What is the typical personality type of a GOTM gamer?

and why do you think this is so?

rats, gnawing at the door, or crawling through a hole in the floor
rats, chewing and swinging their tails
rats, running and scurrying about
eager to jump and shout
as they throw themselves over the rails
of cracker's suicide sails
rats, bewitched and enslaved
by the mapmakers spell
rats, doomed to run in the maze
forever lost in the haze
and culled by the curve of mathematical hell

rats...

One of the nice things about GOTM is the variety of types here. The aggressive warmongers. The peaceful builders. The calculators. The 'fly by the seat of the pants' types. Those who like to talk. Those who just play. Some like to compete against others. Some just compete against themselves.

And some just like to beat uppity convicts. ;)

This is kinda overlapping with the what-do-you-do thread.

There are definitely various types of players.

I was thinking along these lines:

It definitely takes someone with an analytical bent to take a shine to Civ3.

Whether or not you go warmonger is probably a measure of the personality dominant/aggresive trait.

If you do a calculation to discern a 2 shield difference over 17 turns, then you are definitely a quantitative, detail-oriented person.

Of course, maybe we're just all lemmings....

I made an observation in the past that there would be a very strong correlation between the number of players who enjoy that game and play it moderately well and the capacity that those players have to understand second order math concepts like rate of change, differential equations, series equations with coefficients, etc.

Not that everyone has to be a mathematician or even really have had exposure to differential equations, but just by looking at lots of games and listening to what players say, I am continually reinforced that people who understand that actions in the present can change the rates of results at specific future periods of time will continue to enjoy the game long after the newness wears off.

This personality type also correlates strongly with people who recognize that there are degrees of right answer and degrees of certainty in almost every process. Just being right or first in a certain strategic situation may not be enough to fulfill these people all the time.

The same personality type would be found in those guys and gals that do controlled demolition work. Just blowing up the building is not the objective. Blowing it up in a certain way so that it does just exactly what you want it to do, so you can drop 300 tons of rubble safely next priceless historic building without scratching the paint or breaking any glass, I think this is a common personality trait among many players.

Just for the record, cracker, I flunked Calculus in college.

From my perspective cracker I think you just branded us a lot of anal retentive farts. I don't know if I like that or not.

:D

I think there is a key split between "knowing" and "understanding" what cracker was saying. Those that passed Calculus and/or mathematicians and those that can intuit (of course some can be in both the knowing and understanding group).



Edit: Thanks for the personal attack, I simply do not get enough of that. Is this better?

Smirk, your explanation as to why you're not anal is... well...

:D

priceless

I think for myself to really enjoy GOTM, I have to have my claws in every thread, everything possible,,.....does that make me anal or just obsessive????

Adult kids dreaming of being an emperor (or even deity :) ) who conquers the world :lol:

1 word. Addictive!!

enough said;)

The mighty samildanach broods in his fortress of solitude plotting the conquest of the civ playing world. He is currently attempting to reprogramme the targeting system of a Nemesis IV orbital assault platform. He wishes to enable the system to acquire targets in iowa, wisconsin and british colombia, however the targetting system remains steadfastly locked onto sites within the former Soviet Union. Samildanach thinks that the platform may be out of propellent, does anyone have any ideas?
Samildanach is also currently afflicted with Athletes foot and wonders if he should change his socks more often.

Originally posted by col
One of the nice things about GOTM is the variety of types here... The 'fly by the seat of the pants' types. Those who like to talk...

That's me.

Obsessive.

But I might just be projecting ...

Renata

alamo, you make a good points about our being analytical. I think we all share that trait to an extent. As far as being aggressive, I'm not very. (My basketball coach always told me to be more aggressive in high school.) I mainly warmonger at the beginning of a game in order to have a solid core. I have only won via domination once in my Civ 3 career, and never by conquest. I usually win via space race or via culture. My real-life drive for harmony definitely shows up in my games.

IIRC I am a Myers- Briggs INFP.....

hey, you asked ;)

I was tested as an INTP (perfectionist) at one time, but I'm definitely toned down now (more pragmatic).

However, I'm still tend to be a bit inflexible - my behavior does not adapt to the situation - the strong silent type.

Obsessive-compulsive is a risk factor for incidence of gamer, for sure.

Analytical seems to be in agreement.

This personality type also correlates strongly with people who recognize that there are degrees of right answer and degrees of certainty in almost every process. Just being right or first in a certain strategic situation may not be enough to fulfill these people all the time.

I resemble that, but I'm not sure how to put that in personality terms.

I knew a guy once who was very smart in some ways - avid gamer, chess master, physics major. In other ways he was pretty weak because he really didn't care past the point of being right and first. He couldn't bring himself to apply effort to retaining employment so he got laid off.

Tested as an INTP as well. :) ...though it was borderline on the 'P'...and I think I may be more of a J.

Here is a description I found on INTPs:
Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others.

I got curious and took an on-line test. I turn out to be INFJ, very rare (2%)... and oddity indeed :lol:
Here's a link (http://typelogic.com/infj.html) to the description of the types. BTW I'm not an activist... don't take all this too seriously :).

Edit: The IN part seems a requirement for GOTM Civvers sofar.

Originally posted by a space oddity
The IN part seems a requirement for GOTM Civvers sofar.

Taking this test it does not seem a requirement for me, I turned out ot be ENFJ

Ronald

Originally posted by Ronald


...I turned out ot be ENFJ

Ronald

Great, there goes that theory :p. The N is the only one left. Ok, who will test to be S?

It's funny you bring up Briggs-Myers - a couple of years ago (pre-wife & baby), I took the test and was an ENFP (the Champion), now after becoming a husband and father my attitude has changed and now I'm a ENTJ, the Fieldmarshal, not a bad type for a Civ player. It seems the new responsibilities change a lot of outlooks in your life.

ENFP. Whatever.

From a decription somewhere of my personality type:

"ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it. "

I guess cracker knows that about me.

:lol:

Yep, that sounds like it fits.

I recently took another personality test - the "DiSC" test. I have a form I could post, but the interpretation is complicated (probably deliberately made that way).

I tested as "Creative" pattern. Main attributes are Dominant and Steady, meaning I'm not afraid to impose my point of view and I prefer to have a Steady work environment.

I came out as an INTP. But since I could have leaned either way on most questions, I'm taking that with a bucket of salt.
Oh well, I guess it would mess up the system to allow me to be an EINSTFPJ, huh? Or does that just mean I'm a little split? :crazyeye:

I don't think you're a little spit feght. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I have not heard of that test before but took it anyway. So I got INTP. I think intuitive is definitely needed to play civ.
Or maybe not...

I am an eNTj, I thought it fitted nicely the Civ3 theme when I found out :)

http://keirsey.com/personality/ntej.html

http://typelogic.com/entj.html

I did a myers briggs at work a year or so ago and IIRC I was an ESTJ. The E did not surprise anyone but the J seemed a bit odd.

I tend to play CIV by the seat of my pants, changing my strategy almost every turn.

Which explains some of the game outcomes of course....

:crazyeye:

INFJ INFP

Scored dead even on the last one....

I am the fly by the seat of my pants type. I have very little desire to be better than anyone (some, but not enough to play well...) and as such just enjoy finishing a map that was designed by someone who wanted me to enjoy the game.

I enjoy reading the threads about the game, and sometimes participate.....

:D