Why Recwars Don't Work
Why Recwars Don't Work
I've been thinking about this a bit, and I have a few ideas...
(1) THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RULES. Part of the reason the Magic wars that Nova and Toki so often participate in are more effective is the rule structure. You can't dispute it if it's written down in black and white. Sort of ironic how magic wars are more regulated than non, but in any case...
(2) THE JUDGES DON'T TAKE AN ACTIVE ENOUGH ROLE. Think Dungeon Master from a DnD game. Their word is what happens in-game, period. If we trusted the judges with more power, there wouldn't BE disputes. They'd be decided by the judge.
(3) INFORMATION IS HANDLED INEFFICIENTLY. People are unaware of other people's moves, assumptions, home defenses, and even certain rules. There has to be a better way of organizing so everyone knows everything they need to know, but still allowing for secret moves.
Now this is all well and good, but how to make a better system? Honestly, I have no idea. Any creative minds out there who can solve these problems?
And are there any other theories why these Recwars seem to almost always turn out to be a lot less fun than they should be?
(1) THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RULES. Part of the reason the Magic wars that Nova and Toki so often participate in are more effective is the rule structure. You can't dispute it if it's written down in black and white. Sort of ironic how magic wars are more regulated than non, but in any case...
(2) THE JUDGES DON'T TAKE AN ACTIVE ENOUGH ROLE. Think Dungeon Master from a DnD game. Their word is what happens in-game, period. If we trusted the judges with more power, there wouldn't BE disputes. They'd be decided by the judge.
(3) INFORMATION IS HANDLED INEFFICIENTLY. People are unaware of other people's moves, assumptions, home defenses, and even certain rules. There has to be a better way of organizing so everyone knows everything they need to know, but still allowing for secret moves.
Now this is all well and good, but how to make a better system? Honestly, I have no idea. Any creative minds out there who can solve these problems?
And are there any other theories why these Recwars seem to almost always turn out to be a lot less fun than they should be?
Bayen ronToketi
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Bayen, I expect that one major difference is that our generation put slightly more emphasis on the REC, and the old guard on the WAR. Both of which are valid interpretations, but different.
However, one obvious bonus of the magic system is that everything is specific - for the large part, there are only this many different things you can use which can do so and so ... and so everybody has a reasonable idea of what things are, and if they don't, can check by reading a mere 2/3 sentences.
In international Recwars, you can use anything existing. And stuff you make up yourself. And since people don't post specifics about their units, and we all have much better things to do than go through checking every type of unit in Wikipedia and skimming through two pages on it, people don't know too much until it's used against them, and then protest.
True, some people here, I'm sure, know all about the military stuff and their capabilities. But I severely doubt it's the majority.
The alternative is the MRWS system, where things are specific and you can only buy specific things, but then you have to still understand all those many many things, and many other parts of the rules are more complicated.
However, one obvious bonus of the magic system is that everything is specific - for the large part, there are only this many different things you can use which can do so and so ... and so everybody has a reasonable idea of what things are, and if they don't, can check by reading a mere 2/3 sentences.
In international Recwars, you can use anything existing. And stuff you make up yourself. And since people don't post specifics about their units, and we all have much better things to do than go through checking every type of unit in Wikipedia and skimming through two pages on it, people don't know too much until it's used against them, and then protest.
True, some people here, I'm sure, know all about the military stuff and their capabilities. But I severely doubt it's the majority.
The alternative is the MRWS system, where things are specific and you can only buy specific things, but then you have to still understand all those many many things, and many other parts of the rules are more complicated.
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
- Lord_Montague
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- Colonel Vilhelm
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RecWars are absolutely fine IMO. We just use them for the wrong thing.
Colonel Vilhelm von Benkern - Preserving the Memories (Regardless of whose those may be)
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Antica
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- Guido Zambelis
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That's the plan, eventually...Guido Zambelis wrote:If you don't like it, write a new charter for us in future.
Just trying to get input before I dive in...
Bayen ronToketi
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