Varied Gameplay - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 11:17, 21 March 2018

2018-03-21T11:17:24Z

Staffan Björk at 17:46, 13 March 2018

2018-03-13T17:46:47Z

Staffan Björk at 16:06, 3 October 2016

2016-10-03T16:06:25Z

Staffan Björk at 07:07, 26 September 2016

2016-09-26T07:07:20Z

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2016-09-26T07:07:07Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk at 07:05, 26 September 2016

2016-09-26T07:05:34Z

Staffan Björk: /* References */

2016-09-26T06:58:43Z

‎References

Staffan Björk: /* Examples */

2016-09-26T06:58:35Z

‎Examples

Staffan Björk: /* References */

2016-09-26T06:58:15Z

‎References

Staffan Björk: /* Examples */

2016-09-26T06:57:31Z

‎Examples

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Games can be seen as not being varied even if they provide many different types of actions, choices, or goals. This is because players may perceive large scale patterns that negate the variations in detail or since they may feel that the local variations have no significant impact on how gameplay develops. For this reason, [[Varied Gameplay]] is a [[:category:Subjective Patterns|Subjective Pattern]] whose presence can really only be determined over time. That said, one of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
-[[Asymmetric Gameplay]] in general promotes [[Varied Gameplay]], be it through [[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Roles]], or [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]]. [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities) and [[Vulnerabilities]] also typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]) or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.
+[[Asymmetric Gameplay]] in general promotes [[Varied Gameplay]], be it through [[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Roles]], or [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]]. [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities) and [[Vulnerabilities]] also typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]), [[Card Building]] (e.g. [[Mystic Vale]]), or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.
 During game instances [[Varied Gameplay]] can be forced on players through [[Ability Losses]] and [[Cooldown]] effects since these can make players have to handle challenges in different ways during a game instance. More positively from the players' perspective, [[Varied Gameplay]] can be achieved by presenting them with [[New Abilities]] (possibly through access to new [[Weapons]]), [[Privileged Movement]], [[Sidegrades]], new or improved [[Skills]], [[Temporary Abilities]], and [[Vision Modes]]. Letting players meet or control different [[Units]] or [[Vehicles]] is another way to give [[Varied Gameplay]] to them, possibly through [[Transfer of Control]]. In more general terms, having [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] among the various game elements encountered in a game. For games with [[Abstract Player Construct Development]] or [[Character Development]], giving [[New Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] to these provide players with [[Varied Gameplay]] in that they get more and more options of what to do as gameplay progresses. When it comes to varying goals within a game instance, [[Ephemeral Goals]] and [[Minigames]] can do this and thereby make players have different gameplay during a game instance. While not introducing new goals, both [[Supporting Goals]] and [[Testing Achievements]] can make players try other types of goals than the ones they typically focus on.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 [[Backtracking Levels]],
 [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]],
 [[Competence Areas]],
 [[Complex Gameplay]],

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Games can be seen as not being varied even if they provide many different types of actions, choices, or goals. This is because players may perceive large scale patterns that negate the variations in detail or since they may feel that the local variations have no significant impact on how gameplay develops. For this reason, [[Varied Gameplay]] is a [[:category:Subjective Patterns|Subjective Pattern]] whose presence can really only be determined over time. That said, one of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
-[[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities), and [[Vulnerabilities]] typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]) or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.
+[[Asymmetric Gameplay]] in general promotes [[Varied Gameplay]], be it through [[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Roles]], or [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]]. [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities) and [[Vulnerabilities]] also typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]) or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.
 During game instances [[Varied Gameplay]] can be forced on players through [[Ability Losses]] and [[Cooldown]] effects since these can make players have to handle challenges in different ways during a game instance. More positively from the players' perspective, [[Varied Gameplay]] can be achieved by presenting them with [[New Abilities]] (possibly through access to new [[Weapons]]), [[Privileged Movement]], [[Sidegrades]], new or improved [[Skills]], [[Temporary Abilities]], and [[Vision Modes]]. Letting players meet or control different [[Units]] or [[Vehicles]] is another way to give [[Varied Gameplay]] to them, possibly through [[Transfer of Control]]. In more general terms, having [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] among the various game elements encountered in a game. For games with [[Abstract Player Construct Development]] or [[Character Development]], giving [[New Abilities]] or [[Improved Abilities]] to these provide players with [[Varied Gameplay]] in that they get more and more options of what to do as gameplay progresses. When it comes to varying goals within a game instance, [[Ephemeral Goals]] and [[Minigames]] can do this and thereby make players have different gameplay during a game instance. While not introducing new goals, both [[Supporting Goals]] and [[Testing Achievements]] can make players try other types of goals than the ones they typically focus on.
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 [[Alien Space Bats]],
 [[Asymmetric Abilities]],
 [[Asymmetric Goals]],
 [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]],

