View source for Varied Gameplay

[[Category:Patterns]]
[[Category:Aesthetic Patterns]]
[[Category:Needs work]]
[[Category:Needs revision]]
[[Category:Needs examples]]
[[Category:Needs references]]
[[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:To be Published]]
[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]
''Variation in gameplay for a game, either within a single play session or between different play sessions.''

This pattern is a still a stub.

=== Examples ===
[[Torchlight]]

[[Nomic]]

[[GURPS]]

[[Settler of Catan]] different layouts of hexes

== Using the pattern ==
One of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, [[Selectable Sets of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]]. To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both. 

[[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], and [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities) typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances. 

During game instances [[Varied Gameplay]] can be forced on players through [[Ability Losses]] and [[Cooldown]] effects since these can make players have to handle challenges in different ways during a game instance. More positively from the players' perspective, [[Varied Gameplay]] can be achieved by presenting them with [[New Abilities]] (possibly through access to new [[Weapons]]), [[Privileged Movement]], [[Sidegrades]], [[Temporary Abilities]], and new or improved [[Skills]]. Letting players meet or control different [[Units]] or [[Vehicles]] is another way to give [[Varied Gameplay]] to them, possibly through [[Transfer of Control]]. In more general terms, having [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] among the various game elements encountered in a game. For games with [[Abstract Player Construct Development]], giving [[New Abilities]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] to these provide players with [[Varied Gameplay]] in that they get more and more options of what to do as gameplay progresses. 

[[Character Development]] together with [[Improved Abilities]] or [[New Abilities]]


When it comes to varying goals within a game instance, [[Ephemeral Goals]] and [[Minigames]] can do this and thereby make players have different gameplay during a game instance. 

[[Complex Gameplay]] on a more abstract level promotes [[Varied Gameplay]] since players may both need to handle more different types of challenges (and have more different actions available) and need to vary their style of playing overtime. [[Polyathlons]] can be seen as a special case of this through dividing a game into several different parts which each require different skills. One way of making [[Varied Gameplay]] through [[Complex Gameplay]] is having many [[Resources]] in a game and providing players with possibilities of using [[Converters]] or combinations of [[Producer-Consumer]] actions on them. Having different phases is another way of having [[Varied Gameplay]] in a game, for example through the use of patterns such as [[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]] or games with [[Planning Phases]] or [[Execution Phases]], or both. 

[[Levels]] can be used to provide [[Varied Gameplay]] both through having individual [[Levels]] differ from each other (through structure, variety in content, and varying rules) and by differing internally (for example through [[Environmental Effects]]). Variations in [[Enemies]] are a very common solution for [[Levels|Level]] variation, e.g. by giving [[Achilles' Heels]] to some [[Enemies]] or by giving [[Privileged Abilities]] to [[Boss Monsters]]. [[Backtracking Levels]] is a production efficient way of proving [[Varied Gameplay]] over a [[Levels|Level]] as long as it isn't symmetric. [[Tile-Laying]] can be used as a way to vary [[Levels]], as consequences of players' actions, [[Randomness]], or procedural content generation. 

Varying players' [[Abilities]], the challenges, or the game elements in a game can all promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. However, this typically also promotes [[Replayability]], so ensuring that a game has [[Replayability]] often works as a way of making [[Varied Gameplay]] be present in a game design. 

Some patterns work against [[Varied Gameplay]]. Ones that make players do less or make them do the same most of the time belong to this group. Examples include [[Camping]], [[No-Ops]] and [[Entrenching Gameplay]]. [[Symmetry]] in general remove variety, so [[Symmetric Goals]], [[Symmetric Information]], and [[Symmetric Resource Distribution]] all work against [[Varied Gameplay]]. [[Quick Games]] works against the patterns simply because it may be difficult to have variety in a short game. While [[Sensory-Motoric Engrossment]] doesn't work against [[Varied Gameplay]], [[Varied Gameplay]] works against players being able to have that particular type of engrossment. 

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Vision Modes]], 
[[Vulnerabilities]] 

[[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]]

[[Persistent Game Worlds]] together with [[Construction]] or [[Creative Control]]

[[Strategic Planning]] together with [[Replayability]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Diminishing Returns]], 
[[Internal Rivalry]], 
[[Supporting Goals]], 
[[Testing Achievements]]


=== Diegetic Aspects ===
[[Alien Space Bats]] can be used to introduce or point players towards areas of a game where [[Varied Gameplay]] exists due to the introduction of new elements to the diegesis.

== Consequences ==
[[Varied Gameplay]] can make games have [[Challenging Gameplay]] since players need to be able to handle shifting contexts (besides how challenging the actual activities are). This naturally affect how easy it is to have[[Gameplay Mastery]] of such a game.

== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Challenging Gameplay]]

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Gameplay Mastery]]

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Ability Losses]], 
[[AI Players]], 
[[Alien Space Bats]], 
[[Asymmetric Abilities]], 
[[Asymmetric Goals]], 
[[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], 
[[Asymmetric Roles]], 
[[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], 
[[Backtracking Levels]], 
[[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]], 
[[Competence Areas]], 
[[Complex Gameplay]], 
[[Construction/Scoring Phase Shift]], 
[[Converters]], 
[[Cooldown]], 
[[Dynamic Alliances]], 
[[Environmental Effects]], 
[[Ephemeral Goals]], 
[[Evolving Rule Sets]], 
[[Execution Phases]], 
[[Flanking Routes]], 
[[Freedom of Choice]], 
[[Incompatible Goals]], 
[[Internal Conflicts]], 
[[Internal Rivalry]], 
[[Minigames]], 
[[New Abilities]], 
[[Levels]], 
[[Orthogonal Differentiation]], 
[[Planning Phases]], 
[[Polyathlons]], 
[[Privileged Movement]], 
[[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], 
[[Producer-Consumer]], 
[[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]], 
[[Replayability]], 
[[Selectable Sets of Goals]], 
[[Sidegrades]], 
[[Skills]], 
[[Social Roles]], 
[[Temporary Abilities]], 
[[Tile-Laying]], 
[[Transfer of Control]], 
[[Units]], 
[[Varying Rule Sets]], 
[[Vehicles]], 
[[Vision Modes]], 
[[Vulnerabilities]] 

[[Abstract Player Construct Development]] together with [[New Abilities]] or [[Privileged Abilities]]

[[Achilles' Heels]] together with [[Enemies]] 

[[Boss Monsters]] together with [[Privileged Abilities]]

[[Character Development]] together with [[Improved Abilities]] or [[New Abilities]]

[[Functional Roles]] together with [[Multiplayer Games]]

[[Game Worlds]] together with [[Player Constructed Worlds]]

[[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]]

[[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]]

[[Persistent Game Worlds]] together with [[Construction]] or [[Creative Control]]

[[Randomness]] together with [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]

[[Strategic Planning]] together with [[Replayability]]

[[Weapons]] together with [[New Abilities]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Diminishing Returns]], 
[[Internal Rivalry]], 
[[Supporting Goals]], 
[[Testing Achievements]]

=== Possible Closure Effects ===
-

=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
[[Camping]], 
[[Entrenching Gameplay]], 
[[No-Ops]], 
[[Quick Games]], 
[[Sensory-Motoric Engrossment]], 
[[Symmetric Goals]], 
[[Symmetric Information]], 
[[Symmetric Resource Distribution]], 
[[Symmetry]]

== History ==
An updated version of the pattern ''Varied Gameplay'' that was part of the original collection in the book ''Patterns in Game Design''<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004"/>.

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) ''Patterns in Game Design''. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
</references>

== Acknowledgements ==
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