Companions - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 15:40, 6 August 2015

2015-08-06T15:40:34Z

Staffan Björk at 15:39, 6 August 2015

2015-08-06T15:39:00Z

Staffan Björk at 12:00, 4 August 2015

2015-08-04T12:00:18Z

Staffan Björk at 19:02, 12 September 2014

2014-09-12T19:02:28Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Instantiated By */

2014-07-29T09:22:06Z

‎Can Be Instantiated By

Staffan Björk at 16:00, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T16:00:56Z

Staffan Björk at 15:58, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T15:58:54Z

Staffan Björk at 15:53, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T15:53:20Z

Staffan Björk at 13:15, 16 November 2011

2011-11-16T13:15:13Z

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2011-08-03T10:57:19Z

‎Using the pattern

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[Companions]] are not players per se, since their definitions is that they should accompany a player. Even if they may be more powerful than players in some areas, so that different [[Functional Roles]] can be filled, players do need to have some [[Privileged Abilities]] in relation to the [[Companions]]. These abilities may at a minimum be to have the power of actually completing goals and controlling the group's [[Movement]] (so the game doesn't play itself and players can become [[Spectators]]) but typically include many other abilities so players have an [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] compared to the [[Companions]]. For these reasons, [[Companions]] differ from [[AI Players]] used to fill [[Teams]]. Although [[Companions]] could be used to help players from states of [[Helplessness]], this is not solution seen often in game designs.
-Gaining [[Companions]] can be as simple as striking up a [[Dialogues|Dialogue]] with them or being part of a [[Predetermined Story Structures|Predetermined Story Structure]] that is enforced through an [[Ultra-Powerful Events|Ultra-Powerful Event]] (see the [[Mass Effect series]] for the latter). It may also be a [[Rewards|Reward]] for completing [[Companion Quests]] (see for example [[Fallout: New Vegas]]) or an [[Investments|Investment]] if paid for with [[Resources]]. If players have to choice which [[Companions]] to have due to the number of [[Companions]] being limited or due to hostile opinions between them, they are a form of [[Resources|Resource]]. This is also the case if they can die and the pool of possible [[Companions]] are a [[Non-Renewable Resources]] - allowing [[Friendly Fire]] on [[Companions]] can make this more of a problem and thereby provide more [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Some roleplaying games, e.g. [[GURPS]] allow players to create [[Companions]] as part of creating their [[Player Characters]], this make the [[Companions]] an example of [[Player-Created Characters]]. While gaining [[Companions]] can provide players with access to their [[Privileged Abilities]], the [[Fallout series]] takes this one step further by awarding specific [[Privileged Abilities]] through perks that are added when [[Companions]] are gained.
+Gaining [[Companions]] can be as simple as striking up a [[Dialogues|Dialogue]] with them or being part of a [[Predetermined Story Structures|Predetermined Story Structure]] that is enforced through an [[Ultra-Powerful Events|Ultra-Powerful Event]] (see the [[Mass Effect series]] for the latter). It may also be a [[Rewards|Reward]] for completing [[Quests]] (see for example [[Fallout: New Vegas]]) or an [[Investments|Investment]] if paid for with [[Resources]]. If players have to choice which [[Companions]] to have due to the number of [[Companions]] being limited or due to hostile opinions between them, they are a form of [[Resources|Resource]]. This is also the case if they can die and the pool of possible [[Companions]] are a [[Non-Renewable Resources]] - allowing [[Friendly Fire]] on [[Companions]] can make this more of a problem and thereby provide more [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Some roleplaying games, e.g. [[GURPS]] allow players to create [[Companions]] as part of creating their [[Player Characters]], this make the [[Companions]] an example of [[Player-Created Characters]]. While gaining [[Companions]] can provide players with access to their [[Privileged Abilities]], the [[Fallout series]] takes this one step further by awarding specific [[Privileged Abilities]] through perks that are added when [[Companions]] are gained.
 Like other types of [[Characters]], [[Companions]] can have [[Character Development]] in the form of [[New Abilities|New]] or [[Improved Abilities]]. However, the [[New Abilities]] can be [[New Abilities]] for the players as well by proxy.
@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 [[Player-Created Characters]],
 [[Privileged Abilities]],
 [[Secondary Interface Screens]], [[Skills]],
 [[Sidequests]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Designing [[Companions]] consists of selecting characteristics for [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] so that they can function as [[Helpers]] to players. To do this, they need to have either [[Mutual Goals]] or [[Continuous Goals]] and [[Supporting Goals]] with a player. They may be able to work towards these through having the same [[Abilities]] as the players' [[Focus Loci]] have, or have different ones to fill different [[Functional Roles]] - especially so if these are [[Privileged Abilities]]. For [[Companions]] with anything else than a trivial internal state, i.e. those making use of the [[Characters]] pattern, one also has design choices regarding which [[Equipment]] and [[Skills]] to provide them with.
