Clarification Request - Smart Critters

1. Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #1

   Lifeform - Intelligent
   NPC - Extra/Horde
   Society - Ethnic/Cultural
   
   What is the line of division between there three categories? I'd like there to be some sort of answer before someone decides that my Extra/Horde NPC should really be in the Intelligent Lifeform section.
   
   It's not about the XP, not for me anyway. The thing that would bother me would be someone moving my post from one category to another.
   
   Thanks

2. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #2

   Lifeform - Intelligent
   Used to define a new or sufficiently different species or subspecies. Many people just append culture and such into such a post, falling into the one species one culture variation.  This could be very different ethnic groups of humans (Lyrans are exotic humans), other races (red elves), new races, and so on. 
   
   NPC - Extra/Horde
   This would be for crews of ships, gangs of bandits, schools of ninjas, and such, usually associated with other posts.  These are for the crowds of people, usually associated with other posts such as the schools, ships, taverns, etc.
   
   Society - Ethnic/Cultural
   Once you have a lifeform post or utilizing an existing common race, you can then expand it for its ethinic cultural group.  So taking Humans (a common race) I could write up Englishmen, Frenchmen, Greeks, and so on. Or there could be Mountain Dwarves and Hill Dwarves that look mostly alike, but are culturally different. Or you can write up an independent post for your lifeform posts. 
   
   Societies can be totally independent of race. In an urban fantasy set in Toronto Canada, human, elves, and other races all are "culturally" Canadians.
   
   You can also associated Societies with Locations (Countries, regions etcs).  And sometimes the lifeforms are indendpent.
   
   Somewhat clearer?

3. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #3

   soooooo...
   
   my current posts in question, the Latrani and the Seitch would not be in cultures, since they are exclusively racial in organization. You cannot join either, you must be born as one. That makes the society section more clear.
   
   A society should cut across boundaries of race, gender, creed, etc, as in terms of nationality, or religion.
   
   Now, the difference between an intelligent lifeform and a Horde Extra would simply seem to be the level of detail involved, since any basic horde creature can be expanded into a full submission in the lifeform category. It seems that perhaps the Horde category would be used for terms of profession, or occupation, rather than members of an actual horde, with different jobs and associations.
   
   The problem arises that a properly written and elaborated post could theoretically go into all three of the posts, but we dont want that level of redundancy. Follow that with the notion that not everyone is going to agree with the final posting.
   
   somewhat clearer yes, but total clarity has yet to be achieved, still too gray

4. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #4

   Nah. If the post was appropriate elaborate, it would definitely go into only one. Itis only vague posts that straddle the three.
   
   NPCs, hordes, is really more for bands or large groups of repetatative similar peoples. If it is an entire species, it goes into lifeform. If it is a subtype of the species, it should probably go into lifeforms. If it is a group of a subtype or type of species, it might be horde.  If the division for the group is specifically genetic, it should probably go into lifeforms. 
   
   Most of the NPC horde posts you have posted have enough detail that they should be Lifeforms.  Now if they were just a group of a certain species, rather than the entire species, it would be appropriate to be hordes.
   
   Remember, Hordes are just groups of people with the same exact character sheet.
   
   
   
   

5. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #5

   Understood?
   Yes.
   Intutive?
   No.

6. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #6

   Is the description really not that clear?
   
   Extras-Horde These are groups where a single character sheet and description defines (nearly) every member of the group. This would be for dockside bandits, Ninjas, pitchfork and torch wielding peasants, BlackMoor Barbarians Riders, or some other loose group of near identical people. Hordes are almost always antagonistic.
   
   Ethnic/Cultural These groups are ethnic and subcultures that are associated with a given location or setting. It can also include groups for ethnic preservation or celebration.
   
   Intelligent Species A lifeform that has the power of thought and is self directed, be if animal, vegetable, mineral, or spirit. 
   
   Of course there will be some overlap, as all people are intelligent species members and part of an ethnic group.
   

7. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #7

   They are clear when you read the explanation.
   
   I was not commenting on your explanation. I was commenting on usability. That is part of what I do for a living.
   The format we use is not intuitive.
   User studies have proven that users that have to read an explanation most probably won't bother reading anything at all. Often such users go to new and simpler places.
   
   It is always much clearer in the designer's head ;)

8. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #8

   Actually only mostly responsible for these. 
   
   However, I take to category systems like a duck to water.

9. Re: Clarification Request - Smart Critters

   #9

   Notice the silence from my end.... :)

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