Player/Character Skill Composites - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:07, 14 August 2016

2016-08-14T08:07:51Z

Staffan Björk at 09:27, 15 July 2016

2016-07-15T09:27:35Z

Staffan Björk at 07:51, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T07:51:28Z

Staffan Björk at 09:28, 3 July 2015

2015-07-03T09:28:33Z

Staffan Björk at 14:10, 7 January 2015

2015-01-07T14:10:31Z

Staffan Björk at 08:49, 5 January 2015

2015-01-05T08:49:11Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Be Modulated By */

2011-09-24T08:35:47Z

‎Can Be Modulated By

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2011-09-24T08:35:35Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2011-09-24T08:35:13Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2011-09-24T08:33:29Z

‎Relations

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 === Examples ===
-[[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[GURPS]] have [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] for two reasons. First, although players may choose the actions performed by the characters, it is their skills, levels, and equipment that determine the outcome (at least for rule-based versions of this type of games). Second, game masters often provide bonuses (or penalties) depending on how well players planned, described, and enacted the characters' actions.
+[[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[GURPS]] have [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] for two reasons. First, although players may choose the actions performed by the characters, it is their skills, levels, and equipment that determine the outcome (at least for rule-based versions of this type of games). Second, game masters often provide bonuses (or penalties) depending on how well players planned, described, and enacted the characters' actions. The [[:Category:Roguelikes|Roguelike]] [[Unexplored]] works similarly but as a real-time [[:Category:Computer Games|Computer Game]] also puts demands on players manual dexterity and reflexes.
 While all [[:Category:FPS Games|FPS Games]] (e.g. the [[Quake series|Quake]] and [[Half-Life series]]) that have different types of weapons have a certain level of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] some games make more explicit use of the pattern. [[Left 4 Dead 2]] lets players find laser sights that upgrade weapons so that they sway less when one aims. This makes shooting a combination of player skill and character equipment. [[Borderlands]] allows many different upgrades of weapons and lowers the sway of weapons for skilled characters (the "Aim Assist" option in the game can be seen as a version of the pattern as well).

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 == Using the pattern ==
-Creating [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] consists of designing the outcomes of actions so that they depend both on how (and when) players perform actions and on attributes tied to [[Characters]]. Examples of ways players can show personal skills or competences include performing [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], [[Memorizing]], [[Tactical Planning]], or [[Timing]]. Examples of how [[Characters]] can affect outcomes of actions are by having [[Skills]] related to the actions, and by providing [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]]. [[First-Person Views]] augmented with [[Point of Interest Indications]] or [[Vision Modes]] let perception of [[Game Worlds]] be a composite of players and [[Characters]] abilities. [[Automated Responses]] and [[Enforced Agent Behavior]] are ways to more directly tie [[Characters]] to the actual performing of the actions, and [[Zero-Player Games]] (or games such as [[Dragon Age II]] that allow players to have [[Creative Control]] over [[Automated Responses]]) make players into the creators of [[Algorithmic Agents]] that provide [[Enforced Agent Behavior]]. Setting [[Automated Responses]] can allow a lesser form of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] to exist when players can influence [[Non-Player Characters]] behaviors (done in [[Dragon Age II]] and more weakly in the [[Fallout series]]). The pattern can be used when no abstract features of players' [[Focus Loci]] exist except [[Weapons]] and [[Tools]], i.e. the [[Characters]] pattern is not used, but is then rather a way to modulate [[Avatars]]. In general, [[Player Augmentations]] can be used to create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] in all cases where the augmentation can be traced to the diegetic representation of a character.
+Creating [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] consists of designing the outcomes of actions so that they depend both on how (and when) players perform actions and on attributes tied to [[Characters]]. Examples of ways players can show personal skills or competences include performing [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], [[Memorizing]], [[Tactical Planning]], or [[Timing]]. Examples of how [[Characters]] can affect outcomes of actions are by having [[Skills]] related to the actions, and by providing [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]]. [[First-Person Views]] augmented with [[Point of Interest Indicators]] or [[Vision Modes]] let perception of [[Game Worlds]] be a composite of players and [[Characters]] abilities. [[Automated Responses]] and [[Enforced Agent Behavior]] are ways to more directly tie [[Characters]] to the actual performing of the actions, and [[Zero-Player Games]] (or games such as [[Dragon Age II]] that allow players to have [[Creative Control]] over [[Automated Responses]]) make players into the creators of [[Algorithmic Agents]] that provide [[Enforced Agent Behavior]]. Setting [[Automated Responses]] can allow a lesser form of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] to exist when players can influence [[Non-Player Characters]] behaviors (done in [[Dragon Age II]] and more weakly in the [[Fallout series]]). The pattern can be used when no abstract features of players' [[Focus Loci]] exist except [[Weapons]] and [[Tools]], i.e. the [[Characters]] pattern is not used, but is then rather a way to modulate [[Avatars]]. In general, [[Player Augmentations]] can be used to create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] in all cases where the augmentation can be traced to the diegetic representation of a character.
 [[Combat]] is an activity that quite often depends on [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]. One example is making hitting depend on player skill while [[Damage]] depends on character [[Skills]] and [[Weapons]]. The difficulty of performing [[Aim & Shoot]] actions can more tightly merge the two components through having player do the aiming but let the sway of the aim depend on [[Weapons]] and their [[Upgrades]], as well as on [[Skills]] to produce [[Variable Accuracy]]. All these options can also be used to initiate or influence [[Auto-Aim]] functionality and thereby create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]].
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 [[Damage]] in games with [[Combat]]
-[[First-Person Views]] together with [[Point of Interest Indications]] or [[Vision Modes]]
+[[First-Person Views]] together with [[Point of Interest Indicators]] or [[Vision Modes]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===

