Weapons - Revision history

Staffan Björk: /* Potentially Conflicting With */

2018-03-21T15:23:36Z

‎Potentially Conflicting With

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2018-03-21T15:23:25Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk at 08:14, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T08:14:53Z

Staffan Björk at 08:14, 21 September 2016

2016-09-21T08:14:42Z

Staffan Björk: /* Consequences */

2016-09-07T10:06:52Z

‎Consequences

Staffan Björk: /* Can Instantiate */

2016-09-07T10:06:34Z

‎Can Instantiate

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2016-09-07T10:03:40Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 08:53, 13 August 2015

2015-08-13T08:53:50Z

Staffan Björk at 10:48, 7 August 2015

2015-08-07T10:48:22Z

Staffan Björk at 10:46, 29 December 2014

2014-12-29T10:46:08Z

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 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
-[[Player Balance]]
+[[Player Balance]] in [[Multiplayer Games]]
 == History ==

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 Several common options exist of the design of [[Weapons]]. The most common for ranged weapons is probably having [[Crosshairs]] followed by [[Ammunition]] as [[Limited Resources]]. [[Ammunition]] restrictions are however often wavered for the most basic [[Weapons|Weapon]] (examples of this include the [[Doom series|Doom]], [[Quake series|Quake]], [[Left 4 Dead series|Left 4 Dead]], and [[Crysis series]], as well as [[Minecraft]] and [[Zombie Lane]]). This may also be present in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[GURPS]] depending on how much bookkeeping (and [[Excise]]) players and [[Game Masters]] wish to perform. An alternative to [[Ammunition]], which can be combined with it, is using [[Cooldown]] periods. Having different [[Weapons]] provide different attack types is a way of making use of [[Vulnerabilities]] in games, and is done for example in the [[Dragon Age series]], [[Dungeons and Dragons]], [[GURPS]], and [[Torchlight]]. [[Deterioration]] by use is found in several games, e.g. the [[Fallout series]], [[Mutant]], and [[Minecraft]], and make individual [[Weapons]] into [[Limited Resources]] and may motivate [[Crafting]] to maintain their usefulness.  [[Upgrading]] different aspects of [[Weapons]] such as accuracy (in games that have [[Variable Accuracy]]), [[Damage]], weight, and ammunition limits, can be motivated by adding additional [[Upgrades]] such as scopes and extended magazines (e.g. [[GURPS]] and [[Left 4 Dead series]]), through inserting magical gems (e.g. [[Torchlight]] and the [[Dragon Age series]]), or simply magical spells and rituals (e.g. [[GURPS]]). [[Weapons]] can also be created to be  parts of [[Sets]] - typically either [[Weapons]]-only [[Sets]] or mixtures of [[Weapons]] and [[Armor]]. While some [[Tools]] can be used as improvised [[Weapons]] (e.g. the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]), it worth considering if [[Weapons]] can be used as improvised [[Tools]] (swords can for example be used to "mine" sand and wood in [[Minecraft]]). The ''rocket'' [[Jumping]] in the [[Quake series]] and [[Team Fortress Classic]] (including medics' concussion grenade [[Jumping]] for the latter), show that [[Weapons]] can be used to provide [[Privileged Movement]] also.
-Another aspect of [[Weapons]], like all [[Tools]], is how players should be hold of them. Common ways of providing [[Weapons]] to players are as [[Loot]] or [[Trading]], or through [[Unlocking]] them. However, some types of [[Weapons]] are not suitable for this. [[Installations]] are one example of this due to existing as independent parts of [[Game Worlds]]. Their immobility is typically compensated by providing [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] on a different scale than other [[Weapons]]. [[Vehicles]] can diegetically motivate weapons of the same caliber as [[Installations]] and also typically exist independently in [[Game Worlds]] (they can also be [[Weapons]] in their own right if one can cause [[Damage]] by running into other game elements). However, [[Vehicles]] may even more than other ways of providing [[Weapons]] negatively affect [[Player Balance]] since they also improve [[Movement]] (or provide [[Privileged Movement]]) and potentially [[Armor]] as well. For games with [[Endgame]] phases, unique [[Weapons]] may be part of the [[Loot]] provided in [[Endgame Quests]] to keep the opportunity for development possible for some time in these phases.
+Another aspect of [[Weapons]], like all [[Tools]], is how players should be hold of them. Common ways of providing [[Weapons]] to players are as [[Loot]] or [[Trading]], or through [[Unlocking]] them. However, some types of [[Weapons]] are not suitable for this. [[Installations]] are one example of this due to existing as independent parts of [[Game Worlds]]. Their immobility is typically compensated by providing [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] on a different scale than other [[Weapons]]. [[Vehicles]] can diegetically motivate weapons of the same caliber as [[Installations]] and also typically exist independently in [[Game Worlds]] (they can also be [[Weapons]] in their own right if one can cause [[Damage]] by running into other game elements). However, [[Vehicles]] may even more than other ways of providing [[Weapons]] negatively affect [[Player Balance]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] since they also improve [[Movement]] (or provide [[Privileged Movement]]) and potentially [[Armor]] as well. For games with [[Endgame]] phases, unique [[Weapons]] may be part of the [[Loot]] provided in [[Endgame Quests]] to keep the opportunity for development possible for some time in these phases.
 [[Equipment Slots]] can be used to limit the number of [[Weapons]] players can have by restricting them to a few of each type. When not restricted in this way, [[Equipment Slots]] can instead serve as the way of showing which [[Weapons|Weapon]] one is currently armed with.

