Difference between revisions of "Invulnerabilities"
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | Designing [[Invulnerabilities]] consists of deciding what type [[Damage]] is protected from, who or what is protected, and if the immunity provided is a permanent feature or a temporary one; if they are temporary then the causes for the [[Invulnerabilities]] to appear and disappear also need to be decided upon [[Invulnerabilities]] are by necessity [[Privileged Abilities]] since if everyone had the same [[Invulnerabilities]] the dangers protected against would stop having gameplay meaning. A primary distinction when designing [[Invulnerabilities]] is if they should be ''complete'' or ''partial'' (note that this is a difference between [[Invulnerabilities]] and [[Vulnerabilities]] since the latter is always assumed to relate to specific, i.e. partial, aspects of dangers). | + | Designing [[Invulnerabilities]] consists of deciding what type [[Damage]] is protected from, who or what is protected, and if the immunity provided is a permanent feature or a temporary one; if they are temporary then the causes for the [[Invulnerabilities]] to appear and disappear also need to be decided upon [[Invulnerabilities]] are by necessity [[Privileged Abilities]] since if everyone had the same [[Invulnerabilities]] the dangers protected against would stop having gameplay meaning. A primary distinction when designing [[Invulnerabilities]] is if they should be ''complete'' or ''partial'' (note that this is a difference between [[Invulnerabilities]] and [[Vulnerabilities]] since the latter is always assumed to relate to specific, i.e. partial, aspects of dangers). Complete [[Invulnerabilities]] can be used to make [[Early Elimination]] impossible. |
Like [[Vulnerabilities]], [[Invulnerabilities]] can be given to players' [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] or to their [[Enemies]]. They are more common to be given to [[Boss Monsters]] than ordinary [[Enemies]], especially complete [[Invulnerabilities]]. Conceivably, they could also be given to [[Destructible Objects]] but these are typically naturally invulnerable to everything except what has specifically been designated as being able to destroy them. | Like [[Vulnerabilities]], [[Invulnerabilities]] can be given to players' [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] or to their [[Enemies]]. They are more common to be given to [[Boss Monsters]] than ordinary [[Enemies]], especially complete [[Invulnerabilities]]. Conceivably, they could also be given to [[Destructible Objects]] but these are typically naturally invulnerable to everything except what has specifically been designated as being able to destroy them. | ||
| − | One reason to using [[Invulnerabilities]] as [[Balancing Effects]] when players are disadvantaged. One reoccurring case for this is the [[Spawning]] of players' [[Avatars]] since they are in this case most likely are unprepared, unsure of where they are, and what threats exist there. To temporarily balance situations, players either can simply be given [[Invulnerabilities]] as [[Temporary Abilities]] or they can be placed in locations that provide these as [[Environmental Effects]] (i.e. [[Safe Havens]]). | + | One reason to using [[Invulnerabilities]] as [[Balancing Effects]] when players are disadvantaged. One reoccurring case for this is the [[Spawning]] of players' [[Avatars]] since they are in this case most likely are unprepared, unsure of where they are, and what threats exist there. To temporarily balance situations, players either can simply be given [[Invulnerabilities]] as [[Temporary Abilities]] or they can be placed in locations that provide these as [[Environmental Effects]] (i.e. [[Safe Havens]]). |
Unless inherent in the construction of game entities to create [[Privileged Abilities]], [[Invulnerabilities]] are often given [[Time Limits]] so they do not upset [[Player Balance|Player]] or [[Team Balance]] for entire game instances. | Unless inherent in the construction of game entities to create [[Privileged Abilities]], [[Invulnerabilities]] are often given [[Time Limits]] so they do not upset [[Player Balance|Player]] or [[Team Balance]] for entire game instances. | ||
Partial [[Invulnerabilities]] can co-exist with [[Vulnerabilities]] if they deal with different types of dangers, but complete [[Invulnerabilities]] do not work with [[Vulnerabilities]] except when one specific [[Vulnerabilities|Vulnerability]] provides an [[Achilles' Heels|Achilles' Heel]] to otherwise invulnerable opponents. | Partial [[Invulnerabilities]] can co-exist with [[Vulnerabilities]] if they deal with different types of dangers, but complete [[Invulnerabilities]] do not work with [[Vulnerabilities]] except when one specific [[Vulnerabilities|Vulnerability]] provides an [[Achilles' Heels|Achilles' Heel]] to otherwise invulnerable opponents. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A typical use of [[Sanctioned Cheating]] is to provide [[Invulnerabilities]], e.g. entering ''god mode'' in the [[Doom series]]. | ||
