[Discuss] Theoretical realistic messaging

[Rob Croson]

On 1 May 2006 at 23:15, Thomas Dalton wrote:

> > This "idea" will end discussions in BM.
> 
> No, it will force people to actually meet up to have discussions. 
> Messages sent to people in the same region will arrive instantly, just
> as they do now.
> 
> This idea will result in councils actually having council meetings. 
> Rulers inviting other rulers for state visits so they can discuss an
> alliance.  It adds a whole new element to the game - travelling other
> than just between the front line and the capital city. (at the moment
> buros are pretty much the only people to do anything else on a regular
> basis)

What are you people smoking?

Delaying messages hours, or (/me shudders...) turns, will only serve 
to completely invalidate the in-game message system. People will 
simply not use it. Armies will resort to out-of-game communications, 
such as IRC, IM, e-mail, yadda yadda yadda... (Not that the ruling 
councils, generals, and marshals don't already do this anyway. This 
will just guarantee that everyone else will start using them, too.)

When it all plays out, you will have destroyed the usefulness of the 
in-game message system, driven your players to use out of game 
methods, inconvenienced and alienated the players, etc., etc., etc.

The idea of delaying messages adds nothing to the game other than 
some cute, gimmicky, artificial attempt to simulate "reality", which 
the players will hate.


--
Rob
It has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish
when faced boldly.
-- Isaac Asimov