07-07-2018, 02:41 AM
The number of bullets thing is primarily one of "wow is this really important?" It's kind of a touchstone example issue rather than one that's a specific hill to die on.
If a gun has 5 shots, 40 or an infinite number, they all cost the same, and it really doesn't effect effect the writing in a significant way, and that's the real issue: We're being told we have to include details that don't matter in most cases.
And yo, if you like realism, then by all means, include the number of rounds! Maybe it makes sense for your character, or its your writing style. But for the vast majority of characters and the vast majority of writers, its just hyper specific minutia that doesn't make much sense. Especially think about anime characters, or characters from videogames or cartoons: the reload when it's cool or when its narratively important in their home canons; wouldn't it make sense that their weapons work the same way here?
For that matter: EXACTLY how long is Gut's sword from Berserk? It actually changes CONSTANTLY, because he's an animated character. What matters is that it's big as hell, roughly as tall as he is. Saying "about roughly 6 feet" is like, fine.
Additionally the biggest reason I would like to switch to a, "what does this add to your character's narrative ability that they don't already have" is another fix for another touchstone issue: the goddamn selector switch problem. Why should it cost me MORE to give myself a power that does LESS than what it's already capable of? Making people narratively nitpick about using less than a Move or Power's current capabilities, and then CHARGING them for it absolutely ridiculous. It doesn't make sense from EITHER a writer's perspective OR a game designers perspective.
If a gun has 5 shots, 40 or an infinite number, they all cost the same, and it really doesn't effect effect the writing in a significant way, and that's the real issue: We're being told we have to include details that don't matter in most cases.
And yo, if you like realism, then by all means, include the number of rounds! Maybe it makes sense for your character, or its your writing style. But for the vast majority of characters and the vast majority of writers, its just hyper specific minutia that doesn't make much sense. Especially think about anime characters, or characters from videogames or cartoons: the reload when it's cool or when its narratively important in their home canons; wouldn't it make sense that their weapons work the same way here?
For that matter: EXACTLY how long is Gut's sword from Berserk? It actually changes CONSTANTLY, because he's an animated character. What matters is that it's big as hell, roughly as tall as he is. Saying "about roughly 6 feet" is like, fine.
Additionally the biggest reason I would like to switch to a, "what does this add to your character's narrative ability that they don't already have" is another fix for another touchstone issue: the goddamn selector switch problem. Why should it cost me MORE to give myself a power that does LESS than what it's already capable of? Making people narratively nitpick about using less than a Move or Power's current capabilities, and then CHARGING them for it absolutely ridiculous. It doesn't make sense from EITHER a writer's perspective OR a game designers perspective.