Section8
Cipher
Physics I throw into the same category as Radiant AI. It's a "simulation" aspect that provides a solid ruleset that should in theory lead to emergent behaviours. For instance, being able to make a spell that doesn't actually deal direct damage, but instead draws loose items in toward the target, is an interesting gameplay related use of physics. Same with paralysing a target and watching him topple down some stairs to his death.
But, first of all, it's not a global system. Swinging a sword won't use the same physics simulations to inflict damage, neither will shooting an arrow. And so as a "simulation" aspect, it's flawed.
Secondly, we have no idea whether or not it will have any real gameplay effect. It could be like countless other games that simulate the kinetic aspects, but don't account for a transferance of force in collisions. Likewise, with the paralysis example. We don't know if there's any Porrasturvat style damage calculation based on the physical simulation. Even the simplest of emergent dynamics may not be viable. Like using your characters raw strength to stack boxes in preference to climbing or flying over a wall.
Thirdly, what relevance does it have to role-playing? It's probably going to be harmful to it, if anything. I'd think that if I threw a bottle at someone's face in real life, that would cause some hostility. And probably not from the victim, who lies bleeding, but from those who witnessed the act. Is it really going to help "t3h immershun!11!1"* to have realistic physics if none of the NPCs notice?
Not that my words here are going to educate anyone over there, but hey.
[edit] Oh noes, Vault Dweller! You called somebody stupid because they couldn't see an obvious point that was shown to them with black and white clarity, and they then went on to start another thread just to spout the same logical fallacy yet again, despite being proven wrong on many counts by the minority of folks capable of drawing meaningful conclusions based on logical facts...
* Please, for fuck's sake, stop using this word. It's meaning less and less every day.
But, first of all, it's not a global system. Swinging a sword won't use the same physics simulations to inflict damage, neither will shooting an arrow. And so as a "simulation" aspect, it's flawed.
Secondly, we have no idea whether or not it will have any real gameplay effect. It could be like countless other games that simulate the kinetic aspects, but don't account for a transferance of force in collisions. Likewise, with the paralysis example. We don't know if there's any Porrasturvat style damage calculation based on the physical simulation. Even the simplest of emergent dynamics may not be viable. Like using your characters raw strength to stack boxes in preference to climbing or flying over a wall.
Thirdly, what relevance does it have to role-playing? It's probably going to be harmful to it, if anything. I'd think that if I threw a bottle at someone's face in real life, that would cause some hostility. And probably not from the victim, who lies bleeding, but from those who witnessed the act. Is it really going to help "t3h immershun!11!1"* to have realistic physics if none of the NPCs notice?
Not that my words here are going to educate anyone over there, but hey.
[edit] Oh noes, Vault Dweller! You called somebody stupid because they couldn't see an obvious point that was shown to them with black and white clarity, and they then went on to start another thread just to spout the same logical fallacy yet again, despite being proven wrong on many counts by the minority of folks capable of drawing meaningful conclusions based on logical facts...
* Please, for fuck's sake, stop using this word. It's meaning less and less every day.