=== Narrative Aspects === | === Narrative Aspects === | ||
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== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | [[Invulnerabilities]] make [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] immune to some or all types of [[Damage]] in games. While this modulates [[Damage]] | + | [[Invulnerabilities]] make [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], or [[Units]] immune to some or all types of [[Damage]] in games. While this modulates [[Damage]] (and as a consequences also [[Health]]) it can also work against that pattern when entities are completely protected from all types of [[Damage]] and this can in turn lead to conflicts with patterns such as [[Leaps of Faith]], [[Risk/Reward]], and [[Tension]]. When possessed by [[Enemies]], they are likely to create more [[Challenging Gameplay]]. They can also make it more difficult or impossible to engage in [[Player Killing]] or to, more generally, succeed with [[Eliminate]] goals. Regardless, [[Invulnerabilities]] are likely to change how [[Combat]] occurs in games if it can occur at all, and can also modulate [[Movement]] if collisions, falls, or [[Environmental Effects]] can cause [[Damage]]. |
| − | Encountering unknown [[Invulnerabilities]] is likely to be [[Surprises]] to players and lead to [[Experimenting]], [[Puzzle Solving]], and [[Tactical Planning]] to figure out how to counter these (or exploit these in the rare cases when one is surprised by one's own [[Invulnerabilities]]). If unbalanced [[Invulnerabilities]] are allowed to exist permanently or for long in games, this most likely leads to [[Repeated Domination]] and upset [[Player Balance|Player]] and [[Team Balance]]. | + | Encountering unknown [[Invulnerabilities]] is likely to be [[Surprises]] to players and lead to [[Experimenting]], [[Puzzle Solving]], and [[Tactical Planning]] to figure out how to counter these (or exploit these in the rare cases when one is surprised by one's own [[Invulnerabilities]]). If unbalanced [[Invulnerabilities]] are allowed to exist permanently or for long in games, this most likely leads to [[Repeated Domination]] and upset [[Player Balance|Player]] and [[Team Balance]]. If it is known that [[Invulnerabilities]] exist in games, cautious players may give themselves [[Gain Information]] goals related to knowing what [[Invulnerabilities]] their [[Enemies]] have before confronting them. |
| + | |||
| + | The possibility of having [[Invulnerabilities]] to [[Environmental Effects]] that block access to gameplay areas create [[Conditional Passageways]] in games. | ||
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
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==== with [[Enemies]] ==== | ==== with [[Enemies]] ==== | ||
| − | [[Challenging Gameplay]] | + | [[Challenging Gameplay]], |
| + | [[Gain Information]] | ||
==== with [[Environmental Effects]] ==== | ==== with [[Environmental Effects]] ==== | ||
| + | [[Conditional Passageways]], | ||
[[Safe Havens]] | [[Safe Havens]] | ||
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[[Destructible Objects]], | [[Destructible Objects]], | ||
[[Enemies]], | [[Enemies]], | ||
| + | [[Health]], | ||
[[Movement]], | [[Movement]], | ||
[[Spawning]] | [[Spawning]] | ||
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=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
| − | + | [[Sanctioned Cheating]] | |
=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
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=== Potentially Conflicting With === | === Potentially Conflicting With === | ||
[[Damage]], | [[Damage]], | ||
| + | [[Early Elimination]], | ||
[[Eliminate]], | [[Eliminate]], | ||
[[Leaps of Faith]], | [[Leaps of Faith]], | ||
Latest revision as of 19:32, 9 September 2014
The ability to be immune to attacks or other dangers.
Many events and effects can be dangerous or lethal in games. However, it is quite common that some entities, either those under players' control or those working with or against them, have Invulnerabilities to some of these and thereby create imbalances in how entities can behave in the game environments. In rare circumstances, some entities may be completely immune to the dangers.
Contents
Examples
Undead are entities in Roleplaying Games that due to their nature as immune to things living are not. In Dungeons & Dragons they are immune to diseases and poison. The GURPS templates for creating undead generalizes this to the advantage Immunity to Metabolic Hazards and includes Doesn't breathe as well. Undead in Oblivion cannot be killing by poison or drowning, and ethereal ones cannot be damaged by normal weapons.
