What about Parsons friends?

[Furin]

Will we see anything about Parsons friends in the "real" world or are they just going to accept the fact that he vanished in front of them?

[Thanatos]

Will we see anything about Parsons friends in the "real" world or are they just going to accept the fact that he vanished in front of them?

Well, you know how there's a distinction between game time and real time, and they move at different speeds... he might end up gone for minutes or years, regardless of how long the war on Erf takes. Maybe he never comes back... but I doubt that. I think that as much as this is a dream he's always hoped for, he'll want to return to Earth eventually. If the time difference is minor, though... he might go back to Erf sometimes, like a twisted version of the Avatar from the Ultima series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima

[donkyhotay]

Or maybe after having already fought the battle once he'll come back knowing exactly how to win.

[benthehater]

I think "friends" might be a bit of an overestimation. His sudden departure from the world they know was met with some mild surprise, and then they started claiming his stuff.

I imagine they might have sold his car too. For a 12 pack of Busch Light.

[pclips]

True spoiler, from the author. Think before clicking, please. Seriously.

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I was glad to see this thread, because there are some plans to involve Parson's gaming buddies in the future of Erfworld. If everything goes as we hope it will, then you have not seen the last of those guys.

[Khantalas]

I love me spoilers. Especially if it's from Elvis.

[Sampi]

Pclips, you tease. I cannot click that spoiler button, yet I cannot restrain myself. You have forced me to turn off my computer.

[SteveMB]

Pclips, you tease. I cannot click that spoiler button, yet I cannot restrain myself.

At what point on the graph do "must" and "cannot" meet?

[StickMan]

I think we will end up with them leading enemy army's later in the story line. It would be funny if he had to fight them and they new each others strengths and weaknesses.


Hey I just became an Orc sweet, wait whats that smell, no its the smell of Orc, I just got use the the dwarfs dirt smell.

[Zanaril]

At what point on the graph do "must" and "cannot" meet?

At "brain imploding".

[Sampi]

At what point on the graph do "must" and "cannot" meet?

At about four drinks. Soon, I will hit five, and the must hit the button will prevail.

[dakiwiboid]

OMG! pclips, I clicked the spoiler button, and now I'm so excited! My brain's fermenting with ideas about how you're going to bring that about!

[Strengfellow]

I would post my thoughts on this topic but I don't know how to do spoilirs. So I forbear

[Cobra_Ikari]

[spoiler]Text in spoiler[/spoiler]

I liked Parson's friends. And I think my friends would react similarly.

If I were with someone, and they disappeared, my thoughts would be something like "Oh-my-god-he-just-disappeared-quick-be-witty-to-diffuse-tension-before-your-brain-explodes".

[Strengfellow]

Right heres my take on how to get Parsons friends into Erfworld.

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Theory one: Ansom has them ported in to lead his army against Stanleys after Parson routs his forces in the battle.
Possible as it recreats the game dynamic quite nicely.

Theory two: Stanley has them brought in to lead other battles / plan campaign / do logistics, one by one after Parsons stunning victory at Gobwin knob.
Bringing them in as the need arises and as Parson recomends his "lieutenants".
Possible depending on how long the present battle last's

Theory three: Car crash, tornado etcetera AKA deus ex machina.
Inconseivable.

Thank you Cobra

[donkyhotay]

Well since tool and wanda just simply BOUGHT the ultimate warlord spell I don't see any reason for anyone else being unable to buy that same spell from the hippiemancers. Even wanda and tool theoretically could buy it again if they ever get more money.

[Darth Paradox]

Right heres my take on how to get Parsons friends into Erfworld.

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Theory one: Ansom has them ported in to lead his army against Stanleys after Parson routs his forces in the battle.
Possible as it recreats the game dynamic quite nicely.

Theory two: Stanley has them brought in to lead other battles / plan campaign / do logistics, one by one after Parsons stunning victory at Gobwin knob.
Bringing them in as the need arises and as Parson recomends his "lieutenants".
Possible depending on how long the present battle last's

Theory three: Car crash, tornado etcetera AKA deus ex machina.
Inconseivable.

Thank you Cobra

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I like Theory One. It brings to mind conflicts like the Civil War and the global conflicts in the Ender's Shadow series where former military academy classmates meet on opposing sides of the field of battle. It can make for some fantastic drama.

[SteveMB]

Right heres my take on how to get Parsons friends into Erfworld.

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Theory one: Ansom has them ported in to lead his army against Stanleys after Parson routs his forces in the battle.
Possible as it recreats the game dynamic quite nicely.

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It would certainly put a new twist on the "what makes you think we're the bad guys" point if Ansom doesn't bother with the issue of whether the target wishes to be summoned....

[Glome]

Right heres my take on how to get Parsons friends into Erfworld.

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Theory one: Ansom has them ported in to lead his army against Stanleys after Parson routs his forces in the battle.
Possible as it recreats the game dynamic quite nicely.

