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In GNS Model Discussion

5/28/2003 Ron Edwards: The airplane issue
Hello, From the thread The problem with GNS, I was able to extract a single question of worth: "Heinrich" wrote, I have to wonder what the value of GNS and…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Ron Edwards, Jeffrey Straszheim, Matt Snyder, Kester Pelagius, Alan, Clinton R. Nixon, Bankuei, Matt Wilson, jrs, Wormwood, epweissengruber, jdagna, deadpanbob, ethan_greer, Jeffrey Miller, Mike Holmes, Walt Freitag, Piers Brown, Gordon C. Landis, clehrich, M. J. Young, Jack Spencer Jr, Valamir, Paul Czege.

5/27/2003 Stuart DJ Purdie: Hybrids - looking for an understanding of
I've been thinking about what a hybrid is lately, particularly after Decision Merging: An Appoach to Hybridization. What it mostly inspired in me is confusion over what a hybrid…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Stuart DJ Purdie, clehrich, MK Snyder, Wormwood, Mike Holmes, cruciel, Ron Edwards, Walt Freitag, Valamir.

5/26/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: Term debate: "Instance of Play"
One of the core concepts is instance of play since it is over and instance of play that GNS behaviors are observable. The problem is that it have a connotation…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, C. Edwards, Alan, Clinton R. Nixon, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards.

5/25/2003 heinrich: The Problem With GNS
Within the constellation of arguments in favor of the GNS model, the contrast between simulationism and gamism comes to mind as a problematic example that highlights the problem with the…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: heinrich, ethan_greer, Alan, clehrich, M. J. Young, jdagna, Jeffrey Miller, Jack Spencer Jr, C. Edwards, Garbanzo, Valamir, epweissengruber, Christopher Kubasik, talysman, Ron Edwards.

5/23/2003 clehrich: Cr.Ag., GNS, BV, and Other Acronyms
In a lengthy series of recent threads, there has been debate about various possible "new" models and, among other things, their relationship to GNS. I could quote extensively; instead I'm…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: clehrich, lumpley, Ron Edwards, Bankuei, John Kim, Valamir, cruciel, Eric J-D, M. J. Young, Matt Snyder, Walt Freitag, Mike Holmes.

5/22/2003 ThreeGee: Pan-reward-ism
Hey all, We have been over (and are still going over) some of this before, but I want to try a different spin on the topic. There are hardly any…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: ThreeGee, Ron Edwards, clehrich, M. J. Young, cruciel, John Kim, C. Edwards.

5/22/2003 epweissengruber: Kewl Powerz -- Emphasizing "Kewl"
Kewl powers are also an important part of color. Some players like to imagine their characters doing neat/cool/groovy things and don't always think about how those powers can get them…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: epweissengruber.

5/21/2003 taalyn: Narrativism and Morality?
It seems that the primary method of explaining Narrativism is in terms of moral and/or ethical decisions. Why is that, and why isn't the style renamed to be less opaque?…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: taalyn, Mike Holmes, talysman, Ron Edwards, Wormwood, M. J. Young.

5/19/2003 iago: The Three Sentence Understanding
I've read (or tried to read) the GNS articles, and I don't honestly feel like I've come away from them all that much more enlightened about it all. A major…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: iago, Bankuei, talysman, M. J. Young, Wormwood, jburneko, ThreeGee, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards.

5/19/2003 Wormwood: Drumming II (split)
I'd actually think more in terms of a tuba, but that's just the brass player in me. This sort of behavior, especially in the context of what Mario said about…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Wormwood, Ron Edwards.

5/18/2003 Wormwood: Decision Merging: An Appoach to Hybridization
First, a little history: A while back there was a cyberpunk based CCG called Netrunner, put out by WotC using the same information property as Cyberpunk 2020. This game had…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Wormwood, M. J. Young, Ron Edwards, Walt Freitag, Mike Holmes.

5/17/2003 ThreeGee: Are kewl powerz inherently Gamist?
Hey all, I ask the question, "Are kewl powerz inherently gamist?" because many people strongly imply the answer is yes--that only munchkins would play a character with kewl powerz. However,…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: ThreeGee, Jack Spencer Jr, C. Edwards, Valamir, M. J. Young.

5/14/2003 Emmett: Character improvement (split from older thread)
Story models aside, (I don't agree that the intent of an RPG is to emulate a novel, although they have some simmilarities) without an advancement mechanic, or a overly limited…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Emmett, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, Jack Spencer Jr, Balbinus, arxhon.

