As long as everything happens at it's proper time.Goatkiller666 wrote:Blah. Still nearly a month left. Plenty of time to finish processing.
B'Sha'a tovah!!
Acropolis Discussion
Moderator: [Syl]
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Results are out. Not a bad start.
Just remember: be specific. I wasn't a fan of the word 'proselytize' in Acropolis I, and less of one in this version. If you want to proselytize, tell a story that all the People will tell. In this game especially, if you want something to happen, you need to tell me how you do it. Some may see in their results how I turned vague ideas into concrete situations. That's the kind of thing I'd rather you did.
I like coming up with cool stuff as much (or more) than the next guy, but consider it a high compliment if the only thing you get back in your results is 'It worked.' It means I didn't see any drawbacks to your actions or anything to add.
Of course, as things progress and get more complicated, stuff will happen in your results regardless.
Just remember: be specific. I wasn't a fan of the word 'proselytize' in Acropolis I, and less of one in this version. If you want to proselytize, tell a story that all the People will tell. In this game especially, if you want something to happen, you need to tell me how you do it. Some may see in their results how I turned vague ideas into concrete situations. That's the kind of thing I'd rather you did.
I like coming up with cool stuff as much (or more) than the next guy, but consider it a high compliment if the only thing you get back in your results is 'It worked.' It means I didn't see any drawbacks to your actions or anything to add.
Of course, as things progress and get more complicated, stuff will happen in your results regardless."It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
-
Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
- Posts: 23617
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:14 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 33 times
-
Menolly
- A Lowly Harper
- Posts: 24080
- Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 7 times
- Contact:
Whereas I really had no idea where to begin, so my turn was exceedingly vague. Will try to develop more sense of direction, but adjusting to the "atheist" test may take some time on my part.
For now, lets just say I honestly have no idea how to explain any "cool stuff" so it would pass muster of any non-believers.
And I can just hear Fist telling me, "you're self-limiting yourself again." But this is how I have interpreted the rules so far...
For now, lets just say I honestly have no idea how to explain any "cool stuff" so it would pass muster of any non-believers.
And I can just hear Fist telling me, "you're self-limiting yourself again." But this is how I have interpreted the rules so far...
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
For now, I'd recommend thinking of a problem that might beset your tribe then think of a solution. Fortunately, we have the advantage of a couple thousand years' perspective on fundamental challenges of the human experience. Ignorance is also a problem, so think about ways your actions could explain away the unknown. *shrug*
Or if you want to look at it the other way, if there's something really cool you want to do, think of what problem it may solve (or cause, if you're feeling feisty). If it doesn't really relate to the human condition, I suggest letting it play out in one of the other realms.
Or if you want to look at it the other way, if there's something really cool you want to do, think of what problem it may solve (or cause, if you're feeling feisty). If it doesn't really relate to the human condition, I suggest letting it play out in one of the other realms.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
-
Goatkiller666
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 2726
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:06 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
-
Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
- Posts: 23617
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:14 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 33 times
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
I never had any doubts.
To help clarify things for you guys, let me see if I can kind of sum up a conversation I had with a player about why the results ended up as they did.
As many of you saw, the action described in your results was much more specific than what you described in your submission. My goal wasn't to subvert what you were trying to do; hopefully, the end result was the same. I was trying to show you how you might go about achieving your stated intention.
This idea really goes along with why I was trying to force you guys to think about where your character is, to move away from an Eye in the Sky (looking at you-ooo-ooo I can... er, sorry) to an entity that is actually in the world and interacting with it. So when you're trying to do something, you have to consider how the character actually does it.
Why is that important? The only mythology I can think of where a god says let something be so and it is so is one many people don't consider to be a mythology (and it's a boring read, if you ask me). Well, I like to lean heavily upon mythology for the underpinning of this game, and in the old days, if a god wanted something done, he pretty much did it himself. Imagine in a millennium or so some Homer emerges to tell your tale. How's he going to explain what you did (or to go a little meta, how do people use mythology to explain things they do not understand)?
The other side of it is, I think most of us would agree that Apollo never existed. People thought he did, used him to explain the movement of the sun across the sky, but he didn't actually exist. More than that, most people with even a basic education in the classics know that the creation of the Sahara desert can be blamed on Apollo being bound by his oath to his sun and letting him drive (and crash) his chariot. Why? Because it's an interesting story and a nifty way of explaining something. On the other hand, if he had just pointed his finger and said, "Make a desert there," the vast majority of people wouldn't be interested enough to bother remembering, much less passing on, the story.
