Re: Re: Barbarian Adventures

From: Graham Robinson <graham_at_...>
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 13:06:05 +0000

> > But BA does NOT require KoS to be useful. Its an introductory
>
>I was talking about HW in general. The response "buy KoS to
>understand HW" does not cut much ice.

Same comment - HW does NOT require KoS. I use it once in a blue moon to check when events are going to occur because my campaign is racing ahead of Greg's publishing schedule. By the time the third book in Sartar Rising comes out, I'll be surprised if I ever look at it again, at least during a game...

> > Whereas TR and especially ST discusses the culture directly, with
> > the role and significance of objects being secondary. Read both
>
>No; it discusses the psychology of the culture directly, it does not
>discuss the culture directly, IMO. We know a lot about the myths of
>Ernalda, but very little about the actual cult of Ernalda. We know
>about its values, and the things it celebrates, but little about what
>it does, or seeks to do. We have the description of the doctrine of
>a "church", but little about the "church" itself.

But we DO know about what Ernalda does and seeks to do. We know its place in society, we know how it governs the stages of a woman's life. We know the opportunities and support it provides for different women's roles (mother, healer, peacemaker, ruler, farmer, etc.) We know when its holy days are, and what the rituals are like (in as much detail as is likely to occur, without writing a Book of Common Prayer or setting specific scenarios during rituals). There are lots of little details of the physical and mundane side. I would take issue with the idea that the psychology of a culture is seperate from the culture, anyway.

> > within their cultural context. L5R, along with most western takes
> > on Japan, suffers from focusing on the objects, because it DOESN'T
> > (seem to) understand the culture that lies underneath. TR tries to
> > deal with the culture and beliefs first.
>
>IIRC L5R makes no claims to being a Japanese sim, merely themed that
>way.

In other words 'a take on Japan'. It doesn't try to be a simulation, nor did I mean to imply it did. It does, in my limited exposure to it, come across very false though - it has the trappings, but somehow not the soul.

I guess with both this and Ars Magica, we will have to disagree. Not that I'm trying to knock either system as enjoyable games (Ars Magica especially has some wonderful ideas), but I can't see either background as something to hold up as great examples.

Cheers,
Graham

-- 
Graham Robinson
graham_at_...

Albion Software Engineering Ltd.

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