Player Characters - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:39, 8 April 2022

2022-04-08T08:39:57Z

Staffan Björk at 11:45, 17 July 2016

2016-07-17T11:45:49Z

Staffan Björk at 15:50, 17 January 2015

2015-01-17T15:50:47Z

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2014-07-31T16:28:52Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 16:28, 31 July 2014

2014-07-31T16:28:23Z

Staffan Björk at 16:00, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T16:00:43Z

Staffan Björk: /* Potentially Conflicting With */

2014-07-28T15:57:53Z

‎Potentially Conflicting With

Staffan Björk at 15:57, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T15:57:35Z

Staffan Björk at 15:50, 28 July 2014

2014-07-28T15:50:13Z

Staffan Björk at 16:13, 20 June 2014

2014-06-20T16:13:43Z

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Player Characters]] are created by either letting players control [[Characters]] - this can be considered [[Roleplaying]] since to outsiders the players and [[Characters]] share goals even if the players themselves may not identify with the [[Characters]] but rather the overarching goals of a game. In the case where players may adopt the goals of the game rather than the goals of the [[Characters]], game designers may consider if it can be sufficient to only use [[Avatars]] (possibly together with a few characteristics such as [[Health]]) instead of [[Player Characters]] and [[Characters]] in a game design. It is often a design goal to let players feel [[Identification]] with [[Player Characters]]; [[Cutscenes]], [[Game State Overviews]], and [[Player-Created Characters]] are ways of making this more likely.
+[[Player Characters]] are created by either letting players control [[Characters]] - this can be considered [[Roleplaying]] since to outsiders the players and [[Characters]] share goals even if the players themselves may not identify with the [[Characters]] but rather the overarching goals of a game. In the case where players may adopt the goals of the game rather than the goals of the [[Characters]], game designers may consider if it can be sufficient to only use [[Avatars]] (possibly together with a few characteristics such as [[Health]]) instead of [[Player Characters]] and [[Characters]] in a game design. It is often a design goal to let players feel [[Identification]] with [[Player Characters]]; [[Cutscenes]], [[Game State Overviews]], and [[Player-Created Characters]] are ways of making this more likely. Another common design goal is to use [[Player Characters]] to make players experience [[Character Engrossment]]. A supporting goal for this can be that players should as much as possible know and experience the same things as their [[Player Characters]], that is provide a [[Player/Character Awareness Consistency]] - the challenges to this typically revolve around interface issues and [[Character/Player Cognitive Imbalance]].
 Games typically make [[Player Characters]] more functionally powerful than other [[Characters]]. This is quite commonly done through [[Privileged Abilities]] to match any exceptional status they may have through the narration.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 === Interface Aspects ===
 [[Live Action Roleplaying]] heavily modulate the design options possible for [[Player Characters]]. This since the [[Characters]] need to be based on the actual players that will enact them so that their appearances, [[Attributes]], and [[Abilities]] do not break [[Diegetic Consistency]].
 === Narration Aspects ===
@@ Line 34: / Line 36: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Player Characters]] provides players with a [[Focus Loci]] in which to interact with [[Game Worlds]] and is more likely to make the [[Characters]] control be perceived as [[Agents]]. Unlike other types of [[Focus Loci]], e.g. [[Units]], [[Player Characters]] form a natural starting point to begin [[Roleplaying]] and lets them have [[Creative Control]] in how to do this, including engaging in [[Gossip]] and [[Storytelling]]. While letting players control [[Characters]] can give them a focus to have [[Emotional Engrossment]] during gameplay, this attachment can be cut if the game provides [[Character Defining Actions]] whose effect on [[Player Characters]] were not wanted by the players and not perceivable beforehand.
+[[Player Characters]] provides players with a [[Focus Loci]] in which to interact with [[Game Worlds]] and is more likely to make the [[Characters]] control be perceived as [[Agents]]. Unlike other types of [[Focus Loci]], e.g. [[Units]], [[Player Characters]] form a natural starting point to begin [[Roleplaying]] and lets them have [[Creative Control]] in how to do this, including engaging in [[Gossip]] and [[Storytelling]]. While letting players control [[Characters]] can give them a focus to have [[Character Engrossment]] and thereby [[Emotional Engrossment]] during gameplay, this attachment can be cut if the game provides [[Character Defining Actions]] whose effect on [[Player Characters]] were not wanted by the players and not perceivable beforehand.
 Give that players often provide [[Player Characters]] with various peculiarity in their behaviors and expressions, it may be difficult to maintain a [[Possibility of Anonymity]] unless games have completely [[Mediated Gameplay]].
@@ Line 43: / Line 47: @@
 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Agents]],
 [[Creative Control]],
 [[Emotional Engrossment]],
@@ Line 70: / Line 75: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Character Defining Actions]],
 [[Companions]],
 [[Equipment]],
@@ Line 77: / Line 83: @@
 [[Open Destiny]],
 [[Parties]],
 [[Player-Created Characters]],
 [[Player Defined Goals]],

