Re: [ImmoderateHeroQuest] Putting the 'Anal' into Analogies

From: Goihl & Fahey <goihlk_at_NsffZHjZ8VWmhYHyDZsB5BRQiruZoy9VIYMMWSJcoAy4cL6G6YBQpeub8EY8hKvsOu65r>
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:38:07 +0100

From: Jane Williams
an analogy is a bit like a keyword. If a new player says "who're these Lunars, then?" you don't say "read ILH!", you say "a bit like the Romans in Britain."
"Oh, right", they say, and go on to more important
things, like cattle raiding.
And until you need details, that'll do. Regular soldiers, wear red cloaks, refer to the officer as
"centurion"...

Those players then give their characters "Roman" names, imagine Roman stereotypes and assume there is a Lunar army, much like the Roman army. I'll stick with telling them the Lunars are somewhat like ancient Persians. They might read something about that, an analogy which actually does have similarities, and we'll all be the better for it. If they don't know anything about that and don't read anything well nothing lost there either, just not much gained. I will be overjoyed (imagine me overjoyed) if a player ever asks whether Sassanid, Parthian, or Achaemenid, but don't expect it. Anyway, I've had several players running around with Roman names and acting "Roman", because one got the idea that there are similarities between those and Lunars and told everyone else that without listening to me. And because they were told that first they don't listen when I try to correct them, so I'm stuck with fake "Romans" in my game until the characters die and I refuse to let anyone play still another Lunar. Would have been better with no analogy.

Daniel

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