In Ghost Stories, the green player never has to roll the curse dice.
The übercharge ability of medics in Team Fortress 2 can be used to make team mates invulnerable for short periods of times during matches.
Using the pattern
Designing Invulnerabilities consists of deciding what type Damage is protected from, who or what is protected, and if the immunity provided is a permanent feature or a temporary one; if they are temporary then the causes for the Invulnerabilities to appear and disappear also need to be decided upon Invulnerabilities are by necessity Privileged Abilities since if everyone had the same Invulnerabilities the dangers protected against would stop having gameplay meaning. A primary distinction when designing Invulnerabilities is if they should be complete or partial (note that this is a difference between Invulnerabilities and Vulnerabilities since the latter is always assumed to relate to specific, i.e. partial, aspects of dangers). Complete Invulnerabilities can be used to make Early Elimination impossible.
Like Vulnerabilities, Invulnerabilities can be given to players' Avatars, Characters, or Units or to their Enemies. They are more common to be given to Boss Monsters than ordinary Enemies, especially complete Invulnerabilities. Conceivably, they could also be given to Destructible Objects but these are typically naturally invulnerable to everything except what has specifically been designated as being able to destroy them.
One reason to using Invulnerabilities as Balancing Effects when players are disadvantaged. One reoccurring case for this is the Spawning of players' Avatars since they are in this case most likely are unprepared, unsure of where they are, and what threats exist there. To temporarily balance situations, players either can simply be given Invulnerabilities as Temporary Abilities or they can be placed in locations that provide these as Environmental Effects (i.e. Safe Havens).
Unless inherent in the construction of game entities to create Privileged Abilities, Invulnerabilities are often given Time Limits so they do not upset Player or Team Balance for entire game instances.
Partial Invulnerabilities can co-exist with Vulnerabilities if they deal with different types of dangers, but complete Invulnerabilities do not work with Vulnerabilities except when one specific Vulnerability provides an Achilles' Heel to otherwise invulnerable opponents.
A typical use of Sanctioned Cheating is to provide Invulnerabilities, e.g. entering god mode in the Doom series.
Narrative Aspects
NPCs may be given complete Invulnerabilities to ensure that they can play their assigned parts in Predetermined Story Structures. However, this type of Invulnerabilities, and any other where the Invulnerabilities are not explained within the context of the Alternative Reality of a game, will break Thematic Consistency.
Consequences
Invulnerabilities make Avatars, Characters, or Units immune to some or all types of Damage in games. While this modulates Damage (and as a consequences also Health) it can also work against that pattern when entities are completely protected from all types of Damage and this can in turn lead to conflicts with patterns such as Leaps of Faith, Risk/Reward, and Tension. When possessed by Enemies, they are likely to create more Challenging Gameplay. They can also make it more difficult or impossible to engage in Player Killing or to, more generally, succeed with Eliminate goals. Regardless, Invulnerabilities are likely to change how Combat occurs in games if it can occur at all, and can also modulate Movement if collisions, falls, or Environmental Effects can cause Damage.
Encountering unknown Invulnerabilities is likely to be Surprises to players and lead to Experimenting, Puzzle Solving, and Tactical Planning to figure out how to counter these (or exploit these in the rare cases when one is surprised by one's own Invulnerabilities). If unbalanced Invulnerabilities are allowed to exist permanently or for long in games, this most likely leads to Repeated Domination and upset Player and Team Balance. If it is known that Invulnerabilities exist in games, cautious players may give themselves Gain Information goals related to knowing what Invulnerabilities their Enemies have before confronting them.
The possibility of having Invulnerabilities to Environmental Effects that block access to gameplay areas create Conditional Passageways in games.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Experimenting, Privileged Abilities, Puzzle Solving, Repeated Domination, Surprises, Tactical Planning
with Enemies
Challenging Gameplay, Gain Information
with Environmental Effects
Conditional Passageways, Safe Havens
with NPCs
Predetermined Story Structures
with Temporary Abilities
with Vulnerabilities
Can Modulate
Avatars, Boss Monsters, Characters, Combat, Damage, Destructible Objects, Enemies, Health, Movement, Spawning Units
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Damage, Early Elimination, Eliminate, Leaps of Faith, Player Balance, Player Killing, Risk/Reward, Team Balance, Tension, Thematic Consistency, Vulnerabilities
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
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