Difference between revisions of "Ability Losses"
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''The event of losing the abilities of performing certain actions in a game.'' | ''The event of losing the abilities of performing certain actions in a game.'' | ||
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Game masters in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] or [[GURPS]] can sometimes be forced to invent events that are unavoidable to the players to strip them of equipment that disrupts the game balance. Temporary [[Ability Losses]] are however much more common due to combat effects, e.g. being frozen, paralysis, blinded, or knocked unconscious. When done as actions by players or enemies, these effect are called ''debuffs'' in [[World of Warcraft]] (as is effects that lessen the effectiveness of enemies). | Game masters in [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] or [[GURPS]] can sometimes be forced to invent events that are unavoidable to the players to strip them of equipment that disrupts the game balance. Temporary [[Ability Losses]] are however much more common due to combat effects, e.g. being frozen, paralysis, blinded, or knocked unconscious. When done as actions by players or enemies, these effect are called ''debuffs'' in [[World of Warcraft]] (as is effects that lessen the effectiveness of enemies). | ||
− | Disasters and attacks by enemies in [[Space Alert]] can destroy various components of the ship, which effectively creates [[Ability Losses]] since the actions they provide can no longer be done. Being exposed to | + | Disasters and attacks by enemies in [[Space Alert]] can destroy various components of the ship, which effectively creates [[Ability Losses]] since the actions they provide can no longer be done. Being exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation in [[Ursuppe]] can force players to have to discard ''gene'' cards and the abilities they provide; similar [[Ability Losses]] can be caused to rockets by solar flares in [[High Frontier]]. Taking damage in [[RoboRally]] does not make actions impossible, but lock what actions one has to do in particular phases. |
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
− | The design of [[Ability Losses]] consists of deciding what actions are lost and the reason for | + | The design of [[Ability Losses]] consists of deciding what actions are lost and what the reason for these losses are. While one reason for [[Ability Losses]] can simply be to give [[Penalties]] for failing goals, [[Ability Losses]] may also be the natural closing effect of [[Temporary Abilities]]. Other common causes for [[Ability Losses]], which can be seen as more specific examples of [[Penalties]], include [[Spawning]] after losing [[Lives]] or being part of [[Role Reversals]] where the losses of some abilities are usually countered by [[New Abilities]] in other [[Competence Areas]]. The [[Penalties]] of [[Ability Losses]] can be mitigated by having [[Time Limits]] or by giving players [[New Abilities]] within other [[Competence Areas]]. |
Specific causes for [[Ability Losses]] include [[Environmental Effects]] and [[Game Items]]. The may be [[Traps]], e.g. ''cursed'' [[Game Items]], but that these cause [[Ability Losses]] may also be known in advance so players can expose themselves to them as part of [[Tradeoffs]] or [[Risk/Reward]] choices. Another type of cause for [[Ability Losses]] is to create [[Cooldown]] periods for [[Abilities]] - this is simply combining an [[Ability Losses|Ability Loss]] with a [[Time Limits|Time Limit]] after that [[Abilities|Ability]] has been activated. In great enough amounts, [[Debuffs]] and [[Decreased Abilities]] can effectively give [[Ability Losses]]. | Specific causes for [[Ability Losses]] include [[Environmental Effects]] and [[Game Items]]. The may be [[Traps]], e.g. ''cursed'' [[Game Items]], but that these cause [[Ability Losses]] may also be known in advance so players can expose themselves to them as part of [[Tradeoffs]] or [[Risk/Reward]] choices. Another type of cause for [[Ability Losses]] is to create [[Cooldown]] periods for [[Abilities]] - this is simply combining an [[Ability Losses|Ability Loss]] with a [[Time Limits|Time Limit]] after that [[Abilities|Ability]] has been activated. In great enough amounts, [[Debuffs]] and [[Decreased Abilities]] can effectively give [[Ability Losses]]. | ||
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== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
