Combat - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 07:18, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T07:18:26Z

Staffan Björk at 07:18, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T07:18:18Z

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2016-09-02T09:02:29Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk at 20:09, 26 July 2015

2015-07-26T20:09:20Z

Staffan Björk at 16:12, 25 July 2015

2015-07-25T16:12:25Z

Staffan Björk at 20:24, 5 July 2015

2015-07-05T20:24:04Z

Staffan Björk at 10:41, 29 December 2014

2014-12-29T10:41:20Z

Staffan Björk at 08:01, 21 September 2014

2014-09-21T08:01:18Z

Staffan Björk at 14:03, 15 September 2014

2014-09-15T14:03:41Z

Staffan Björk at 08:23, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T08:23:06Z

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 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
-[[Category:Mechanic Patterns]]
+[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 ''Actions where the intent is to kill or otherwise overcome opponents.''

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 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
-[[Category:Dynamic Patterns]]
+[[Category:Mechanic Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 ''Actions where the intent is to kill or otherwise overcome opponents.''

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 Beyond these specifics of all these design options, a highly influencing factor on how [[Combat]] can be designed in games is whether they are [[Real-Time Games]] or [[Turn-Based Games]]. [[Line of Sight]] is quite frequently used both but for different reasons: in [[Turn-Based Games]] they are used to simulate the paths of projectiles while they are often present "for free" in [[Real-Time Games]] due to the use of [[Aim & Shoot]] actions to perform [[Combat]].
-In [[Turn-Based Games]], [[Combat]] are usually based on complex evaluation functions or a large number of simpler evaluation functions, and gameplay concerns trying to make game states have as many favorable modifiers as possible. In these types of games, [[Budgeted Action Points]] can allow several actions in individual [[Combat]] turns and thereby create [[Trade-offs]] between different possible actions (see [[Space Hulk]] and the [[Fallout series]] for examples of this). [[Imperfect Information]] exists mainly due to not knowing the opponents strengths, weaknesses, and configurations, while [[Randomness]] is usually instantiated through [[Dice]] or the equivalent.
+In [[Turn-Based Games]], [[Combat]] are usually based on complex evaluation functions or a large number of simpler evaluation functions, and gameplay concerns trying to make game states have as many favorable modifiers as possible. In these types of games, [[Budgeted Action Points]] can allow several actions in individual [[Combat]] turns and thereby create [[Trade-Offs]] between different possible actions (see [[Space Hulk]] and the [[Fallout series]] for examples of this). [[Imperfect Information]] exists mainly due to not knowing the opponents strengths, weaknesses, and configurations, while [[Randomness]] is usually instantiated through [[Dice]] or the equivalent.
 [[Real-Time Games]] may have as advanced evaluation functions as [[Turn-Based Games]], but players usually do not have the possibilities of considering all of these. Here, a main difference may be if players control [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] since the latter requires [[Attention Swapping]]. [[Aim & Shoot]] is common in [[Real-Time Games]] - nearly always together with [[Crosshairs]] - and may be modulated by [[Variable Accuracy]] and [[Auto-Aim]] support (both which can make [[Player/System Action Composites]] - or [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] if [[Skills]] affect them - present in the game). For these types of [[Combat]], [[Imperfect Information]] is often due to bad players having [[Game State Overview]]. To avoid [[Repeated Domination]] due to this, [[Killcams]] can be used to reveal the location of killers.

