Quote:
geoschmo said:
Because doing so in the game is acceptable behavior, and in fact a required part of the game where there can only be one winner.
|
I disagree with the "required part" of your statement. I've won a few games, all without betraying anyone. Slynky's won a few games, and to the best of my knowledge he hasn't betrayed anyone either. I've played in a few games that Asmala was in and have never seen him betray anyone either. So, it seems it is not "required", merely an option. I want to make sure I'm absolutely clear on what I consider betrayal. Using a treaty to bypass an ally's defenses; Pearl Harbor style attacks where as an ally you position fleets over one or more of the ally's worlds and then drop the treaty; agreeing to some action (e.g. trade, gift, etc.) then not following through and blaming it on a game glitch; allowing a third party to attack an ally through your space; talking your ally into attacking a third party or waiting until they've done so and then attacking them; passing information you gained from an ally to a third-party without your ally's permission; and any other actions which take advantage of your alliance to the detriment of your ally. In a "Last man standing" game, such as the tournament game I mentioned in an earlier post, it's inevitable that you'll have to fight your ally if the game comes down to the two of you. That's fine. You can stipulate that at the begining of the alliance. This alliance is for x number of turns, or until a certain goal is met. When it's time to end the alliance you can send a notice to the other player giving them fair and ample warning that the alliance is about to end. And I see it as perfectly valid to terminate an alliance if your ally proves untrustworthy or gets you into a jam. In some games I spell out terms of any alliances I enter into. I'll propose making them for specific amounts of time, renewable if both parties agree. That way the other player knows what the situation is and can plan accordingly.
Quote:
geoschmo said:
Doing so out of the game may be expected by some, and may in fact happen quite often, but it's not acceptable behavior in a civilized soceity. You play by the rules of the game while you are playing the game. You operate according to the rules of soceity and ethical behavior in real life.
|
In a role-playing game I agree wholeheartedly. In other games I don't agree. There's ethical and unethical behavior, whether it's in a game or not. Let's see if I can make a couple of analogies to illustrate my point. Is it acceptable for a player to intentionally injur a player on the other team to enable their team to win? I played basketball in high school and started to play in college, a junior college, too. One of the first things the coach discussed was protecting the ball. One of his instructions was that if an opponent was trying to slap the ball out of your hands to try and hit them on the on the point of the finger with the ball in the hopes of injuring the hand and slowing them down or putting them out of the game. Now, there's nothing expressly in the rules about that, at least as far as I know, so I guess it's okay. It might be lumped in under "unsportsmanlike conduct", but it's one of those things that would be almost impossible to prove. But it sure sounds unethical and unsportsmanlike to me. Enough so that I quit playing basketball. I didn't want to win that bad. Apparently the coach did want to win that bad. Carlos Boozer of the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped ship and went to Salt Lake City after having promised Cleveland that he'd stay with the Cavaliers. Is there anything in the rules that says he can't do that? Nope. Is it ethical? Nope.
Quote:
The desire to do well is universal, it's not limited to games. But life is NOT a game. There is not only one "winner" in life. For me to do well in life I do not have to hurt those around me.
|
Again I am forced to disagree. A new position comes open and you and a coworker friend are the only two in line for it. There's only one position so one of you will win and the other will lose. You and a friend both have the hots for the same girl. What's the rule, "all's fair in love and war"? Ethics goes beyond rules, whether it's in life or in a game. Let's say I figured a way to read SEIV turn files. Is there a rule that says I can't use my newly discovered skill to win games? Or should I be saluted for my cleverness? After all espionage is a key part of the relationship between real nations and cvivilizations. Everyone has the same opportunity to do what I have done so am I inside or outside the lines here?