Red Herrings - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:50, 8 March 2023

2023-03-08T08:50:12Z

Staffan Björk at 10:50, 1 July 2015

2015-07-01T10:50:18Z

Staffan Björk at 12:50, 19 September 2011

2011-09-19T12:50:20Z

Staffan Björk at 07:32, 10 September 2011

2011-09-10T07:32:01Z

Staffan Björk at 14:47, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T14:47:28Z

Staffan Björk at 14:46, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T14:46:07Z

Staffan Björk at 14:39, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T14:39:04Z

Staffan Björk at 14:29, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T14:29:38Z

Staffan Björk at 14:19, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T14:19:25Z

Staffan Björk at 13:49, 8 September 2011

2011-09-08T13:49:28Z

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 === Narrative Aspects ===
-[[Red Herrings]] are often present in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], especially those using [[Detective Structures]], to raise the uncertainty regarding how the narrative will progress. It can of course also create [[Surprises]] related to the overall plot besides just momentary ones.
+[[Red Herrings]] are often present in [[Narration Structures|Narration]] and [[Predetermined Story Structures]], especially those using [[Detective Structures]], to raise the uncertainty regarding how the narrative will progress. It can of course also create [[Surprises]] related to the overall plot besides just momentary ones.
 == Consequences ==
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 [[Game Worlds]],
 [[Levels]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]]

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 Inserting [[Red Herrings]] into a game design is basically a case of misdirecting players regarding how they can solve goals, typically [[Puzzle Solving]] related to [[Gain Information]] or [[Gain Ownership]]. This means that [[Red Herrings]] also require some level of [[Imperfect Information]] to work. The exception is that players can use [[Red Herrings]] to lie about their strategies and intentions even in [[Perfect Information]] games.
-The actual misdirection required of [[Red Herrings]] can be constructed by subverting [[Clues]], [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], [[Props]], [[Traces]], and [[Helpers]]. [[Traps]] are often [[Red Herrings]] but naturally need to appear to be something else to work as such. The use of [[Helpers]] is one way to provide misleading [[Indirect Information]] to players through [[Information Passing]]. The other way is to let the other players provide these [[Red Herrings]]. These can be in the form of decoys to help succeed with [[Conceal]] goals, which may be part of [[Social Interaction]]. [[Ephemeral Goals]] may in effect be [[Red Herrings]] since they may intentionally or not distract players from the main goals of a game.
+The actual misdirection required of [[Red Herrings]] can be constructed by subverting [[Clues]], [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], [[Props]], [[Traces]], and [[Helpers]]; [[Feelies]] can in this context be a special opportunity that combines physical [[Props]] with [[Clues]]. [[Traps]] are often [[Red Herrings]] but naturally need to appear to be something else to work as such. The use of [[Helpers]] is one way to provide misleading [[Indirect Information]] to players through [[Information Passing]]. The other way is to let the other players provide these [[Red Herrings]]. These can be in the form of decoys to help succeed with [[Conceal]] goals, which may be part of [[Social Interaction]]. [[Ephemeral Goals]] may in effect be [[Red Herrings]] since they may intentionally or not distract players from the main goals of a game.
 === Diegetic Aspects ===
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 [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]],
 [[Ephemeral Goals]],
 [[Helpers]],
 [[Imperfect Information]],

