From: f00022@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU (M. Shanmugasundaram (F00022@TIGGER.stcloud.msus.edu))
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy,rec.games.design
Subject: Re: Supplements for Multiple Systems
Date: 30 Sep 92 18:59:08 GMT
 <MAVRA.92Sep16075112@bailey.cpac.washington.edu>,<MAVRA.92Sep29153530@bailey.cpac.washington.edu>
Reply-To: f00022@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU
Organization: St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

In article <MAVRA.92Sep29153530@bailey.cpac.washington.edu>, 
  mavra@cpac.washington.edu (Peter D. Adkison) writes:
>	<1992Sep23.110104.1281@msus1.msus.edu>
>Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 23:35:30 GMT
>Lines: 57
>
>In article <1992Sep23.110104.1281@msus1.msus.edu> f00022@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU (M. Shanmugasundaram (F00022@TIGGER.stcloud.msus.edu)) writes:
>>
>>   IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to create a gaming system everyone will like. 
>>   Remember the words of  ol' Honest Abe. 
>
>I agree, and I wasn't proposing a game system, but a game development
>platform that people could use to publish stuff in, and that gamers
>could convert to the game system of their choice.
>
>>   THE MARKET IS SMALL for products which do nothing more than provide a 
>>   stepping stone. An intermediate standard is worse than useless. If you 
>
>Perhaps so.
>

	Hmm. Sounds awfully wishywashy to me. Have there been any studies 
or net.surveys (which I don't put much stock in, I'm afraid) determining 
the actual interest in a cross-game platform? I was speaking from personal 
impression, not deliberate, detailed study. 

Also, If I understand correctly, you want to create a haven for 
people with creativity who do not want to bother themselves with game
statistics. If this is the case, why not go completely descriptive 
(like Grimtooth's Traps) and simple include statistics for a variety of 
games as you have done with your two currently available products. 

Why bother setting up another numerical system and distributing it to the 
public? With a verbal description and a few examples, they should be able to 
make their own conversions. It cuts down on work at both ends. 

I rather like the idea of a cross-game platform myself, but I don't 
like having to learn a new numerical system every time I look at a 
supplement or system. Currently TPO and Pawns both use unlike systems 
(I realize they deal with unlike subjects). I hope that you are not 
implying that WotC will be developing a slightly different system for 
each of its forthcoming products with appropriate conversions in the 
appendices. 

The creativity lies primarily in the use of language, not the 
rating systems. While I am aware that unique organizational systems are 
the backbones of most games, is it really necessary for the type 
of creative environment you are trying to provide? 

Merwin %@

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M. Shanmugasundaram %@ 	       	| There are at least two kinds of games. One
395 2nd Avenue South		| could be called finite, the other, infinite.
St. Cloud, MN  56301		| A finite game is played for the purpose of 
				| winning, an infinite game for the purpose of 
(612) 654-6979			| continuing the play. . . . There is but one 
f00022@tigger.stcloud.msus.edu	| infinite game. ---James P. Carse
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Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy