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<H1>Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#null,net">mud-dev#null,net</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: <A HREF="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</A></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Wed, 01 Oct 97 13:41:26 -0700</LI>
<LI><em>Reply-to</em>: <A HREF="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</A></LI>
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<PRE>
In <Pine.LNX.3.96.970927211744.157E-100000#mpc,dyn.ml.org>, on
09/27/97
at 01:36 PM, Matt Chatterley <root#mpc,dyn.ml.org> said:
>Level is also too abstract for many of those on this list, given
>their intents gamewisedly. I think a brief, verbose, (hah!)
>description would probably serve better here.
Tho they don't tend to be among the more active members, there are
several on this list who really like the concept of levels as
standardly implemented in hack'n'slash MUDs, and consider it a fine
and workable system. AFAIR Keegan has already stated he's in that
camp (buried in RL alas). There are others.
I consider that the term "level" itself has a real use on the list.
It can be used as a simple moniker to indicate a skill or expertise
disparity between two players without specifiying the details. As
such it can be used to concetrate attention on the result of the
disparity as versus its causes. eg:
"If a low level character tries XXX a high level character..."
The actual specifics of what makes one low level and the other high
level are moot and implicitly uninteresting. For the metrics which
affect the interaction under discussion, one is at an advantage over
the other as defined by that great term, "level". At this level of
abstraction it really doesn't matter what the key points of the
difference really is, just that it exists. The key interest is what
the imapct and result of that undefined advantage might be.
Level also has another use, in that it names advantages which are
defined within the game-system, as versus advantages due to the human
player's ability, knowledge, or skill. eg:
"A high level character played poorly will usually lose against a
low level character played expertly..."
Level in this context not only clearly indicates that the former
character is the one at an advantage within the game system (for
whatever reason), but allows it to be contrasted with the expertise of
the humans controlling those characters.
Nahh, even for games that have no real concept of levels, the term
itself still has real value. How else would you, say, simply compare
two characters on a skill-web based game, each with vastly different
skill webs, but with almost comparable fighting ability? Uhh, Bubba
has a bit better short sword skill, but Boffo's thumb wrestling skill
outclasses him...? Does it really matter in a generalist discussion?
--
J C Lawrence Internet: claw#null,net
(Contractor) Internet: coder#ibm,net
---------------(*) Internet: clawrenc#cup,hp.com
...Honorary Member Clan McFUD -- Teamer's Avenging Monolith...
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<li><strong><A NAME="00022" HREF="msg00022.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Matt Chatterley <root#mpc,dyn.ml.org></li></ul>
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] Balance of Character Power</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00045" HREF="msg00045.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Balance of Character Power</A></strong>,
Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#polaris,net">efindel#polaris,net</a>, Sun 05 Oct 1997, 19:48 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00054" HREF="msg00054.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Balance of Character Power</A></strong>,
Shawn Halpenny <a href="mailto:malachai#iname,com">malachai#iname,com</a>, Mon 06 Oct 1997, 13:55 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</ul>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00018" HREF="msg00018.html">Re: 101 Spells Not Worth Memorizing</A></strong>,
clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Wed 01 Oct 1997, 22:11 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00077" HREF="msg00077.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Re: 101 Spells Not Worth Memorizing</A></strong>,
Broly <a href="mailto:gunther#online1,magnus1.com">gunther#online1,magnus1.com</a>, Thu 09 Oct 1997, 07:27 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00015" HREF="msg00015.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>,
clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Wed 01 Oct 1997, 21:02 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00022" HREF="msg00022.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>,
Matt Chatterley <a href="mailto:root#mpc,dyn.ml.org">root#mpc,dyn.ml.org</a>, Thu 02 Oct 1997, 06:25 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<li><Possible follow-up(s)><br>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00016" HREF="msg00016.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>,
Marian Griffith <a href="mailto:gryphon#iaehv,nl">gryphon#iaehv,nl</a>, Wed 01 Oct 1997, 21:19 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00025" HREF="msg00025.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>,
Matt Chatterley <a href="mailto:root#mpc,dyn.ml.org">root#mpc,dyn.ml.org</a>, Thu 02 Oct 1997, 14:56 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00072" HREF="msg00072.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface</A></strong>,
Broly <a href="mailto:gunther#online1,magnus1.com">gunther#online1,magnus1.com</a>, Wed 08 Oct 1997, 19:45 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
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</UL>
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</UL></BLOCKQUOTE>
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