Difference between revisions of "Tiebreakers"
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[[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | [[Category:Mechanical Patterns]] | ||
[[Category:Patterns]] | [[Category:Patterns]] | ||
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[[Category:Needs revision]] | [[Category:Needs revision]] | ||
[[Category:Needs examples]] | [[Category:Needs examples]] | ||
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[[Category:To be Published]] | [[Category:To be Published]] | ||
| − | + | ''Rules for how to make distinctions in what would else be tied results.'' | |
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| − | + | Games often need to evaluate players or their actions (or aspects of the game state) so that distinctions can be made between them, e.g. who one the game, who gets to move first. Whenever the main rule for doing so can end in tied results but another rule lets this be resolved, that other rule is a [[Tiebreakers|Tiebreaker]]. | |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| − | [[Left 4 Dead series]] | + | [[:Category:Board Games|Board Games]] where players can win over each other typically have [[Tiebreakers]], e.g. [[Agricola]], [[Amun-Re]], [[Caylus]], and [[Race for the Galaxy]]. Victory points can be [[Tiebreakers]] but this is not so common since typically they are the main way of determining winners to begin with, but other measures commonly used are most resources or most money. |
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| + | In the team vs. team versions of [[Left 4 Dead series]], [[Tiebreakers]] are which team quickest gets to the end of the level (or gets the furthest) in some levels while in others it can be which gets the gas cans the quickest. | ||
==== Anti-Examples ==== | ==== Anti-Examples ==== | ||
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== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| − | [[Tiebreakers]] are applied to situations where [[Tied Results]] are possible and for some reason this is not wanted in the design, or the likelihood of it is wanted to be significantly lower. While [[Tiebreakers]] can be applied to any situation where [[Tied Results]] can occur, they are often applied in situations where [[Competition]] or [[Overcome]] goals want to be put in focus, e.g. in [[Tournaments]]. More specifically, [[Tiebreakers]] are often applied to [[High Score Lists]], [[Races]] or [[Scores]]. | + | [[Tiebreakers]] are applied to situations where [[Tied Results]] are possible and for some reason this is not wanted in the design, or the likelihood of it is wanted to be significantly lower (as for [[Tied Results]], [[Tiebreakers]] typically only make sense in [PvP]] or [[TvT]] gameplay). While [[Tiebreakers]] can be applied to any situation where [[Tied Results]] can occur, they are often applied in situations where [[Competition]] or [[Overcome]] goals want to be put in focus, e.g. in [[Tournaments]] or in [[Bidding]] situations. More specifically, [[Tiebreakers]] are often applied to [[High Score Lists]], [[Races]] or [[Scores]]. The actual [[Tiebreakers]] tend to be [[Resources]], and while [[Scores]] can work this is typically already the value used that can have [[Tied Results]]; an example of when [[Scores]] can be [[Tiebreakers]] is games with [[Winning by Ending Gameplay]] but where several players can end at the same time. The use of [[Score Tracks]] can both be the basis for how to handle [[Tiebreakers]] (e.g. by using who comes first to a certain place on them as [[Tiebreakers]]) and something that is heavily affected by the presence of [[Tiebreakers]]. |
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| − | + | The two main design solutions to actually create [[Tiebreakers]] are to either enforce [[Perceivable Margins]] or to use [[Tournaments]] to play new game instances or new sub parts of a game until the [[Tied Results]] are broken. Somewhat paradoxical, [[Tiebreakers]] can result in [[Tied Results]]... when this can occur designers can add additional [[Tiebreakers]] or accept than in rare circumstances [[Tied Results]] are acceptable. | |
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | By not allowing [[Tied Results]], [[Tiebreakers]] make goals into [[Excluding Goals]] and thereby increase or create [[Conflicts|Conflict]] and [[Tension]]. The use of "sudden death" extensions to gameplay as [[Tiebreakers]] can be seen as a use of [[Varying Rule Sets]] because the length of game instances can be extended in some of them. [[Tiebreakers]] can cause [[Social Dilemmas]] in that it is not possible to shared [[Rewards]] or [[Penalties]] with other players even when one wishes to. | + | By not allowing [[Tied Results]], [[Tiebreakers]] make goals into [[Excluding Goals|Excluding]] and [[Incompatible Goals]] and thereby increase or create [[Conflicts|Conflict]] and [[Tension]]. The use of "sudden death" extensions to gameplay as [[Tiebreakers]] can be seen as a use of [[Varying Rule Sets]] because the length of game instances can be extended in some of them. [[Tiebreakers]] can cause [[Social Dilemmas]] in that it is not possible to shared [[Rewards]] or [[Penalties]] with other players even when one wishes to. |
