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RE: Faith Doesn't Belong in Horror Games...
Post originally by Zoran Bekric at 2004-11-01 21:39:19
Converted from Phorums BB System
clash bowley wrote:
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<i>You keep insisting that introducing faith into an investigative game renders it unplayable, and I know from experience that is not true. For some reason you seem to have the idea fixed in your head that once faith is introduced into this type of game, that all the characters must only rely on faith to solve any problems.</i>
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Actually I think using it just once will derail the game.
You're right. Using only faith will render the game completely unplayable, but using faith selectively raises the problem of deciding when to use it and when not to.
I honestly can't think of any situation in which faith is a better way to proceed in an investigation than forming provisional hypothesis and gauging probabilities. All I can see is the potential for characters to interject strange notions and to stick to them in despite any and all evidence to the contrary.
As I said earlier, I think such an approach can work given a player-determined game reality with a Faith Points-like mechanic, but I really don't see how it can aid an investigation.
clash bowley wrote:
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<i>You took my example of the Jesuit scientists in a different way than I intended. I meant that the Jesuit scientist (by this I mean any character) is able to use his critical abilities to decide whether the particular situation requires thought and reason, faith alone, or some particular mixture of the two. They are not blind automatons unable to see a situation only through the lenses of faith. They are human beings - or some reasonably close equivalent - able to choose ther own course. This hardly dooms every game which introduces faith.</i>
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Perhaps it's just I can't think of any situation in which faith would advance an investigation. The only use for faith I can come up with is as a counter to defeatism -- "Oh, the enemy's too powerful. We can't win. Why bother even trying to oppose it, we're just going to lose anyway..." etc. -- but that applies to the players more than the characters.
Can you give me an example of a situation in which some player characters elected to use faith to advance a situation because it worked better than contingent thinking?
clash bowley wrote:
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<i>I doubt very much I am reaching you, as you seem totally fixated on this, and as we all know arguments on teh internet are futile. I just want to state my own case.</i>
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Not so much fixated as applying logical consequences.
From <url=http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=faith>dictionary.com:</url>
<b>faith</b>
n.
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness
of a person, idea, or thing.
<b>2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material
evidence.</b> See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith
with one's supporters.
4. often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined
as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's
will.
5. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
6. A set of principles or beliefs.
(emphasis added)
Near as I can tell, belief that does not rest on logical proof or material is incompatible with investigation which requires the examination of evidence and the working out of the limits of the possible through the application of reason.
If you can point out the flaw in my logic, I would appreciate it. I think you will also discover I'm quite easy to bring around that way.
Regards,
Zoran
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