5/13/2003 Mortaneus: Establishment vs. Development
In the 'Help a GNS illiterate?' thread, Garbanzo stated the following: G vs S vs N: I'm a noble Paladin, all about sanctity of life, yada yada. Do I loot…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Mortaneus, Valamir, Ron Edwards, Bankuei, jdagna, Emily Care, M. J. Young.

5/7/2003 Harlequin: When the Drift is the Fun Part
This is an interesting thought I had a while back, and had been saving for a rainy day. It rained over in Elegance and Deliberateness, so hey, let's crack this…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Harlequin, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards, cruciel, Walt Freitag.

5/6/2003 Ben Lehman: The Gentleman Gamist
Yes, I know I confessed my misunderstanding of the Model just now. But I think I have a good grasp on Gamism, and since its natural place and appeal seem…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Ben Lehman, Ron Edwards, clehrich, Mike Holmes.

5/6/2003 Ben Lehman: Help a GNS illiterate?
Everyone is looking for something-- Goals, Desire and RPGs My name is Ben Lehman, and I am GNS-illiterate. No matter how many times I read Ron's essays, I can't seem…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Ben Lehman, Garbanzo, Paganini, Jack Spencer Jr, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards.

5/4/2003 Paganini: Gamism: Exploration and Competition
Some reference threads: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=6269 http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=6330 By GNS definition, all role-playing is Exploration; that is, creation of a fictional reality via communal imagination. Given this, it makes sense to me to…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Paganini, Jack Spencer Jr, clehrich, M. J. Young, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes, Emily Care, Bankuei, lumpley.

4/29/2003 Thierry Michel: Gamism and gamer's games
Toying a bit with NeverwinterNights (a computer game using the D&D rules) got me wondering: are RPGs "gamer's games" ? Taken literally, I suppose the answer would be yes, because…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Thierry Michel, Ron Edwards, Bankuei, Mike Holmes, Jay Turner, clehrich, M. J. Young, Cassidy, Valamir, greyorm, jdagna, Emily Care, Jeffrey Miller, John Kim, Paganini, deadpanbob.

4/28/2003 jdagna: Better/worse Narrativist (split)
Maybe this is a good time to throw out a question I've been mulling on. I come from that Sim/Actor background and happen to enjoy it very much, but I've…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: jdagna, Ron Edwards, Clinton R. Nixon, Bankuei, Mike Holmes, clehrich, soundwave, Eric J-D.

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Subsequent Topics
In GNS Model Discussion

5/29/2003 Mike Holmes: Beeg Horseshoe Theory Revisited
Fine, Ralph wants to put out that I've got some half-assed unformed theory working? I'll play along. Besides this has been eating away at me for so long that maybe…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Mike Holmes, Clinton R. Nixon, Bankuei, clehrich, Valamir, Matt Wilson, jdagna, cruciel, M. J. Young, Walt Freitag, Emily Care, talysman, ethan_greer, C. Edwards, Ron Edwards, John Kim, Gordon C. Landis, Wormwood, Cassidy.

5/29/2003 Wormwood: Technical Play and the one word GNS
In an earlier thread I suggested that the three GNS modes seem describably by what questions are asked by the player making the decision. I find however, that while this…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Wormwood, jdagna, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards.

5/29/2003 Matt Gwinn: Cheaters & GNS
This may also fit into theory. I was wondering where cheating fits into GNS. What style of play encourages or facilitates fudging die rolls, changing stats, etc.? I suspect it…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Matt Gwinn, cruciel, C. Edwards, Wormwood, Valamir, John Kim, Alan, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards, Scratchware.

5/30/2003 cruciel: Hi-Fi or Sim Poll (split from Horseshoe 2)
I'm really curious about something as it relates to the Beeg Horseshoe Theory Revisited thread. That said, I was just going to say to Jason that I too tend…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: cruciel, Valamir, Mike Holmes, Paul Czege.

6/1/2003 Piers Brown: Questions about the Fidelity Axis (From Horseshoe 2)
As a follow-up to the Beeg Horseshoe Theory Revisited thread (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=6663): The idea of a separate Fidelity axis is pretty persuasive. The close parallel between it and Sim, however, gives…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Piers Brown, Bankuei, Mike Holmes, cruciel, M. J. Young, John Kim, Alan, Ron Edwards.

6/1/2003 Bankuei: Is this really Nar?
Hi folks, Jason wrote this in the Beeg Horseshoe thread, and I wanted to address his concerns: Let's think of a Genevieve example, 'cause the Vieve-ster always has something interesting…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Bankuei, cruciel, jdagna, M. J. Young, talysman, John Kim, Ron Edwards, Gordon C. Landis, Mike Holmes.

