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Syrinx · 09-21-2003, 02:28 PM

While I won't disagree that it is nice to be able to interact with objects in the world, in an rp game where killing is not a priority, I would much rather not see objects actually on the mob. Think about it this way: How much detail can you do on your average short description of an object? Look at the difference in these mobs when you look at them:

Mob 1 Description:

A shock of midnight black hair is wrapped into thick braids around the lean, tanned face of this young woman. Bits of loose, short hair streak around the edges of her temples in clear contrast to the soft hues of her sun-kissed skin. Her eyebrows arch sharply, and her dark eyes grant her a foreign, romantic cast. Wrapped in a dress of raw silk, the purple hue is inviting and bright. Billowing sleeves are adorned with tiny, rune-etched buttons and a platinum ring is set with a glittering black stone. Dozens of silver bangles adorn her arms, jingling in an oddly compelling manner with the slightest move of her slender wrists.

Mob 1 Description + Objects:

A shock of midnight black hair is wrapped into thick braids around the lean, tanned face of this young woman. Bits of loose, short hair streak around the edges of her temples in clear contrast to the soft hues of her sun-kissed skin. Her eyebrows arch sharply, and her dark eyes grant her a foreign, romantic cast.
[body] a purple raw silk dress with billowing sleeves
[hand] a platinum ring set with a glittering black stone
[wrist] a dozen silver bangles

Mob 2 Description
Gnawed fingernails are as red as the short, spiky hair of this lanky girl. A brass hoop hangs from a piercing at the top of one ear and her slender neck is decorated with a loop of rawhide suspending a copper charm. Her collarbone is prominent, pushing its way past the top of a threadbare cotton shirt. Narrow wrists and ankles emerge from clothing hemmed too short while a small waist is nearly lost within the wide band of her pants. Jerky movements characterize her gestures and flashing eyes are alive with humor and determination.

Mob 2 Description + Objects
Gnawed fingernails are as red as the short, spiky hair of this lanky girl. Her collarbone is prominent and narrow wrists and ankles extend from her clothing, her narrow waist lost in the wide band of her pants. Jerky movements characterize her gestures and flashing eyes are alive with humor and determination.
[head] a brass hoop earring
[neck] a loop of rawhide suspending a copper charm
[body] a threadbare cotton shirt
[legs] a pair of denim pants with a wide band at the waist

Now, I don't know about you guys, but I would much rather the first description on both mobs for two key reasons:

* If the clothing can be used to express the personality and details of the mob, as done with the second one in particular, you lose a lot by making those items. If you attempt to keep the detail in the mob, you end up being repetative.

* You can go into more detail about the clothing than a short description allows, including how it hangs on the body of the mob. Yes, an extended description could do this also, but on most games, you cannot see the extended description unless you have the item in your hands or it is on the ground.

While it may be fun to see the dress as available to have for your own uses, if this is a mob that no player is likely to ever have a reason to kill, as it true with many mobs on an rp mud, why should the detail be sacrificed for the quality of the feeling inspired by the mob?

Qualification to everything said previously: One of the things that can be powerful on an rp-intensive game is to minimize the differences between 'mobs' and PCs. If you assume mobs are alive and often see game staff manipulating the mobs in the world, there is a great deal to be said for making those mobs as 'real' as the PCs. However, this requires consistency, descriptions equal to the detail often found in the PC descriptions, and clothing quite appropriate to the particular station and activites of the mob i.e. generic would only go so far. A cotton shirt on a smith will not look the same as a cotton shirt on a barkeep. One will have visible sweat and grime staining it.

09-21-2003, 02:28 PM	#19
Syrinx New Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6	While I won't disagree that it is nice to be able to interact with objects in the world, in an rp game where killing is not a priority, I would much rather not see objects actually on the mob. Think about it this way: How much detail can you do on your average short description of an object? Look at the difference in these mobs when you look at them: Mob 1 Description: A shock of midnight black hair is wrapped into thick braids around the lean, tanned face of this young woman. Bits of loose, short hair streak around the edges of her temples in clear contrast to the soft hues of her sun-kissed skin. Her eyebrows arch sharply, and her dark eyes grant her a foreign, romantic cast. Wrapped in a dress of raw silk, the purple hue is inviting and bright. Billowing sleeves are adorned with tiny, rune-etched buttons and a platinum ring is set with a glittering black stone. Dozens of silver bangles adorn her arms, jingling in an oddly compelling manner with the slightest move of her slender wrists. Mob 1 Description + Objects: A shock of midnight black hair is wrapped into thick braids around the lean, tanned face of this young woman. Bits of loose, short hair streak around the edges of her temples in clear contrast to the soft hues of her sun-kissed skin. Her eyebrows arch sharply, and her dark eyes grant her a foreign, romantic cast. [body] a purple raw silk dress with billowing sleeves [hand] a platinum ring set with a glittering black stone [wrist] a dozen silver bangles Mob 2 Description Gnawed fingernails are as red as the short, spiky hair of this lanky girl. A brass hoop hangs from a piercing at the top of one ear and her slender neck is decorated with a loop of rawhide suspending a copper charm. Her collarbone is prominent, pushing its way past the top of a threadbare cotton shirt. Narrow wrists and ankles emerge from clothing hemmed too short while a small waist is nearly lost within the wide band of her pants. Jerky movements characterize her gestures and flashing eyes are alive with humor and determination. Mob 2 Description + Objects Gnawed fingernails are as red as the short, spiky hair of this lanky girl. Her collarbone is prominent and narrow wrists and ankles extend from her clothing, her narrow waist lost in the wide band of her pants. Jerky movements characterize her gestures and flashing eyes are alive with humor and determination. [head] a brass hoop earring [neck] a loop of rawhide suspending a copper charm [body] a threadbare cotton shirt [legs] a pair of denim pants with a wide band at the waist Now, I don't know about you guys, but I would much rather the first description on both mobs for two key reasons: * If the clothing can be used to express the personality and details of the mob, as done with the second one in particular, you lose a lot by making those items. If you attempt to keep the detail in the mob, you end up being repetative. * You can go into more detail about the clothing than a short description allows, including how it hangs on the body of the mob. Yes, an extended description could do this also, but on most games, you cannot see the extended description unless you have the item in your hands or it is on the ground. While it may be fun to see the dress as available to have for your own uses, if this is a mob that no player is likely to ever have a reason to kill, as it true with many mobs on an rp mud, why should the detail be sacrificed for the quality of the feeling inspired by the mob? Qualification to everything said previously: One of the things that can be powerful on an rp-intensive game is to minimize the differences between 'mobs' and PCs. If you assume mobs are alive and often see game staff manipulating the mobs in the world, there is a great deal to be said for making those mobs as 'real' as the PCs. However, this requires consistency, descriptions equal to the detail often found in the PC descriptions, and clothing quite appropriate to the particular station and activites of the mob i.e. generic would only go so far. A cotton shirt on a smith will not look the same as a cotton shirt on a barkeep. One will have visible sweat and grime staining it.