Drifting Pollen

Arena Chat Thread

@MelonHead
Stop being British so loudly. We're having a discussion about food, not drivel.

@LeeRoy

The Crown discusses what it wants, you useless tea-wasting secessionist! I adjust my monocle at you!

(That being said, one should also remember Swiss chocolate. That overly commercialized Toblerone aside, they do make some good stuff!)

Arena Chat Thread

To be honest, I think either way can work... On one hand: on my 'home' forum, numbers are barely ever used at all in a fight (other than prep counts) and I've been able to do several fun, clean fights there. On the other hand, I've also been on forums where everything is stat-based (e.g. 'my character has 20 speed, and can therefore run a 3 minute mile') and have still been able to do several fun, clean fights.

So really, I think people should just go with whatever system they prefer. The fact is that problems and arguments don't arise from a specific system, they arise from people being stubborn. From what I've seen, such people will start arguments no matter which system is used... Now, whether or not arguments are a normal part of RP fights or not is a whole different can of worms, but essentially using numbers or not using them won't help much if the people fighting are already the kind who don't get along smoothly.

Arena Chat Thread

Force equals mass times acceleration squared

@ImportantNobody

I'm sorry, but that's wrong. Force equals mass times acceleration, there's no square in there.

Arena Chat Thread

tl;dr Statistics are a limiting factor which is what makes them useful, generally vague descriptions of abilities are going to leave too much room for subjectivity and cause problems in ranked fights.

@MelonHead

IDK... I think these 'problems' only arise when both sides become more dead-set on winning than on having fun.

I've personally experienced bullshitting of the kind you describe. However, I can make up for this by having vague abilities of my own. If someone says "but my attack/defense is stronger!" then I'll just ask them how they know. With no numbers to support either side, the attack that comes out on top is usually the one with more preparation and planning behind it. Of course, I've had opponents who just BSed their way through everything I threw at them regardless- but they knew they were bullshitting, and eventually conceded with barely any argument and no need for judge intervention. Honor is not dead, it just takes a little patience to lure it out.

Not saying that numbers are bad per se, but I've dealt with vagueness in plenty of fights, and it's never stopped me from having fun or wrecking faces.

In quasi-related news, I've started up the project I discussed a month or two ago, the Gaian Combat League as a sort of spiritual successor to the large-scale tournaments my community used to have.

@Darth

I am so in!

Running and Gunning - Higan Vs. The Magna Pater

Well, if nobody can agree...

I hereby claim the last word of this argument!

Anyways, seeing as the fight is unranked and no final decision was requested, I'm just going to leave it as is. Both sides can walk away believing they won. Congrats to both of you, I guess... though TBH I am not impressed with either, given how easily things devolved into a spite-fest.

That aside, there was some good writing IC in the earlier bits, and although it was riddled with issues, the showdown in the cave was pretty cool. So well done on those parts, and good luck to both of you in future fights!

Running and Gunning - Higan Vs. The Magna Pater

@Drifting Pollen Higan is on top of a hill looking around with Electric vision, can he see the Pater yet? Also there is nothing about the Pater being particularly sneaky, certainly not silent, so with the benefit of knowing how Higan is listening is he also unaware of any sound in this completely empty forest?

@MelonHead

Higan can't see it, nor can he hear anything.

You'll note that I said he could hear it earlier (based on the trick you PMed me), and the capabilities of the electric vision have already been established. Even if I were to lean towards Higan's senses being 'better' than Pater's stealth, he still wouldn't pick up anything on audio or visual in the current situation.

@Doc Doctor maybe it'd be best to just tell him at this point? Melon's going to figure it out eventually, and I don't see much point in dragging this on a few more posts.

Superheroics 101

Am still around. Have posted quickly in each round, and fully intend to keep on doing so regardless of how quiet it gets.

Running and Gunning - Higan Vs. The Magna Pater

I think I've figured out Doc's strategy.

He's boring Higan to death!

Divinity Vs Dazsos!

I don't see any use arguing your point beyond saying... no, you're wrong... running does require both feet frequently be lifted off the ground. Try it for yourself.

@Dazsos

As a cross-country runner, I can attest that it actually doesn't. It's perfectly possible to run with one foot always on the ground... just not very fast. You're half right, in that quick running does require airtime. Here's an example of proper sprinting form for reference:

youtube.com/watch?v=PH-3cHxXAK0

Arena Chat Thread

Probably. The running/gunning one, yeah?

@Rilla

Probably, since as far as I'm aware I'm the only one doing rulings on that... sounds like I may have messed up somewhere. Too late to change things now, but will check back and see if I can learn anything from it.