-[[Companions]] are often [[Non-Player Characters]] with all design choices this infers. However, since they often are in [[Cooperation]] with players it is more likely that they support [[Transferable Items]] than is the case for other [[Non-Player Characters]]. Since these are likely to be interacted with more than other [[NPCs]], it may be more important than otherwise to make them into believable [[Agents]]. This includes creating [[Dialogues]], considering questions of [[Loyalty]] (in both directions) and [[Internal Rivalry]] (especially when one can have more than one [[Companions|Companion]], introducing memberships in different [[Factions]], and deciding to which degree, if any, they should have an [[Open Destiny]]. [[Own Agenda]] is appropriate as well although it can conflict with being a willing follower - this may be solved by instantiating it through [[Quests]] that are [[Optional Goals]] (see [[Fallout: New Vegas]] and the [[Dragon Age series]] for examples of this). Besides other ways their fates can be unfolded, [[Companions]] may turn out to be [[Traitors]] and [[Enemies]] to create [[Surprises]] and [[Tension]]. Regardless of the specific ways that [[Companions]] can behave towards the player's [[Characters|Character]] or [[Avatar]], how he or she behaves to them can easily be made into [[Character Defining Actions]] (examples of this can be found in the [[Mass Effect series]] and the [[Witcher series]]) and affect future behavior of the [[Companions]].
+[[Companions]] are often [[Non-Player Characters]] with all design choices this infers. However, since they often are in [[Cooperation]] with players it is more likely that they support [[Transferable Items]] than is the case for other [[Non-Player Characters]]. Since these are likely to be interacted with more than other [[NPCs]], it may be more important than otherwise to make them into believable [[Agents]]. This includes creating [[Dialogues]], considering questions of [[Loyalty]] (in both directions) and [[Internal Rivalry]] (especially when one can have more than one [[Companions|Companion]], introducing memberships in different [[Factions]], and deciding to which degree, if any, they should have an [[Open Destiny]]. [[Own Agenda]] is appropriate as well although it can conflict with being a willing follower - this may be solved by instantiating it through [[Companion Quests]] that are [[Optional Goals]] (see [[Fallout: New Vegas]] and the [[Dragon Age series]] for examples of this). Besides other ways their fates can be unfolded, [[Companions]] may turn out to be [[Traitors]] and [[Enemies]] to create [[Surprises]] and [[Tension]]. Regardless of the specific ways that [[Companions]] can behave towards the player's [[Characters|Character]] or [[Avatar]], how he or she behaves to them can easily be made into [[Character Defining Actions]] (examples of this can be found in the [[Mass Effect series]] and the [[Witcher series]]) and affect future behavior of the [[Companions]].
 [[Companions]] provided with computer-based [[Algorithmic Agents]] are able to constantly react to the players' actions but they can also be controlled by [[Game Masters]]. The latter provides more flexibility to support [[Never Ending Stories]] and handle unexpected situations so that [[Awareness of Surroundings]], [[Context Dependent Reactions]], and [[Open Destiny]] can be maintained and one can avoid breaking [[Diegetic Consistency]].
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[Companions]] are not players per se, since their definitions is that they should accompany a player. Even if they may be more powerful than players in some areas, so that different [[Functional Roles]] can be filled, players do need to have some [[Privileged Abilities]] in relation to the [[Companions]]. These abilities may at a minimum be to have the power of actually completing goals and controlling the group's [[Movement]] (so the game doesn't play itself and players can become [[Spectators]]) but typically include many other abilities so players have an [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] compared to the [[Companions]]. For these reasons, [[Companions]] differ from [[AI Players]] used to fill [[Teams]]. Although [[Companions]] could be used to help players from states of [[Helplessness]], this is not solution seen often in game designs.
-Gaining [[Companions]] can be as simple as striking up a [[Dialogues|Dialogue]] with them or being part of a [[Predetermined Story Structures|Predetermined Story Structure]] that is enforced through an [[Ultra-Powerful Events|Ultra-Powerful Event]] (see the [[Mass Effect series]] for the latter). It may also be a [[Rewards|Reward]] for completing [[Quests]] (see for example [[Fallout: New Vegas]]) or an [[Investments|Investment]] if paid for with [[Resources]]. If players have to choice which [[Companions]] to have due to the number of [[Companions]] being limited or due to hostile opinions between them, they are a form of [[Resources|Resource]]. This is also the case if they can die and the pool of possible [[Companions]] are a [[Non-Renewable Resources]] - allowing [[Friendly Fire]] on [[Companions]] can make this more of a problem and thereby provide more [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Some roleplaying games, e.g. [[GURPS]] allow players to create [[Companions]] as part of creating their [[Player Characters]], this make the [[Companions]] an example of [[Player-Created Characters]]. While gaining [[Companions]] can provide players with access to their [[Privileged Abilities]], the [[Fallout series]] takes this one step further by awarding specific [[Privileged Abilities]] through perks that are added when [[Companions]] are gained.
