Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Path: gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!mcsun!uunet!ddsw1!chinet!jorn
From: jorn@chinet.chinet.com (Jorn Barger)
Subject: Re: Lebling Question?
Message-ID: <C9GuJv.388@chinet.chinet.com>
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX
References: <20t7kj$k78@vine.cp10.es.xerox.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1993 03:19:07 GMT
Lines: 37

Todd Krissel asked about games where morality's a factor.  I dug out this
from early spring this year, on rec.arts.int-fiction ("I" is me):
--------
I wrote:
> >So long as the puzzles are all 'materialistic' (arrange physical items in
> >a certain way), the mythology will necessarily be painted on...  But if
> >you can add enough psychological simulation that *solving the puzzles*
> >demands 'simulated virtue'... then I think you begin to tap deeper 
> >emotional responses.
> 
> >Courage, humility, honesty, self-restraint, justice, charity, optimism...
> >Some role-playing games give points for virtuous acts, don't they?
 
Chris Schweda replies:
> I guess the question is: how to create an authentic world, create a
> "simulated virtue," yet steer clear of a strictly clever, point-oriented
> quest. Obviously, this seems less like an IF adventure than it does a
> more normal, literate epic.
> 
> I mean, as Telemachus began his quest for his father, he wasn't in search
> of "points." So I wonder if the goal in IF was less point-oriented and more
> virtue oriented -- would this seem more "literary?"
> 
> In every IF game I've played, the issue of whether or not the quest has
> succeeded is always based upon points. "Where's the last two points I
> need to finished this adventure?" "Did you stick the torch in the trophy
> case?" "Oh yeah. Okay. Now I'm finished." This is fun, sure -- but where's
> the virtue (real or simulated) here?
 
I'm not very conversant with the traditions of adventure-gaming or RPGs, so 
I'm seriously interested to know what's been done here, beyond 'inventory-
puzzles'.  I've heard of people "meditating" or doing kind acts to gain 
'virtue-points', and I remember someone saying they knew a game where stealing 
from shopkeepers secretly reduced your karmic luck levels.
 ----
jorn@chinet.com

