Hello, I'm sorry to bust on Jon (He did write these excellent games) but I
really think that we are paying him money to generate point systems that
enable us to judge relative differences betweeen forces. This allows us (the
players) to do the fudging required to make a scenario work properly, with an
agreed upon basis for discussion. I Do think that it is effective to buy units
in DSII scale and then translate them into SGII. Militia use basic rifles,
Line Infantry use Advanced Assault Rifles and Powered Armor use Gauss Rifles.
The rest of the
weapons are purchased as if they were 1/2 the value of their parent.
For
example, the Plasma Weapon Man portable is a DFFG of 1/2 strength or a
RFAC
of 1/2 is the auto cannon...
This also allows translation between levels of the game...
> Phil wrote:
but I
> really think that we are paying him money to generate point systems
YOU may be paying him so, but not not suppose to presume what *I* am giving my
hard earned dinar to Jon for.
I've invested in DSII and SGII for reasons entirely unrelated to the absence
of a point system in a negative sense; its absence actually
/encourages/ me to invest more, because I know I won't have to deal with
the munchkin min-maxers turning what should be an enjoyable game of
complex forces into an act of the accounting gods. I give Jon money
because I think his system is /excellent/, smooth running and intuitive.
I do it because SGII doesn't look down its nose at my intelligence, it
presumes I have a brain-cell or two to rub together and don't need my
hand held for every little thing.
In short, I give Jon money because I find his games are for the
'thinking man', not the point-allocating power trippers, because I have
great fun playing his much deeper game, and I have no interest in pandering to
the lowest common denoiminators.
> At 06:33 PM 5/27/97 -0400, you wrote:
but I
> really think that we are paying him money to generate point systems
Huzzah! I agree! I think if you can't come up with some fun and entertaining
scenerios without a "points" system, perhaps you're playing the wrong game.
There's a fairly juvinile game on the market by Gouge Workstop called 40,000
Dollars. They have a well developed points system, "strategy cards" so you
don't have to think too much, AND....scenerio cards, so you have to think even
less. Ages 12 and up I beleive. I applaude Jon for his excellent system and
his lack of points...so to speak.
I really don't understanding why anyone has a hard time getting a scenerio to
"work properly"? I think you've all been brain washed by the points system,
whick I've NEVER seen generate a balanced game. Let me ask you one question,
How many green troopers with assault rifles equals one vetran in
powred armor? 3...5...10? Is he worth the same against a regular
trooper with advanced assault rifles? YOU can taylor the scenerio for this
situation, but a points system can't. What if all the green guys are in
trenches at the beginning of the game...are they worth more then? At the very
least, if you can't find an experienced player to introduce you to the game,
play a couple of games with exactly the same troops. I gaurantee you
can play 2-3 games in an evening, unlike 40K$. You can learn very
quickly. All in all...have fun..as Jon put it, "The most enjoyable games will
be had from doing well DESPITE your troops, rather than because of them."
> Hello,
but I
> really think that we are paying him money to generate point systems
I disagree. We are paying him money because we like his game mechanics. We
also pay him money because he doesn't mind if you abuse or add to those
mechanics. We fork over the moola because listens to our input and considers
the gamer's opinions as valuable (gasp of horror from the GW crowd.). The
mechanics of SGII are simple enough to work up price points for (as has been
amply demonstrated) no one is EVER going to agree with all the mechanics that
someone puts out.
> On Tue, 27 May 1997, Alexander Williams wrote:
> because I know I won't have to deal with
Ach, the root of the problem...
You know, every time I complain about a potential abuse point, I get told not
to play with such folk.