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 == Using the pattern ==
-Inserting [[Red Herrings]] into a game design is basically a case of misdirecting players regarding how they can solve goals, typically [[Gain Information]] or [[Gain Ownership]]. This means that [[Red Herrings]] also require some level of [[Imperfect Information]] to work. The exception is that players can use [[Red Herrings]] to lie about their strategies and intentions even in [[Perfect Information]] games.
+Inserting [[Red Herrings]] into a game design is basically a case of misdirecting players regarding how they can solve goals, typically [[Puzzle Solving]] related to [[Gain Information]] or [[Gain Ownership]]. This means that [[Red Herrings]] also require some level of [[Imperfect Information]] to work. The exception is that players can use [[Red Herrings]] to lie about their strategies and intentions even in [[Perfect Information]] games.
 The actual misdirection required of [[Red Herrings]] can be constructed by subverting [[Clues]], [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], [[Props]], [[Traces]], and [[Helpers]]. [[Traps]] are often [[Red Herrings]] but naturally need to appear to be something else to work as such. The use of [[Helpers]] is one way to provide misleading [[Indirect Information]] to players through [[Information Passing]]. The other way is to let the other players provide these [[Red Herrings]]. These can be in the form of decoys to help succeed with [[Conceal]] goals, which may be part of [[Social Interaction]]. [[Ephemeral Goals]] may in effect be [[Red Herrings]] since they may intentionally or not distract players from the main goals of a game.
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 [[Red Herrings]] populate [[Game Worlds]] and [[Levels]] with irrelevant or misleading content. While this can make [[Game World Exploration]] and [[Game World Navigation|Navigation]] more difficult, it can also support [[Thematic Consistency]] by providing a more believable amount of content. Discovering that [[Red Herrings]] are in fact [[Red Herrings]] is likely to be a [[Surprises|Surprise]], but may also lead to player frustration and work against them feeling a [[Value of Effort]].
-The presence of [[Red Herrings]] means that players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] while playing, even if there might only be one "correct" alternative. By thus giving players more potential outcomes from actions and more things to consider while playing the game, [[Red Herrings]] can create both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], and deciding which actions, information, etc. is worth investigating can be a form of [[Puzzle Solving]]. Knowledge that [[Red Herrings]] make exist can modulate [[Anticipation]] and lead to increased [[Tension]] as players are more uncertain about the effects of their efforts.
+The presence of [[Red Herrings]] means that players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] while playing, even if there might only be one "correct" alternative. By thus giving players more potential outcomes from actions and more things to consider while playing the game, [[Red Herrings]] can create both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], and deciding which actions, information, etc. is worth investigating can be a form of [[Puzzle Solving]] in itself. Knowledge that [[Red Herrings]] make exist can modulate [[Anticipation]] and lead to increased [[Tension]] as players are more uncertain about the effects of their efforts.
 [[Red Herrings]] are potentially conflicting with [[Supporting Goals]] in the sense that what to players may seem the latter can turn out to be the former.
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 [[Information Passing]],
 [[Props]],
 [[Social Interaction]],
 [[Traces]],

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:32, 10 September 2011
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−	~~[[Category:Staffan's current workpage]]~~
	[[Category:Diegetic Patterns]]		[[Category:Diegetic Patterns]]
	[[Category:Patterns]]		[[Category:Patterns]]

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 == Using the pattern ==
-Inserting [[Red Herrings]] into a game design is basically a case of misdirecting players regarding how they can solve goals, typically [[Gain Information]] or [[Gain Ownership]]. This means that [[Red Herrings]] also requires some level of [[Imperfect Information]] to work. The exception is that players can use [[Red Herrings]] to lie about their strategies and intentions even in [[Perfect Information]] games.
+Inserting [[Red Herrings]] into a game design is basically a case of misdirecting players regarding how they can solve goals, typically [[Gain Information]] or [[Gain Ownership]]. This means that [[Red Herrings]] also require some level of [[Imperfect Information]] to work. The exception is that players can use [[Red Herrings]] to lie about their strategies and intentions even in [[Perfect Information]] games.
 The actual misdirection required of [[Red Herrings]] can be constructed by subverting [[Clues]], [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], [[Props]], [[Traces]], and [[Helpers]]. [[Traps]] are often [[Red Herrings]] but naturally need to appear to be something else to work as such. The use of [[Helpers]] is one way to provide misleading [[Indirect Information]] to players through [[Information Passing]]. The other way is to let the other players provide these [[Red Herrings]]. These can be in the form of decoys to help succeed with [[Conceal]] goals, which may be part of [[Social Interaction]]. [[Ephemeral Goals]] may in effect be [[Red Herrings]] since they may intentionally or not distract players from the main goals of a game.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 [[Red Herrings]] populate [[Game Worlds]] and [[Levels]] with irrelevant or misleading content. While this can make [[Game World Exploration]] and [[Game World Navigation|Navigation]] more difficult, it can also support [[Thematic Consistency]] by providing a more believable amount of content. Discovering that [[Red Herrings]] are in fact [[Red Herrings]] is likely to be a [[Surprises|Surprise]], but may also lead to player frustration and work against them feeling a [[Value of Effort]].
-The presence of [[Red Herrings]] mean that players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] while playing, even if there might only be one "correct" alternative. By thus giving players more potential outcomes from actions and more things to consider while playing the game, [[Red Herrings]] can create both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], and deciding which actions, information, etc. is worth investigating can be a form of [[Puzzle Solving]]. Knowledge that [[Red Herrings]] make exist can modulate [[Anticipation]] and lead to increased [[Tension]] as players are more uncertain about the effects of their efforts.
+The presence of [[Red Herrings]] means that players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] while playing, even if there might only be one "correct" alternative. By thus giving players more potential outcomes from actions and more things to consider while playing the game, [[Red Herrings]] can create both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], and deciding which actions, information, etc. is worth investigating can be a form of [[Puzzle Solving]]. Knowledge that [[Red Herrings]] make exist can modulate [[Anticipation]] and lead to increased [[Tension]] as players are more uncertain about the effects of their efforts.
 [[Red Herrings]] are potentially conflicting with [[Supporting Goals]] in the sense that what to players may seem the latter can turn out to be the former.