6/2/2003 lumpley: Fidelity vs. Integrity
Here's an attempt to break apart and clarify this newfangled "fidelity" word. Characters, Settings, Systems, and probably the other two have integrity. Integrity is something you either uphold or compromise…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: lumpley, C. Edwards, John Kim, cruciel, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, Walt Freitag, Emily Care, Cassidy.

6/3/2003 Walt Freitag: Exploration of System (split)
Split from the Beeg Horseshoe Revisited thread: This topic appeared unresolved but it's tangled among other topics in the original thread. This is an attempted rescue. I agree that "fidelity…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Walt Freitag, C. Edwards, clehrich, ADGBoss, Ron Edwards, Wormwood, Valamir, Mike Holmes, John Kim, cruciel, M. J. Young, Emily Care, lumpley.

6/4/2003 Ron Edwards: GNS and design (split from Site Discussion)
Hi there, Sylus wrote, in the Does GNS cloud Indie Design thread, Where do you feel if at all GNS could help in design? Or do you feel it is…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Ron Edwards, Sylus Thane, ethan_greer, M. J. Young, Emmett, WDFlores, Paganini, Mike Holmes, Wormwood, jdagna.

6/5/2003 C. Edwards: System, Fidelity, and Points of Contact
I’ve never really been able to see System as being Explored so much as ‘breaching’ the imaginary space. But my ‘transparency’ threshold is pretty low. For me, every Point of…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: C. Edwards, ethan_greer, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards, lumpley.

6/8/2003 taalyn: GNS detractors and Social Contract
There was a huge debate this last week on the yahoo group RPGcreate. One particular person was quite vociferous about his opposition to GNS theory (and included standard rants about…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: taalyn, C. Edwards, Alan, Sidhain, jburneko, John Kim, jdagna, ejh, Valamir, Caldis, Bankuei, Marco.

6/10/2003 quozl: Black Fire / Black Blood
Before reading the Gamism essay ( http://www.indie-rpgs.com/articles/21/ ) and the example game ( http://www.indie-rpgs.com/articles/22/ ), I found the presence of the GM to be problematic for purely gamist games. Now,…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: quozl, Ron Edwards, M. J. Young, Bankuei, Valamir, contracycle, epweissengruber.

6/11/2003 Wormwood: Genre Simulation
Recently I've realized one of my problems with the NS barrier lies in the fact that I have a tendency to design games to simulate the genre, rather than emulate…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Wormwood, Gordon C. Landis, Jack Spencer Jr, Shreyas Sampat, John Kim, M. J. Young.

6/11/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: Revised does S really exist. Or It's everywhere!
I have been thinking about the whole issue of Simulationism issue, the question on whether that particular box exists, and how this applies to hybrids. Here's what I've come up…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, Bankuei, contracycle, Cassidy, jdagna, cruciel, M. J. Young, taalyn, Ian Charvill.

6/13/2003 Robert Calder: Using character backstory to assist with coherent play
Greetings, I have been lurking at The Forge recently. This is my first post – I’ve been exploring the ‘net of late, trying to find knowledge to help me understand…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Robert Calder, Bankuei, Paul Czege.

6/13/2003 anonymouse: the Gamist Hard Question.
(side note 1: 'NIMBY' probably should've gone in the Glossary. the only reason I recognised it was from reading SimCity manuals over the years) (side note 2: how long has…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: anonymouse, Alan, Ron Edwards, Jack Spencer Jr, Lxndr, contracycle, M. J. Young.

6/13/2003 Swamplor: Gamism Essay Reaction
Arright, I've been lurking here far too long, time to post something... So I read Ron's Gamism essay and the accompanying sample game and something struck me. Actually, nothign struck…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Swamplor, Ron Edwards.

6/14/2003 Stuart DJ Purdie: Play outside of either G, N or S modes
I've been thinking a bit about the limitations of GNS theory. Namely, are there any identifiable meta-game priorities that are outside of the model that could lead to functional play?…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Stuart DJ Purdie, jdagna, Christopher Kubasik, John Kim, M. J. Young, Jack Spencer Jr, Wormwood, Ron Edwards, Alan, Bankuei, Emily Care, contracycle.

6/14/2003 Jeff Klein: T&T knife-twisting
I was reading Ron's Black Fire and came across his note on "Twisting the Knife": Design notes: I always wanted a mechanic like this in Games like…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Jeff Klein, ejh, Ron Edwards.

6/15/2003 Cassidy: A 'Step On Up' Question
[quote="From Gamism Essay"]The players, armed with their understanding of the game and their strategic acumen, have to Step On Up. Step On Up requires strategizing, guts, and performance from the…
In GNS Model Discussion
Participants: Cassidy, Ron Edwards.

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