Re: About "Christminster" (SPOILERS)


10 Aug 1995 15:06:17 GMT

Andrew C. Plotkin (erkyrath+@CMU.EDU) wrote:
>I wrote:
>> I'm curious---why are so many IF characters so passive? Of course
>> some of it is the difficulties of implementation, but I think this is
>> one area where the puzzle aspect of IF really gets in the way of
>> things like plot and characterization.
>
>I'm not sure this follows. It's easiest to implement characters with
>fixed responses; this includes characters that do nothing and those
>that have a strong agenda. But I think that either is suitable for
>creating puzzles around.

Ok, but this only really applies to active antagonists or other
characters who somehow set up roadblocks for the player. What I was
trying to say is that the puzzle aspect often prevents the characters
from actively "helping" the player. I think Edward is a good example
of this. He seems to me to have been conceived as a puzzle first and
a character second (comments, Gareth?), and I think this leads to his
passivity. On the other hand, B+J and Wilderspin seem to have been
conceived as characters first, and so are more active and interesting.
As a side effect, I think the puzzles involving them are much more
satisfying than those involving Edward.

I'd also like to comment on another sentence from Gareth's original
post:

> Inevitably, interaction with characters is very limited: you can ask
> them about things, you can order them to do things (when this suits
> the solution to a puzzle), you can give and show them objects.

I think it's interesting that Gareth listed only interactions in which
the character is essentially a passive recipient of an order or
information from the player. I don't see why interaction is
"inevitably" limited in this way. What about having the player obey
orders from the character? Follow him/her around? Are these not
considered interactions? Again, in my opinion it's the puzzle-based
nature of IF that leads to this view of characters as passive
recipients of the players actions.

BTW, I also think that this whole discussion on why some of the
characters in Christminster are more interesting than others is a
reflection of the strength of the game.

chris