[UA] Thoughts on LA riots of 1992?

[stuartanderson at uswest.net]

DL wrote:

> And, in the other view, is too naturally to think that everthing is caused
> by supernatural plots or entities, in a setting like UA. Damn, with all that
> sinchronicity around, can someone really pin point the actually movers and
> shackers? EVERTHING could possible have a supernatural reason to be like it
> is. Actually, in the cosmological level, the way the world is, is totally
> about the way the last universe ends, so... :):)
>
> And probably, most adepts, should believe the world is in most part, if not
> every little piece of it, is governed by the Invisible Clergy, The Templars,
> The Hell, By Alex Abel, By the Naked Goddess, etc.

    I agreed with this post. And I would add that if you're having a hard time
sussing out what should and shouldn't be supernatural in your campaign, find a
guideline in life or fiction and try to stick to it. Ars Magica and Space 1889
are great examples. The worlds seem very coherent and logical  because they
follow an actual world view--thinly decorated medeval thought and Victorian
science-fiction respectively--and not an esoteric mishmash.
    Gamers should always be thankful for genuinely delusional people. Partly so
we look more normal, and partly for the wealth of material. Somewhere out there,
I guarantee you, someone *knows* that the LA riots were the result of
supernatural intervention. Eventually, when that person's manifesto is published
as a result of his hostage demands, we will see a complete world view that makes
an odd kind of sense.
    The Secret Service and FBI profile delusional people to find commonalities
in their beliefs and thus predict where to look for future problems. Art Bell
has these people on the radio every night. They're all over the net. I bet you
have some right in your back yard. I mean literally. They're going through your
garbage for credit card information. Go check.
    I've seen that wicked little Kenny Hite post on this list. He's one of the
acknowledged grand masters of seeking out these world views. Try it. You get
lots of good ideas. I have to do it a lot, because if I rely on my personal
world view, everything comes out Cthulhu. Yeah, I know--I have issues.
    So whether your conservative with the mojo in your campaign or not, your
players will have a more satisfying experience if they can at least get a sense
that there's an underlying theme to the universe that they would understand if
they knew everything. Just knowing it's there is enough.
--Stu.



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