More Leeway for Normal Flavor

[Vi]

Reading a bit, I would prefer somebody not to be declared/proclaimed an 'Experienced Mod' or anything like that until they've modded at least 2 or 3 successful theme games (2 if large, 3 if mini). Successful being decided upon by a general consensus among the players that the games in question were enjoyable AND balanced. Mods who consistently do bastard games (like Tarhalindur, who can make a good, balanced game even with 69 degrees of bastardry) should be given a special classification of 'Bastard Mod'.

Anyone disagree with the thresholds?

Well, it doesn't take a lot of brainpower to put together non-gamebreaking flavor.
The "bastard mod" criterion serves no purpose in your arrangement except vanity.

[Mr. Flay]

The "bastard mod" criterion serves no purpose in your arrangement except vanity.

QFT. I trust our "experienced mods" to run appropriately labeled and managed Bastard Mod games without a classification.

[zoraster]

I don't like the trend* of people who seem to consider bastard modding some sort of accomplishment. It is decidedly not. That's not to say a bastard game can't be good, but it is to say that it is not the mark of a "good" or super mod. The reason tar's games got so much press is largely because the games are highly creative -- the bastard element is just one that allows that creativity to flow.

But bastard modding itself is no accomplishment. In fact, I tend to think less of a mod who goes with a bastard modded game for the heck of it or because he just thinks it'll be more fun. If it serves a purpose, fine. Otherwise, it's not some sort of method to "prove yourself" as a mod. I don't think

any

mod should start out at the design phase by thinking that he wants to design a bastard game.

*I say trend because I've noticed it over the course of the past year to year and a half, but it may well not be a trend but rather something that has unfortunately always been the case.

[ReaperCharlie]

Without vanity, Bastard Mods are nothing

But in all seriousness though, yeah it does seem to be an upward trend to include bastardly roles or change things about the setup during the game. And some people aren't nearly as good at it as others.

[ReaperCharlie]

But bastard modding itself is no accomplishment. In fact, I tend to think less of a mod who goes with a bastard modded game for the heck of it or because he just thinks it'll be more fun. If it serves a purpose, fine. Otherwise, it's not some sort of method to "prove yourself" as a mod. I don't think

any

mod should start out at the design phase by thinking that he wants to design a bastard game.

QFT btw

[Ythill]

This is veering off-topic without achieving or explicitly failing to achieve its stated goals. I'm sure there are threads about bastard modding...

Both Flay and I took a stab at creating the policy Mith asked for. Comments on those? Other attempts?

It seems like a fair number of experienced mods think that non-standard rolenames should be reserved for the theme queue. What about shaft's idea of non-flavored names?

[zoraster]

This is veering off-topic without achieving or explicitly failing to achieve its stated goals. I'm sure there are threads about bastard modding...

Both Flay and I took a stab at creating the policy Mith asked for. Comments on those? Other attempts?

It seems like a fair number of experienced mods think that non-standard rolenames should be reserved for the theme queue. What about shaft's idea of non-flavored names?

Can you state them both concisely again, Ythill? It's not (just) that I'm lazy, but I think that'll help get us back on track.

[Mr. Flay]

Ythill's are here: http://mafiascum.net/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 8#p2413048
mine are here: http://mafiascum.net/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 3#p2411923

I'm not quoting them because they should be read in context of the comments that follow them.