House of Cards GM Log

Better Posts: Concrete Meta Questions

posted by Ginger at 09:46 PM, June 24, 2003 | Filed under : Netiquette & Play Procedures | Comments and Followups

The third in the series of Better Posts addresses something that may become very important in the near future: how to ask the GMs a question that’s likely to get a meaningful answer.

The guideline is: “Ask the GMs a concrete meta question.” If you ask a concrete, detailed question rather than a vague or completely open-ended one, you’re more likely to get an answer that’s useful.

Example of a good meta question:

Remember last week when Fred did the research about x-ray specs? What kinds of things does he think he might see if he put the x-ray specs the gang just found on?

This is a good question because it asks a simple question about what Fred might know or think. The GMs may still say “Fred really doesn’t know”, but they may also say “Fred’s research suggests these aren’t really x-ray specs at all”.

The questions also refers directly to Fred’s recent in-character actions, which is more likely to get favorable attention from the GMs.

Example of a problem meta question:

What does Fred know about these specs he picked up?

This question is likely to get an answer of “nothing much”, or, if the GMs are feeling generous, something like, “how does Fred try to find out?”

Example of another problem question:

It just so happens that Fred is an x-ray spec expert. What kinds of things does he think he might see if he put the x-ray specs the gang just found on?

While the GMs do not require characters to have skills on their character sheets, sudden construction of a useful but hitherto unmentioned background skill is frowned on. If Fred has a previously-discussed background that’s helpful, or does a lot of research in play in a field that deals with x-ray specs, this is a viable question. Otherwise the GMs will get wise to this trick quickly.

On the other hand, a character who pursues too many hobbies and interests won’t know any of them more than superficially. The GMs will judge a character’s knowledge of a topic he or she is researching by the time spent, and spending time on too many projects means you haven’t done any of them well. So if Fred has 25 pursuits he mentions to the GM between public and private mail, the fact that one of them might have something to do with x-ray specs won’t really help him here.

Follow up: the trackback URL for this entry is: http://www.whiterose.org/MT/mt-tb.cgi/1856

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