Game Update
Implemented the new difficulty system starting with allowing troops to die permanently after stages resolve. I need to spend some time playing the game to see if this actually makes me feel better or worse about the gameplay experience. There is a lot of content still to build and so I will likely spend my game development time with my mentor focusing on that again. Maybe we will do a gameplay night as well.
With the change to deaths in the game I’m wondering if I need to do more with the troop duplication system. I’ve thought about creating a system that would mash up 2 troops to make one, but this concept might be a bit messy in practice. I know I’m not supposed to get to wrapped around the axle on game mechanics resembling “real life” but it is a small concern. I suppose the question is, “should the player get the feeling that this society isn’t much different from real life, or should it be more fantastical and not worry to much about the details?” Either route is viable as this is not a historic game, it’s fantasy.
A couple of weeks ago I ran a quick one shot D&D module for some friends in the world of Six Aspects. The players were working for the Zeltaris empire and were presented with a dilemma. They went to a lumber camp which wasn’t producing for the empire and after some investigation found that they weren’t able to due to some mysterious force in the forest pushing them back. When they arrived they discovered that there were some tree spirits that were protecting their home. After some dialogue with the tree spirits, they discovered that they were protecting their home.
Things like this would be great to incorporate into our event system. Although it might be better as a stage specific mission for the player to complete. We could also create outcomes which increase or decrease the players reputation, or create other effects.
Personal Update
Having more issues with my Air Conditioning at home this week. After receiving the initial quote it looks like it’s going to be rather costly. I’ll be investigating it more as the time goes on, but for now I’m living without it. Growing up we didn’t have AC at our house and I feel it’s more of a luxury than a necessity. I have a couple ways forward on it.
In doing some of my research I was interested to find that quotes could vary widely from company to company. In some ways this isn’t because it costs a company more to do something. Often it’s because they are seeing what they can get the customer to pay.
I was struck by this after reading a lot of self development books and remembering what they said in the books. Robert Kiyosaki talks about this in his books “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, and “Cashflow Quadrant". He talks about making the sale and whispering the magic words, “easy monthly payments” to the borrower. That’s exactly what happened in this case. Often we become indentured servants to this practice and in some cases it can be preditory.
Knowledge is the best way to make a solid decision in my experience. Months ago I lost my hot water heater and the quote I got was $7k and they also wanted to put me on a payment plan. Thanks to my Dad’s connections I managed to get it taken care of for $2000 which is an enormous difference. If I’ve learned anything by living here it’s not to trust people initially. I’ve never encountered more scams in my life than I have living here.
Tony Robbins talks about the concept of making a plan for your life in his book “Awaken the Giant Within.” He says, “everyone has a plan for your life so make sure you have one because if you don’t then you will simply get taken along for the ride.” This couldn’t have been truer in this situation. The AC company has a game plan, and it has their best interests and bottom line in mind. This is generally true of company’s and commercials in general.
They have a plans like “if we show them a commercial, make them emotional and create desire then they will give us their money.” When I don’t have my own plan then I can easily be swayed. I need to focus on what I want, and my plan even when it’s difficult, uncomfortable, or inconvienient. I just keep remembering “Think and Grow Rich” and I don’t want to stop what I’m doing just short of finding my gold because I listened to someone else’s plan for my life.
On the flip side sometimes a situation is mutually beneficial. It’s always good to listen and understand what people want, and decide if that fits into my plan. I don’t think that everyone is out to get me, but I do know that everyone has an agenda, and it’s not going always going to be compatible with my goals. If I follow everyone else’s plan and not my own, then chances are I will wake up one day and wonder where the time went and why I didn’t accomplish what I wanted.