− | [[Ability Losses]] are common as [[Penalties]], e.g. those caused by the effects of [[Damage]]. Losing [[Abilities]] naturally creates or restricts a [[Limited Set of Actions]] for players and thereby players' their [[Freedom of Choice]] and most likely negatively affect any [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] they may have. When [[Ability Losses]] are temporary in the sense that they | + | [[Ability Losses]] are common as [[Penalties]], e.g. those caused by the effects of [[Damage]]. Losing [[Abilities]] naturally creates or restricts a [[Limited Set of Actions]] for players and thereby players' their [[Freedom of Choice]] and most likely negatively affect any [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] they may have. When [[Ability Losses]] are temporary in the sense that they somehow can be regained, the pattern creates [[Gain Competence]] goals. |
The losses can be on an [[Avatars|Avatar]] or [[Units|Unit]] level or be applied on a player generally, but regardless of this may cause [[Competence Areas]] to be lost. When [[Ability Losses]] are related to [[Abstract Player Constructs]] or [[Characters]], these loses can be seen as (negative) [[Abstract Player Construct Development|Abstract Player Construct]] or [[Character Development]]; [[Ability Losses]] can also modulate other [[Character Development]], e.g. having some actions being taboo after having joined specific [[Factions]]. In extreme cases, [[Ability Losses]] may cause players to have [[Downtime]], which is equal to [[Player Killing]] if the loss is temporary and equal to [[Player Elimination]] if it is permanent. However, [[Ability Losses]] may reduce the complexity of a game while increasing the difficulty, thereby being able to modulate both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]]. | The losses can be on an [[Avatars|Avatar]] or [[Units|Unit]] level or be applied on a player generally, but regardless of this may cause [[Competence Areas]] to be lost. When [[Ability Losses]] are related to [[Abstract Player Constructs]] or [[Characters]], these loses can be seen as (negative) [[Abstract Player Construct Development|Abstract Player Construct]] or [[Character Development]]; [[Ability Losses]] can also modulate other [[Character Development]], e.g. having some actions being taboo after having joined specific [[Factions]]. In extreme cases, [[Ability Losses]] may cause players to have [[Downtime]], which is equal to [[Player Killing]] if the loss is temporary and equal to [[Player Elimination]] if it is permanent. However, [[Ability Losses]] may reduce the complexity of a game while increasing the difficulty, thereby being able to modulate both [[Complex Gameplay|Complex]] and [[Challenging Gameplay]]. |
Revision as of 14:18, 28 June 2011
The event of losing the abilities of performing certain actions in a game.
Games do not have to let players have the same possibility of actions the whole game. This can be done by removing abilities during gameplay. Such Ability Losses may be penalties for failing goals, the effect of enemy actions, the lack of resources, but may also simply be due to different play modes available at different times during the gameplay.
Contents
Examples
Respawning in multiplayer First-Person Shooters is typically done without any weapons, and the special abilities they provided, gained in earlier gameplay. Dying in Eve Online can have similar effects if one does not have up-to-date clones in that one loses experience points which can translate into skill losses.
Game masters in Tabletop Roleplaying Games such as Dungeons & Dragons or GURPS can sometimes be forced to invent events that are unavoidable to the players to strip them of equipment that disrupts the game balance. Temporary Ability Losses are however much more common due to combat effects, e.g. being frozen, paralysis, blinded, or knocked unconscious. When done as actions by players or enemies, these effect are called debuffs in World of Warcraft (as is effects that lessen the effectiveness of enemies).
Disasters and attacks by enemies in Space Alert can destroy various components of the ship, which effectively creates Ability Losses since the actions they provide can no longer be done. Being exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation in Ursuppe can force players to have to discard gene cards and the abilities they provide; similar Ability Losses can be caused to rockets by solar flares in High Frontier. Taking damage in RoboRally does not make actions impossible, but lock what actions one has to do in particular phases.
Using the pattern
The design of Ability Losses consists of deciding what actions are lost and what the reason for these losses are. While one reason for Ability Losses can simply be to give Penalties for failing goals, Ability Losses may also be the natural closing effect of Temporary Abilities. Other common causes for Ability Losses, which can be seen as more specific examples of Penalties, include Spawning after losing Lives or being part of Role Reversals where the losses of some abilities are usually countered by New Abilities in other Competence Areas. The Penalties of Ability Losses can be mitigated by having Time Limits or by giving players New Abilities within other Competence Areas.
