Ockham's Razor - Simplicity is Key

[Taiga 764]

- Ockham's Razor -

"Simplicity is Key'

Hello 'tLotC' community, and welcome to another lecture by your host, Syrenne/Simonbane.

Now today's concept focuses itself upon a principle affiliated with the 14th century logician William of Ockham. This principle states;

"Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate"

"Frustra fit per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora"

"Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem"

or quite simply [if you're too lazy to translate that yourself];

"When you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better."

Now, to clarify what this dictum states, it simply says that the simpler answer is usually the correct answer. Why should we say that the reason we are pulled to the earth is due alien force, pulled by the strings of the time/space continuum, multiplied by the trajectory between the sun and moon, while we can simply say, "Therefore, Gravity?". Oftentimes, the simplest means of access is the best means, and with the obfuscation of our already-muddled brains.

This is referred to as, "Ockham's Razor" or "Occam's Razor" if you are being mainstream. No, it is not a pair of soiled knives that was used by Ockham to shave with, but it is the general term used to exhort that simplicity is the key to success. Although, I must admit that Ockham's Razor is not suitable for every situation, it can be applied to a great many situations.

Now, seeing as how rants and raves are popular amongst the teenagers these days, I shall make mine a bit more constructive and rhetorical. Think this over, people of tLotC, and see if the following might make you think about how things are run, and how things should be run in the future. Be warned; if you're looking for outright hatred and degrading comments about staff members, this is not the topic you are looking for.

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My first example; the Villain Application System. As a part of the Villain Application Team, I have realized that our rules are a little too stringently. Usually, a small slip-up would lead to the ultimate denial of a well-written application, oftentimes making me feel almost sorry for the person who had written the marvelous application. The sheer difficulty and extent of the forum have also driven away many an avid roleplayer, simply because they are too timid to face judgment and to commit to such tedious work whilst writing their essays. They hold potential, but shy away due to the many factors that affect their overall performance whilst constructing it.

I do not disagree with the way things are handled in the Villain Applications section, but one must consider being lenient for the sake of the server. I do not fear the roads of Asulon as I did the Kingsroad in Aegis, simply because of the fact that Villains were no longer as rampant as they were when I had started playing. No one ever thinks twice whilst a stranger yells, "Hail!" as they did before. We have ended up denying many a thug, simply because they were too "cliché" or "commonplace". Realize this; there is a reason why they are cliché— it is because they oftentimes work effectively and attribute the roads as being 'hazardous' and 'dangerous'. I believe that cliches should play their roles in Asulon, and not everyone -can- and -will- be different. I propose that aspiring villains applying for lesser evils alone, should only be required to complete a shorter application; one that is generally simple that will only test major aspects of your character's depth. The lenience of Aegis was what made it a gem.

"What if bad roleplayers become bandits and thieves?" cried the people of Asulon.

Simple solution; hire guards, strengthen defenses, and secure your valuables. Robbers are robbers, and you wouldn't be robbed if you had full diamond armour anyways. Despite the fact reasoning behind their robberies, you must admit that they will provide the inevitable loss you will face, even if you were being robbed by a person who has less-than-optimal roleplay. And if their roleplay is truly that bad, remember— Screenshot and Report are your friends.

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Another aspect of the server to mull over is the application process. I do realize that we have simplified it once before, but I have noticed that applicants still have trouble in the application process. The same problems shown in the Villain Application Process have also appeared in the Application Process as well. Although, I agree with with many of the requirements of the applications, inconsistencies of the application team have rendered the application process to be almost random to applicants. Our inconsistencies have lead us to accept an application for one member, and deny it for another. Uniformity is simpler, rather than having the application team accept on a whim. It would be much too complicated to explain why we should not accept the concept of uniformity and why the application team should not embrace this simple, yet effective concept.

Although I can find nothing else to apply Ockham's razor to, I am sure there are most aspects to simplify.

In conclusion, Ockham's Razor is one of the key concepts that allowed Aegis to be so popular amongst people, and I believe it's concept should be embraced by both players and staff. Ifi you have any other additions to contribute, post them below for everyone to see.

[Thu'um 530]

I remember when another person wrote about Ockham's Razor and claimed it should have been applied to the Application Process.. it was XO42; it wasn't that bad of an idea either.

[Taiga 764]

I remember when another person wrote about Ockham's Razor and claimed it should have been applied to the Application Process..

Yes, it was made by my friend X042. Although it was posted as a concept the Application Team should embrace, it was not made very clear itself. In this post, I clarify it's purpose, it's meaning, and what it should be applied to. Strangely enough, the post made by X042 also had to embrace the concept of Ockham's Razor, considering the complexity of the thread itself.

[ski_king3 0]

Well written, well thought out, and 100% correct. You've put many of the feelings I've been struggling to identify into words, and for that, I think you.

[ek_knight 21]

I could not agree with this more. Thank you for providing a balanced and well-thought out post, describing how I think many of us feel.

[Aryon 679]

By the laws the VAT follow, I can implement a rule into the application system saying "If your parents were killed by Orcs or Bandits, then I can deny you." No, actually. I can't.

Yes, it is cliche, and yes, it is overused. But people seem to love making their character an orphan, and who am I to stop them? I can inform them to create a more realistic and enjoyable character if I deny them - But I cannot simply say "Denied. You cannot have your parents killed." Now, perhaps if the VAT worded it differently, so that the rule informed people "We will not be accepting any bandit characters, unless they fill out an app good enough." then I would accept what the VAT did. Instead, they simply said "We are not accepted Bandit Characters."