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 [[Combat]] is an activity that quite often depends on [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]. One example is making hitting depend on player skill while [[Damage]] depends on character [[Skills]] and [[Weapons]]. The difficulty of performing [[Aim & Shoot]] actions can more tightly merge the two components through having player do the aiming but let the sway of the aim depend on [[Weapons]] and their [[Upgrades]], as well as on [[Skills]] to produce [[Variable Accuracy]]. All these options can also be used to initiate or influence [[Auto-Aim]] functionality and thereby create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]].
-[[Player/Character Skill Composites]] have to balance the [[Improved Abilities]] of [[Character Development]] with [[Game Mastery]] if any of the two are to exist in a game. Those where [[Game Mastery]] over time influences outcomes more than [[Character Development]] lessen the [[Value of Effort]] for the [[Character Development]]; this may however be compensated by the [[Value of Effort]] having the mastery represents. It may however also make [[Player Balance]] difficult to achieve without other [[Balancing Effects]]. Dominating influence from [[Character Development]] can directly work against [[Game Mastery]] occurring (see Linderoth 2010<ref name="linderoth"/> for a discussion related to this), and even if [[Game Mastery]] occurs [[Character Development]] works against its [[Value of Effort]]. Note that this is not the same type of balance that needs to be maintained between difficulty and chance to succeed to create [[Red Queen Dilemmas]].
+[[Player/Character Skill Composites]] have to balance the [[Improved Abilities]] of [[Character Development]] with [[Gameplay Mastery]] if any of the two are to exist in a game. Those where [[Gameplay Mastery]] over time influences outcomes more than [[Character Development]] lessen the [[Value of Effort]] for the [[Character Development]]; this may however be compensated by the [[Value of Effort]] having the mastery represents. It may however also make [[Player Balance]] difficult to achieve without other [[Balancing Effects]]. Dominating influence from [[Character Development]] can directly work against [[Gameplay Mastery]] occurring (see Linderoth 2010<ref name="linderoth"/> for a discussion related to this), and even if [[Gameplay Mastery]] occurs [[Character Development]] works against its [[Value of Effort]]. Note that this is not the same type of balance that needs to be maintained between difficulty and chance to succeed to create [[Red Queen Dilemmas]].
 [[Combos]] is an alternative way of achieving [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] since actions, and even the performance of them, can be attributes of [[Characters]] but players decide when they are done. Likewise, the presence of [[Game Masters]] can allow [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] by letting [[Enactment]] and [[Tactical Planning]] beyond that possible from the game state modify the chance of success for any action.
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 === Diegetic Aspects ===
-In games where players control [[Characters]] that are supposed to be skilled, [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] can help maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] until the players have gain enough [[Game Mastery]] to be able to enact these levels of skill.
+In games where players control [[Characters]] that are supposed to be skilled, [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] can help maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] until the players have gain enough [[Gameplay Mastery]] to be able to enact these levels of skill.
 == Consequences ==
 Per its definition, [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] combines the attributes of [[Characters]] and skill of players to determine outcomes of actions. This can provide [[Smooth Learning Curves]] initially since the outcome from novices may not be that of diegetic novices. When the [[Characters|Character]] part actively performs actions, e.g. through [[Automated Responses]] or [[Enforced Agent Behavior]], this makes [[Player/System Action Composites]] emerge and naturally affect [[Performance Uncertainty]]. [[Player Unpredictability]] is typically lessened by the presence of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]].
-The pattern may also give rise to [[Grinding]] since players can compensate a lack of [[Game Mastery]] by playing more to have [[Character Development]] or better [[Tools]] instead.
+The pattern may also give rise to [[Grinding]] since players can compensate a lack of [[Gameplay Mastery]] by playing more to have [[Character Development]] or better [[Tools]] instead.
 == Relations ==
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 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Character Development]],
-[[Game Mastery]],
+[[Gameplay Mastery]],
 [[Handicap Systems]],
 [[Improved Abilities]],
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 [[Value of Effort]]
-[[Game Mastery]] when [[Character Development]] is present
+[[Gameplay Mastery]] when [[Character Development]] is present
-[[Player Balance]] when [[Game Mastery]] is present
+[[Player Balance]] when [[Gameplay Mastery]] is present
 == History ==

