Story and numbers (Destiny)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Friday, May 29, 2026, 13:10 (2 hours, 31 minutes ago) @ Cody Miller

I liked this perspective on Destiny, Marathon, and game design.

https://bulletpointsmonthly.com/2026/05/07/task-management-marathon

Correct: Efficiency ruins the experience
Incorrect: Marathon’s “stories” are any better as a result of lack of efficiency.

I liked the article a good bit. To a great extent, Destiny didn't create stories. You followed Destiny's narrative, which was on rails. There were stories, to be sure. You remember that time you killed Calus after everyone had died. Or the first time you and your team snuck past the Gorgons. We created stories inside Destiny, to be sure, but that was largely on us and chance. Marathon provides an environment with much more potential for organic stories because every run has a beginning and an end and surprising success or failure is always seconds away. I was chatting with Beorn just after it came out. He told me a harrowing tale that contained both tragedy and victory. I said then that this game generates stories, and it does.