The reason I run around with diamond armor, stacks of food? I know I won't be robbed, or come across a Highway-Man. I think that really needs to change.

[no longer active 734]

Great, I really agree with what you said about VAs. I already have an accepted VA and a mini VA for 4 so this isn't for me. Roads should be dangerous. It adds so much to the overall medieval atmosphere when there are bandits and brigands ranging on the highways. RP can start by someone escaping and reporting the attack to some knights. Yet many great RPers write enough for school and other things, they don't want to spend over 7 hours (that's how long mine took from end to end) writing, they want to RP! Yet the VAT has recently made the app harder according to Urasept!

[ski_king3 0]

By the laws the VAT follow, I can implement a rule into the application system saying "If your parents were killed by Orcs or Bandits, then I can deny you." No, actually. I can't.

Yes, it is cliche, and yes, it is overused. But people seem to love making their character an orphan, and who am I to stop them? I can inform them to create a more realistic and enjoyable character if I deny them - But I cannot simply say "Denied. You cannot have your parents killed." Now, perhaps if the VAT worded it differently, so that the rule informed people "We will not be accepting any bandit characters, unless they fill out an app good enough." then I would accept what the VAT did. Instead, they simply said "We are not accepted Bandit Characters."

The reason I run around with diamond armor, stacks of food? I know I won't be robbed, or come across a Highway-Man. I think that really needs to change.

Exactly. I've always felt extremely safe in Asulon. I think this is part of the reason people are so item obsessed, because they don't have the threat of losing them on a regular basis. It may seem counter-intuitive at first, but I think if items were lost or taken on a regular basis, there would be a sense of complacency about losing them that would keep people away from OOC attachment. Sure, there would be some level of OOC greed from bandits, but it also makes being a villain a viable option for survival.

[Taiga 764]

Exactly. I've always felt extremely safe in Asulon. I think this is part of the reason people are so item obsessed, because they don't have the threat of losing them on a regular basis. It may seem counter-intuitive at first, but I think if items were lost or taken on a regular basis, there would be a sense of complacency about losing them that would keep people away from OOC attachment. Sure, there would be some level of OOC greed from bandits, but it also makes being a villain a viable option for survival.

As much as people disregard this fact, losing -can- be fun if you're willing to embrace it. As long as good roleplay went along with it, I would be content when being slain in a fight.

[rukio 8924]

I have never understood (as in, as long as I have been here) why every villian must be extremely well thought out, have some great reason for what they do, and be super complex. Or, at least that is how it seems to me. I can see murderers needing a super appealing reason to kill, it would get boring if everyone ran around just randomly killing each other (although, I do like the idea of a serial killer mystery....hmm....where no one knows who it is in or out of character, except that person. Anyways!) I think bandits could add quite a bit of roleplay, perhaps then there could be people who could patrol the roads, keeping an eye out for bandits and such.

Bandits don't seem 'villianous' to me, not in the way murderers are. To be judged the same way seems a bit unfair. Bandits may just be stealing to 'stay alive' (in their mind) or 'because thats all they know' while a murderer may be killing 'for the pleasure it brings them.' Huh? You are still reading this? I forgot what I was saying, sorry.

tl;dr I like bandits, there -should- be a lot of them, it would be more realistic, even if they don't have superb reasons for being a bandit/thief.

[Aislin 4354]

By the laws the VAT follow, I can implement a rule into the application system saying "If your parents were killed by Orcs or Bandits, then I can deny you." No, actually. I can't.

Yes, it is cliche, and yes, it is overused. But people seem to love making their character an orphan, and who am I to stop them? I can inform them to create a more realistic and enjoyable character if I deny them - But I cannot simply say "Denied. You cannot have your parents killed." Now, perhaps if the VAT worded it differently, so that the rule informed people "We will not be accepting any bandit characters, unless they fill out an app good enough." then I would accept what the VAT did. Instead, they simply said "We are not accepted Bandit Characters."

The reason I run around with diamond armor, stacks of food? I know I won't be robbed, or come across a Highway-Man. I think that really needs to change.

I accepted bandits and thieves quite frequently-I always enjoyed bandit RP and if the app was good, I liked it.

[Zebanamana 410]

I really hate how almost no villain gets accepted unless they are some cannibalistic, sadistic, sociopathic villain. We replaced cookie cutter villains with over used hyper villain cliches. I absolutely abhor these "I am a unique buttefly villain! I have emotional problems and am soooo stoic and disturbing HEHE!" I want bandits back, I want muggers back, I want petty thieves back. Asulon killed interesting road rp and I want it back damn it!

[MetaSolaray 242]

It's true, many signs warn of bandits or robbers, yet who would want to write a full in depth highly critical villian application to be a mere robber/mugger. You're already a strike against you since you are RPing for items/gold from other players...So you have to be even more reason why your not using this for personal gain...

[hex37 737]

I'm personally not much of a friend of any idea that wants me to wear diamond armor more often. A world where everyone has to be a big armor nut to live is a bit.. insane, especially for characters who are primarily non-combatants, like children, pregnant mothers, old men, and halflings(think of the goshdarn halflings.)

Also, my character has a cool sash. I like that sash, and I want it to show it off without it being covered in blood.

[--peerless42 59]

-Nod- I approve, good work.