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-Games can be seen as not being varied even if they provide many different types of actions, choices, or goals. This is because players may perceive large scale patterns that negate the variations in detail or since they may feel that the local variations have no significant impact on how gameplay develops. For this reason, [[Varied Gameplay]] is a [[:category:Subjective Patterns|Subjective Pattern]] whose presence can really only be determined over time. That said, one of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, [[Selectable Sets of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
+Games can be seen as not being varied even if they provide many different types of actions, choices, or goals. This is because players may perceive large scale patterns that negate the variations in detail or since they may feel that the local variations have no significant impact on how gameplay develops. For this reason, [[Varied Gameplay]] is a [[:category:Subjective Patterns|Subjective Pattern]] whose presence can really only be determined over time. That said, one of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
 [[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities), and [[Vulnerabilities]] typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]) or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]],
 [[Replayability]],
-[[Selectable Sets of Goals]],
+[[Selectable Set of Goals]],
 [[Sidegrades]],
 [[Skills]],

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Category:Aesthetic Patterns]]
 [[Category:Subjective Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
 [[Category:Needs examples]]
 [[Category:Needs references]]
 [[Category:To be Published]]
 ''Variation in gameplay for a game, either within a single play session or between different play sessions.''

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Varied Gameplay]] can make games have [[Challenging Gameplay]] since players need to be able to handle shifting contexts (besides how challenging the actual activities are). This naturally affect how easy it is to have[[Gameplay Mastery]] of such a game.
+[[Varied Gameplay]] can make games have [[Challenging Gameplay]] since players need to be able to handle shifting contexts (besides how challenging the actual activities are). This naturally affect how easy it is to have [[Gameplay Mastery]] of such a game.
 == Relations ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:Patterns]]
 [[Category:Aesthetic Patterns]]
 [[Category:Needs work]]
 [[Category:Needs revision]]
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
 ''Variation in gameplay for a game, either within a single play session or between different play sessions.''
-This pattern is a still a stub.
+Games that never vary in what is possible to do don't let players have choices or even influence. For this reason games typically offer variety but this is naturally limited due to games having rule sets that dictate what actions are possible. Even so, players can experience that some games allow for quite different gameplay experiences and choices while others don't. Those that do are said to have [[Varied Gameplay]].
 === Examples ===
 [[Settlers of Catan]] allows for randomizing its hexes to provide different setups each time it is played. Similarly, [[Rogue]] and [[Torchlight]] uses randomness to make their levels be different each time players play them.
 [[Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress]] and [[Unexplored]] takes this a step further and uses procedural content generation to create their worlds and levels respectively. [[Warhammer 40K]] and [[Magic: The Gathering]] supports [[Varied Gameplay]] through letting players bring varied sets of game elements to each game instance; [[Dominion]] and [[Mystic Vale]] instead provides this variety from decks of cards that players acquire during gameplay.
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-One of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, [[Selectable Sets of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
+Games can be seen as not being varied even if they provide many different types of actions, choices, or goals. This is because players may perceive large scale patterns that negate the variations in detail or since they may feel that the local variations have no significant impact on how gameplay develops. For this reason, [[Varied Gameplay]] is a [[:category:Subjective Patterns|Subjective Pattern]] whose presence can really only be determined over time. That said, one of the most general ways of ensuring [[Varied Gameplay]] within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having [[Varying Rule Sets]] but an alternative is to have [[Evolving Rule Sets]]. In general, [[Randomness]] is a way to promote [[Varied Gameplay]]. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying [[Randomness]] on [[Enemies]], [[Ephemeral Goals]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Levels]], or [[Quests]]. For [[Game Worlds]] specifically, [[Procedurally Generated Game Worlds]], [[Player Constructed Worlds]], or [[Reconfigurable Game Worlds]] can be used to make these vary between game instances. Another general approach to support [[Varied Gameplay]] is to allow players choices since each choice can provide more variation. While this means that [[Freedom of Choice]] or [[Open Destiny]] together with [[Limited Set of Actions]] can be used in general, [[Selectable Sets of Goals]] provides a clear enumeration of what choices exist while [[Incompatible Goals]] or [[Internal Conflicts]] force players to choice between goals. [[Geometric Progression]] together with [[Negative Feedback Loops]] can make continued efforts towards similar goals less useful and thereby encourage players to vary themselves concerning what goals they choose to strive towards ([[Diminishing Returns]] can serve a similar purpose). When several players play together, their choices and interaction can provide even more variation due to social and psychological effects. This means that patterns dealing with creating shifting relations between game agents, e.g. [[Dynamic Alliances]] and [[Internal Rivalry]], make for [[Varied Gameplay]] ([[Internal Rivalry]] can also make players find other goals to avoid conflicts and thereby encourage players to make use of the variety in goals that exists). To a lesser degree, this can also be achieved by giving players [[Functional Roles|Functional]] or [[Social Roles]], and somewhat paradoxically [[AI Players]] can be used for this also since they can guarantee different behaviors to the other players of a game. Besides these general approaches there are two main categories of [[Varied Gameplay]]: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.
 [[Asymmetric Abilities]], [[Asymmetric Goals]], [[Asymmetric Resource Distribution]], [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]], [[Orthogonal Differentiation]] (between players' abilities), and [[Vulnerabilities]] typically provide [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances through giving players different [[Abilities]] or [[Resources]] each time they play (limited by the number of different [[Abilities]] and [[Resources]] that are varied). This can be packaged as [[Asymmetric Roles]] and in [[Multiplayer Games]] this can take the form of [[Functional Roles]]. With enough different types of game elements, games using [[Heterogeneous Game Element Ownership]] (e.g. [[Magic: The Gathering]]) or [[Deck Building]] (e.g. [[Dominion]]) more or less guarantees that there will be [Varied Gameplay]] at least on a mechanical level (general play styles and phases may still be very similar between game instances). [[Competence Areas]] in general can support [[Varied Gameplay]] but more likely between players than for individual players. [[Flanking Routes]] lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. [[Back-to-Back Game Sessions]] can be used to any game design that has [[Varied Gameplay]] between game instances to further provide [[Varied Gameplay]] although this is most often used in games with [[Asymmetric Starting Conditions]] to create [[Player Balance]] over game instances.

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
 <references>
 <ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) ''Patterns in Game Design''. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
-<ref name="52">Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_52-card_deck entry] for the standard 52-card deck.</ref>
+<ref name="52 deck">Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_52-card_deck entry] for the standard 52-card deck.</ref>
 </references>
 == Acknowledgements ==
+-

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Each turn in any of the [[Fluxx series]] can change the rules controlling how players can act in the games. While the possibility space of rules is fixed in these, [[Nomic]] allows each players' turn to introduce completely new rules to the game (or change or remove existing ones).
-Game systems like [[Basic Role-Playing]] and [[GURPS]] allows for [[Varied Gameplay]] simply because players (or rather game masters) can create their own specific games using these. The standard 52-card deck<ref name="52"/> is another example of this since it supports many different games.
+Game systems like [[Basic Role-Playing]] and [[GURPS]] allows for [[Varied Gameplay]] simply because players (or rather game masters) can create their own specific games using these. The standard 52-card deck<ref name="52 deck"/> is another example of this since it supports many different games.
 == Using the pattern ==