+Gaining [[Companions]] can be as simple as striking up a [[Dialogues|Dialogue]] with them or being part of a [[Predetermined Story Structures|Predetermined Story Structure]] that is enforced through an [[Ultra-Powerful Events|Ultra-Powerful Event]] (see the [[Mass Effect series]] for the latter). It may also be a [[Rewards|Reward]] for completing [[Companion Quests]] (see for example [[Fallout: New Vegas]]) or an [[Investments|Investment]] if paid for with [[Resources]]. If players have to choice which [[Companions]] to have due to the number of [[Companions]] being limited or due to hostile opinions between them, they are a form of [[Resources|Resource]]. This is also the case if they can die and the pool of possible [[Companions]] are a [[Non-Renewable Resources]] - allowing [[Friendly Fire]] on [[Companions]] can make this more of a problem and thereby provide more [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Some roleplaying games, e.g. [[GURPS]] allow players to create [[Companions]] as part of creating their [[Player Characters]], this make the [[Companions]] an example of [[Player-Created Characters]]. While gaining [[Companions]] can provide players with access to their [[Privileged Abilities]], the [[Fallout series]] takes this one step further by awarding specific [[Privileged Abilities]] through perks that are added when [[Companions]] are gained.
 Like other types of [[Characters]], [[Companions]] can have [[Character Development]] in the form of [[New Abilities|New]] or [[Improved Abilities]]. However, the [[New Abilities]] can be [[New Abilities]] for the players as well by proxy.
@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
 [[Character Defining Actions]],
 [[Dialogues]], [[Equipment]], [[Factions]],
 [[Game Masters]],
@@ Line 91: / Line 92: @@
 [[Non-Renewable Resources]], [[Loyalty]], [[Open Destiny]], [[Own Agenda]],
 [[Player-Created Characters]],
-[[Privileged Abilities]], [[Quests]], [[Secondary Interface Screens]], [[Skills]],
+[[Privileged Abilities]],
 [[Sidequests]],
 [[Testing Achievements]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Designing [[Companions]] consists of selecting characteristics for [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] so that they can function as [[Helpers]] to players. To do this, they need to have either [[Mutual Goals]] or [[Continuous Goals]] and [[Supporting Goals]] with a player. They may be able to work towards these through having the same [[Abilities]] as the players' [[Focus Loci]] have, or have different ones to fill different [[Functional Roles]] - especially so if these are [[Privileged Abilities]]. For [[Companions]] with anything else than a trivial internal state, i.e. those making use of the [[Characters]] pattern, one also has design choices regarding which [[Equipment]] and [[Skills]] to provide them with.
-[[Companions]] are often [[Non-Player Characters]] with all design choices this infers. However, since they often are in [[Cooperation]] with players it is more likely that they support [[Transferable Items]] than is the case for other [[Non-Player Characters]]. Since these are likely to be interacted with more than other [[NPCs]], it may be more important than otherwise to make them into believable [[Agents]]. This includes creating [[Dialogues]], considering questions of [[Loyalty]] (in both directions) and [[Internal Rivalry]] (especially when one can have more than one [[Companions|Companion]], introducing memberships in different [[Factions]], and deciding to which degree, if any, they should have an [[Open Destiny]]. [[Own Agenda]] is appropriate as well although it can conflict with being a willing follower - this may be solved by instantiating it through [[Quests]] that are [[Optional Goals]] (see [[Fallout: New Vegas]] and the [[Dragon Age series]] for examples of this). Besides other ways their fates can be unfolded, [[Companions]] may turn out to be [[Traitors]] and [[Enemies]] to create [[Surprises]] and [[Tension]]. Regardless of the specific ways that [[Companions]] can behave towards the player's [[Characters|Character]] or [[Avatar]], how he or she behaves to them can easily be made into [[Character Defining Actions]] (examples of this can be found in the [[Mass Effect series]] and the [[Witcher series]]).
+[[Companions]] are often [[Non-Player Characters]] with all design choices this infers. However, since they often are in [[Cooperation]] with players it is more likely that they support [[Transferable Items]] than is the case for other [[Non-Player Characters]]. Since these are likely to be interacted with more than other [[NPCs]], it may be more important than otherwise to make them into believable [[Agents]]. This includes creating [[Dialogues]], considering questions of [[Loyalty]] (in both directions) and [[Internal Rivalry]] (especially when one can have more than one [[Companions|Companion]], introducing memberships in different [[Factions]], and deciding to which degree, if any, they should have an [[Open Destiny]]. [[Own Agenda]] is appropriate as well although it can conflict with being a willing follower - this may be solved by instantiating it through [[Quests]] that are [[Optional Goals]] (see [[Fallout: New Vegas]] and the [[Dragon Age series]] for examples of this). Besides other ways their fates can be unfolded, [[Companions]] may turn out to be [[Traitors]] and [[Enemies]] to create [[Surprises]] and [[Tension]]. Regardless of the specific ways that [[Companions]] can behave towards the player's [[Characters|Character]] or [[Avatar]], how he or she behaves to them can easily be made into [[Character Defining Actions]] (examples of this can be found in the [[Mass Effect series]] and the [[Witcher series]]) and affect future behavior of the [[Companions]].
 [[Companions]] provided with computer-based [[Algorithmic Agents]] are able to constantly react to the players' actions but they can also be controlled by [[Game Masters]]. The latter provides more flexibility to support [[Never Ending Stories]] and handle unexpected situations so that [[Awareness of Surroundings]], [[Context Dependent Reactions]], and [[Open Destiny]] can be maintained and one can avoid breaking [[Diegetic Consistency]].
@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 [[Cooperation]],
 [[Teams]]
 === Can Modulate ===

