Actually, that's not entirely correct.
I'm in an open-ended PBM--Rimworlds--and one of my main goal IS to
eliminate most other *characters* in the game. In fact, that's part
of the definition of my affiliation -- they're/we're a group of
xenophobic (or at least xenocidal) lizards who don't much approve of,
or tolerate, certain classes of characters.
So I spend much of my time hunting for and trying to destroy them.
Fortunately for my enjoyment, this is possible; I've managed to destroy
or capture about a dozen starships and/or starbases.
Fortunately for the enjoyment of most players -- this is NOT a combat-based
game, after all -- it's not easy. It's taken me 7+ years to hit this
score, and I am quite probably the #1 position with regard to this goal.
Accomplishing "reliable" and repeated combats is possible, but it takes
a lot of work -- so few people do it.
Protecting oneself from destruction is possible, but it takes a lot
of work -- so few people do it.
Focusing on that goal means other goals were severely impacted.
Were it easy to protect onesself 100%, it would make my job impossible,
and my position unplayable.
Were it impossible to protect onesself 100%, it would make some other people's
job's (trading, mining, exploration, etc.) impractical, and the positions
unplayable.
The difficulty is in establishing the trade-offs.
--kdc
-- | Kevin Connery | Quality must be designed | Not speaking for: | | keradwc@rahul.net | into software; it cannot | Integrated Systems, Inc | | kconnery@isi.com | be patched on afterwards | Santa Clara, CA |