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 == Using the pattern ==
-Creating [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] consists of designing the outcomes of actions so that they depend both on how (and when) players perform actions and on attributes tied to [[Characters]]. Examples of ways players can show personal skills or competences include performing [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], [[Memorizing]], [[Tactical Planning]], or [[Timing]]. Examples of how [[Characters]] can affect outcomes of actions are by having [[Skills]] related to the actions, and by providing [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]]. [[First-Person Views]] augmented with [[Point of Interest Indications]] or [[Vision Modes]] let perception of [[Game Worlds]] be a composite of players and [[Characters]] abilities. [[Automated Responses]] and [[Enforced Agent Behavior]] are ways to more directly tie [[Characters]] to the actual performing of the actions, and [[Zero-Player Games]] (or games such as [[Dragon Age II]] that allow players to have [[Creative Control]] over [[Automated Responses]]) make players into the creators of [[Algorithmic Agents]] that provide [[Enforced Agent Behavior]]. Setting [[Automated Responses]] can allow a lesser form of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] to exist when players can influence [[Non-Player Characters]] behaviors (done in [[Dragon Age II]] and more weakly in the [[Fallout series]]). The pattern can be used when no abstract features of players' [[Focus Loci]] exist except what [[Weapons]] and [[Tools]], i.e. the [[Characters]] pattern is not used, but is then rather a way to modulate [[Avatars]].
+Creating [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] consists of designing the outcomes of actions so that they depend both on how (and when) players perform actions and on attributes tied to [[Characters]]. Examples of ways players can show personal skills or competences include performing [[Dexterity-Based Actions]], [[Memorizing]], [[Tactical Planning]], or [[Timing]]. Examples of how [[Characters]] can affect outcomes of actions are by having [[Skills]] related to the actions, and by providing [[Tools]] and [[Weapons]]. [[First-Person Views]] augmented with [[Point of Interest Indications]] or [[Vision Modes]] let perception of [[Game Worlds]] be a composite of players and [[Characters]] abilities. [[Automated Responses]] and [[Enforced Agent Behavior]] are ways to more directly tie [[Characters]] to the actual performing of the actions, and [[Zero-Player Games]] (or games such as [[Dragon Age II]] that allow players to have [[Creative Control]] over [[Automated Responses]]) make players into the creators of [[Algorithmic Agents]] that provide [[Enforced Agent Behavior]]. Setting [[Automated Responses]] can allow a lesser form of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] to exist when players can influence [[Non-Player Characters]] behaviors (done in [[Dragon Age II]] and more weakly in the [[Fallout series]]). The pattern can be used when no abstract features of players' [[Focus Loci]] exist except [[Weapons]] and [[Tools]], i.e. the [[Characters]] pattern is not used, but is then rather a way to modulate [[Avatars]]. In general, [[Player Augmentations]] can be used to create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] in all cases where the augmentation can be traced to the diegetic representation of a character.
 [[Combat]] is an activity that quite often depends on [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]. One example is making hitting depend on player skill while [[Damage]] depends on character [[Skills]] and [[Weapons]]. The difficulty of performing [[Aim & Shoot]] actions can more tightly merge the two components through having player do the aiming but let the sway of the aim depend on [[Weapons]] and their [[Upgrades]], as well as on [[Skills]] to produce [[Variable Accuracy]]. All these options can also be used to initiate or influence [[Auto-Aim]] functionality and thereby create [[Player/Character Skill Composites]].
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 [[Game Masters]],
 [[Memorizing]],
 [[Skills]],
 [[Tactical Planning]],