And this is kind of the crux of the atheist test. Sure, it helps keep the world from getting blown up in a dozen turns or so, but it goes a long way, I hope, to creating story. And since I am pretty lazy compared to Xar when it comes to creating big stories to fill out these worlds, that's good for me. Of course, I'm also very interested to see what you guys do with the realms you can stomp around in.
To help clarify things for you guys, let me see if I can kind of sum up a conversation I had with a player about why the results ended up as they did.
As many of you saw, the action described in your results was much more specific than what you described in your submission. My goal wasn't to subvert what you were trying to do; hopefully, the end result was the same. I was trying to show you how you might go about achieving your stated intention.
This idea really goes along with why I was trying to force you guys to think about where your character is, to move away from an Eye in the Sky (looking at you-ooo-ooo I can... er, sorry) to an entity that is actually in the world and interacting with it. So when you're trying to do something, you have to consider how the character actually does it.
Why is that important? The only mythology I can think of where a god says let something be so and it is so is one many people don't consider to be a mythology (and it's a boring read, if you ask me). Well, I like to lean heavily upon mythology for the underpinning of this game, and in the old days, if a god wanted something done, he pretty much did it himself. Imagine in a millennium or so some Homer emerges to tell your tale. How's he going to explain what you did (or to go a little meta, how do people use mythology to explain things they do not understand)?
The other side of it is, I think most of us would agree that Apollo never existed. People thought he did, used him to explain the movement of the sun across the sky, but he didn't actually exist. More than that, most people with even a basic education in the classics know that the creation of the Sahara desert can be blamed on Apollo being bound by his oath to his sun and letting him drive (and crash) his chariot. Why? Because it's an interesting story and a nifty way of explaining something. On the other hand, if he had just pointed his finger and said, "Make a desert there," the vast majority of people wouldn't be interested enough to bother remembering, much less passing on, the story.
And this is kind of the crux of the atheist test. Sure, it helps keep the world from getting blown up in a dozen turns or so, but it goes a long way, I hope, to creating story. And since I am pretty lazy compared to Xar when it comes to creating big stories to fill out these worlds, that's good for me. Of course, I'm also very interested to see what you guys do with the realms you can stomp around in.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
If you don't have any better ideas, try the following:
Think about which one of your stats you want to increase. Then think of something that would increase it. Finally, think about how you will achieve the thing that will increase that stat.
If you're interested in managing your tribe, I would suggest looking to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
And last of all, just look up some Native American, Egyptian, Greek, Norse (etc.) myths. Find one that interests you and steal it.
Speaking of Greek myths, specifically Metamorphoses, turning people into stuff (or killing them) does not violate the atheist test. It's only giving people incontrovertible proof that you exist that is forbidden -- not newly formed arachnids, corpses, the insane, etc. It's also entirely within your purview to reshape the world as you see fit, so long as nobody sees you doing it.
I'd also like to point out that the upper and lower realms are practically undefined and you can pretty much do whatever you want there. It might be to your advantage to set the stage rather than react when others do so.
Oh, and remember there are Evils in the world. Things probably won't always be as easy as they are now. Might be good to prepare (or even go on the offensive).
Think about which one of your stats you want to increase. Then think of something that would increase it. Finally, think about how you will achieve the thing that will increase that stat.
If you're interested in managing your tribe, I would suggest looking to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
And last of all, just look up some Native American, Egyptian, Greek, Norse (etc.) myths. Find one that interests you and steal it.
Speaking of Greek myths, specifically Metamorphoses, turning people into stuff (or killing them) does not violate the atheist test. It's only giving people incontrovertible proof that you exist that is forbidden -- not newly formed arachnids, corpses, the insane, etc. It's also entirely within your purview to reshape the world as you see fit, so long as nobody sees you doing it.
I'd also like to point out that the upper and lower realms are practically undefined and you can pretty much do whatever you want there. It might be to your advantage to set the stage rather than react when others do so.
Oh, and remember there are Evils in the world. Things probably won't always be as easy as they are now. Might be good to prepare (or even go on the offensive).
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
-
Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
- Posts: 23617
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:14 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 33 times
Syl, I have to tell you, I'm completely mystified by how to play this game.