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 [[Combat]] is the means to achieving [[Capture]], [[Overcome]], or [[Eliminate]] goals against [[Enemies]] so these need to be present in order for [[Combat]] to occur in games. While these goals may be reason enough for [[Combat]], wanting [[Area Control]] or [[Loot]] is often an underlying cause. Given as a means to ruin others [[Guard]] goals, [[Combat]] and together with [[Guard]] make [[Rescue]] goals possible. A number of patterns can then be applied to the [[Combat]] to modify this, including [[Achilles' Heels]], [[Always Vulnerable]], [[Armor]], [[Attributes]], [[Combos]], [[Damage]], [[Friendly Fire]], [[Health]], [[Invulnerabilities]], [[Privileged Abilities]], [[Safe Havens]], [[Skills]], [[Tools]], [[Vulnerabilities]], [[Weapons]], and [[Zone of Control]]. [[Randomness]] is ''very'' common and often used to allow [[Critical Hits]] to cause more or special types of [[Damage]] or [[Critical Misses]] than may cause various [[Penalties]]. The design of [[Game Worlds]] or [[Levels]] can heavily influence how [[Combat]] unfolds or where players seek to have [[Combat]]: [[Arenas]], [[Choke Points]], [[Environmental Effects]], [[Flanking Routes]], [[Galleries]], and [[Sniper Locations]] are all examples of possibilities here, and these can lead to activities such as sniping or [[Camping]]. [[Imperfect Information]] may relate to the various patterns mentioned here through using [[Fog of War]] to limit knowledge about combat environments.
-One thing [[Combat]] requires is at least two different sides fighting each other. This can be entirely [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] controlled by players, [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Preventing Goals]], or [[Enemies]] controlled by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]; the use of [[Algorithmic Agents]] can allow [[Single-Player Games]] to have [[Combat]]. Players' fortunes in [[Combat]] can change from being only depending on their gameplay skills to being the result of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] and [[Player/System Action Composites]] if [[Attributes]] or [[Skills]] are used to affect evaluation functions related to [[Combat]]. [[Combat]] is common in [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]], either as [[PvP]] or [[PvE]], while in games on social media platforms, e.g. [[Empires & Allies]], let players have [[Safe Havens]] through providing them with [[Private Game Spaces]] unless they let their [[Neighbors]] attack them.
+One thing [[Combat]] requires is at least two different sides fighting each other. This can be entirely [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] controlled by players, [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Preventing Goals]], or [[Enemies]] controlled by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]; the use of [[Algorithmic Agents]] can allow [[Single-Player Games]] to have [[Combat]]. [[Bases]] are not necessarily able to engage others in [[Combat]] but may be on the target of aggression. Players' fortunes in [[Combat]] can change from being only depending on their gameplay skills to being the result of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] and [[Player/System Action Composites]] if [[Attributes]] or [[Skills]] are used to affect evaluation functions related to [[Combat]]. [[Combat]] is common in [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]], either as [[PvP]] or [[PvE]], while in games on social media platforms, e.g. [[Empires & Allies]], let players have [[Safe Havens]] through providing them with [[Private Game Spaces]] unless they let their [[Neighbors]] attack them.
 Having as much information as possible if often advantageous in games with [[Combat]]. This since any [[Combat]] where [[Surprise Attacks]] can occur require skill sets regarding perception and misdirection besides those directly related to fighting. Games that wish to have [[Surprise Attacks]] can most easily do so by providing [[Fog of War]] to the combatants.
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 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Area Control]],
 [[Character Development]],
 [[Conflicts]],

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 [[Real-Time Games]] may have as advanced evaluation functions as [[Turn-Based Games]], but players usually do not have the possibilities of considering all of these. Here, a main difference may be if players control [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] since the latter requires [[Attention Swapping]]. [[Aim & Shoot]] is common in [[Real-Time Games]] - nearly always together with [[Crosshairs]] - and may be modulated by [[Variable Accuracy]] and [[Auto-Aim]] support (both which can make [[Player/System Action Composites]] - or [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] if [[Skills]] affect them - present in the game). For these types of [[Combat]], [[Imperfect Information]] is often due to bad players having [[Game State Overview]]. To avoid [[Repeated Domination]] due to this, [[Killcams]] can be used to reveal the location of killers.
-If [[Combat]] is the only activity in the game, as is the case in fighting games, it is often structured in [[Tournaments]] to allow [[Perceivable Margins]] and [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] by having more difficult opponents appear later in the [[Tournaments|Tournament]]. [[:Category:Fighting Games|Fighting Games]] also often combine [[Combat]] losses with [[Player Elimination]]. Games where players engage in activities other than [[Combat]] usually make use of [[Lives]] and penalize loss of [[Lives]] by [[Ability Losses]] and [[Spawning]] at earlier locations. [[Real-Time Games]] with [[Teams]] and [[Friendly Fire]] often have special [[Penalties]] for team killing. Regardless, games in which [[Combat]] is possible tend to have it as a central part of gameplay and have interconnected it with aspects such as [[Improved Abilities]] and [[Strategic Knowledge]].
+If [[Combat]] is the only activity in the game, as is the case in fighting games, it is often structured in [[Tournaments]] to allow [[Perceivable Margins]] and [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] by having more difficult opponents appear later in the [[Tournaments|Tournament]]. [[:Category:Fighting Games|Fighting Games]] also often combine [[Combat]] losses with [[Player Elimination]]. Games where players engage in activities other than [[Combat]] usually make use of [[Lives]] and penalize loss of [[Lives]] by [[Ability Losses]] and [[Spawning]] at earlier locations. [[Real-Time Games]] with [[Teams]] and [[Friendly Fire]] often have special [[Penalties]] for team killing. Some games allow [[Combat]] early on but are structured so it comes into focus heavily in the [[Endgame]] through the presence of an [[Extermination]] phase. Regardless, games in which [[Combat]] is possible tend to have it as a central part of gameplay and have interconnected it with aspects such as [[Improved Abilities]] and [[Strategic Knowledge]].
 While [[Boss Monsters]] may in some games be defeated by the same type of [[Combat]] that can defeat other [[Enemies]], some games make regular [[Combat]] impossible against them to either require other types of solutions or to keep the [[Boss Monsters]] alive to a later stage in the gameplay.
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 [[Challenging Gameplay]],
 [[Destructible Objects]],
 [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Player Elimination]],

