[MUD-Dev] Re: Issues from the digests and Wout's list

[Jon A. Lambert]

> From: Jeff Kesselman <jeffk at tenetwork.com>
> Date: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 6:26 PM
> Two thoughts:
> (1) Beware putting characters into roles based on character sex.  Gender-roles
>     are fast becoming a moribund concept in our society and you would
>     definately offend soem people (me, for instance ;) )
>     The only excpetion is where your game is set in an earlier era or world
>     with stronger roles but EVEN THEN players shoudl be allowed to be
>     "exceptional" men or women who break the stereotypes-- such have always
>     existed historicly.  The reaction of then world shoudl not penalize
>     them significantly for this, though it should ideally be visible in the
>     "fluff" (NPC comments and so forth.)

I guess this depends on the theme you are trying to model.  Complete
equality between the sexes could be an interesting theme for a 
really fantastic world.  ;-)
The theme I am developing is along the lines of ancient greece.   Roles 
for females will be restricted or made difficult in game terms for certain 
professions.  Since RPing is essential, amazon warrior types will perhaps 
suffer from predjudice from other warrior players and from mud institutions.  
I have no interest in modelling any concepts external to the mud, like political 
correctness.  

> (2) 

Bleh.

> >As for players being oriental, I don't think it would be a cause for
> concern unless
> >there are major disadvantages between being oriental and being whatever the
> >alternatives are.  There has to be some sort of balancing.
> 

Again this is strictly a thematic decision.  There are quite a number of themes
where this would be an essential aspect of the game.   For instance the book 
"Neuromancer", or "The Man in the High Castle", or various historical
periods that strike your fancy.  I for one, would love to RP Jackie Chan in some
Hong Kong epic. :-)
I guess if you are modeling some historical asian period like the heros and gods
of ancient China or the Japanese Shogun period you would have to present us 
hapless westerners with enough philosophical background material so we 
could play within the spirit of the theme.