The Echo Game! Something Different! Exclamation Marks!

[Genni]

Will there be a 'morality' score as well, for times when you commit a crime but don't get caught, or if you're in charge of a country simply change the law to make anything you do legal?

[SpookySquid]

@Genni If you steal and don't get caught, the viewers will probably start to dislike you more.

Also, OOC will be up tomorrow afternoon, with all of the details sorted out.

[SimplyJohn]

@SpookySquid Unless you steal from someone who deserves it, or make the theft a suitably entertaining romp. :)

The spectator vote will be the biggest upset to any plan, since you can never be sure what the viewers will enjoy seeing from one post to the next. Sticking with the predictable, logical steps of a long-term plan could be a very successful strategy in-game, but would be boring to watch, while an exciting and daring adventure may draw more fan approval.

On the other hand getting too wild and crazy may confuse and scare the audience, turning them as much against you as being boring and tedious.

If there was a way of accurately gauging any audience's response to works of fiction then the media production industry would be a very different place to work in. :)

[Genni]

@SpookySquid Unless you steal from someone who deserves it, or make the theft a suitably entertaining romp. :)

@SimplyJohn

The old Robin Hood shtick.

[SimplyJohn]

@SpookySquid What'd be the process for developing new technology within the game? If I used modern day knowledge to introduce something which could've been built using the technology available within the game what's to stop everyone else immediately doing the same thing?

Would there be any development delay for introducing new technology? Or espionage to find out what other players have got access to?

[SpookySquid]

Of course there would be espionage! As far as technology development, the characters would probably struggle a bit. This is partially because technology in Echo is actually past technology in the real world at the time. Some invention that are created are either impossible in the real world, or not common in the real world. For example, Denmark might have people using jet packs to get to work. However, some countries have technologies going back all the way to the stone age. In addition, the spread of technology can vary, depending on the the invention and market.

I know that there are some holes and gaps in the system that I'm going to address in the OOC post, which will provide more details. I promise that the OOC will be up in three or four hours, I'll try and put a link in here for all of you.

[SimplyJohn]

For example, Denmark might have people using jet packs to get to work. However, some countries have technologies going back all the way to the stone age.

@SpookySquid

But as a character with knowledge of modern day science it's possible they could develop gunpowder from minerals available in the Stone Age settlements, which at the very least would allow them to construct bombs and grenades. If they also know metallurgy the tribesmen could soon be producing rifles and cannon (presuming the player also understands the techniques required for rifling.)

In the meantime the Dutch may have jetpacks, but without knowledge of explosive ordnance they might not be able to construct payloads for missiles and rockets, and they might end up losing a war against a technologically inferior but more specialised opponent.

Would there be any form of patent control in the game, where a player can hold a monopoly on certain designs and techniques developed by their nation first?

[SpookySquid]

@simplyjohn

Yes, they could spread these inventions and technologies to the stone age societies. It is possible to invent something new and different than many are familiar with. Many countries don't have nuclear warheads. Also, if the Dutch weren't prepared for conflict, they would probably be trumped my a more militaristic society, but one that was far less technologically advanced. Even if the Dutch did have better weaponry, they may still lose because of worse military training.

Whether or not monopolization is acceptable depends on the individual country's laws.

Patenting is a thing. If you invent an automatic telephone cleaner, nobody else will be able to whip one up and call it their own invention. You will receive a bit of cash for the invention and kick back from whenever it is sold, if you can successfully patent it.

[SimplyJohn]

Patenting is a thing. If you invent an automatic telephone cleaner, nobody else will be able to whip one up and call it their own invention. You will receive a bit of cash for the invention and kick back from whenever it is sold, if you can successfully patent it.

@SpookySquid

Would there be a period between when you 'invent' a new technology and when it can be applied for the first time? For instance, if you create a steam engine for the first time then your country would have to go through a period of transition as all the factories are upgraded to having steam engines running their production lines. During this time you wouldn't be able to benefit from the increased productivity of your factories, since the production lines wouldn't gain the benefit of the new system until the upgrade is completed.

You could even impose a penalty to the production for the upgrade period, as factories would have to stop production while upgrading, which would cause a short-term deficit to your country's productive output in exchange for a long-term boost once the upgrade has been finished.

[SpookySquid]

http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/80960-the-echo-game-something-different-ooc-is-open-always-recruiting-exclam/ooc

OOC is up! Feel free to post Character Sheets and such!