligent
gamers.  The institution of "house rules" furthermore instills values such
as self-reliance and creativity - important facets of any player.

Cheers,
Carl

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Carl Edlund Anderson	            	"Hefi ek ok aldri sva reitt vapn
canders@isr.harvard.edu			at manni at eigi hafi vidh kommit."
OR
anderso2@husc.harvard.edu			- Skarphedhinn Njalsson 
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Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy