| "In order to have a change of fortune at the last minute you have to take your fortune to the last minute. We must do what we can." "And if that doesn't work?" "Then we did what we could, until we could not." Terry Pratchett, "Thief of Time" |
The first thing he said was "Turn back," and I asked him why. "'Cause, according to Llewella, Eric can cream you now. She says wait a while, til he relaxes, and hit him then -- like a year from now, maybe." I shook my head. "Sorry," said I. "Can't. Too many losses involved in getting us this far. It's a now-or-never situation." Random and Corwin, Nine Princes in Amber |
Stressful situations generally, and roleplaying games particularly, bring out the cautious multi-taskers in everyone. Unsure of their course, players flit from plan to plan as the urges strike them. Play by email, where players can brood for hours on a single post, makes this much worse. I've seen people asked for a firm, "yes or no" decision say (essentially) "Yes... but then again no... or rather, it depends... which is to say no... unless yes would be better."
I'll let you in on a little secret: Almost any decision, followed up forcefully and with determination, will be better (both in-game and in terms of drama) than waffling. Waffling is evil, a sin. Don't do it.
Beware particularly the time-distributed waffle. You decide "Yes, it is worth invading Amber, even though I know full well it will be difficult". Then when it gets difficult you say "Maybe I'd be happier on vacation in the Bahamas". I don't want to stop people from reacting to changing circumstance (suddenly Amber is under Chaos attack, so you turn your invading army into defenders), but I hate to have a good drama defused because people simply lose their nerve.
Remember, when you give up in the face of resistance you are telling the world (and more importantly the Family) that your character is a quitter. Who's going to respect a Prince of Amber who they know will turn and run at the first sign of opposition?
| Ben: We're never going to make it, Ada. They'll get crossbows in before we pass the Second Veil. | ||
| Bad | Good | Better |
| Ada: You're right. We'll never make it. We'll have to make a break for the dungeons and see if we can get out a back way. | Ada: The Second Veil's a long way in. We'll just have to chance it and hope they can't get a clear shot. Let's go! | Ada: Give me your sword, I'll bar the door. But we can't turn back now, and you know it. If they break through then they break through. Let's go! |