World Building: Personality vs. Data
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:17 pm
From a fantasy critic's blog on GRRM:
Which is how the game works for me.
I've never been interested in racial breakdowns and population numbers of my fantasy campaigns. Just let me if the spot is a village, city or metropolis.
And when it comes to maps, I like them vague as well. It's amused me that I, as a GM, says it will "take a while" to reach the magic store, yet someone will want to see a map and measure the distance to confirm it will be 20 minutes along the shortest route.
Why would I guessitmate a time based on the scenic route when the party says they are in a rush?
I have to admit that sometimes this makes me an impatient player. When the group wants to review all of that data so they can start up a merchant caravan, I usually head to the kitchen for some Mountain Dew.
Quote:
Yet There Are Statues blog:
Although there are some maps to be found of Westeros and its surrounding countries, Martins efforts in geographical construction and detail are merely adequate. Instead, more than any author I can recall, he has constructed a social landscape.
Looking now at a map of Westeros, the names of cities, rivers, and castles bring to mind the characters who live in or near them. I cant really tell you anything about what Casterly Rock looks like, for example, but just mentioning it evokes the wealth of detail that Martin has invested in the Lannister family and the twists and turns of their fortunes. ...
The variety in personality, character, and history is impressive and gives Martins Westeros a different and possibly greater sense of solidity than the traditional naturalistic approach.
http://matthilliard.wordpress.com/2010/ ... -r-martin/
Which is how the game works for me.
I've never been interested in racial breakdowns and population numbers of my fantasy campaigns. Just let me if the spot is a village, city or metropolis.
And when it comes to maps, I like them vague as well. It's amused me that I, as a GM, says it will "take a while" to reach the magic store, yet someone will want to see a map and measure the distance to confirm it will be 20 minutes along the shortest route.
Why would I guessitmate a time based on the scenic route when the party says they are in a rush?
I have to admit that sometimes this makes me an impatient player. When the group wants to review all of that data so they can start up a merchant caravan, I usually head to the kitchen for some Mountain Dew.