tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post741436946375528731..comments2023-10-28T05:48:21.358-04:00Comments on Standard Hirelings: The Sandbox Revisitedpost festumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03739727524742573286noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-73896148100493015202011-08-28T06:55:31.094-04:002011-08-28T06:55:31.094-04:00Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or g...Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail. <br />[url=http://www.bestdigitalcamerasreview.net]Best Digital Cameras[/url]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-23127911588323535562010-11-23T06:37:33.061-05:002010-11-23T06:37:33.061-05:00Это прям в точку!!! Другими словами и не скажешь! ...Это прям в точку!!! Другими словами и не скажешь! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-9823545351507368552010-10-02T04:30:54.913-04:002010-10-02T04:30:54.913-04:00Как говорилось на Seexi.net Неделю назад вернулас...Как говорилось на Seexi.net Неделю назад вернулась из отпуска,где познакомилас с мужчиной Тельцом(26лет),мне 29 я Овен,так вот там он отдыхал с сестрой,а я с подругой,после дискотеки,мы с ним уединились,и в последствии каждую ночь проводили сообща,что заявить..,секс потрясающий,с первой встречи он начал говорить,что я это то что ему надо,и мне от него никуда не дется(надо заметить,что было в состоянии алкогольного опьянения),но я это всё тушила и не верила не единому слову,не хотела даже номер телефона оставлять,он замкнулся и пылких речей не стало,в последнюю,ночь я и вовсе всё испортила,сказав,что в случае в случае если мы и увидимся,то только для секса,перед его отъездом мы сухо попрощались,я оставила номер его сестре,и они уехали! Объявился он спустя 5дней,переписка жадная,звала в гости на эти выходный,но он ссылаясь на простуду не приехал,на вопрос"нравлюсь ли я тебе",он ответил ДА!,но при всем при этом инициативы нет,а я взяла в толк,что зря его тушила и мне действительно было хорошо,как всё вернуть,и не отдалить его бесповоротно???????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-49762774249751115512009-04-02T17:26:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:26:00.000-04:00Thanks for stopping by James. I’m an avid and reg...Thanks for stopping by James. I’m an avid and regular reader of Grognardia. I think that your conception of “story” and mine are pretty close to being identical. I too react strongly against the idea that an adventure should consist of a predetermined and consecutive sequence of preplanned “scenes.” <BR/><BR/>I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that not everyone understands the idea of “story” in exactly this way. When used vernacularly, “story” has a pretty straightforward meaning, but when the term is used in a more abstract context, such as in theoretical discussions about gaming, it becomes open to a wide range of possible interpretations, some of which differ greatly from the one you and I adhere to. <BR/> <BR/>For example, not too long ago, I heard a DM (one who self-identified as “old school”) claim that he doesn’t give his players any adventure or plot hooks because he is playing a sandbox style game. When pressed, he claimed that it is up to the players to create the story. Now clearly, this is not what most old schoolers advocate and I don’t want to be misunderstood as characterizing the entire old school community in this way. But my point is that the current dichotomy of sandbox/story may allow this sort of (mis)interpretation in a way that an alternate formulation may not. This is because what counts as a “story” is not really as clear as it might appear at first glance. I’m not arguing that we should stop using the term “sandbox,” but rather that we stop defining “sandbox” as the opposite of “story” and reconceptualize it as a campaign in which the DM allows the characters total free-will. Admittedly, it is a fine distinction that I’m drawing, but one I think worth considering.Ironbeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18244939365755302731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-15357520143552101672009-04-02T16:55:00.000-04:002009-04-02T16:55:00.000-04:00Speaking for myself, when I say that sandbox gamin...Speaking for myself, when I say that sandbox gaming has no "story," what I mean is that it has no "plot." That is, there can be -- and will be, if the game lasts any length of time -- a narrative that evolves through the interaction of the players and referee. However, this narrative isn't made up of discrete "scenes" mapped out in advance according to a grand referee-designed plan. "Story" is thus an emergent property of sandbox play, but it's not an <I>a priori</I> one. There's no way to guarantee that it'll ever evolved beyond "just a bunch of stuff that happens" and it's against attempts to impose such a guarantee on the campaign that a lot of old schoolers are reacting.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838135041685819639.post-32864240422097008002009-04-02T15:57:00.000-04:002009-04-02T15:57:00.000-04:00Ironbeard: Great post on a very thought-provoking...Ironbeard: Great post on a very thought-provoking subject. Thanks for starting the discussion.<BR/><BR/>As you know I tend to agree with your (and Burning Void's) analysis, but I think there is another direction with which the same point can be made.<BR/><BR/>To talk blithely about "sandbox" as if that meant "no story" or "no narrative" or what have you, is just silly and really just an example of not thinking clearly before you speak or write. As you point out, even the earliest module's follow a telos or even contain multiple potential "purposes" and "plans" that the PCs may or may not follow. <BR/><BR/>But even more than this, the kind of sloppy thinking that accompanies the conclusion that "campaigns with less story are better" ignores a great deal of the "art" of good DMing.<BR/><BR/>In my view not only does a good DM tell stories, but even more, I see it as his/her primary responsibility. A good DM is constantly telling stories, as they should. The art form of DMing demands that they have the skill necessary to take the inputs of the players and improvise. <BR/><BR/>But good improvisation isn't just saying something (anything!) in response to what the players give you, rather, it is being able to take unscripted actions and turn them into something MEANINGFUL and, above all, INTERESTING. Just try to create anything that meets those two criteria without involving narrative elements...Again, a silly debate.<BR/><BR/>Taking the metaphor seriously (which, again, I don't think anyone really does), then the art or techne of a good DM is really reduced to that of a pretty basic carpenter. The DM's job is to pound a couple of nails into the ends of four planks and to fill it with sand and to make sure the walls of the box are sturdy enough and the sand in sufficient quantity. And then, according to the metaphor, to stand back and let the players "go at it."<BR/><BR/>But the minute the DM steps into the sandbox his/herself, then all talk of a "sandbox campaign" must go out the window. And for me, at least, I want my DM to get their hands even dirtier than mine.<BR/><BR/>Again, I say all of this because I don't think anyone actually believes that a "true sandbox" would be actually enjoyable. Again, sloppy thinking (or the lack of it all together) coupled with some buzz words that make you appear to know what you are talking about.<BR/><BR/>To say that the ideal campaign is a "true sandbox" seems to me to reduce the function and skill of a DM to laying out a world and managing combat and other mechanics. If this were really all that that went into the art form of good DMing, then I can say with some certainty most folks would have long ago starting searching for a CPU that could perform this function with much greater efficiency and accuracy.<BR/><BR/>Besides, I should have known that when the two central positions in a debate require that you grapple with mixed metaphors in order to participate in the discussion ("sandbox" vs. "railroad"), the argument isn't really being offered up in good faith.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again!post festumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03739727524742573286noreply@blogger.com