The World of The Gunny

Guys,

Going to be out scrub for a week so I'll be unable to play for a while unless they decide to give me internet access... which I doubt. See you all next sunday

Ok guys, what gives? We have four players and one GM, yet there is less input than when it was just me and two players.

Do not take this the wrong way, but I am trying to make a good game, and if I recieve no input from any of the players or GM I cannot adjust what needs to be adjusted.

Now, we can do one of two things, either you all can increase your input, or I can make it mandatory for you all to write up a mini report after each turn or make a rule that no PP's are rewarded UNLESS a newspost has been made to announce the mission to the world. The choice is up to you all.

As much as I want you all to enjoy the game you have to realize this is a playTEST. With emphasis on the test portion. Without input nothing will be improved.



Cheers, Thor

My Internet provider's been a tad annoying. One of their towers got hit by lightning or something, and was on and off for the past week while they were fixing it. I've only been able to connect for more than 5 seconds a few days ago, but RL has been quite busy for me. Turns havn't been as constant and it is only the first year - I don't seem to be doing much noteworthy asides from research & development/ scheduling launches, but i'll write up a quick fluff post in the events thread.

Mav, I know RL can get in the way of things. Oh boy do I know! It's just I want to make a great game for folks to play and enjoy, while gaining a small insight into the real space race. I cannot do that without input. Heck, Axner has not been to WoTG since 25 Feb.

I am pretty sure the game is not perfect so I am a bit troubled by the lack of input by the players. No suggestions, criticisms, or just down right questions on things.

This question is for the players: Why no input? Is the game too boring? Or what specifically is preventing you from posting even fluff newsposts, which are nothing more than whimsy to improve all players enjoyment of the game? They do not have to be monumental you know.

This question is for Mav. As a GM do you have any suggestions, criticisms, or things you would like to see added or taken away from the GM's POV?



Cheers, Thor

MrAnderson, I would appreciate that. if you recall from the last game Mav and I began posting fluff from the beginning, and I think it made the game more enjoyable, even if it was nothing but fluff.

I believe games like this live or die by player interaction. No matter how good the game, or how fun, I think it is the social, AKA human interaction, of the players that give the game it's life. You and Gav did a great job throwing jabs at each other to begin with! That was great, and it is stuff like that that makes online games much more enjoyable.

So, if as the Chinese, you wish to diss the russkies, Japanese, or anybody, by all means, go for it! The reason I made the Senate post in the last game was just for fun, to give the US some jabs of my own and help keep the interest flowing.



Cheers, Thor

Actually, if I may...

It's just that not much is happening right now. We're all at the very start, just getting up to speed, so to speak. Some of us can barely launch rockets, and nothing newsworthy has happened...unless someone's got a satellite in orbit that they aren't talking about...and if I'd gotten 12 prestige points for being the first to launch a satellite into orbit, I'd be crowing it from the rooftops.

It's just gonna take us awhile. And, frankly, the only thing I could share at this point is my strategy...and I could tell you, I'd just have to kill you.

Frankly, I could repost my Hammaguir sounding rocket launch story, but it'd just be a copy and paste. At this point, that's all I got.

Anyway, that's just me. If folks want to start throwing propaganda around, that's their business, but France has nothing to say until the day we see some solid results.

Tssha, I realize it is early in the game, it's just like a tomb in here. Most games I tested for there was constant questions, suggestions, criticisms, and banter going on, even at the very beginning of the test. So thats why I asked the question I did of the players.

In my experience one of three things causes a lack of communication in a game or test:

1) Boredom
2) Rules too obtuse
3) Game is too easy and thus leads to cause one

I dislike sounding harsh, but I think this will be a great way to introduce folks to the BTS! 'verse and so I am keen to make it the best I can. Unlike a lot of publishers and game designers today, I really care about what the gamers think, and what they percieve a GPI game as.

So I will do what is needed to get the best product out to the gamers that I can. If that means being a 'cheerleader', then so be it. If it means poking the players with a word stick, can do!



Cheers, Thor

MrAnderson, good fluff post!



Cheers, Thor

Mav, I wholeheartedly agree with you about the quality of the players. Agreed with the reason to not jump ahead. And yeah, the player dynamic is critical. I think we just have a bunch of polite players. They need to start acting like real world politicians.

Maybe I can prime the pump. so to speak, by posting RL events for the year and month. Hopefully this will get the players to begin greater interaction.

Maybe the GM should post some fluff about the Japanese?



Cheers, Thor

Ok guys, Here is an idea I cam up with following our small conversation of yesterday. I will need the input of the group.

To help speed up the game, and be just a bit more historical, I am thinking of making the following change to Astronaut Recruitment.



I figure with this change it will put more uncertainty into when 'nauts will begin to appear, put a bit more excitement and urgency into getting those early missions done a lot faster, and will now tie recruitment into each Agency's success.

Commentary by ALL players is required. So, if someone would tell Axner and Zerkuron they need to comment it would help.



Cheers, Thor

Mav, I agree on the team limiting. It is really ahistorical for a Director to be able to 'rush', using the RTS term, his research. So, new rule now up for discussion:





Commentary is required.



Cheers, Thor

that works. so it starts at 4 then 6 then 8 then 10? At that rate the tech should be done around month 4 or 5 at the worst.

That is correct. It prevents the ahistorical rushing of a project in one month. But still leaves plenty of room to add a lot of teams.

Heck, Historically, in the beginning both NASA and Roscosmos had exactly one team assigned, and no more than 5 ever worked on any project, for either side during the race to the moon.

In point of fact, the Sovs were pretty dependant on Korolev's design bureau by itself. Thats why once Korolev died their program took one hell of a nosedive in quality and success.




Cheers, Thor

The funny thing is that if Korolev had lived, the US and Russia would have continued the space race. The world we see today would be seriously different!

More than likely so. Korolev WAS THE heart and soul of the Soviet program. Just like Von Braun for the US, he was not interested in politics, he just wanted man to get out into space.

Also, I am pretty sure if he had not died the Soviet N-1 Rocket would not have blown up three times either, and that would have meant the Sovs would have had a real chance to reach the Moon before the US.

@Mav, since the players will not comment on the rules proposals, I am going to go ahead and incorporate them into the game rules as is since you and I like them. I will then get you a new version of the game rules ASAP.



Cheers, Thor

Mav, updated rules have been sent!



Cheers, Thor

Hey guys. Sorry I havent gotten around to A: Submitting my turn and B: commenting. Things have just been hectic lately. My father just moved and my mother wants to move halfway across the country. So I have been sorting things out. PLUS my homework load.. I should be around for awhile now though!

Next time I'll warn before disappearing. xD

Axner, No probs my friend. We all know the travails of real life interfering with our gaming! But a heads up would be nice.

I also need your opinion on the new rules I proposed.



Cheers, Thor

Mav, did you get the updated rules I sent by email?



Cheers, Thor