Comments on: Authority and context: Two types of power http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/10/10/authority-and-context-two-types-of-power/ Inside the Mind of Thomas Robertson Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:42:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Thomas Robertson http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/10/10/authority-and-context-two-types-of-power/#comment-838 Thomas Robertson Thu, 12 Oct 2006 20:25:15 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/84-authority-and-context-two-types-of-power#comment-838 Sorry I didn't get to this earlier, but here's my quick answer: When I use the term 'game' here, I'm talking about the social instance of play, not the thing published and read. Part of the social instance of play is the social context. So if there's a player who's just a jerk and no one likes him, that's going to impact how play goes. The game isn't penalizing him, but he is penalized in the game. I think context for characters (and other narrative items like settings and such) matters in the same way. It's another point of difference in the social context, but it's one that is shaped through play itself. Thomas Sorry I didn’t get to this earlier, but here’s my quick answer:

When I use the term ‘game’ here, I’m talking about the social instance of play, not the thing published and read. Part of the social instance of play is the social context. So if there’s a player who’s just a jerk and no one likes him, that’s going to impact how play goes. The game isn’t penalizing him, but he is penalized in the game.

I think context for characters (and other narrative items like settings and such) matters in the same way. It’s another point of difference in the social context, but it’s one that is shaped through play itself.

Thomas

]]> By: Rahvin http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/10/10/authority-and-context-two-types-of-power/#comment-837 Rahvin Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:27:48 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/84-authority-and-context-two-types-of-power#comment-837 I would suggest that there is a different between the amount of authority granted to a player and the amount used. The fact that Harry can exert more influence in this dynamic of the game isn't necessarily a factor contributed by the environment of the game, even if its primary factors can be traced to environmental game dynamics. Consider this situation: Bob is more experienced with role-playing games, well-read, older, and generally more imaginative. Let's assume that you're right on all assumption and Harry dominates thematic play, but Bob manages to impress the other players by providing clever tactics and techniques into critical scenes. Not thematic, not even lasting past the session, but clever in the moment. Do we now say that Harry has somehow been penalized by the game? Likewise, it is Bob's experience with games -- a factor traced back to environmental game dynamics -- that makes him better at tactics and clever play, but that's still not a feature of the game. The inequality of players to impact the game the game in specific ways is a feature of the players, not a flaw of the game environment. I would suggest that there is a different between the amount of authority granted to a player and the amount used. The fact that Harry can exert more influence in this dynamic of the game isn’t necessarily a factor contributed by the environment of the game, even if its primary factors can be traced to environmental game dynamics.

Consider this situation: Bob is more experienced with role-playing games, well-read, older, and generally more imaginative. Let’s assume that you’re right on all assumption and Harry dominates thematic play, but Bob manages to impress the other players by providing clever tactics and techniques into critical scenes. Not thematic, not even lasting past the session, but clever in the moment. Do we now say that Harry has somehow been penalized by the game? Likewise, it is Bob’s experience with games — a factor traced back to environmental game dynamics — that makes him better at tactics and clever play, but that’s still not a feature of the game.

The inequality of players to impact the game the game in specific ways is a feature of the players, not a flaw of the game environment.

]]> By: Fred http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/10/10/authority-and-context-two-types-of-power/#comment-836 Fred Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:39:48 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/84-authority-and-context-two-types-of-power#comment-836 Ian, I think it's something to be recognized at this point, rather than "fixed". Ian, I think it’s something to be recognized at this point, rather than “fixed”.

]]> By: Ian Burton-Oakes http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/10/10/authority-and-context-two-types-of-power/#comment-835 Ian Burton-Oakes Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:31:30 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/84-authority-and-context-two-types-of-power#comment-835 This is a nice point, but I'm really curious if you think there are any good ways of assuaging the differential of power granted by that context and history. This is a nice point, but I’m really curious if you think there are any good ways of assuaging the differential of power granted by that context and history.

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