When [[Tiebreakers]] prevent [[Tied Results]], they also prevent [[Shared Penalties]] and [[Shared Rewards]]. This in turn removes a possibility for player to engage in [[Negotiation]] to form [[Uncommitted Alliances]] aimed at sharing these [[Rewards]] (and less commonly [[Penalties]]). | When [[Tiebreakers]] prevent [[Tied Results]], they also prevent [[Shared Penalties]] and [[Shared Rewards]]. This in turn removes a possibility for player to engage in [[Negotiation]] to form [[Uncommitted Alliances]] aimed at sharing these [[Rewards]] (and less commonly [[Penalties]]). | ||
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[[Conflicts]], | [[Conflicts]], | ||
[[Excluding Goals]], | [[Excluding Goals]], | ||
| + | [[Incompatible Goals]], | ||
[[Social Dilemmas]], | [[Social Dilemmas]], | ||
[[Tension]], | [[Tension]], | ||
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=== Can Modulate === | === Can Modulate === | ||
| + | [[Bidding]], | ||
[[Competition]], | [[Competition]], | ||
[[Conflicts]], | [[Conflicts]], | ||
[[High Score Lists]], | [[High Score Lists]], | ||
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[[Overcome]], | [[Overcome]], | ||
| + | [[PvP]], | ||
[[Races]], | [[Races]], | ||
| + | [[Score Tracks]], | ||
[[Scores]], | [[Scores]], | ||
[[Tiebreakers]], | [[Tiebreakers]], | ||
[[Tied Results]], | [[Tied Results]], | ||
| − | [[Tournaments]] | + | [[Tournaments]], |
| + | [[TvT]] | ||
=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Score Tracks]] |
=== Possible Closure Effects === | === Possible Closure Effects === | ||
Latest revision as of 11:08, 26 August 2021
Rules for how to make distinctions in what would else be tied results.
Games often need to evaluate players or their actions (or aspects of the game state) so that distinctions can be made between them, e.g. who one the game, who gets to move first. Whenever the main rule for doing so can end in tied results but another rule lets this be resolved, that other rule is a Tiebreaker.
Contents
Examples
Board Games where players can win over each other typically have Tiebreakers, e.g. Agricola, Amun-Re, Caylus, and Race for the Galaxy. Victory points can be Tiebreakers but this is not so common since typically they are the main way of determining winners to begin with, but other measures commonly used are most resources or most money.
In the team vs. team versions of Left 4 Dead series, Tiebreakers are which team quickest gets to the end of the level (or gets the furthest) in some levels while in others it can be which gets the gas cans the quickest.
Anti-Examples
Chess can end in draws.
Using the pattern
Tiebreakers are applied to situations where Tied Results are possible and for some reason this is not wanted in the design, or the likelihood of it is wanted to be significantly lower (as for Tied Results, Tiebreakers typically only make sense in [PvP]] or TvT gameplay). While Tiebreakers can be applied to any situation where Tied Results can occur, they are often applied in situations where Competition or Overcome goals want to be put in focus, e.g. in Tournaments or in Bidding situations. More specifically, Tiebreakers are often applied to High Score Lists, Races or Scores. The actual Tiebreakers tend to be Resources, and while Scores can work this is typically already the value used that can have Tied Results; an example of when Scores can be Tiebreakers is games with Winning by Ending Gameplay but where several players can end at the same time. The use of Score Tracks can both be the basis for how to handle Tiebreakers (e.g. by using who comes first to a certain place on them as Tiebreakers) and something that is heavily affected by the presence of Tiebreakers.
The two main design solutions to actually create Tiebreakers are to either enforce Perceivable Margins or to use Tournaments to play new game instances or new sub parts of a game until the Tied Results are broken. Somewhat paradoxical, Tiebreakers can result in Tied Results... when this can occur designers can add additional Tiebreakers or accept than in rare circumstances Tied Results are acceptable.
Consequences
By not allowing Tied Results, Tiebreakers make goals into Excluding and Incompatible Goals and thereby increase or create Conflict and Tension. The use of "sudden death" extensions to gameplay as Tiebreakers can be seen as a use of Varying Rule Sets because the length of game instances can be extended in some of them. Tiebreakers can cause Social Dilemmas in that it is not possible to shared Rewards or Penalties with other players even when one wishes to.
When Tiebreakers prevent Tied Results, they also prevent Shared Penalties and Shared Rewards. This in turn removes a possibility for player to engage in Negotiation to form Uncommitted Alliances aimed at sharing these Rewards (and less commonly Penalties).
Relations
Can Instantiate
Conflicts, Excluding Goals, Incompatible Goals, Social Dilemmas, Tension, Tied Results, Varying Rule Sets
Can Modulate
Bidding, Competition, Conflicts, High Score Lists, Overcome, PvP, Races, Score Tracks, Scores, Tiebreakers, Tied Results, Tournaments, TvT
Can Be Instantiated By
Perceivable Margins, Resources, Tournaments
Scores together with Winning by Ending Gameplay
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Negotiation, Shared Penalties, Shared Rewards, Tied Results, Uncommitted Alliances
History
An updated version of the pattern Tiebreakers that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[1].
References
- ↑ Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.
Acknowledgements
-