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 [[Combos]] is an alternative way of achieving [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] since actions, and even the performance of them, can be attributes of [[Characters]] but players decide when they are done. Likewise, the presence of [[Game Masters]] can allow [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] by letting [[Enactment]] and [[Tactical Planning]] beyond that possible from the game state modify the chance of success for any action.
-[[Player/Character Skill Composites]] are likely to be affected by [[Handicap Systems]] in games that contain them, so the co-presence of these pattern should be considered in any game design process.
+[[Player/Character Skill Composites]] are likely to be affected by [[Handicap Systems]] in games that contain them, so the co-presence of these pattern should be considered in any game design process using one or the other.
 === Diegetic Aspects ===
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 == Consequences ==
-Per its definition, [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] combines the attributes of [[Characters]] and skill of players to determine outcomes of actions. This can provide [[Smooth Learning Curves]] initially since the outcome from novices may not be that of diegetic novices. When the [[Characters|Character]] part actively performs actions, e.g. through [[Automated Responses]] or [[Enforced Agent Behavior]], this makes [[Player/System Action Composites]] emerge and naturally affect [[Performance Uncertainty]].
+Per its definition, [[Player/Character Skill Composites]] combines the attributes of [[Characters]] and skill of players to determine outcomes of actions. This can provide [[Smooth Learning Curves]] initially since the outcome from novices may not be that of diegetic novices. When the [[Characters|Character]] part actively performs actions, e.g. through [[Automated Responses]] or [[Enforced Agent Behavior]], this makes [[Player/System Action Composites]] emerge and naturally affect [[Performance Uncertainty]]. [[Player Unpredictability]] is typically lessened by the presence of [[Player/Character Skill Composites]].
 The pattern may also give rise to [[Grinding]] since players can compensate a lack of [[Game Mastery]] by playing more to have [[Character Development]] or better [[Tools]] instead.
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 [[Avatars]],
 [[Combat]],
-[[Performance Uncertainty]]
+[[Performance Uncertainty]],
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===

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 [[First-Person Views]] together with [[Point of Interest Indications]] or [[Vision Modes]]
-[[Variable Accuracy]] together with [[Skills]], [[Upgrades]], or [[Weapons]]
+[[Variable Accuracy]] together with [[Skills]] or [[Weapons]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
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 [[Improved Abilities]],
 [[Upgrades]]
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===