tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post1737596606155113866..comments2024-03-26T22:17:42.458-04:00Comments on Semper Initiativus Unum: Diplomacy, D&D and RoleplayingWayne Rossihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11347401495298367324noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-83070309847322021422016-05-22T20:24:23.370-04:002016-05-22T20:24:23.370-04:00I'm sorry, but no one who's lived through ...I'm sorry, but no one who's lived through the years since 9/11, where diplomacy and weakness have been equated to the point where parties have completely opposed even having talks with some countries, should require a scrap of evidence.<br /><br />More importantly, who are you to come around and demand "evidence" for an offhand comment on a two-year-old blog post?Wayne R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04118962136054206381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-14040181439118142992016-05-22T16:20:45.662-04:002016-05-22T16:20:45.662-04:00How about some evidence to support your "part...How about some evidence to support your "particularly I'm America" bullshit? Oh wait, you have none. Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-45206200444304483852014-10-12T22:35:01.144-04:002014-10-12T22:35:01.144-04:00Thank you Wayne for submitting that question for m...Thank you Wayne for submitting that question for me. And thanks to Mike and ProfessorOats for their replies as well, all very helpful I'm much obliged. There's something to be appreciated of conceptions which are self commending of their own evidence. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621556073154826108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-47371439106135051512014-10-11T00:23:24.350-04:002014-10-11T00:23:24.350-04:00I'm neither Wayne Rossi nor Mike Mornard (unfo...I'm neither Wayne Rossi nor Mike Mornard (unfortunately), but I know for a fact the players, unable to see the referee's map, would have to do their own mapping to avoid getting lost. The referee's map needn't conform to a simple graph paper maze, either, so even perfect mapping on the players' part might only produce a rough approximation of their environment. Not sure about the ball of string or compass, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn they used those. I believe chalk was a common tool as well<br /><br />During play, the referee would count out distances (10', 20', 30'... 60', ending at a 3-way junction) and provide dimensions for rooms, along with any features that could be immediately seen, such as doors. This was restricted to what the characters could see, so poor lighting might mean you don't see all of a given hallway in a single turn (God help you if your torches burn out). Anything hidden would have to be uncovered by the players<br /><br />A lot of early play was about confusing the mappers. A hallway might have a slight slope, eventually bringing them to a different level without their notice, or they might happen upon a teleporter. Walls could slide, a portcullis might prevent backtracking and force players to find another route, and of course, running from monsters could easily get you lostHolly Oatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01703437987958922954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-34949242878834753702014-10-11T00:13:32.016-04:002014-10-11T00:13:32.016-04:00This is Mike's reply:
http://odd74.proboards.c...This is Mike's reply:<br />http://odd74.proboards.com/post/150752/threadWayne R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04118962136054206381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-46608936832544086072014-10-10T16:01:11.142-04:002014-10-10T16:01:11.142-04:00I enjoyed the article you've written as well a...I enjoyed the article you've written as well as the entire thread you linked above, and the story about the Magician's Ring. Reading your post reminded me of a really interesting story I heard on the radio all about this game. Those interested in hearing this story should check out 'Got your Back, This American Life'. I really recommend it. <br />I would like to ask a question or two of Michael myself, however registration is restricted. If you could ask how mazes were governed in play without driving the players or GM mad, I would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps players attempted to map their path as they went, and/or used the old ball of string trick, or a compass? I could see some players losing all interest or their wits if they entered a maze and had to navigate blindly without actually being able to see the maze or sense a heading as you may be able to do in real life with these highly visual puzzles.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621556073154826108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-30252806706117278162014-10-09T15:37:09.942-04:002014-10-09T15:37:09.942-04:00Reading "Playing At The World" made it c...Reading "Playing At The World" made it clear how much Diplomacy (the game) was being played at the time. That one of the unspoken assumptions of the game was that negotiations/bluff/diplomacy/etc. was just done between players isn't really surprising in retrospect. So much of D&D seems to be written with the assumption that you know a lot they didn't write down, or that you would just naturally play it like the local group played games in general.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-66092866713587040362014-10-08T14:26:55.331-04:002014-10-08T14:26:55.331-04:00Charisma, an attribute much maligned as a dump sta...Charisma, an attribute much maligned as a dump stat these days, provided the mechanic for roll playing in early D&D with bonuses to reaction and morale. While it was a simple system for resolving diplomacy I always gave bonuses or penalties to players who wanted to talk it out depending on how good, or bad their pitch was.ron65https://www.blogger.com/profile/06074986703119342744noreply@blogger.com