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 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Combat]] is the means to achieving [[Capture]], [[Overcome]], or [[Eliminate]] goals against [[Enemies]] so these need to be present in order for [[Combat]] to occur in games. While these goals may be reason enough for [[Combat]], wanting [[Area Control]] or [[Loot]] is often an underlying cause. Given as a means to ruin others [[Guard]] goals, [[Combat]] and together with [[Guard]] make [[Rescue]] goals possible. A number of patterns can then be applied to the [[Combat]] to modify this, including [[Achilles' Heels]], [[Always Vulnerable]], [[Armor]], [[Attributes]], [[Combos]], [[Damage]], [[Friendly Fire]], [[Health]], [[Invulnerabilities]], [[Privileged Abilities]], [[Safe Havens]], [[Skills]], [[Tools]], [[Vulnerabilities]], [[Weapons]], and [[Zone of Control]]. [[Randomness]] is ''very'' common and often used to allow [[Critical Hits]] to cause more or special types of [[Damage]]. The design of [[Game Worlds]] or [[Levels]] can heavily influence how [[Combat]] unfolds or where players seek to have [[Combat]]: [[Arenas]], [[Choke Points]], [[Environmental Effects]], [[Flanking Routes]], [[Galleries]], and [[Sniper Locations]] are all examples of possibilities here, and these can lead to activities such as sniping or [[Camping]]. [[Imperfect Information]] may relate to the various patterns mentioned here through using [[Fog of War]] to limit knowledge about combat environments.
+[[Combat]] is the means to achieving [[Capture]], [[Overcome]], or [[Eliminate]] goals against [[Enemies]] so these need to be present in order for [[Combat]] to occur in games. While these goals may be reason enough for [[Combat]], wanting [[Area Control]] or [[Loot]] is often an underlying cause. Given as a means to ruin others [[Guard]] goals, [[Combat]] and together with [[Guard]] make [[Rescue]] goals possible. A number of patterns can then be applied to the [[Combat]] to modify this, including [[Achilles' Heels]], [[Always Vulnerable]], [[Armor]], [[Attributes]], [[Combos]], [[Damage]], [[Friendly Fire]], [[Health]], [[Invulnerabilities]], [[Privileged Abilities]], [[Safe Havens]], [[Skills]], [[Tools]], [[Vulnerabilities]], [[Weapons]], and [[Zone of Control]]. [[Randomness]] is ''very'' common and often used to allow [[Critical Hits]] to cause more or special types of [[Damage]] or [[Critical Misses]] than may cause various [[Penalties]]. The design of [[Game Worlds]] or [[Levels]] can heavily influence how [[Combat]] unfolds or where players seek to have [[Combat]]: [[Arenas]], [[Choke Points]], [[Environmental Effects]], [[Flanking Routes]], [[Galleries]], and [[Sniper Locations]] are all examples of possibilities here, and these can lead to activities such as sniping or [[Camping]]. [[Imperfect Information]] may relate to the various patterns mentioned here through using [[Fog of War]] to limit knowledge about combat environments.
 One thing [[Combat]] requires is at least two different sides fighting each other. This can be entirely [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] controlled by players, [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Preventing Goals]], or [[Enemies]] controlled by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]; the use of [[Algorithmic Agents]] can allow [[Single-Player Games]] to have [[Combat]]. Players' fortunes in [[Combat]] can change from being only depending on their gameplay skills to being the result of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] if [[Attributes]] or [[Skills]] are used to affect evaluation functions related to [[Combat]]. [[Combat]] is common in [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]], either as [[PvP]] or [[PvE]], while in games on social media platforms, e.g. [[Empires & Allies]], let players have [[Safe Havens]] through providing them with [[Private Game Spaces]] unless they let their [[Neighbors]] attack them.
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 [[Combos]],
 [[Critical Hits]],
 [[Crosshairs]],
 [[Damage]],