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-Designing [[Companions]] consists of selecting characteristics for [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] so that they can function as [[Helpers]] to players. To do this, they need to have either [[Mutual Goals]] or [[Continuous Goals]] and [[Supporting Goals]] with a player. This may be the same abilities as the players have themselves, or to fill different [[Functional Roles]] various [[Privileged Abilities]]. For [[Companions]] with anything else than a trivial internal state, i.e. those making use of the [[Characters]] pattern, one also has design choices regarding which [[Equipment]] and [[Skills]] to provide them with.
+Designing [[Companions]] consists of selecting characteristics for [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] so that they can function as [[Helpers]] to players. To do this, they need to have either [[Mutual Goals]] or [[Continuous Goals]] and [[Supporting Goals]] with a player. They may be able to work towards these through having the same [[Abilities]] as the players' [[Focus Loci]] have, or have different ones to fill different [[Functional Roles]] - especially so if these are [[Privileged Abilities]]. For [[Companions]] with anything else than a trivial internal state, i.e. those making use of the [[Characters]] pattern, one also has design choices regarding which [[Equipment]] and [[Skills]] to provide them with.
 [[Companions]] are often [[Non-Player Characters]] with all design choices this infers. However, since they often are in [[Cooperation]] with players it is more likely that they support [[Transferable Items]] than is the case for other [[Non-Player Characters]]. Since these are likely to be interacted with more than other [[NPCs]], it may be more important than otherwise to make them into believable [[Agents]]. This includes creating [[Dialogues]], considering questions of [[Loyalty]] (in both directions) and [[Internal Rivalry]] (especially when one can have more than one [[Companions|Companion]], introducing memberships in different [[Factions]], and deciding to which degree, if any, they should have an [[Open Destiny]]. [[Own Agenda]] is appropriate as well although it can conflict with being a willing follower - this may be solved by instantiating it through [[Quests]] that are [[Optional Goals]] (see [[Fallout: New Vegas]] and the [[Dragon Age series]] for examples of this). Besides other ways their fates can be unfolded, [[Companions]] may turn out to be [[Traitors]] and [[Enemies]] to create [[Surprises]] and [[Tension]]. Regardless of the specific ways that [[Companions]] can behave towards the player's [[Characters|Character]] or [[Avatar]], how he or she behaves to them can easily be made into [[Character Defining Actions]] (examples of this can be found in the [[Mass Effect series]] and the [[Witcher series]]).
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]],
 [[Character Defining Actions]],