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Player Characters]] are created by either letting players control [[Characters]] - this can be considered [[Roleplaying]] since to outsiders the players and [[Characters]] share goals even if the players themselves may not identify with the [[Characters]] but rather the overarching goals of a game. In the case where players may adopt the goals of the game rather than the goals of the [[Characters]], game designers may consider if it can be sufficient to only use [[Avatars]] (possibly together with a few characteristics such as [[Health]]) instead of [[Player Characters]] and [[Characters]] in a game design.
+[[Player Characters]] are created by either letting players control [[Characters]] - this can be considered [[Roleplaying]] since to outsiders the players and [[Characters]] share goals even if the players themselves may not identify with the [[Characters]] but rather the overarching goals of a game. In the case where players may adopt the goals of the game rather than the goals of the [[Characters]], game designers may consider if it can be sufficient to only use [[Avatars]] (possibly together with a few characteristics such as [[Health]]) instead of [[Player Characters]] and [[Characters]] in a game design. It is often a design goal to let players feel [[Identification]] with [[Player Characters]]; [[Cutscenes]], [[Game State Overviews]], and [[Player-Created Characters]] are ways of making this more likely.
 Games typically make [[Player Characters]] more functionally powerful than other [[Characters]]. This is quite commonly done through [[Privileged Abilities]] to match any exceptional status they may have through the narration.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 [[Roleplaying]],
 [[Storytelling]]
 ==== with [[Game Masters]] or [[Limited Set of Actions]] ====

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 In [[Multiplayer Games]], [[Parties]] can consist solely of [[Player Characters]] but can in all types of games contain [[Companions]]. Regardless of which type of games [[Parties]] exist in, they modulate [[Player Characters]] by defining relations for them and quite likely also [[Diegetic Social Norms]].
-There are several design choices that become more relevant when players are to control [[Characters]]. First, they may be [[Player-Created Characters]], letting players have influence on their [[Equipment]] and [[Companions]]. Second, should they fate be set through [[Predetermined Story Structures]] or should they have an [[Open Destiny]], and, related to this, should their exist [[Character Defining Actions]] during the gameplay and should players be supported in having a [[Player-Planned Development]] for the [[Characters]] (and this can be regardless if they can actual influence the development). More specifically, while some [[Game Items]] may be [[Transferable Items]] in a game, other may not be transferable to other [[Characters]] than [[Player Characters]] (e.g. [[Dragon Age II]] has special [[Equipment]] that only the [[Player Characters|Player Character]] ''Hawke'' can use).
+There are several design choices that become more relevant when players are to control [[Characters]]. First, they may be [[Player-Created Characters]], letting players have influence on their [[Equipment]] and [[Companions]]. [[Player Characters]] are open for players to add [[Player Defined Goals]] that the [[Characters]] also have, but game designs can encourage or require this as well as part of creating the [[Player Characters]]. Second, should they fate be set through [[Predetermined Story Structures]] or should they have an [[Open Destiny]], and, related to this, should their exist [[Character Defining Actions]] during the gameplay and should players be supported in having a [[Player-Planned Development]] for the [[Characters]] (and this can be regardless if they can actual influence the development). More specifically, while some [[Game Items]] may be [[Transferable Items]] in a game, other may not be transferable to other [[Characters]] than [[Player Characters]] (e.g. [[Dragon Age II]] has special [[Equipment]] that only the [[Player Characters|Player Character]] ''Hawke'' can use). It is quite common for [[Player Characters]] to have [[Secret Goals]], and this can spontaneously occur since players can add such goals as [[Player Defined Goals]] which the [[Player Characters]] also have.
 For games that wish to support [[Late Arriving Players]], how to handle the [[Game Element Insertion]] of [[Player Characters]] need to be considered, especially for [[Player Balance]] purposes.
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 [[Parties]],
 [[Player-Created Characters]],
 [[Player-Planned Development]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
 [[Privileged Abilities]],
 [[Transferable Items]]

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 [[Focus Loci]],
 [[Gossip]],
 [[Parties]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]],
@@ Line 70: / Line 71: @@
 [[Game Element Insertion]],
 [[Game Masters]],
 [[Live Action Roleplaying]],
 [[Open Destiny]],

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Narration Aspects ===
-[[Player Characters]] are typically important to [[Predetermined Story Structures]], but not necessary the whole design of them but rather the events that they will be part of and perhaps some defining characteristics they possess. This is due to often wanting players themselves to have some control of the design of the [[Player Characters]] - see the [[Elder Scrolls series]] for a typical example of this type of design.
+[[Player Characters]] are typically important to [[Predetermined Story Structures]], but not necessary the whole design of them but rather the events that they will be part of and perhaps some defining characteristics they possess. This is due to often wanting players themselves to have some control of the design of the [[Player Characters]] - see the [[Elder Scrolls series]] for a typical example of this type of design. [[Player Characters]] can also help create [[Narration Structures]] during gameplay.
 [[Thematic Consistency]] may be difficult to guarantee with this pattern since having [[Player Characters]] let players have significant control in how individual [[Characters]] behave in [[Game Worlds]]. This can however be controlled by having [[Limited Set of Actions]] or [[Game Masters]], and then the added details players can provide can support [[Thematic Consistency]].
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 [[Game Element Insertion]],
 [[Game Masters]],
 [[Live Action Roleplaying]],
 [[Open Destiny]],