Theory two: Stanley has them brought in to lead other battles / plan campaign / do logistics, one by one after Parsons stunning victory at Gobwin knob.
Bringing them in as the need arises and as Parson recomends his "lieutenants".
Possible depending on how long the present battle last's

Theory three: Car crash, tornado etcetera AKA deus ex machina.
Inconseivable.

Thank you Cobra

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Theory three has me thinking of that old dungeons and dragon cartoon where they just happen on a 'dungeons and dragon' ride that teleports them another world. I seems sort of lame to me if they 'randomly' end up in the same world as Parson without being specifically summoned. Although would make a great joke reference. 'Hey look, it's the dungeon and dragons ride. Plot.'

[Bogardan_Mage]

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It would certainly put a new twist on the "what makes you think we're the bad guys" point if Ansom doesn't bother with the issue of whether the target wishes to be summoned....

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Oh, I don't know about that. I wouldn't say "Considering the wishes of a summoned being before summoning" to be a defining feature of good. Most likely it wouldn't even occur to Ansom that the target wouldn't want to be summoned. It only occured to Stanley because he was worried someone who didn't want to be summoned wouldn't perform as well as a general (kind of like Beyurn in the Gods of Arr'Kelaan, "You can't just conscript people who don't want to fight! They'll suck!")

[Tevildo]

I think what he have here is people not thinking outside the box

Looking back at pages 14-16, you'll notice a few things. Parson couldn't possibly have been working on a game for five months and not written stuff down; that's probably what the book and stuff on the table are. You'll also notice that his friends didn't actually leave.

I expect that one of them will just sit down behind Parson's screen and begin running the game--probably when the battle actually starts--and THEIR actions in the game will influence the outcome on Parson's side. The parallels are too juicy to just plop the other people in Erfworld.

[Darth Paradox]

I think what he have here is people not thinking outside the box

Looking back at pages 14-16, you'll notice a few things. Parson couldn't possibly have been working on a game for five months and not written stuff down; that's probably what the book and stuff on the table are. You'll also notice that his friends didn't actually leave.

I expect that one of them will just sit down behind Parson's screen and begin running the game--probably when the battle actually starts--and THEIR actions in the game will influence the outcome on Parson's side. The parallels are too juicy to just plop the other people in Erfworld.

That would be assuming that Erfworld was actually Parson's game. It's pretty clear at this point that it isn't - Parson is unfamiliar with far too many details of the world.

[Imgran]

That's not definitely true. After all a world looks a lot different on the inside. Parson is wise not to simply start assuming it's his homebrewed world without knowing more about it but he's already starting to pick up a lot of similarities.

[the_tick_rules]

they're gamers, if anyone can handle weird stuff, they can.

[SteveMB]

That would be assuming that Erfworld was actually Parson's game. It's pretty clear at this point that it isn't - Parson is unfamiliar with far too many details of the world.

True -- the one thing that's established as a clear parallel is the geography of Gobwin Knob (the aerial view matches the tabletop map, and Parson recognizes the terrain). All bets are off as to details beyond the basic level of "one side defending this spot against an invasion by the other side".

[Bobbis]

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What if the exact reverse happens and erfworld gets somehow brought to earth? We know the two of them are somehow connected since Parson got summoned there. Shadowrun type cataclysm, anyone?

[Alex Kidd]

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What if the exact reverse happens and erfworld gets somehow brought to earth? We know the two of them are somehow connected since Parson got summoned there. Shadowrun type cataclysm, anyone?

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Heh I like, my idea along these lines goes After the battle for Gobwin Gnob, we cut to what remains of Ansom's forces fleeing into the real world causing havoc, magic messing up the worlds physics to the point most modern tech becomes completely unworkable, and then we find out why they're here. A massive army lead by a crusading demigodlike Stanley. Parson being the reluctant but feared right hand, probably popping cheesy Vader lines when he encounters his friends.

[Maerad of Pellinor]

True spoiler, from the author. Think before clicking, please. Seriously.

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I was glad to see this thread, because there are some plans to involve Parson's gaming buddies in the future of Erfworld. If everything goes as we hope it will, then you have not seen the last of those guys.

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When I saw that, I thought, "so what is he going to say about Parson's friends coming back? And then I thought, "do I want to know?" And then I thought, "well, I've certainly posted enough about what I think Erfworld represents, so I may as well read it." And then I read it and sighed....

I think there's going to be a third faction that summons them....

[Icewalker]

Well, when I read that that spoiler above was an actual spoiler for the actual plot, I immediately suspected what it was...

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that they would show up in some way, and I was happy to be right. I think they will either come due to Parson asking for their help, or that other theory, Ansom getting their help. I think it'd be funnier if it was Parson asking for them.

[Uthrac]

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I think the most likely outcome is for the friends to show up on Ansom's side. Parson wanted to play the game "for real," and his friends were set up in the real world to "command armies."

Note also that in http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0015.html Parson tells his friends that they are about to "command armies." As the game comes to life for Parson, it seems logical that he will soon play against the very players for which he designed the scenario.