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 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Weapons]] are a type of [[Tools]], and designing [[Weapons]] consist of considering how one wants to change how [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] can engage in [[Combat]], and this may be through [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]]. Increased [[Damage]] is probably the most obvious examples of [[Improved Abilities]] and this may of course differ between different [[Weapons]] but other examples include increased speed, accuracy (i.e. making [[Aim & Shoot]] more easy), chance of getting [[Critical Hits]] or [[Critical Misses]], or the range of attacks (one can also say that [[Weapons]] create [[Damage]] to be possible in games). What constitutes [[New Abilities]] of course depend on what is the norm but common examples include ranged attacks when this is not the norm (e.g. bows in [[Minecraft]]) which instantiates a need for [[Aim & Shoot]] actions, forcing [[Downtime]] through stuns, changing [[Ownership]] (e.g. the ''Mesmetron'' in [[Fallout 3]]), or giving [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]]. By controlling which have access to these [[New Abilities]] they can also be [[Privileged Abilities]]. The various [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]] may of course be combined. [[Weapons]] are [[Game Items]], or even [[Game Items]] diegetically intended mainly as [[Tools]] (e.g. the gravity gun in [[Half-Life 2]] and the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]) but some non-tangible game design solutions, e.g. Spells, have many similarities and may be considered as alternatives to [[Weapons]].
+[[Weapons]] are a type of [[Tools]], and designing [[Weapons]] consist of considering how one wants to change how [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] can engage in [[Combat]], and this may be through [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]]. Increased [[Damage]] is probably the most obvious examples of [[Improved Abilities]] and this may of course differ between different [[Weapons]] but other examples include increased speed, accuracy (i.e. making [[Aim & Shoot]] more easy), chance of getting [[Critical Hits]] or [[Critical Misses]], or the range of attacks (one can also say that [[Weapons]] create [[Damage]] to be possible in games). What constitutes [[New Abilities]] of course depend on what is the norm but common examples include ranged attacks when this is not the norm (e.g. bows in [[Minecraft]]) which instantiates a need for [[Aim & Shoot]] actions, forcing [[Downtime]] through stuns, changing [[Ownership]] (e.g. the ''Mesmetron'' in [[Fallout 3]]), or giving [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]]. By controlling which have access to these [[New Abilities]] they can also be [[Privileged Abilities]]. The various [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]] may of course be combined. [[Weapons]] are [[Game Items]], or even [[Game Items]] diegetically intended mainly as [[Tools]] (e.g. the gravity gun in [[Half-Life 2]] and the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]) but some non-tangible game design solutions, e.g. spells, have many similarities and may be considered as alternatives to [[Weapons]].
 Several common options exist of the design of [[Weapons]]. The most common for ranged weapons is probably having [[Crosshairs]] followed by [[Ammunition]] as [[Limited Resources]]. [[Ammunition]] restrictions are however often wavered for the most basic [[Weapons|Weapon]] (examples of this include the [[Doom series|Doom]], [[Quake series|Quake]], [[Left 4 Dead series|Left 4 Dead]], and [[Crysis series]], as well as [[Minecraft]] and [[Zombie Lane]]). This may also be present in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[GURPS]] depending on how much bookkeeping (and [[Excise]]) players and [[Game Masters]] wish to perform. An alternative to [[Ammunition]], which can be combined with it, is using [[Cooldown]] periods. Having different [[Weapons]] provide different attack types is a way of making use of [[Vulnerabilities]] in games, and is done for example in the [[Dragon Age series]], [[Dungeons and Dragons]], [[GURPS]], and [[Torchlight]]. [[Deterioration]] by use is found in several games, e.g. the [[Fallout series]], [[Mutant]], and [[Minecraft]], and make individual [[Weapons]] into [[Limited Resources]] and may motivate [[Crafting]] to maintain their usefulness.  [[Upgrading]] different aspects of [[Weapons]] such as accuracy (in games that have [[Variable Accuracy]]), [[Damage]], weight, and ammunition limits, can be motivated by adding additional [[Upgrades]] such as scopes and extended magazines (e.g. [[GURPS]] and [[Left 4 Dead series]]), through inserting magical gems (e.g. [[Torchlight]] and the [[Dragon Age series]]), or simply magical spells and rituals (e.g. [[GURPS]]). [[Weapons]] can also be created to be  parts of [[Sets]] - typically either [[Weapons]]-only [[Sets]] or mixtures of [[Weapons]] and [[Armor]]. While some [[Tools]] can be used as improvised [[Weapons]] (e.g. the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]), it worth considering if [[Weapons]] can be used as improvised [[Tools]] (swords can for example be used to "mine" sand and wood in [[Minecraft]]). The ''rocket'' [[Jumping]] in the [[Quake series]] and [[Team Fortress Classic]] (including medics' concussion grenade [[Jumping]] for the latter), show that [[Weapons]] can be used to provide [[Privileged Movement]] also.