>David Cheng raises some interesting questions about chemistry/physics and
>elements in Glorantha, inspired by the discussion of the dwarven
>submarine steam engine.
>
>I can see your point of view David, but my approach is different. Let me
>ask you a couple questions about your Glorantha.
>1) If you put a candle in a jar and seal the jar, what happens?
>2) If you put a fish in a bottle of water without any plants and seal the
>bottle, what happens?
Aha! I've caught you doing just the kind of thing I would dissuade my player characters from doing!
My official answers to your questions:
"Why would anyone in their right mind put a candle, or a fish, into a jar, and then seal it up?"
In all honesty, I haven't really given it a lot of thought. I would probably lean toward an answers like Jon Thorvaldson's (nothing happens to either), but I'm not sure.
Please remember the root cause of my peeve: players using their real-world knowledge to influence their characters actions. I don't want players thinking about stuff like the science of how the world works, because their characters don't think that way.
EXAMPLE OF A BAD ADVENTURE SCENARIO:
GM: You're deep in the cave. There is a sulfurous smell in the air.
There is a rockslide. You're trapped.
Player: What's the chance my character can make a roll on his high
Intelligence to make gunpowder from the sulfur in the cave?
We'll blow our way out!
GM: Um, your chacter is an Orlanthi thane... Where does he get the
inspiration that gunpowder is made from sulfur? And, what is
gunpowder?
So, really, my honest answer to your questions is "I don't know and I don't really care. I will dissuade my players from 'experimenting' with such silliness, as it is out of character. If they persist, I will decide then, but probably not before."
Of course, your GMing style may differ. I know many GMs would reward such player creativity. But not me - I have too many player =/= character horror stories. I am firmly a believer in the player being held to the limitations of the character.
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