http://madscientist.net Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:51:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've lately started playing Warhammer after a pretty prolonged absence. To get back into it and to get use to the new rules I played a couple of small skirmishes, orcs against high elves, and I noticed something odd. Very often when my block of orc spearmen would come up ... http://madscientist.net/2008/02/15/way-too-much-math/ So obviously I haven't been doing a great deal of posting any posting the past couple of months. This isn't because I haven't wanted to. I've just been kind of busy. http://madscientist.net/2007/01/02/not-dead-yet/ So I've been playing a fair bit of Eve Online lately. I tried it out because people have told me what a great crafting system it has. Unfortunately I find the system a little flat myself. It doesn't really feel like I have much control over customizing what I create. ... http://madscientist.net/2006/08/22/same-ship-different-day/ I admit, I suck. It's been nearly a week since I published anything. Reality 1.0 has been consuming a lot of my attention lately as I've been trying to complete a 'Work' quest before the timer runs out. As a result I haven't had time to write a post concerning ... http://madscientist.net/2006/07/25/stay-tuned/ As I try to solve game design problems I try to make sure that I adhere to certain rules. This isn't a list fixed in stone as every now and then I will think of a new rule that really needs to be inserted, but overall they shouldn't change too ... http://madscientist.net/2006/07/25/the-rules/ Raph Koster wrote an article talking about use-based skill systems in MMO's and about how they worked out in Ultima Online and StarWars Galaxies. Just another example of synchronicity since I planned on following up A Distinct Lack of Class with a post about skill systems. http://madscientist.net/2006/07/19/use-and-abuse/ My name is Evan Sampson and I have no class. I'm not a 23rd level Artist or an 18th level Geek. I'm not even multiclassed as an Artist/Designer, but I don't feel bad about this. The fact is that people in the real world simply aren't divided into classes that dictate ... http://madscientist.net/2006/07/18/a-distinct-lack-of-class/ Under a previous post Lost asked the question: The real question/debate could be in evaluating each system on their own merits for the entertainment value of the player (which I attempted to touch on in my “RMT and game design”). While there certainly does need to be a “speed limit” to ... http://madscientist.net/2006/07/11/speed-bumps-or-turtles/ Raph Koster posted a small snippet about a new beta service called Playerep. http://madscientist.net/2006/07/05/youve-just-gotten-better-in-friendliness-28/ So as I sit here, struggling to work out a crafting system that allows people to be 'hard core' crafters while still allowing solo crafters and balancing the whole thing against adventuring I run into a new snag; the concept of 'social whittling'. http://madscientist.net/2006/07/03/but-wait-theres-more/