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Weapons]] are a type of [[Tools]], and designing [[Weapons]] consist of considering how one wants to change how [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] can engage in [[Combat]], and this may be through [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]]. Increased [[Damage]] is probably the most obvious examples of [[Improved Abilities]] and this may of course differ between different [[Weapons]] but other examples include increased speed, accuracy (i.e. making [[Aim & Shoot]] more easy), chance of getting [[Critical Hits]] or [[Critical Misses]], or the range of attacks (one can also say that [[Weapons]] create [[Damage]] to be possible in games). What constitutes [[New Abilities]] of course depend on what is the norm but common examples include ranged attacks when this is not the norm (e.g. bows in [[Minecraft]]) which instantiates a need for [[Aim & Shoot]] actions, forcing [[Downtime]] through stuns, changing [[Ownership]] (e.g. the ''Mesmetron'' in [[Fallout 3]]), or giving [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]]. By controlling which have access to these [[New Abilities]] they can also be [[Privileged Abilities]]. The various [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]] may of course be combined. [[Weapons]] are [[Game Items]], or even [[Game Items]] diegetically intended mainly as [[Tools]] (e.g. the gravity gun in [[Half-Life 2]] and the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]) but some non-tangible game design solutions, e.g. [[Spells]], have many similarities and may be considered as alternatives to [[Weapons]].
+[[Weapons]] are a type of [[Tools]], and designing [[Weapons]] consist of considering how one wants to change how [[Avatars]] or [[Characters]] can engage in [[Combat]], and this may be through [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]]. Increased [[Damage]] is probably the most obvious examples of [[Improved Abilities]] and this may of course differ between different [[Weapons]] but other examples include increased speed, accuracy (i.e. making [[Aim & Shoot]] more easy), chance of getting [[Critical Hits]] or [[Critical Misses]], or the range of attacks (one can also say that [[Weapons]] create [[Damage]] to be possible in games). What constitutes [[New Abilities]] of course depend on what is the norm but common examples include ranged attacks when this is not the norm (e.g. bows in [[Minecraft]]) which instantiates a need for [[Aim & Shoot]] actions, forcing [[Downtime]] through stuns, changing [[Ownership]] (e.g. the ''Mesmetron'' in [[Fallout 3]]), or giving [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]]. By controlling which have access to these [[New Abilities]] they can also be [[Privileged Abilities]]. The various [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[New Abilities]] may of course be combined. [[Weapons]] are [[Game Items]], or even [[Game Items]] diegetically intended mainly as [[Tools]] (e.g. the gravity gun in [[Half-Life 2]] and the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]) but some non-tangible game design solutions, e.g. Spells, have many similarities and may be considered as alternatives to [[Weapons]].
 Several common options exist of the design of [[Weapons]]. The most common for ranged weapons is probably having [[Crosshairs]] followed by [[Ammunition]] as [[Limited Resources]]. [[Ammunition]] restrictions are however often wavered for the most basic [[Weapons|Weapon]] (examples of this include the [[Doom series|Doom]], [[Quake series|Quake]], [[Left 4 Dead series|Left 4 Dead]], and [[Crysis series]], as well as [[Minecraft]] and [[Zombie Lane]]). This may also be present in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[GURPS]] depending on how much bookkeeping (and [[Excise]]) players and [[Game Masters]] wish to perform. An alternative to [[Ammunition]], which can be combined with it, is using [[Cooldown]] periods. Having different [[Weapons]] provide different attack types is a way of making use of [[Vulnerabilities]] in games, and is done for example in the [[Dragon Age series]], [[Dungeons and Dragons]], [[GURPS]], and [[Torchlight]]. [[Deterioration]] by use is found in several games, e.g. the [[Fallout series]], [[Mutant]], and [[Minecraft]], and make individual [[Weapons]] into [[Limited Resources]] and may motivate [[Crafting]] to maintain their usefulness.  [[Upgrading]] different aspects of [[Weapons]] such as accuracy (in games that have [[Variable Accuracy]]), [[Damage]], weight, and ammunition limits, can be motivated by adding additional [[Upgrades]] such as scopes and extended magazines (e.g. [[GURPS]] and [[Left 4 Dead series]]), through inserting magical gems (e.g. [[Torchlight]] and the [[Dragon Age series]]), or simply magical spells and rituals (e.g. [[GURPS]]). [[Weapons]] can also be created to be  parts of [[Sets]] - typically either [[Weapons]]-only [[Sets]] or mixtures of [[Weapons]] and [[Armor]]. While some [[Tools]] can be used as improvised [[Weapons]] (e.g. the grappling hook in [[Just Cause 2]]), it worth considering if [[Weapons]] can be used as improvised [[Tools]] (swords can for example be used to "mine" sand and wood in [[Minecraft]]). The ''rocket'' [[Jumping]] in the [[Quake series]] and [[Team Fortress Classic]] (including medics' concussion grenade [[Jumping]] for the latter), show that [[Weapons]] can be used to provide [[Privileged Movement]] also.

