Roleplaying versus strategy

[jasonnorthrup]

Hello. I'm new here, so I'm not quite clear on the concept; is this simply a game which is played democratically; with votes essentially on what we think is the best strategy to play, or is more roleplaying expected?

Let me give an example; if I'm elected mayor of a border town, can I choose what I build based on my own selfish needs (e.g. a maceman for immediate defense, and telling my worker to build a fort) or does the whole forum simply choose based on the best strategy for the whole civ (e.g. build improvements for culture to push the border back [is this even feasible?], and building cottages).

If I'm a citizen, do I complain about the starvation and lack of luxuries in my city, or just sit back and vote on questions in the forum?

 

[DaveShack]

Excellent question!

The quick answer is, whatever you find fun!

Past demogames have seen a lot of roleplay. We have had mayors competing for the citizens votes to put wonders in their cities, to get bragging rights. Ordinary citizens have written stories about their travels among our cities, and "justified" their votes based on their RP experiences. Our games generate a pretty good crop of rebels too.

Civ4 offers a lot of extra role play opportunities over Civ3, like civic choices and religion.

 

[GenMarshall]

Personaly, I would like to see the roleplay more linked towards the game such as Demogame 1 of Civ3 fame.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Personaly, I would like to see the roleplay more linked towards the game such as Demogame 1 of Civ3 fame.

Then you have to make it happen. You can't just sit there and say "I want more roleplay" and expect it to happen. Many of us weren't here for Civ3 DG1, yet you still expect us to emulate such roleplay?

 

[jasonnorthrup]

Hello. I'm new here...

 

[GenMarshall]

Then you have to make it happen. You can't just sit there and say "I want more roleplay" and expect it to happen.

I've became apethetic about the roleplay after Civ3 DG2 when it just became a regulated economic sim. What in the world does an economic sim has to do with a stratagy game?

I tried to make it happen, but yet it never caught on since people would rather much have an roleplay based on economic sim insted of the informal roleplaying where we are just bound by the game itself.

How in the world am I suppost to make it happen, as an old foggy of the Demogame, in a Demogame filled with newer people?

Many of us weren't here for Civ3 DG1, yet you still expect us to emulate such roleplay?

Calm down Calm down. Oy If I try to make it happen, it wont catch on and no one would want to emulate this kind of role play.

 

[jasonnorthrup]

Excellent question!

The quick answer is, whatever you find fun!

I like the idea of the roleplaying aspect, however, others who are more interested in seeing if the experiment results in successful gameplay might find it irritating.

 

[ice2k4]

Well I think last game we really leaned towards the decisions that would produce the best results. CIV is a lot different than CIV III, and we weren't really ready to play, especially after paying CIV III DG's where not every little choice counts. I'm sure now that we will have a bit more roleplay influencing the game (and decisions) since we now are all accustomed to CIV and we probablly wont be behind in most of the game (where we were last DG.)

 

[Furius]

What exactly was the roleplaying like in CivIII DGI?

I'm more inclined towards jasonnorthrup's ideas than to an economic sim, mind you...

 

[ravensfire]

What exactly was the roleplaying like in CivIII DGI?

I'm more inclined towards jasonnorthrup's ideas than to an economic sim, mind you...

You can probably get the best impression by actually going through the forums of that DG. Here's a link to the main forum, found in the archives.

DG2 was mostly economy based, DG3 and 4 had some attempts at the
RPG (economy based) that failed. Most of the RP there was in the Citizen and Government forums.

C4DG1 had probably the least amount of RP of any DG. Lots of numeric analysis.

Personal opinion - economy based RPG's work only when there's a dedicated manager to track the economy and introduce new storylines. DG1 and 2 had it. The rest have not.

-- Ravensfire

 

[Furius]

oh my... That is very nice! We should have provinces, methinks

 

[Lockesdonkey]

I'm all for roleplaying.

Give me a religious minority, and I'll keep you entertained.

 

[Shattered]

make me a holy man.. or a rich noble.. i love roleplaying.. i even do it while playing hotseat games with my girlfriend

 

[ice2k4]

Personal opinion - economy based RPG's work only when there's a dedicated manager to track the economy and introduce new storylines. DG1 and 2 had it. The rest have not.

I wouldn't mind managing an economic based economy (with the help of atleast 1 other though), but in the DG2 Pre-Game Discussion that was held in the DG1 forums, there was only minimal support for an economy based rpg.

 

[DaveShack]

I wouldn't mind managing an economic based economy (with the help of atleast 1 other though), but in the DG2 Pre-Game Discussion that was held in the DG1 forums, there was only minimal support for an economy based rpg.

We have a lot more people now. This probably isn't a good thread to discuss a standalone RPG and properly gauge interest.

 

[fed1943]

If it shall be roleplaying versus strategy, I would choose strategy.

But I think game can be played strategic way AND players organized roleplay

way; and that will be the most fun.

Best regards,

 

[Bacon King]

I'd be interested in role-playing aspects, though I personally do not have the time to help set up a system.

 

[dutchfire]

I wouldn't mind managing an economic based economy (with the help of atleast 1 other though), but in the DG2 Pre-Game Discussion that was held in the DG1 forums, there was only minimal support for an economy based rpg.

IMO for an economy to be anywhere near realistic, it would have to be so complex that having humans manage it wouldn't be sufficient. I think that if we want a true economy based rpg, it would have to be at least semi-automatic. And making such a thing seems pretty complex to me, programming-wise.

I'd just prefer normal easy role-playing over complex economy-based roleplaying.

 

[Captain_Rage]

If it shall be roleplaying versus strategy, I would choose strategy.

But I think game can be played strategic way AND players organized roleplay

way; and that will be the most fun.

Best regards,

I second that! Personally I want a strategic focus because I want to become better at Civ, but I'm sure there is room for roleplaying and such.

 

[Furius]

Indeed... Obviously, we can't go making suicidal decisions (or indecisions) for the sake of roleplay...

But much roleplay should still be possible... I think the newspaper has great potential in relation to this too..