PBW ethics, opinions please.

Arkcon · #1 January 10th, 2003, 05:16 PM

'Kay, see it comes up once and a while. No one seems to have a specific beef -- but a nondescript problem. I made an entry in the Encyclopedia Malfadorica here:

Maybe people can add to it there or post some things here.

(or edit my entry over there completely so it's more clear.

)

[ January 10, 2003, 15:17: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

dogscoff · #2 January 10th, 2003, 05:40 PM

I have to say I'm not fully in agreement with the tech sharing article. I am opposed to the use of any exploits or gamey tactics in multiplayer games with ppl who object to them, but I don't think tech sharing is either of those things; it's just a logical way of optimising your output with a neighbour. I'd be interested to see what everyone else thinks.

[ January 10, 2003, 16:29: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Ruatha · #3 January 10th, 2003, 06:13 PM

I hadn't even reflected on it being in anyway "bad". I assumed all partnerships used tech sharing.

Ruatha · #4 January 10th, 2003, 06:18 PM

I didn't know "turtling" was anything common.
I had thought of doing it in a game where I'm hard pressed, to rebuild my fleet and then burst out of the shell consuming the galaxy in flames. But I think it will be too expensive so I won't be able to "turtle!" before I'm totally destroyed by my angry neighbour.

Hmm, I've used one and thought of using the other "exploit". It seems I'm a evil player using evil ethical standards! (And here I thought I was the good guy!!)

dogscoff · #5 January 10th, 2003, 06:27 PM

Ruatha: The thing about these "exploits" & "cheats" is that it very much depends who you're playing against. Some ppl might not mind tech sharing (I don't- I also practise it) or turtling (it would be very credible in rp games like the history of the galaxy for example). It just depends who you're up against. Maybe some of these malfadorica entries need to be altered to reflect that.

BTW, I was the one who added the turtling entry.

[ January 10, 2003, 16:30: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

geoschmo · #6 January 10th, 2003, 06:47 PM

I have no problem with tech sharing in principle. I don't consider it cheating or gamey or unbelievable. It's just boring.

It speeds the game up to the inevitable end game too fast IMHO. But then some people like that.

In my ideal universe noone would trade tech, and that is why we pressed Malfador for the option to disallow it at game setup. So that it can be disabled.

I prefer that the results of the game depend on my own strategy and tactics, not of the neighbors that I happen to start next to. If you happen to be starting next to Dogscoff who loves to trade tech you are going to have a huge advantage over the guy who happens to start next to me. You and the other guy could be completely equal in skill, and even in the political side of it, but if you are next to a old fuddy duddy like me that doesn't want to trade you won't be able to until you meet some others.

Geoschmo