Specific causes for Ability Losses include Environmental Effects and Game Items. The may be Traps, e.g. cursed Game Items, but that these cause Ability Losses may also be known in advance so players can expose themselves to them as part of Tradeoffs or Risk/Reward choices. Another type of cause for Ability Losses is to create Cooldown periods for Abilities - this is simply combining an Ability Loss with a Time Limit after that Ability has been activated. In great enough amounts, Debuffs and Decreased Abilities can effectively give Ability Losses.
In games with Game Masters, Ability Losses may naturally occur as the outcome of Negotiation with players in order to restore Player Balance. Although not popular, it can also be part of Evolving Rule Sets in order to provide Balancing Effects between different strategies.
Narrative Aspects
Ability Losses are not commonly used to advance Narration Structures unless they are Ultra-Powerful Events, since players may see goals in resisting the loss, especially in games that support Save-Load Cycles. One reason for enforcing these types of Ability Losses in Predefined Story Structures are when they are important parts of Abstract Player Construct or Character Development. When the losses are part of the game story, they do provide a form of Varied Gameplay, as players have to adjust to a Limited Set of Actions, which may be used to maintain Challenging Gameplay. Half-Life has this as it at one point strips players of their equipment and the Dead Money Expansion to Fallout: New Vegas does it through temporarily removing all equipment when the Expansion is played.
Selective Ability Losses may be enforced by a game design as an alternative to Actions Have Diegetically Social Consequences, for example, making it impossible to attack shopkeepers in the Dragon Age series when it is possible to attack monsters or making it impossible to shoot allies in Doom 3. This saves production costs in dealing with unwanted narrative developments, and can from the perspective of Narration Structures as enforcing Thematic Consistency but from the perspective of Roleplaying as breaking Thematic Consistency.
Consequences
Ability Losses are common as Penalties, e.g. those caused by the effects of Damage. Losing Abilities naturally creates or restricts a Limited Set of Actions for players and thereby players' their Freedom of Choice and most likely negatively affect any Exaggerated Perception of Influence they may have. When Ability Losses are temporary in the sense that they somehow can be regained, the pattern creates Gain Competence goals.
The losses can be on an Avatar or Unit level or be applied on a player generally, but regardless of this may cause Competence Areas to be lost. When Ability Losses are related to Abstract Player Constructs or Characters, these loses can be seen as (negative) Abstract Player Construct or Character Development; Ability Losses can also modulate other Character Development, e.g. having some actions being taboo after having joined specific Factions. In extreme cases, Ability Losses may cause players to have Downtime, which is equal to Player Killing if the loss is temporary and equal to Player Elimination if it is permanent. However, Ability Losses may reduce the complexity of a game while increasing the difficulty, thereby being able to modulate both Complex and Challenging Gameplay.
The possibility of Ability Losses for Units can give rise to Continuous Goals of trying to Evade and Survive. This happens when players have some Units with Abilities that other Units under his or her control do not have, and can loss the Units. This can still occur if Units are under Indirect Control, as the loss may not be so severe since control may be possible to regain.
A loss of Abilities can affect Player Balance. If the lost Abilities were possessed by most or all other players or Agents this is a Penalty, but if the Abilities were Privileged Abilities, the losses can affirm Player Balance and be Balancing Effects if explicitly designed into the game. When Ability Losses are combined with New Abilities, this pair can be balanced in itself and require players to consider both the Risk/Reward and the Tradeoffs associated with losing one Ability to gain another.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Abstract Player Construct Development, Balancing Effects, Character Development, Downtime, Environmental Effects, Gain Competence, Penalties, Player Elimination, Player Killing, Risk/Reward, Thematic Consistency, Tradeoffs, Traps, Varied Gameplay
with New Abilities
with Time Limits
with Units
Continuous Goals, Evade, Survive
Can Modulate
Abilities, Avatars, Challenging Gameplay, Character Development, Complex Gameplay, Freedom of Choice, Game Items, Limited Set of Actions, Player Balance, Units
Can Be Instantiated By
Debuffs, Decreased Abilities, Evolving Rule Sets, Game Masters, Role Reversals, Spawning, Temporary Abilities
Can Be Modulated By
Time Limits, Ultra-Powerful Events
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Competence Areas, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Thematic Consistency
History
An updated version of the pattern Ability Losses 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
Marcus Antonsson, Karl Bergström