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 Games with several different types of [[Weapons]] provide a natural basis for implementing [[Variable Accuracy]] - they may also be modified by [[Variable Accuracy]] to simulate the need to take time to aim.
-When they provide different [[New Abilities|New]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] they also provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and a [[Freedom of Choice]]. They also serve as [[Facilitating Rewards]] when being given out during gameplay. Like [[Tools]], they can support [[Competence Areas]] in both [[Single-Player Games]] (by letting different [[Characters]] or [[Units]] specialize) and [[Multiplayer Games]]. If new [[Weapons]] do not give explicit advantages compared to existing ones, they are likely to be examples of [[Sidegrades]].
+When they provide [[New Abilities]], they also provide [[Varied Gameplay]] and a [[Freedom of Choice]]. They also serve as [[Facilitating Rewards]] when being given out during gameplay. Like [[Tools]], they can support [[Competence Areas]] in both [[Single-Player Games]] (by letting different [[Characters]] or [[Units]] specialize) and [[Multiplayer Games]]. If new [[Weapons]] do not give explicit advantages compared to existing ones, they are likely to be examples of [[Sidegrades]].
 == Relations ==

@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 [[Variable Accuracy]]
-==== with [[Improved Abilities]] or [[New Abilities]] ====
+==== with [[New Abilities]] ====
 [[Freedom of Choice]],
 [[Varied Gameplay]]

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 [[Equipment]],
 [[Facilitating Rewards]],
 [[Game Items]],
 [[Improved Abilities]],
@@ Line 61: / Line 60: @@
 [[Tools]],
 [[Variable Accuracy]]
 ==== with [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]] ====