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Player Characters]] provides players with a [[Focus Loci]] in which to interact with [[Game Worlds]] and is more likely to make the [[Characters]] control be perceived as [[Agents]]. Unlike other types of [[Focus Loci]], e.g. [[Units]], [[Player Characters]] form a natural starting point to begin [[Roleplaying]] and lets them have [[Creative Control]] in how to do this, including engaging in [[Gossip]] and [[Storytelling]]. While letting players control [[Characters]] can give them a focus to have [[Emotional Attachment]] during gameplay, this attachment can be cut if the game provides [[Character Defining Actions]] whose effect on [[Player Characters]] were not wanted by the players and not perceivable beforehand.
+[[Player Characters]] provides players with a [[Focus Loci]] in which to interact with [[Game Worlds]] and is more likely to make the [[Characters]] control be perceived as [[Agents]]. Unlike other types of [[Focus Loci]], e.g. [[Units]], [[Player Characters]] form a natural starting point to begin [[Roleplaying]] and lets them have [[Creative Control]] in how to do this, including engaging in [[Gossip]] and [[Storytelling]]. While letting players control [[Characters]] can give them a focus to have [[Emotional Engrossment]] during gameplay, this attachment can be cut if the game provides [[Character Defining Actions]] whose effect on [[Player Characters]] were not wanted by the players and not perceivable beforehand.
 Give that players often provide [[Player Characters]] with various peculiarity in their behaviors and expressions, it may be difficult to maintain a [[Possibility of Anonymity]] unless games have completely [[Mediated Gameplay]].
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 [[Agents]],
 [[Creative Control]],
 [[Emotional Engrossment]],
 [[Focus Loci]],
@@ Line 84: / Line 83: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
-[[Emotional Attachment]] when [[Player Characters]] are used together with [[Character Defining Actions]] in ways not wanted by the players
+[[Emotional Engrossment]] when [[Player Characters]] are used together with [[Character Defining Actions]] in ways not wanted by the players
 [[Player Balance]] when the [[Player Characters]] are put into gameplay through [[Game Element Insertion]] due to [[Late Arriving Players]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 === Examples ===
-The introduction of [[Player Characters]] was one of the design features that create [[:Category:Roleplaying Games|Roleplaying Games]] from [[:Category:Miniature Games|Miniature Games]]. This is found in most [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Ars Magica]], [[Basic Role-Playing]], [[Call of Cthulhu]], [[Dungeons & Dragons]], [[GURPS]], and [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]] but [[Univeralis]] is an exception of the general rule. [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|Live Action Roleplaying Games]], e.g. [[1942 – Noen å stole på]], [[Dragonbane]], and [[Trenne Byar]], also have [[Player Characters]] but in these case the players enact them not only by saying what they are doing but by physically enacting the actions and by embodying the characters with their own bodies. [[:Category:Computer-based Roleplaying Games|Computer-based varieties]] such as [[Entropia Universe]], [[Dark Age of Camelot]], [[DragonMud]], [[Ultima Online]], [[Witcher series]], and [[World of Warcraft]] do likewise but in some cases, e.g. the [[Fallout series]] and [[The Elder Scrolls series]] also allow partial or complete control of companions of the [[Player Characters]].
+The introduction of [[Player Characters]] was one of the design features that create [[:Category:Roleplaying Games|Roleplaying Games]] from [[:Category:Miniature Games|Miniature Games]]. This is found in most [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Ars Magica]], [[Basic Role-Playing]], [[Call of Cthulhu]], [[Dungeons & Dragons]], [[GURPS]], and [[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]] but [[Universalis]] is an exception of the general rule. [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|Live Action Roleplaying Games]], e.g. [[1942 – Noen å stole på]], [[Dragonbane]], and [[Trenne Byar]], also have [[Player Characters]] but in these case the players enact them not only by saying what they are doing but by physically enacting the actions and by embodying the characters with their own bodies. [[:Category:Computer-based Roleplaying Games|Computer-based varieties]] such as [[Entropia Universe]], [[Dark Age of Camelot]], [[DragonMud]], [[Ultima Online]], [[Witcher series]], and [[World of Warcraft]] do likewise but in some cases, e.g. the [[Fallout series]] and [[The Elder Scrolls series]] also allow partial or complete control of companions of the [[Player Characters]].
 [[Borderlands]], [[Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory]], and the [[Battlefield series]] show how a form of [[Player Characters]] can exist in [[:Category:FPS Games|First-Person Shooters]] by letting players develop characters by gaining experience points that can be used to unlock new abilities.