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 [[Category:Diegetic Patterns]]
 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
-[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]
+''Objects or information designed to mislead or distract players.''
-[[Category:Stub]]
-''...''
-This pattern is a still a stub.
+Many games require that players try to figure out the correct or best action, or solve puzzles where not all information is known. [[Red Herrings]], purposely misleading information or objects, can be inserted into the game to make them challenging. Some games, especially strategy games, also give players themselves the possibility to create [[Red Herrings]] for other players in order to distract or deceive them.
-−
-Information or potential goals that are designed to either mislead or distract the player
-Red Herrings can be deliberately designed into the game to provide alternative gameplay paths as distractions to the players. Some games, especially strategy games, also give players themselves the possibility to create Red Herrings as decoys in order to distract or deceive other players. In these cases Red Herrings are used as parts of players' tactics and strategies.
 === Examples ===
 [[:Category:Adventure Games|Adventure Games]] such as [[Police Quest series|Police Quest]] or [[Zork series]] often use [[Red Herrings]] to give players objects or information that serve no constructive purpose in the games. Sometimes this is only true for a certain time and they can be put to meaningful use but they still serve as [[Red Herrings]] up to that point. Similar uses of objects and information can be found in detective scenarios in [[:Category:Live Action Roleplaying Games|Live Action Roleplaying Games]] (e.g. [[Conspiracy for Good]]) and [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] (several examples of this can be found in [[Call of Cthulhu]], [[Fallen Reich]], and [[Mutant]]).
-Example: random wandering monsters in many roleplaying games can distract and in some cases also mislead players.
+Players of [[:Category:Strategy Games|Strategy Games]], especially [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games|Real-Time Strategy Games]] such as the [[Starcraft series]], can use some units as decoys in order to lure other players' into placing their units in positions where they are vulnerable to surprise attacks.
-−
-−
 == Using the pattern ==

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 The presence of [[Red Herrings]] mean that players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] while playing, even if there might only be one "correct" alternative. By thus giving players more potential outcomes from actions and more things to consider while playing the game, [[Red Herrings]] can create both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]], and deciding which actions, information, etc. is worth investigating can be a form of [[Puzzle Solving]].
-This modulation of Anticipation can lead to increased Tension as players are more uncertain about the possible outcomes and, in some cases, can be used to promote Varied Gameplay even at the cost of Disruption of Focused Attention. Careless use of Red Herrings, however, can cause problems with the Right Level of Complexity and
+ and, in some cases, can be used to promote Varied Gameplay even at the cost of Disruption of Focused Attention. Careless use of Red Herrings, however, can cause problems with the Right Level of Complexity and
 . Red Herrings in some cases can also be used to provide Right Level of Complexity if the gameplay would otherwise be too straightforward.
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 [[Puzzle Solving]],
 [[Surprises]],
 [[Thematic Consistency]]
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Detective Structures]],
 [[Game World Exploration]],