[Discuss] Theoretical realistic messaging

[Charles Filson]

>I know, I know, it would be a bit harder for generals who are used to
>having all the information immediately available to them, and equally
>used to being able to yell orders at all of their armies instantly,
>regardless of distance.

>You know what it would mean?  
-----------------------

Excessive use of instant Messenger, email, and external communication
systems, and an inherent penalty for anybody who does not use them?

In Eston on Atamara, we have an ingenious player who compiles all our scout
reports into an external web site that displays all scouted information by
region or realm or army or type or whatever. He already, as far as I
understand, has a routine that imports data from email messages (or he is
working on this).

If the messaging system is altered, we will all send our scout report data
as flat files to this fellow's email account and our generals will have data
available instantly, giving us an advantage. 

The only way around this advantage for our realm, would be to call the use
of external databases or information sharing sites an abuse and forbid us
from doing it. That would destroy the fun of the game for at least this one
guy who seems to love playing around with data and who then receives lots of
praise and accolade from the rest of us. And then where do you stop? Forbid
instant messenger? Forbid email? Forbid me to chat with a buddy at work who
plays the game? Limit communications on external BBs? 

I understand the desire for realism, but in such a game as this I think it
is difficult to enforce, and could take away the fun of all the
communication that goes on. Seriously, it is the communications that make
the game so addictive. The game is so lightweight that there is not much to
do on many turns, which is great when I don't have much time to put into the
game, but on the other days when I have more free time, I love to chat and
scheme and pour over scout reports while talking to the other generals of
the realm.

I like the need for planning ahead, but I don't think this will accomplish
that goal.

Anyway, that is just my $.02.

Charles 



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