With this in mind, I think an appropriate level of tentativeness in suggestions is called for. I'm not speaking specifically to you, hpox, or whoever, just making a generic and broad point about the GDW as a whole.
I think this is really important. Really, really important.
Yes, it's absolutely true and mostly "understood' that every single paragraph posted in the GDW -- except those made by the designer -- is prefaced with either "I suggest," or "In my opinion," or "It seems like," or "Perhaps." That's good.
But, I think it's important that we all work hard to use those phrases anyway. I think it comes down to "manners," an old-fashioned concept that, while it's becoming less and less popular every day, is still an important thing.
There's a sense -- a strong sense, and a good sense -- that we're all friends here. But we're really not friends, not in the sense of people you've spent weeks worth of hours around, whose every intonation you grasp instantly and whose every insult you know is "just kidding." We're actually strangers with a shared interest, and who also happen to be nice people that sincerely want good things for each other. And over time friendships have begun to form.
There are at least two people here who I consider real friends, people I think I can be really frank with and know that they will definitely automatically understand that the "In my opinion"s and "I suggest"s are part of every paragraph. In theory it's safe for me to say "that's a bad idea, do not do that" to those folks.
But even with them I still add in the clear "this is a suggestion" words most of the time, as I know that in written communication -- in particular the type of brief written communication that tends to occur on the net -- it's very, very difficult to know the tone in which something was "said."
I'm not suggesting we baby each other, and never criticize each others ideas or work, since the whole GDW is designed around giving criticism and suggesting new ideas. I am suggesting, though, that we consciously work to make certain our words sound polite.
*Steps off soapbox*
-- Matthew
So long as people keep this last in mind, I think we'll all be happy -- the game up for discussion is, in the end, the designer's to do with what he wants, and I think suggestions should be made in a way that recognizes this. The larger point is that the commentors need to keep in mind that they have never played these games, and haven't thought about them nearly as much as the designer. So, what seems like a "bad" mechanic may exist for a perfectly good reason. With this in mind, I think an appropriate level of tentativeness in suggestions is called for. I'm not speaking specifically to you, hpox, or whoever, just making a generic and broad point about the GDW as a whole.
And, if the designer wants to reject certain suggestions, that's well within his prerogative -- we aren't trying to design each other's games, we're trying to give honest suggestions based on our impressions from reading the rules.
The problem is that some towns will have more Deeds than others in the deck. Thus, a "teleporting" Jesus would spend too much time in those towns. Of course, there will be an event or two that cause Him to teleport.
As for an "automatic Jesus", I'm a bit unsure whether this will work, mainly because I'm concerned that there won't always be a Deed of whatever action category happens to be at 4 in whatever town Jesus happens to visit. I think that I like Matthew's suggestion better -- Jesus either moves towards the town w/most Deeds, or stays put -- you decide. Sure, it's a bit athematic, but I think it's ok.
It's a little hard to say. I think I'll try to make up some sample cards and just try moving some pieces around on the board to see how likely it is that Jesus, through random movement and automatic Deed performing, actually would be able to perform any Deeds. It's worth trying it out to see...
-Jeff