Difference between revisions of "Loyalty"
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''The goal of upholding a diegetic agreement to support a person, group, or cause.'' | ''The goal of upholding a diegetic agreement to support a person, group, or cause.'' | ||
| − | The concept of being faithful to other people or abstract causes is often used to | + | The concept of being faithful to other people or abstract causes is often used to explain or initiate actions. In games this can be used to set up the premise for the gameplay so that players have a diegetic motivation for the actions. [[Loyalty]] can also become part of gameplay itself if it is possible to go against one's [[Loyalty]], typically because the target of one's [[Loyalty]] is perceived as having betrayed oneself or that other goals are more compelling. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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In [[Crusader Kings]], dukes and counts need to put their armies under the control of their king when war occurs to prove their loyalty, and failing to do so provides a reason for civil war. | In [[Crusader Kings]], dukes and counts need to put their armies under the control of their king when war occurs to prove their loyalty, and failing to do so provides a reason for civil war. | ||
| − | In the [[Fallout series]], the | + | In the [[Fallout series]], the NPCs that accompany the player's character may feel that their [[Loyalty]] have been misused if players behave in certain ways and leave the player's character. |
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | Loyalty is a | + | Since [[Loyalty]] is a diegetic agreement, it |
| + | |||
| + | (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) to maintain membership of a Faction. Maintaining membership | ||
g C 68 haracter-Driven Game Desi n | g C 68 haracter-Driven Game Desi n | ||
may require Social Maintenance and performing quests, which are Predefined | may require Social Maintenance and performing quests, which are Predefined | ||
Goals. Loyalty include Preventing Goals (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) not to infringe the Social Norms of the Faction. Failure to comply the Social Norms leads to penalty such as declaring a character as an Outcast. | Goals. Loyalty include Preventing Goals (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) not to infringe the Social Norms of the Faction. Failure to comply the Social Norms leads to penalty such as declaring a character as an Outcast. | ||
| − | One design choice regarding [[Loyalty]] is whom or what to be faithful to. | + | One design choice regarding [[Loyalty]] is whom or what to be faithful to. Individual [[Characters]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | [[Characters]] | + | |
[[Factions]] can also be the | [[Factions]] can also be the | ||
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[[Companions]] | [[Companions]] | ||
| + | |||
For example, blood relatives in [[Crusader Kings]] have a bonus to their loyalty that depends on how closely related they are to their liege. | For example, blood relatives in [[Crusader Kings]] have a bonus to their loyalty that depends on how closely related they are to their liege. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are several ways of introducing challenges to a [[Loyalty]]. | ||
[[Internal Conflicts]] | [[Internal Conflicts]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Either You are with Me or against Me]] | ||
[[Opposing Goals]] | [[Opposing Goals]] | ||
| + | [[Risk/Reward]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Although [[Loyalty]] is here defined as being an agreement it does not have to be an explicitly evoked one, and can be a | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Narration Structures]] | ||
=== Diegetic Aspects === | === Diegetic Aspects === | ||
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=== Can Instantiate === | === Can Instantiate === | ||
| + | [[Loyalty]] to [[Characters]] or [[Fractions]] are [[Continuous Goals]] in the sense that a part of a relation needs to be maintained. However, [[Loyalty]] can most of the time be maintained simply by avoiding to do actions that would break the agreement and this is especially common for [[Loyalty]] directed to causes in the form of [[Quests]]. The exception comes when the gameplay puts | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Social Dilemmas]] | ||
==== with ... ==== | ==== with ... ==== | ||
Revision as of 09:46, 29 September 2010
The goal of upholding a diegetic agreement to support a person, group, or cause.
The concept of being faithful to other people or abstract causes is often used to explain or initiate actions. In games this can be used to set up the premise for the gameplay so that players have a diegetic motivation for the actions. Loyalty can also become part of gameplay itself if it is possible to go against one's Loyalty, typically because the target of one's Loyalty is perceived as having betrayed oneself or that other goals are more compelling.
Examples
If the PC becomes the member of Thief’s Guild in the Oblivion game of The Elder Scrolls series, being loyal to the guild requires complying with rules that bans stealing from another member, killing while carrying out a task, and stealing from the poor.
In Crusader Kings, dukes and counts need to put their armies under the control of their king when war occurs to prove their loyalty, and failing to do so provides a reason for civil war.
In the Fallout series, the NPCs that accompany the player's character may feel that their Loyalty have been misused if players behave in certain ways and leave the player's character.
Using the pattern
Since Loyalty is a diegetic agreement, it
(Björk, Holopainen, 2005) to maintain membership of a Faction. Maintaining membership g C 68 haracter-Driven Game Desi n may require Social Maintenance and performing quests, which are Predefined Goals. Loyalty include Preventing Goals (Björk, Holopainen, 2005) not to infringe the Social Norms of the Faction. Failure to comply the Social Norms leads to penalty such as declaring a character as an Outcast.
One design choice regarding Loyalty is whom or what to be faithful to. Individual Characters
Factions can also be the
The third option for Causes can from a gameplay perspective be seen as one way of diegetically presenting Quests.
For example, blood relatives in Crusader Kings have a bonus to their loyalty that depends on how closely related they are to their liege.
There are several ways of introducing challenges to a Loyalty.
Either You are with Me or against Me
Although Loyalty is here defined as being an agreement it does not have to be an explicitly evoked one, and can be a
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Consequences
Consequences: The membership of a Faction has more value, as maintaining the membership is not automatic. Relations Continuous Goals (Björk, Holopainen, 2005), Preventing Goals (Björk, Holopainen, 2005)
Relations
Can Instantiate
Loyalty to Characters or Fractions are Continuous Goals in the sense that a part of a relation needs to be maintained. However, Loyalty can most of the time be maintained simply by avoiding to do actions that would break the agreement and this is especially common for Loyalty directed to causes in the form of Quests. The exception comes when the gameplay puts
with ...
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
Potentially Conflicting With
History
An updated version of the pattern Internal Rivalry, first introduced in Lankoski 2010[1].
References
- ↑ Lankoski (2010). Character-Driven Game Design - A Design Approach and Its Foundations in Character Engagement. D.A. thesis at Aalto University. Publication Series of the School of Art and Design A 101.
