Helplessness - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 13:24, 27 August 2015

2015-08-27T13:24:22Z

Staffan Björk at 12:37, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T12:37:58Z

Staffan Björk at 12:27, 2 September 2014

2014-09-02T12:27:13Z

Staffan Björk at 14:11, 17 July 2014

2014-07-17T14:11:35Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Instantiated By */

2012-12-14T10:14:38Z

‎Can Be Instantiated By

Staffan Björk at 10:14, 14 December 2012

2012-12-14T10:14:14Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Modulated By */

2012-08-31T13:52:09Z

‎Can Be Modulated By

Staffan Björk at 09:28, 3 August 2011

2011-08-03T09:28:32Z

Staffan Björk at 20:51, 4 June 2011

2011-06-04T20:51:34Z

Staffan Björk at 18:33, 18 March 2011

2011-03-18T18:33:46Z

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 == Consequences ==
-Since [[Helplessness]] stops players from affecting the outcome of the game, it enforces [[Downtime]] but with the important distinction that the gameplay progresses and that other players may still be able to act. It generally works against [[Empowerment]], [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], and [[Freedom of Choice]]. It opens up for other players to take on [[Social Roles]] as helpers of the player that is helpless (as well as letting the one suffering from [[Helplessness]] take on the role of a victim).
+[[Helplessness]] removes [[Player Agency]]. Since it stops players from affecting the outcome of the game, it enforces [[Downtime]] but with the important distinction that the gameplay progresses and that other players may still be able to act. It generally works against [[Empowerment]], [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], and [[Freedom of Choice]]. It opens up for other players to take on [[Social Roles]] as helpers of the player that is helpless (as well as letting the one suffering from [[Helplessness]] take on the role of a victim).
 [[Helplessness]] may not be something players perceived as a positive state, and this makes it suitable to use as [[Penalties]]. It can be seen as a way to create [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] which in turn quite easily creates [[Tension]] in the players, and possibly [[Anticipation]] as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed. It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but in [[Multiplayer Games]] players can instead be made to feel it if they can save incapacitated players, i.e. if the [[Helplessness]] naturally gives rise to [[Rescue]] goals. When this occurs, they can contextually be seen as having [[Privileged Abilities]], and saving others can easily create expectations of [[Delayed Reciprocity]].
@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 [[Empowerment]],
 [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]],
-[[Freedom of Choice]]
+[[Freedom of Choice]],
 == History ==

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 Since [[Helplessness]] stops players from affecting the outcome of the game, it enforces [[Downtime]] but with the important distinction that the gameplay progresses and that other players may still be able to act. It generally works against [[Empowerment]], [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], and [[Freedom of Choice]]. It opens up for other players to take on [[Social Roles]] as helpers of the player that is helpless (as well as letting the one suffering from [[Helplessness]] take on the role of a victim).
-[[Helplessness]] may not be something players perceived as a positive state, and this makes it suitable to use as [[Penalties]]. It can be seen as a way to create [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] which in turn quite easily creates [[Tension]] in the players, and possibly [[Anticipation]] as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed. It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but in [[Multiplayer Games]] players can instead be made to feel it if they can save incapacitated players. When this occurs, they can contextually be seen as having [[Privileged Abilities]], and saving others can easily create expectations of [[Delayed Reciprocity]].
+[[Helplessness]] may not be something players perceived as a positive state, and this makes it suitable to use as [[Penalties]]. It can be seen as a way to create [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] which in turn quite easily creates [[Tension]] in the players, and possibly [[Anticipation]] as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed. It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but in [[Multiplayer Games]] players can instead be made to feel it if they can save incapacitated players, i.e. if the [[Helplessness]] naturally gives rise to [[Rescue]] goals. When this occurs, they can contextually be seen as having [[Privileged Abilities]], and saving others can easily create expectations of [[Delayed Reciprocity]].
 For games where players can ask for help through [[Unmediated Social Interaction]] or [[Communication Channels]], [[Helplessness]] may easily give rise to [[Negotiation]] and [[Guilting]].
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 [[No-Ops]],
 [[Penalties]],
 [[Social Roles]],
 [[Tension]],

