Gavin wrote...
If paying such a sum would cause you such great financial problems
then maybe, to be frank, paying for a game is the least of your worries.
Well I think that's my concern, not yours. The fact remains though that
I (and a number of other existing players that I can think of) would
definitely be put off starting new games if we had to shell out an
additional seventeen or twenty quid.
Even if it's merely paying for turns 6-10 in advance, it's still a lump
sum I would sometimes find it hard to afford. PBM is obviously a hobby
not a necessity, so money has to go on necessities first, hobbies
second. If start-up's were to cost twenty quid, then I would go and play
something cheaper. It's called Free Market Economics.
> 2) Who is to decide when a position is unplayable?
The software already does this, if we are to believe the frontsheet.
Oh ha ha. Like the software decided a Dragon Lord position with the
capital as a village was suitable for play? Would you also penalise the
person who dropped the Long Rider position in game 20 when it had only
one major town left - no other pop centres and about five characters?
> 3) All of this makes more work for Clint!
No more than the current system. It's a small programming change in the
accounts software.
Not convinced of this. Any such system will definitely generate a lot
more grief for the GM. Belive me, as a GM myself I'm fully aware of how
awkward players can be. This is just asking for trouble.
> 1) If your position is wrecked and you drop, do you lose the deposit?
No. See point 2 above. If the software says the position is not viable,
you're OK. Otherwise, kiss the cash goodbye.
But that assumes the software is a reliable guide. It isn't.
OK, so what about someone that drops for one of the following reasons
...
1: Death in the family or of someone close to them
2: Loss of their job
3: Moving overseas
4: Job or other change in circumstances (having a baby for instance)
meaning they have less time.
Are you really asking Clint to decide when someone pleading one of the
above (or similar) is telling the truth?
Colin.