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Modeling Genius

Modeling genius cannot be fully understood without first examining the elements of Group VIIIB (under Iron, Cobalt and Nickel) where the first hints of internal distinctions which do not result in external (chemical or valence) differences. The minor crises which precipitate these distinctions are fundamentally internal and cannot be directly observed by anyone but the person being affected by them.

They do, however, have an important impact on the model of genius ("thinking outside the box") used in FaerieMUD through the minor-crisis quests they generate.

Three Quests for Each Minor Crisis

Each minor crisis generates three minor-crisis quests which must be resolved before the character can develop further. The first has no impact on the genius model. But the latter two are crucial to the model. They force choices on the character which have consequences which will not be immediately apparent to the character (or the player).

In fact, the consequences are not immediate in their impact. The choices represent decisions we all make which can have important consequences in our ability to "think outside the box" of our society's preconceived notions. Their impact will be felt far down the road. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers to these choices, but there are consequences to all of them.

All minor-crisis choices have consequences. But only the first two impact on the genius model. The later choices impact the degree to which the character's actions will impact cultures (and more than just the character's own culture).

Quest Objects

The first two are those we will be concentrating on here because they affect the genius model. Each of them has a subject (or, more accurately, an "object").

Minor Crisis	Quest Object
tantrum	goals and souls
cliques	principles

The last two quests for each crisis are based on how the character's culture defines these quest objects. The character will become aware of how the culture views the objects, even though the objects themselves are personal and private to the individual self.

Each quest will be designed to force a choice in how the character treats cultural views of the objects themselves.

First Choice

The first choice is simple: Does the character accept the dominant cultural view of the objects? The character is not given a clear idea of how this choice will affect his chances later in the game to achieve the genius level of mastery in that particular area of development.

Indeed, the character (or the player) will not be aware that the choice is even going to impact genius at all. (And, in fact, the impact will be indirect anyway. The second choice will have the real impact. But the first choice determines what choices are available in the final quest.)

Last Choice

The third quest is determined by the first choice. If the character chooses to accept a culture's interpretation, he or she must then chose between tolerance and intolerance for those who do not accept it. If the character chooses internally to follow his or her own compass, he or she must choose between presenting this decision to others or to keep it to himself or herself while pretending to accept society's interpretation.

It is these choices which have the ultimate consequences:

If first choice was acceptance of culture's interpretation and the second choice was intolerance of those who choose to "think outside the box," then the genius path will never open to them, forcing them to accept their society's view of mastery.

If the first choice was acceptance and the second choice was tolerance, then they will be aware of the possibility of "thinking outside the box" of society's interpretation when they get to the stage when genius becomes possible. They will have, at that point, the option of turning away from their earlier acceptance and exploring the genius path. Or they will have the option of accepting society's view of mastery.

If the first choice was to follow their own compass and "think outside the box" and the second choice was to keep it to themselves, then they will be aware of how to accept society's interpretation when the genius path opens before them. They will have, at that point, the option of turning away from the road to true genius and accepting the cultural norms on mastery. Or they will have the option of exploring genius.

If the first choice was to "think outside the box" of society's interpretation and the second choice was to do it openly, then society's interpretation of mastery will be closed to them and they will be forced to accept the genius path.

Nature of Genius

What exactly does the "genius path" mean? How is it different from the culturally predetermined path in game terms?

On the culturally predetermined path, each element of the rare earths follow the same path for each character from a particular culture on that path. The culturally predetermined path functions much like the rest of the periodic table.

On the genius path, each element must be determined by the character herself or himself. A simplified set of choices will guide the creative process, but it will actually generate new code and new kinds of Developmental Objects. In this sense, it does not function like the rest of the periodic table. This produces a kind of "alternative" set of developments. Such an alternative set can be thought of as a new religion or a new science or a new set of principles.

These principles will be available for inspection by the appropriate gods and programmers. This will give them the opportunity to evaluate the potential of advanced characters for apotheosis. In addition, these new developments will be the focus of any risk that that the culture will find the new ideas threatening.

If the society feels threatened, it may act precipitously when the final crisis is reached. When the character reaches immortality through such action, the newly minted religion may replace the old preconception in the culture (or in other cultures). Powerful memes can spread quickly, and the new "alternative" can quickly become a new kind of orthodoxy. Caveat cultor. In your next life, you might be facing the proponents of your own jihad.

It may even prove difficult to convince them they don't quite have it right. They may even take offense if you try.

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