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 One thing [[Combat]] requires is at least two different sides fighting each other. This can be entirely [[Avatars]] or [[Units]] controlled by players, [[Non-Player Characters]] with [[Preventing Goals]], or [[Enemies]] controlled by [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]]; the use of [[Algorithmic Agents]] can allow [[Single-Player Games]] to have [[Combat]]. Players' fortunes in [[Combat]] can change from being only depending on their gameplay skills to being the result of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] if [[Attributes]] or [[Skills]] are used to affect evaluation functions related to [[Combat]]. [[Combat]] is common in [[Massively Multiplayer Online Games]], either as [[PvP]] or [[PvE]], while in games on social media platforms, e.g. [[Empires & Allies]], let players have [[Safe Havens]] through providing them with [[Private Game Spaces]] unless they let their [[Neighbors]] attack them.
 Beyond these specifics of all these design options, a highly influencing factor on how [[Combat]] can be designed in games is whether they are [[Real-Time Games]] or [[Turn-Based Games]]. [[Line of Sight]] is quite frequently used both but for different reasons: in [[Turn-Based Games]] they are used to simulate the paths of projectiles while they are often present "for free" in [[Real-Time Games]] due to the use of [[Aim & Shoot]] actions to perform [[Combat]].
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 ==== with [[Damage]] ====
 [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]
 ==== with [[Guard]] ====
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 [[Skills]],
 [[Sniper Locations]],
 [[Strategic Knowledge]],
 [[Tools]],

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 == Consequences ==
-[[Combat]] provides a direct way for players to deal with [[Conflicts]] in games, but since the players' [[Enemies]] may cause problems through the [[Combat]] it may also require [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]] and cause [[Tension]]. Since [[Combat]] postulates a presence of an opposing force, games with [[Combat]] are more likely to have [[Challenging Gameplay]] than those without it. [[Combat]] typically can lead to the loss of [[Units]] or removal of [[Destructible Objects]], and in the case of games with [[Avatars]] to [[Player Killing]]. [[Player Elimination]] can in turn be a consequence of any of these.
+[[Combat]] provides [[Abilities]] for players to deal with [[Conflicts]] in games, but since the players' [[Enemies]] may cause problems through the [[Combat]] it may also require [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]] and cause [[Tension]]. Since [[Combat]] postulates a presence of an opposing force, games with [[Combat]] are more likely to have [[Challenging Gameplay]] than those without it. [[Combat]] typically can lead to the loss of [[Units]] or removal of [[Destructible Objects]], and in the case of games with [[Avatars]] to [[Player Killing]]. [[Player Elimination]] can in turn be a consequence of any of these.
 When the participating in [[Combat]] is optional, or when who to attack is optional, players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] and need to consider the [[Risk/Reward]] and [[Trade-Offs]] that exist between participating in the [[Combat]] and performing other activities. Choosing to attack other players will most likely reveal that these [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]], especially in games that have [[Player Killing]] or [[Player Elimination]]. Players can also have [[Freedom of Choice]] in [[Combat]] when they can attack in several different ways, and this is also typically offers [[Risk/Reward]] choices and [[Trade-Offs]].
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 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
 [[Attention Demanding Gameplay]],