robkelk wrote:
________________________________________
On the flip side, there are certain rules that apply in all universes where humans live. (If they didn't, then humans wouldn't be able to live in them.)
Does handwavium apply as a relative rule or an absolute rule? Mark is suggesting the former, Bob (and I) appear to prefer the latter...
________________________________________
E: to correct layout. Problems with mobile broadband.
You posted the moment before I did.
However, humans can exist in worlds where Magic exists, yet gunpowder cannot (D&D, 1st edition). Humans can exist in worlds wher magic and technology exist side by side. Humans can exist in worlds where magic and super powers don't exist at all. And they can exist in worlds where all sorts of things happen. Handwavium has nothing to do with humans surviving in a universe.
The actual situation is fairly simple. It must be a relative rule, because it does not exist in every world. And, as it is not something that exists in every world, it must conform to the rules that are laid out for those worlds. Just like Homeline in GURPS. Most people, who use it, use it as the good guys. In my worlds, they're actually the bad guys. They can't dictate that they're the good guys, because other people will do other things with it. If you're going to introduce it somewhere that it did not exist before, it must conform to the rules of that world. As world-builders, this is what we do.
If I wanted to introduce magic into BattleTech, I must accept that any changes I personally make, are only going to work in my world. But, that also frees me from caring about other changes that are made. And, as game designers are wont to do, if the designers introduce magic into BattleTech, nothing forces me to introduce it into my BattleTech world. Handwavium is nothing but a new name for magic (I'm sorry, but it's true). Dictating that it must be used a certain way in worlds you do not understand or control is a bad stand to take as it may not fit into other worlds the same way it does in the Fen. This will turn people off from using it or even exploring it.
This is actually why I'm not certain Rose would be in Fenspace. She has many rules that she follows, and some of them will be in conflict with the rules of Fenspace.
________________________________________
On the flip side, there are certain rules that apply in all universes where humans live. (If they didn't, then humans wouldn't be able to live in them.)
Does handwavium apply as a relative rule or an absolute rule? Mark is suggesting the former, Bob (and I) appear to prefer the latter...
________________________________________
E: to correct layout. Problems with mobile broadband.
You posted the moment before I did.
However, humans can exist in worlds where Magic exists, yet gunpowder cannot (D&D, 1st edition). Humans can exist in worlds wher magic and technology exist side by side. Humans can exist in worlds where magic and super powers don't exist at all. And they can exist in worlds where all sorts of things happen. Handwavium has nothing to do with humans surviving in a universe.
The actual situation is fairly simple. It must be a relative rule, because it does not exist in every world. And, as it is not something that exists in every world, it must conform to the rules that are laid out for those worlds. Just like Homeline in GURPS. Most people, who use it, use it as the good guys. In my worlds, they're actually the bad guys. They can't dictate that they're the good guys, because other people will do other things with it. If you're going to introduce it somewhere that it did not exist before, it must conform to the rules of that world. As world-builders, this is what we do.
If I wanted to introduce magic into BattleTech, I must accept that any changes I personally make, are only going to work in my world. But, that also frees me from caring about other changes that are made. And, as game designers are wont to do, if the designers introduce magic into BattleTech, nothing forces me to introduce it into my BattleTech world. Handwavium is nothing but a new name for magic (I'm sorry, but it's true). Dictating that it must be used a certain way in worlds you do not understand or control is a bad stand to take as it may not fit into other worlds the same way it does in the Fen. This will turn people off from using it or even exploring it.
This is actually why I'm not certain Rose would be in Fenspace. She has many rules that she follows, and some of them will be in conflict with the rules of Fenspace.