An inkling of an magnificent idea.

[wombat]

I've come up with an idea that will waste LOTS of time, be somewhat related to Perl and be (hopefully) loads of fun for you monks. I won't say it here and now because it's only right now the basest kernel of a thought in my mind... Needs a LOT of work and I'd need to know how interested you all yould be.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Read this node and ask yourself, "Do I like Role Playing Games (RPGs)?"

if ($_ eq /Yes/) {/msg wombat;) else ignore;

[wombat]

Yeah, you're right, sorry. (Glad I'm doing this before a slew of downvotes hits) Okay, all enigmatics aside, I'm thinking of creating a Perlmonks RPG. I figured it'd be a neato thing to do. There's a system called FUDGE, which is a "open source" product to build other Role Playing engines on. You take a concept and using this base template of rules, build up the rules mechanics for the universe you're thinking of. I was thinking of doing a Play By Email RPG for Perlmonks (with html based visual aids; maps etc.). It would be silly more than anything else and a chance to further define who our pseudonyms are that we use here at the Monastery. I confess, I was secretive to spike interest. Sorry. :-)

~W

[ichimunki]

Hmmm. RPGs. Perl. Methinks there be possibilities.

My creative juices left the following mess:
I'm envisioning a system whereby turns are periodic (x turns per day), and results in calls to user built packages that handle calls for game events.

Each player takes a base module and is free to modify the handlers to send responses back to the environment as pleases them.

Environment script sanity checks response signals (i.e. is this a valid move for character (like no initiate calling down the "Wrath of Wall" on anonymous monks).

Players are free, of course, to respond to "Signal: Greeting" with "Response: Boiling Oil" all they want.

If no signal is sent, player/character module is allowed one sub WhileIdle per turn.

Framework: packages may be hosted remotely if desired (like if I have a Perl-enabled webhost), or gamesite hosted. Each module must return a result in X seconds or be defaulted to no response (for better or worse). Gamesite hosted modules do not write or read the disk, but may fetch one XML file from offsite (hosting to be provided by player)-- and probably should be verified by a second party before eval'ed.

Hmmm. Better yet. All player modules get signals and respond using XML, whether onsite or off. Offsite gets a slightly longer timeout due to HTTP transaction.

Of course there would be an obligatory stats and "state of the world" page. And obviously some messaging capability. (Players could send messages as part of their turn...)

] ichimunki stopped rambling at this point, and was noticed to have a vacant stare on his face, but looking a little giddy at the same time.

[lemming]

The ironic thing about wombat's post for me was that I defended a point about the Hero system because of TMTOWTDI the day before.

[shotgunefx]

This sounds like something for SOAP::Lite

-Lee

"To be civilized is to deny one's nature."

[chipmunk]

Did you know that ($_ eq /Yes/) will be true only when $_ contains the empty string? ;)

[turnstep]

If you are going to spend the time and energy to create a top-level Perl Monks Discussion node, at least please tell us what the idea is.

[lemming]

I have a feeling the people into RPGs will have a pretty good idea what wombat is up to.

[coreolyn]

Do I like Role Playing Games?

Hell to me reality is just the OS for fantasy. Great idea :)

coreolyn

[boo_radley]

I'll give it a try, what the heck.

[premchai21]

I already do this in the CB...