Topic

Karma

Given the emphasis on and discussion about world- and community-building in Glitch, I have been playing the game with a vague sense that there would be some unstated reward for "positive" or cooperative behaviors (planting and caring for trees in public areas, for example) and some repercussion for "negative" or selfish behaviors (such as always harvesting but never petting or watering).  I haven't tested the theory by counting the cherries or eggs or gems, but I nevertheless suspected I somehow would receive greater yield for my efforts if I were contributing more to the Glitchiverse.

Now, having participated in more tests and being a much more sophisticated Glitch (heh) I am less likely to believe this is the case, and others also have expressed doubt that such influence is part of the game design.  Sooo....

1.  Is it? and


2.  Should it be? and


3.  Could it be?

Posted 20 months ago by Lina Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • The only cases of "karma" I know of are related to mood and how it can be raised or lowered.  For instance, poisoning a tree is quite possibly the single biggest mood-killer in the entire game.  You poison a tree and your mood will plummet.  This is because you're killing it, and for not a lot of reason why.  The only thing you can get from a dead tree is planks and an empty patch to plant a new tree in.

    Yet, you're also allowed to do some negative/destructive actions without penalty.  For instance, Splanking someone costs your victim some mood, but doesn't affect you.  You're also able to gain mood from squeezing chickens if memory serves, despite the fact that the chicken's quotes make it abundantly clear that you're actually stealing or extorting grain from them when you do so.  And although most rocks love being mined and praise you lavishly for doing so, you still don't get any positive mood for it since you're basically destroying them.

    On the opposite end of the scale, you aren't always rewarded for positive actions.  For instance, a kiss from an Emotional Bear boosts the mood of the person you kiss, but not your own (it just costs you energy).  Transcendental Radiation is solely selfless - you can't benefit from it at all (but it is basically free and helps everyone around you.)  You can play a musicblock for someone else, boosting their mood, but it doesn't do anything for you except cost you a small amount of energy.

    Finally, there are positive actions that do carry a reward.  You get bonus mood for caring for trees, piggies, and butterflies, and possibly other rewards as well if your related skills are high enough.  Substantial donation to the Giants carries with it a huge mood boost, sometimes enough to yank even the most depressed Glitch right out of it and into a state of bliss.  A hug generates a small amount of positive mood for both you and the person you hug.

    All in all, while there doesn't seem to be a specific karma mechanic, and there are plenty of actions that run the gamut from outright negative to wholly positive, this game does give you a lot more opportunity to be a good person to your friends and fellows than most games do.  And I'm only speaking for myself here, but I find the warm feelings from taking advantage of that opportunity to be one of the best karmic rewards I could ask for.
    Posted 20 months ago by Doc Oblongata Subscriber! | Permalink