The Pros and Cons of Forced Settings and Honoring Author's Intentions - by Galaer
Galaer on 2/1/2021 at 23:52
@klatremus: So I read txt files just for you and what's so special about them. It's just simple explanation why Garrett is in mission, but I can figure that out by reading objectives and seeing what's happening in the mission. In Alcazar there was so many hard words that I couldn't understand that a lot of sentences I skipped. Remember, english isn't my native language.
People, why are you so intolerant towards me? I don't force my way of thinking towards you, but you force your ways towards me. That's unfair.
klatremus on 3/1/2021 at 02:21
I was genuinely interested in understanding why you don't read texts, as it seemed like a rule you had. I certainly wasn't trying to force my way onto you, at least that wasn't my intention. If I seemed intolerant, I apologize.
I still stand by all my questions above though, they are all legitimate.
trefoilknot on 3/1/2021 at 02:23
My view:
I don't like when FMs monkey with my default settings (lookin' at you, DB ;) ). But I *really* don't like when people skip the readme.
The readme should inform the player how the mission is meant to be approached. Players should note this information and then decide whether or not to abide. I think it's most respectful to abide, at least for an initial play-through, unless there are extenuating circumstances. But if a player chooses to disregard the instructions (as is their prerogative) they do so in full awareness of this choice. They're choosing not to enjoy the product as designed. That means no complaints. There's no guarantee that the mission will be fun (or even playable) for those who venture off the intended path.
A.Stahl on 3/1/2021 at 04:54
I will support the OP.
FM author cannot expect player to read something outside the mission itself. If there is some important information, it should be added to the mission in the form of an intro, diary, or, preferably, in some more interesting way.
And it is fundamentally unacceptable to force a player to do something. Especially if that has nothing to do with a plot. So, for example, forced ghosting is bad but sometimes it can be justified by the plot. Really good FM makers will find a way to make ghosting optional while maintaining the plot interesting.
downwinder on 3/1/2021 at 05:12
only time i ever turn off fog is if my pos tower runs mission terribly ,other wise i try to use all settings
i am pretty sure author would be ok with that
Kerrle on 3/1/2021 at 07:52
The only reason it's an option at all is due to when Thief came out. That sort of aesthetic difference would never have been left up to a user option if the game came out even just a couple years later.
Ideally missions would be setup such that indoor fog and the like wasn't an issue in the first place, but hey, we're getting a lot of awesome free content here; I can't exactly complain.
nicked on 3/1/2021 at 13:11
Quote Posted by A.Stahl
FM author cannot expect player to read something outside the mission itself. If there is some important information, it should be added to the mission in the form of an intro, diary, or, preferably, in some more interesting way.
That's literally the point of a readme file. You're saying it would be better to have Garrett make a list of known bugs, or beta testers, in his diary?
A.Stahl on 3/1/2021 at 13:15
No, I just don't think that list of beta-testers is important for a player and in an ideal situation there shouldn't be any known bugs.
But the diary is an excellent place for some story context.
Psych0sis on 3/1/2021 at 15:24
Nothing breaks my immersion more than getting a diary that is just hamfisted in by an author to be the defacto briefing. Please do not ever give me a "Garrett's Journal" at the start of a mission. Readmes are important to understanding the premise of a mission as well as certain bugs or mishaps that can happen should you play with certain mods/texture packs (textures getting misaligned, objects floating or sinking into things due to different models, etc etc.). Is simply reading a briefing in a readme file that much of a herculean task? I just do not understand.
As for fog or weather, I can understand only turning off such settings if it hinders game performance, like in Downwinder's case. Otherwise, you're missing out on an intended mechanic/theme the author put in specifically for people to experience the mission in the way they wished for. Fog will never be indoors in a modern FM unless the author explicitly designs it to be such case, the reason LOTP had it indoors is because, and maybe this will be a real shock to some people, but LGS were not the greatest developers ever to grace us players, especially so under the crunch they were under.
urgrue on 3/1/2021 at 16:45
Quote Posted by Psych0sis
... and maybe this will be a real shock to some people, but LGS were not the greatest developers ever to grace us players ...
That comes as a system shock to me.
