Page 1 of 2
Discussing things that character wouldn't know IC
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:48 am
by rklenseth
I noticed that some characters talk about animals or resources that their character most likely hasn't seen or know exist. I know some of this comes from what we know from other characters and we should really refrain from doing this. I noticed that characters in Kirinn went out looking for iron even before they knew where or whether it existed. I think something like that could be role played a bit better.
Also, I noticed people in Quillanoi talking about a chicken. I currently don't see much damage in it but it is impossible for that character to know that a chicken exists for he has never seen one or even heard of one.
I just wanted to point that out to everyone.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:50 am
by nitefyre
I don't have any chars in Kirinn but the chars do know that iron makes weapons and sheilds, from their spawn, what'da'ya think they did for the twenty years before you controlled them, they went and learned this most useful stuff.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:53 am
by kroner
The chicken just makes no sense. If those don't exist in cantr then the characters referring to them should be regaurded as crazy.
But as for the rest, isn't it understood that the 20 year old characters start with basic knowledge about the world? I mean, how else would they explain building a lock, a smelting furnace or a hunting bow for the first time? Are these things being reinvented over and over? That doesn't make sense to me either.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:53 am
by rklenseth
yes, but if the society doesn't even know iron exists or where it is should the characters know this?
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:54 am
by David
Yah, I think in 20 years a character ought to pick something up... If you actually visualize the envrionment your character is in, from there point of view, they will know that certain things are vital, by watching others and just knowledge picked up from birth.
This does not gel when children are introduced though, they will have to learn from their parents or neighbors IC.
EDIT: Yes, it is a little rediculous with that example. It annoys me a little. But I take a sie la vie en Cantr attitude when it comes to that. I hardly want to see people getting their accounta locked over such minutae.
EDIT AGAIN: ALTHOUGH, by your argument, why would someone know all the ingredients to make all of these things down to the last detail. There are certain times when we must suspend disbelief in a gaming world, or innate knowledge of manufacturing needs to be changed. Obviously the characters know of Iron if they know what is needed where in an assembly of Iron.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:58 am
by rklenseth
Well, what I'm trying to say about Kirinn is that the society itself didn't know of iron. There were no maps of it existing, people talking about it from other places, no iron tools, no iron anything. Catch my meaning? So until iron was introduced from another area either by someone going out and finding it or someone from another place seeing it and coming there.
And some animals don't exist on certain islands that are being discussed or don't exist at all in Cantr.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:01 am
by Spider
hmmmm
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:51 am
by Genevieve
When it comes up, I generally regard it as a CR breach. Not major, but something to point out to the player in question. YES, at the moment, you do know about the resources needed to build anything, and thus know about all those resources, even if you don't know where to find them. But unless something says it requires "Wolf Skin" or something of that nature, your character shouldn't know there are wolves in Cantr unless they have seen them or heard of them from someone who has.
Again, not a big thing. But really, it should be avoided imho.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:35 am
by Solfius
Yea, I agree. I use the build menus as my indicator of knowledge, if it's on there the char knows of it. I've been getting a bit more aware of what my chars do and don't know about, especially with regards to animals
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 6:01 pm
by Pirog
Having newly spawned characters know what iron is for me natural, but knowing WHERE it is located is a CRB, right?
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 6:02 pm
by Solfius
yes, I would say newspawns knowing the location of iron, without a map, is a CR break
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 6:11 pm
by Pirog
Regarding the animals, how do you prefer it?
Should I refrain from calling someone a lying snake or a pathetic maggot if my character has never seen such animals?
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 6:25 pm
by Solfius
I would refrain, and I try to. Isn't calling someone a lying snake a bit cultural as well? The snake in the Bible lied, and it may have come as a result of that that snakes are considered sly
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 7:12 pm
by David
Solfius wrote:yes, I would say newspawns knowing the location of iron, without a map, is a CR break
That is definitely a CR break.
But after food, the first things my characters look for is a map in locations that aren't completely settled.
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 7:37 pm
by Camino
I get sick of things like that regardless of weather its a CR breach or not, okay your point about knowing something during those twenty years you don't get to play is good but when someone spawns and goes "I need some iron,coal,limestone and a smelting furnace oh almost forgot the anvil" I get annoyed. What is the point of doing that? With all of the characters I've ever had I have never just spawned and gone on about getting lots of materials to make X tool/weapon, why? It just seems so dull as there has never been a ruling on what you know or don't know during the twenty unplayable years.