Mountain Missive Nr. 8
The Trap
In a cave Murgso raises a hand. His light towards a spider with a tail on the wall. The remaining travelers with minimal movement and increasing fear. One trap, two hunters. Further gestures instead of words. A well-placed thrust to separate a head from eight limbs. Yet, separation of a head from four limbs. Evolutional warfare. The silent hunter strikes from behind, connected to what is not a spider, but a tail. One trap, two hunters. The remaining travelers with minimal movement and increasing fear.
The expert trap springs twice in layers of light on a blog on game design.
By which one is caught unaware. Awareness is focus. Game play is stage play. Shine a light. The act is active choice, forced into focus, behind it the shadow is cast. Delayed in time, a fraction of a second, yet consequential. High speed delay consequences. The spring of a trap, coiled sequentialism. The other trap is unseen, out of focus, springs in darkness. If a trap springs and no one sees it ... has it sprung? When is a trap a trap?
Stage play needs observation. A trap needs perception. Unaware equals unfair. Mountain Resonance has no perception roll. Perception becomes time commitment, not luck. Consequences are a choice. Observation is a choice. The result sometimes only a hint. A half sentence. Hidden layers, obscured. Yet, the regret of a choice leading to spring a trap brings joy. Choice equals joy. Empowered to fail. Not dominated to fail. When is a trap a trap, Merriam?
Bad trap design is colonialism. The choice removed. The master decides, knows better. The consequences horrific unless the suppressed, the oppressed, the actively disadvantaged adheres to arcane rituals. Known to only a few, Merriam, the master, defining truth. Unknowable in reality.
The presented safety net is instinct. No arcane ten-foot pole delay, but born with it or honed. The reflex of being alive. Subconscious, a high speed delay to consequence. A step removed, a layer of light on top. A divine grace. The benevolent designer, knowing better is colonialism. The trap springs twice.
How do you design a trap?
Gabriel Loppé - The Shadow of Mont Blanc at Sunset, 1873
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