So, my column is late. Yesterday, when I started to write, it was almost late. Then, I fell asleep. Either that, or I was playing poker while looking at porn, as Lewis Black talked in another browser about us screwing with the water in America. NAH... I fell asleep. Anyway, I had an idea the other day; I was writing a vague conflict matrix system for Heisenberg and I said:

Many roleplayers seem tired of mindless ultraviolence. We want John Woo violence, violence that has consequences. Violence, when appropriate, could even gain bonuses. Sociopaths could gain bonuses, but they may be the same people who get bum rushed by a crowd because they are all "Richard Ruben". The fact that people may disallow or disable combatants when the social mores do not allow for some type of violence is an important consideration. In the Victorian era, this was epitomized in the officer’s code; in chivalrous times it was similarly defined. In fact, the argument could be made that ever since there was the idea of martial combat there have been social mores that either allowed or disallowed different kinds of violence. This ties directly to the idea of social violence. This secondary conflict resolution system needs to be in Heisenberg.

Combat cannot occur unless the combatants first pass an environmental test and a social test. This accomplishes two things. First, it creates a social reinforcement structure that resembles modern society. Second, it discourages the boneheaded ultraviolence that the grognards seem to find so engaging. An example of combat would start with a player who wants to inflict violence on another. This may include social violence, but that will come later. The environment will have a direct effect on the first test. It will be much easier to get in a fight in a bar or a dockyard than it will to be in a public square or a street. In some places, such as a funeral or a political fundraiser, it may be almost impossible to engage in combat. Once the environmental test is completed, the instigator must exercise a demeanor. The demeanor is a mental test that allows the instigator to initiate violence. Once both of those tests are completed the combat proceeds as in any other game. The violence may spill over into inappropriate locales or social situations that may cause new tests for environment or demeanor. These may not be individual tests in the sense that they are discrete die rolls; they may instead be simply modifiers to other rolls. It is also possible that in some situations the environmental or social tests would not be necessary – on a battlefield, or other areas designed for violence. The consequences of these actions will be two-fold. One, it will prevent the overzealous violence that is the first response in many games. "I open the door, I see the baby in the manger, I kill it." Even though this is a vast oversimplification of the problem, the fact that physical conflict is so clearly defined in comparison to every other thing in roleplaying games makes violence the primary conflict resolution method. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. By forcing the players and GMs to go through the mental process of creating violence, we may address that issue. Secondly, we can add a conflict resolution system for non-physical confrontation.

After I finished I realized walking back to my car from lunch that this may be the first unique idea I have ever had. Not original, because I still firmly believe that there are no new ideas, and I also think it is dependent on the myriad experiences that make up me, but unique in that I think I may have made some new leaps. I, me, myself; and no one else. I did not read it in the Forge, or Story-Games (which is hosed for right now, I am sorry to hear), or even here on RPGnet.

I came up with it myself, and it only took me 29 years of play.

You know we all have good days and bad days, but more often than not I read Jared Nielsen (who lays eggs*), or Clinton Nixon (who may lay eggs*), or one of the other intelligentsia and think, "who am I kidding?" What business do I even have in this debate (you in the cheap seats -- pipe down). I know I am a great player. Not to blow my own horn too much, but I have been told this by many people. I know I am a great referee. Trust me, when people tell you that for nearly thirty years you start to believe. With all that -- and knowing I get RPGs like few other people in the world -- I still feel outclassed sometimes.

This wasn't one of those days, but a few hours later I got an email telling me that Chad Underkoffler's amazing Truth & Justice was nominated for an ENnie. As was, I found out when I went to the ENWorld (where you can go to vote for your favorite), our own Mike Fiegel (aeon) for his work on Baba Yaga. Normally I would be incredibly torn, but Truth & Justice was more inspired,though not more artful, or more well-written. It was the way that the subject matter was approached and the idea executed that made it better. I wish them both the very best, and will be sitting up front at the ceremony waiting for the announcement.

Which brings me to GenCon. Actually, Southwest Airlines will bring me, direct from Tampa International Airport, to GenCon. There, I will enjoy champagne and caviar in my luxuriously appointed suite full of RPG-obsessed coeds who laugh at all my puns; I will sign autographs and ride in a stately sedan chair; I will wake up, and maybe put the pipe down.

I will stand in line to meet, talk to, or buy drinks for all of the people I feel are truly awesome. I'll probably still get choked up (just a little) when I say hi to Dave Arneson -- who actually knows my frigging name. If that isn't just whacked, I do not know what is. I will try not to fawn over Ken Hite (and never let him know that the rosey crosses were from me). Peter Adkison's attorney was kind enough to relax the restraining order -- and I can't tell you what a relief that is. Those of you who can't look away from this little sideshow will surely remember the two columns I have already written about going to GenCon (you know this one, and this other one). We do not need to go over all of that again.

When I come back I expect to know when the City of Heroes RPG will be released, what hot new license is coming (and it’s a big one), and maybe even an official release date for D&D 4e (which I predicted will be GenCon 2007 some months ago). In the mean time support Gamers for Personal Hygiene.