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 Entering into [[Helplessness]] may be an active choice by players, e.g. [[Extended Actions]] may be balanced so that a powerful effect requires that one becomes unable to defend oneself until the action is completed.
 == Consequences ==
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 ==== with [[Extended Actions]] ====
 [[Risk/Reward]]
 ==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ====

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 == Consequences ==
-Since [[Helplessness]] stops players from affecting the outcome of the game, it enforces [[Downtime]] but with the important distinction that the gameplay progresses and that other players may still be able to act.
+Since [[Helplessness]] stops players from affecting the outcome of the game, it enforces [[Downtime]] but with the important distinction that the gameplay progresses and that other players may still be able to act. It generally works against [[Empowerment]], [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], and [[Freedom of Choice]]. It opens up for other players to take on [[Social Roles]] as helpers of the player that is helpless (as well as letting the one suffering from [[Helplessness]] take on the role of a victim).
 It generally works against [[Empowerment]], [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], and [[Freedom of Choice]].
 [[Helplessness]] may not be something players perceived as a positive state, and this makes it suitable to use as [[Penalties]]. It can be seen as a way to create [[Ultra-Powerful Events]] which in turn quite easily creates [[Tension]] in the players, and possibly [[Anticipation]] as they notice that effort is being made to help them or that they their fate is being sealed. It makes it impossible for players affected to have [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], but in [[Multiplayer Games]] players can instead be made to feel it if they can save incapacitated players. When this occurs, they can contextually be seen as having [[Privileged Abilities]], and saving others can easily create expectations of [[Delayed Reciprocity]].
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 [[No-Ops]],
 [[Penalties]],
 [[Tension]],
 [[Ultra-Powerful Events]]

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 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
 [[Budgeted Action Points]],
 [[Neighbors]],
 [[Resources]]

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 [[Category:Needs examples]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 [[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]
 ''Gameplay situations where players cannot themselves affect their situation.''

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 [[Time Limits]]
-==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] ====
+[[Communication Channels]] or [[Unmediated Social Interaction]] in [[Multiplayer Games]]
-[[Communication Channels]], [[Unmediated Social Interaction]]
 === Possible Closure Effects ===

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 Although [[Resources]] do not in themselves create [[Helplessness]], a lack of needed [[Resources]] can do this, including a lack of [[Budgeted Action Points]] or [[Neighbors]].
-[[Multiplayer Games]] open up another possibility in that it allows for other players to intervene on the behalf of helpless players, as for example done in the [[Left 4 Dead series]]. This can further be modulated by letting players have the possibility to request help - this is possible by default in games with [[Unmediated Social Interaction]] but may require [[Communication Channels]] in others. In theory help could also come from [[Helpers]] or [[Companions]] but this is not a common design solution - probably because it is also difficult to regulate but without the emotional aspects of having
+[[Multiplayer Games]] open up another possibility in that it allows for other players to intervene on the behalf of helpless players, as for example done in the [[Left 4 Dead series]]. This can further be modulated by letting players have the possibility to request help - this is possible by default in games with [[Unmediated Social Interaction]] but may require [[Communication Channels]] in others. In theory help could also come from [[Helpers]] or [[Companions]] but this is not a common design solution - probably because it is also difficult to regulate but without the emotional aspects of having to rely on other players. The [[Mario Kart series]] is an exception since in some [[Levels]] players that have driven their vehicles into oceans are shown being towed out of them by [[Helpers]].
 to rely on other players.
 Entering into [[Helplessness]] may be an active choice by players, e.g. [[Extended Actions]] may be balanced so that a powerful effect requires that one becomes unable to defend oneself until the action is completed.

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 === Examples ===
 Player in the [[Left 4 Dead series]] can become incapacitated by falling off ledges, being pinned by infected with special powers, or by simply receiving enough damage. When this occurs players cannot by themselves affect their fate, they have to be saved by other players.
 == Using the pattern ==