From: Barclay, Tom <tomb@b...>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 20:04:20 -0400
Subject: [OT] Starship - perhaps a last thought?
Perhaps we can close out this thread on a positive note: 1) Oerjan - as our primary number cruncher, standard bearer, and resident occasional prickly-pear, you make a very cogent defence of FT including refuting some apparent misconceptions Brad seemed to have about FT (or at least, so it came across). I think you and others have effectively pointed out the game has always been marketed as having a sort of "optional/generic" feel to it, and that in many ways, it is very flexible in allowing players to come up with their own designs/races (while living within the rules strictures). And of course, pointing out that players will do as they will and rules be darned. Thank you for your comments! I believe Brad may have a better perspective on how this community sees FT as a consequence. 2) Brad (Mr. Carlson?) - Two comments. First, congratulations on having launched a new game. It is a grand exploit and I look forward to seeing your work at a convention. Perhaps you'd consider attending GZG ECC IV and running a demonstration game? That would allow many of the listers to see Starship first hand. <This is just an idea> Second, I hope no one here has come across as offensive or combative. We gzg listers do sometimes come across a little bit bombastic but we try to be well behaved in general. I can see how it might seem people are picking at your creation - not so (or at least not with any intent to do harm). I would choose to think of it as trying to understand how your system differs and what it offers. In some cases, we may object to a particular characterization of FT based on your admittedly limited experience - many of us have been involved in this community for years now and have a much more developed sense of what the FT system is about and the values Sr. Tuffley's games espouse. But we (generally) don't mean any harm. We just don't like to be told what FT is or isn't <*grin*>. General ---------- I would hope that everyone on the list is now clear on what Starship offers - a quite flexible race/ship creation system with (it would appear) more permutations/options than FT. Balance is (if we take the initial reports) not a tremendous problem - min/maxing seems minimal. Suffice to say that until some of our people play the game, this is the best understanding we're likely to have. Perhaps someone will buy a copy of Starship! and write the a critical review to contrast and compare? Hopefully, in return, Brad is clearer on the fact that FT is more generic than he initially may have seemed to suggest. Whereas it may not offer quite so many apparent options, it could hardly be called inflexible or restrictive. And the FT playtesters have been through many iterations of rules-that-didn't-see-the-light-of-day to root out balance issues. It's a fast, fun game. Undoubtedly, Starship! is probably an interesting game, worth a look through or a game or two. Obviously, it offers the players flexibility and options and texture. I think Brad said it best when he pointed out that both systems appear to have their strengths. This is part of a live-and-let-live approach which is the best way to look at these types of dialogic issues. As an old AD&D DM who has bent, folded, twisted, and mutilated every ruleset TSR ever put out, I can say that there is always someone who wants to tweak a system, no matter how good, no matter how complex. There are systems with greater and lesser flexibility and greater and lesser balance. FT offers a degree of flexibility, a spirit of sportsmanship, a willingness to let the purchaser do what he or she wants with the game. FT is fast, fun, and has a devoted following. Starship! is obviously a different experience, probably worthwhile in its own accord for its different flavour. As long as we can all see that there is more than one way to approach a game and each method comes with its own pros and cons, there is no reason a large variety of these games can't be successful, each offering a different experience. Best of luck, Brad! Thank you for taking the time and effort to outline some interesting facts about Starship!. Hopefully people will check it out to find out more. Remember too, it is in its early stages and FT is mature... it is quite likely that given a version or two, any hidden or as-yet-unseen flaws can be moderated. And thanks again to Oerjan for standing up for the "real" nature of FT as those of us on the list know it! :)