I'm trying to keep my turns within the realm of realism so that they can be easily explained (atheism). So, I'm not bogging myself down with a storyline, necessarily.
I'm just stumbling along trying to keep my movements explainable. Needless to say, it's very restrictive to play this way. Or rather, it's making me think outside the box which is not one of my strong suits.
I'm trying to keep my turns within the realm of realism so that they can be easily explained (atheism). So, I'm not bogging myself down with a storyline, necessarily.
I'm just stumbling along trying to keep my movements explainable. Needless to say, it's very restrictive to play this way. Or rather, it's making me think outside the box which is not one of my strong suits.
-
Goatkiller666
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 2726
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:06 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Let's say by 11:59 PM EST, March 9.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
So, is there any particular restriction on when we can post stories of the People? One the one hand, what we do in our turns means little unless the People are talking about it in the threads. On the other hand, I suppose there's some kind of advantage to be had for a more prolific writer.
Though... I suppose that the players of the game have already self-selected themselves from the group of those who have shown interest in prolific writing. So maybe it's not such a huge advantage.
Also, has it been stated what month / season it is, in game? Are we again tracking with the real-life northern hemisphere?
Though... I suppose that the players of the game have already self-selected themselves from the group of those who have shown interest in prolific writing. So maybe it's not such a huge advantage.
Also, has it been stated what month / season it is, in game? Are we again tracking with the real-life northern hemisphere?
To seek the breast of darkness and be suckled by the night.
-
stonemaybe
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 4836
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:37 am
- Location: Wallowing in the Zider Zee
GK666 wrote:
)
Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but the way I'm understanding this game, chilis are Ristra's totem, not his domain (as we know domains from Pantheon). He's not the god of chilis, he's just a god that the people have associated, because of their opinion on his nature, with the chili. Because they see him as that, and their worship of this image of him gives him power, this causes the association to have a certain amount of reality - hence the fact that chilis are the only plant that thrive in the part of the world where Ristra's power crosses over most strongly.
(Thanks for your kind words about Ristra, folks, but he honestly couldn't give a .... - I do thoughwhen I first saw the god of chilis
)Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but the way I'm understanding this game, chilis are Ristra's totem, not his domain (as we know domains from Pantheon). He's not the god of chilis, he's just a god that the people have associated, because of their opinion on his nature, with the chili. Because they see him as that, and their worship of this image of him gives him power, this causes the association to have a certain amount of reality - hence the fact that chilis are the only plant that thrive in the part of the world where Ristra's power crosses over most strongly.
Aglithophile and conniptionist and spectacular moonbow beholder 16Jul11
(:/>
(:/>
-
[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13020
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
No, there are no restrictions. Unless I explicitly state otherwise or the story derives from something a player submits, they have no in-game affect, so...Nyx wrote:So, is there any particular restriction on when we can post stories of the People?
No, what you do in your turns makes all the difference.On the one hand, what we do in our turns means little unless the People are talking about it in the threads.
It's mainly communication... to flesh out what you're doing in your turns, to give notice to others, or, possibly, to deceive others. Of course, if I like something I see, I'll probably use it, so it could be a way to eke out a few between-turn advantages.On the other hand, I suppose there's some kind of advantage to be had for a more prolific writer.
Not really. I mean, it would be pretty easy for another player to turn around or co-opt what is essentially a non-DSP move.So maybe it's not such a huge advantage.
It has not, only that game time is the same as real time.Also, has it been stated what month / season it is, in game? Are we again tracking with the real-life northern hemisphere?
PreciselyStonemaybe wrote:Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but the way I'm understanding this game, chilis are Ristra's totem, not his domain (as we know domains from Pantheon). He's not the god of chilis...
This could be true, or there could be other reasons for the association. Since Ristra is your character, it's certainly true for you. But for all anybody else knows, Ristra could actually be a giant chili sitting in a field somewhere, or he takes the form of a chili in a specific realm (like the Great Pumpkin, but spicier). Likewise, another player may conceive of a different reason for the association. Heck, I could make an NPC that actually dislikes his/her totem.... he's just a god that the people have associated, because of their opinion on his nature, with the chili.
This could be true, though I haven't nailed down the mechanics that precisely.Because they see him as that, and their worship of this image of him gives him power, this causes the association to have a certain amount of reality - hence the fact that chilis are the only plant that thrive in the part of the world where Ristra's power crosses over most strongly.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner