I Don't Wanna

Richard Bartle suggests that requiring players to do things they don't want to do seriously reduces their enjoyment. Since FaerieMUD will make some things happen (on the server) regardless of whether the player has typed in a command, this is potentially a problem. Some mitigating factors:

• Some actions will be highly desired (raising a shield to instinctively deflect a blow, for instance).
• Many of the actions will be fairly shallow and inconsequential (smiling at a joke, for instance)
• Many of the actions will be trivial and a nuisance if you had to perform them through typed commands (eating and constantly typing emoticons for demeanor, for instance)
• Many of the actions will be quite easy to override manually (frowning or keeping a straight face, for instance)
• Some of the actions will be possible to override through strength of will or some sacrifice ("I force myself to stop fleeing, turn resolutely toward the battle, and trudge forward," for instance.

See also Hard Problems.

— Scotus - 11 Nov 2003