rjshae

So you think there is never a good troll and if there is, it's called something else and not a troll? Is it so hard to accept that there could be good trolls (whether it's a person or post). No, that is not what I said.

A crpg that can simulate a good PnP rpg experience would require a level of AI development that we haven't managed yet. Once we do that though, it's probably game over anyway....

Not really. (Also, the 98% number is a figure I pulled out of my ass, figuratively speaking. Suffice to say 'vast majority') As Zor stated, they serve a purpose. The problem is that of the "bad trolls", I would guess that almost every single one of them thinks they are a "good troll". It takes sharp with and a good grasp of subtlety be a "good troll". A lot of people think of themselves as being witty and subtle, very few actually are. I'm not even sure that what is being classified as a "good troll" is actually a troll. More like the Socratic method being applied by a closet prankster.

But where's a bird of prey when you really need one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JUHci4JxwC4

From a game design perspective, the +/- abilities modifiers only really make sense for min-maxing in a system where the ability assignment is non-linear; whether by gaussian-distributed dice rolls or through an escalating point cost. Once it becomes a flat growth curve, the modifiers have little or no benefit. I prefer a system where the racial types are distinguished by career paths that are not readily available to other races, such as through prerequisites on selectable talents or spells. Plus limited-use special abilities, of course, such as low-light vision. The +/- modifiers could be applied to preferred/disfavored skill caps, I suppose.

If this is a newly colonized region then I'm not sure that land ownership will be as significant an issue as it would in the old world. After all, cheap land was one of the selling points for drawing in the original colonists to the new world. A more significant issue might be indentured servitude: paying off a debt as a bonded laborer for some period of time. That and outright slavery. The wealthy class are more likely to own the labor that works the fields.

Kerfluffles the gelatinous cube companion could be the pet of an Orlan sewer ranger. Not sure it could keep up real well though...

Totally agree on both accounts. It wouldn't surprised me if the research is a knee-jerk reaction to the media stories over the last few years of internet trolling. The research (and I use that term loosely) seems to paint all trolls with a sweeping generalisation of psychopathic narcissistic sadists. And as Meshugger points out, you can have trolls that do it for the fun and giggles without actually hurting anyone or do it to get people thinking out of their own closed world views. This reads like a straw-man argument that applies the same set of sweeping generalizations and inherent bias in which the scholars are accused of engaging. The linked article is an editorial about the peer-reviewed paper, so you can expect some amount of personal opinion to be expressed there. Hopefully, the paper will spark some follow-on studies.

This isn't a troll attempt, but is a link to an interesting psychology article: "Internet Trolls Really are Horrible People" The following personality traits have apparently been confirmed by a psychological study: machiavellianism, narcissim, psychopathy, and sadism. Ouch!

The antimancers or whatever idiot name they have for themselves are still trolling so I guess so. Attacking posters rather than their message is trolling, almost by definition.

Rather than being granted a bunch of benefits at the start, I'd like to see godlikes gain access to unique talents as they level up. For example, the Death god-like could manipulate its death spirit to gain dmage bonuses when fighting undead, while the Bird/Wind god-like could gather winds around her form and get a deflection bonus against (non-gunpowder) missile weapons.

Yes, thats it...instinctual force. A presence personified not just for our eyes but for our characters to feel, sense and that can be somehow reflected on stats and those will be dramatized in game. I asumed there would be certain traits, but I assumed subtle like that portrait of beautifull black lady, with hair appearing to be almost featherlike. But considering Obsidian choice to make these traits so visible, I would not wonder if there would be progon like witchhunts or even lesser cults worshiping living entity. I am looking forward what stories they are cooking for us. There's players who like the exotic or wierd, and those that like the more mundane. The god-like appear as if they can satisfy a range of tastes.

It's a turn-based DLC easter egg with a comprehensive disadvantages system and a limited set of achievements. To unlock it, you must first woo the horny water gnome and steal her trout skin pantaloons.

Are these some sort of sexual metaphors? Could be. But sometimes a banana omelette is just a banana omelette...

You could go for a banana souffle, which is almost the same thing. Mmm...

There are no RPG elements worth dying for. But there's perhaps a few for which I'd fork over a little extra coin. Creates an emotional response -- like a good book, I want to care about something in the story. Even if it is just taking down the bad guy. Worthwhile companions -- traveling with characters who I would actually want to meet in real life. Enjoyable interactions -- I prefer that at least some of the denizens feel alive and provide an interesting discourse. Explorable, interesting world -- a setting/genre that holds more interest than just a place to find creatures to fight. Sense of accomplishment -- at the end I want to feel like I've achieved something more meaningful than just repeatedly clicking a mouse button.

Era: The Consortium (Sci-Fi Tabletop RPG) -- "Era: The Consortium is a sci-fi tabletop RPG... using Shades of Vengeance's Era d10 Ruleset." It's a little short on the details. £305 pledged of £10,000 goal with 29 days to go. The Clay That Woke, an RPG about Minotaurs -- "Minotaurs in a human civilization sundered by a surreal, trackless jungle. The core mechanic is a oracle system that uses custom tokens to guide the outcome of situations in play. In certain situations the gamemaster and a player put some tokens in a bowl. The player draws out four and compares them to a menu of outcomes." $9,167 pledged of $8,500 goal Bump in the Night RPG -- "A Roleplaying Game of Paranormal Investigation. Investigate mysteries, debunk hoaxes, and get yourself a TV deal or die trying." $755 pledged of $3,500 goal with 26 days to go Journey To The Overland: A Solo Tabletop Roleplaying Game -- "A Solo Tabletop Roleplaying Game where players create characters who journey throughout the Overland in search of Five Weapons of Power" $5,507 pledged of $6,000 goal with 31 days to go. Saving Throw - An Instructional Web-Series About RPGs -- "Saving Throw is an instructional web-series and website, designed to teach you not only how to play, but why." $3,180 pledged of $8,000 goal with 28 days to go He Who Laughs Last - A Cthulhu Dark RPG Scenario -- "A modern horror RPG scenario set in LA with comedians, ancient magics, and a growing sense of dread." $4,102 pledged of $3,000 goal. Mecha vs Kaiju: A Sci-Fi Anime RPG for Fate Core -- "Mecha vs Kaiju is role playing game inspired by Japanese anime robots and giant monsters." $1,836 pledged of $3,500 goal with 23 days to go Against The Dark Yogi: Mythic India Roleplaying -- "In Against the Dark Yogi players take the role of legendary heroes, empowered by the cosmic force dharma, and charged with defending the Three Worlds from the machinations of the Dark Yogi, a sinister figure who seeks to bring about the Geli Yuga, the final age of the universe. Against the Dark Yogi is heavily inspired by Indian myths. Character abilities, archetypes and a host of worthy foes are drawn directly from the Vedas, the Ramayana and other Indian sources. Attain the mystic perfection of the eight primary siddhis, speak the feared Om-syllable or fight with astras, the weapons of the gods themselves!" $5,414 pledged of $4,000 goal Far Away Land RPG: Fantasy Role-Playing & Worldbuilding -- "Far Away Land is a quirky and lighthearted fantasy tabletop role-playing/worldbuilding game which uses a simple d6 system." $3,826 pledged of $1,500 goal. There might be a couple worth checking out.

Oh, lighten up. It's just a harmless discussion; not a debate about the death penalty.

Today's physics lesson: kinetic energy transfer through elastic collision.