Re: Re: Definitions

From: Jane Williams <janewilliams20_at_...>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 19:19:13 +0000 (GMT)


> > Unless you are going to explain the way you have
> > chosen to redefine standard English words *every*
> time
> > you use them (remember, the person reading may
> have
> > only just joined the list), the only sensible way
> to
> > communicate is to use them in their standard
> English
> > meaning.
>
> Oh come on Jane, play fair. RPG's use words all the
> time and redefine their use.

yes, but....

> Bang - A loud noise. Or according to Ron Edwards, a
> point in a game
> where the player has to make a thematic choice for
> his character,

And which meaning you're using can be told from context. No confusion.

> Ceremony - A ritualised occurence.

http://www.answers.com/ceremony&r=67
"A formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom" etc. Reason not part of the definition, but impressing onlookers is a common one. "Ritual" is listed as a synonym.

> Or in Glorantha siad rituallised
> event includes magic as standard, as does cooking a
> meal, buthcering
> an animal or summoning a wind.

The first two are a matter of opinion - my Humakti certainly does not use magic to prepare a meal.

A very slight change in definition, causing major confusion. Especially when the entire point under discussion is whether a ceremony (English meaning) has a magical effect, and if so, how much of one!

It looks, by the way, as if the word "practice" is also being twisted. A so-called "practice" quest is not in fact a dry run with no effects as one might expect from the name, it's a powerful magical tool done in a different way from the HeroPlane version. A practice in the English sense of the word would go through the dances and make sure everyone knew the steps, recite the words to be sure you could remember them, and would absolutely not have any magical effect at all, not until you were sure you were going to get it right!

> Battleaxe - My mother in law. Or in Glorantha the
> weapon of choice
> for a Babeestor Goir worshipper (amongst others).

Unlikely to be any confusion there, again - context makes it plain. (Or rather, you're using an implied simile for semi-comic effect). No source of confusion.

> Ceremony was defined as far as I can remember in
> Glorantha in Runequest 3,

OOP, and a different rule-set (and used for non-magical ceremonies too, when it was ever used at all.)

> There is a game called Vampire the Masquerade. They
> have a clan or
> class if you like called Toreador. Now, the newbie
> goes cool, I want
> to be a bullfighter, the GM explains that the Clan
> Toreador are not bullfighters (but could be!).

Confusion. A reason not to mis-use a word. Good example.                                   



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