Comments on: The Rule Of Three http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75 Graham writes about games and stuff Fri, 22 May 2009 08:26:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Peter Hollinghurst http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-817 Peter Hollinghurst Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:46:33 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-817 I seem to commenting a lot-sorry about that, I hope it doesn't get tedious for you! Playing Cthulhu I found that the rule of three makes sense, but the rule of four works better! If you have a GM and three players, you have one player who can go mad/be a secret killer etc, one player to be his first victim, and one player to get scared. With four players you have an extra player who is unsure who the party member that has gone insane...in fact both player three and four are unsure. It adds an element of doubt within a group when things get nasty. Five on the other hand is too many as the game gets unwieldy. Both three and four work well in Cthulhu though. They are my ideal numbers of players in a game. I seem to commenting a lot-sorry about that, I hope it doesn’t get tedious for you!

Playing Cthulhu I found that the rule of three makes sense, but the rule of four works better!
If you have a GM and three players, you have one player who can go mad/be a secret killer etc, one player to be his first victim, and one player to get scared. With four players you have an extra player who is unsure who the party member that has gone insane…in fact both player three and four are unsure. It adds an element of doubt within a group when things get nasty. Five on the other hand is too many as the game gets unwieldy.
Both three and four work well in Cthulhu though. They are my ideal numbers of players in a game.

]]> By: Principle: Character death « Cogito, ergo ludo. http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-261 Principle: Character death « Cogito, ergo ludo. Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:27:35 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-261 [...] really cares for the noble’s daughter and is willing to risk death in the pursuit. Also: the rule of three may or may not be involved in making this seem not arbitrary. Something worth thinking [...] [...] really cares for the noble’s daughter and is willing to risk death in the pursuit. Also: the rule of three may or may not be involved in making this seem not arbitrary. Something worth thinking [...]

]]> By: Graham http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-256 Graham Sun, 23 Dec 2007 09:45:48 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-256 Those are great links. Thanks very much. Another thing, of course, is that the Rule Of Three is a comedy thing. It's used in jokes and so forth. Can't think of an example now, because it's too early in the morning. Graham Those are great links. Thanks very much.

Another thing, of course, is that the Rule Of Three is a comedy thing. It’s used in jokes and so forth. Can’t think of an example now, because it’s too early in the morning.

Graham

]]> By: Matt http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-255 Matt Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:09:39 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-255 Oh, also, three is great from a choices point of view. Chosing between three things is more interesting than a binary choice. Similarly, three external pressures are more interesting acting on a character than two. Oh, and thirdly you may like: http://www.copyblogger.com/rule-of-three/ a post on using threes in writing. Oh, also, three is great from a choices point of view. Chosing between three things is more interesting than a binary choice.

Similarly, three external pressures are more interesting acting on a character than two.

Oh, and thirdly you may like: http://www.copyblogger.com/rule-of-three/ a post on using threes in writing.

]]> By: GB Steve http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-253 GB Steve Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:43:08 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-253 Wiki <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_%28writing%29" rel="nofollow">supports</a> what you say. Also third time lucky (or is the charm) seems to suggest that people think something will change at the third attempt, having it do so in a game reinforces their expectations and makes them more likely to buy into whatever is happening. Perhaps doing it four times is a bit dull. Wiki supports what you say. Also third time lucky (or is the charm) seems to suggest that people think something will change at the third attempt, having it do so in a game reinforces their expectations and makes them more likely to buy into whatever is happening.

Perhaps doing it four times is a bit dull.

]]> By: Marc http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75&cpage=1#comment-252 Marc Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:37:12 +0000 http://www.catchyourhare.com/journal/?p=75#comment-252 Totally makes sense. Two points describe a line, the third point shows the new direction that the line turns to. Interesting! Totally makes sense. Two points describe a line, the third point shows the new direction that the line turns to. Interesting!

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