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
-[[Predetermined Story Structures]], [[Ultra-Powerful Events]]
+[[Ultra-Powerful Events]]
 [[Algorithmic Agents]] together with [[Mutual Goals]] or [[Continuous Goals]] and [[Supporting Goals]]

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Companions]] are [[Helpers]] to players' [[Avatars]] or [[Player Characters|Characters]] in [[Game Worlds]], and may make up supporting members in players' [[Parties]]. The use of them when they are controlled by [[Algorithmic Agents]] can be seen as a way of creating [[Cooperation]] and [[Teams]] although there is only one player in the [[Teams]]. As [[Companions]] often are partly defined as [[Characters]], they are also often examples of [[Non-Player Characters]] and can often be used to fill the [[Functional Roles]] than that players' [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] do not fill. When this is done by having specific [[Abilities]] the player doesn't have, this is an instance of providing [[New Abilities]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] by proxy. By providing help, they can be seen as a form of [[Handicap Systems]] (especially if they are connected to a system for [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]]) and can support [[Casual Gameplay]]. They also provide a target for players' [[Emotional Attachment]] besides the [[Player Characters]] themselves.
+[[Companions]] are [[Helpers]] to players' [[Avatars]] or [[Player Characters|Characters]] in [[Game Worlds]], and may make up supporting members in players' [[Parties]]. The use of them when they are controlled by [[Algorithmic Agents]] can be seen as a way of creating [[Cooperation]] and [[Teams]] although there is only one player in the [[Teams]]. As [[Companions]] often are partly defined as [[Characters]], they are also often examples of [[Non-Player Characters]] and can often be used to fill the [[Functional Roles]] than that players' [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] do not fill. When this is done by having specific [[Abilities]] the player doesn't have, this is an instance of providing [[New Abilities]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] by proxy. By providing help, they can be seen as a form of [[Handicap Systems]] (especially if they are connected to a system for [[Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment]]) and can support [[Casual Gameplay]]. They also provide a target for players' [[Emotional Engrossment]] besides the [[Player Characters]] themselves.
 [[Companions]] that can be lost are a source of [[Tension]], as are those that may be [[Traitors]] or otherwise commit acts of [[Betrayal]].
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Agents]], [[Casual Gameplay]], [[Enemies]],
-[[Emotional Attachment]],
+[[Emotional Engrossment]],
 [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], [[Functional Roles]], [[Handicap Systems]], [[Helpers]], [[Investments]], [[Loyalty]],
 [[New Abilities]],

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 [[Parties]],
 [[Privileged Abilities]],
 [[Resources]], [[Rewards]], [[Smooth Learning Curves]], [[Surprises]],
 [[Tension]],
@@ Line 65: / Line 66: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
-[[Avatars]], [[Helplessness]], [[Predetermined Story Structures]], [[Player Characters]]
+[[Avatars]], [[Helplessness]],
 ==== with [[Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences]] ====