Player-Planned Development
The possibility for players to plan how game state values and entities should be able to develop.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Examples
Using the pattern
Player-Planned Development is typically introduced in games to let players have control over some game elements, e.g. Player Characters, Player Created Game Elements, or Teams.
More concretely, Player-Planned Development requires players to be given control over the development of some part of the game state overtime. This makes Freedom of Choice an important supporting pattern for Player-Planned Development to be possible. The development can in its simplest form relate just to Gain Competence goals or how players can get Improved or New Abilities. However, richer planning can be allowed by supporting Abstract Player Construct Development or Character Development (which naturally require the presence of Abstract Player Constructs or Characters also). A less common alternative is to allow players to plan the development of Factions. The actual development typically takes place as effects of Rewards or Unlocking or Abilities. The actual gameplay actions resulting of these depend on the type of game and the type of development, but Character Defining Actions are a class of actions that can signify Player-Planned Development. As omnipotent controllers of games, Game Masters can make all these options possible in games but can also be the ones that cause gameplay events that directly cause Player-Planned Development.
A number of patterns can modify how Player-Planned Development can occur given it is possible. Persistent Game Worlds typically lets the scale for Player-Planned Development be larger than otherwise and can more clearly make work regarding this into Investments.
Can Be Modulated By
Dynamic Goal Characteristics, Incompatible Goals, Predefined Goals, Unknown Goals
Player-Planned Development
Interface Aspects
The use of Player-Planned Development often requires that players can access information about what development is possible. This may be provided both from within Game Worlds and through Secondary Interface Screens.
Narrative Aspects
Allowing Player-Planned Development is a way for letting players modify Narration Structures. However, the presence of Narration Structures can also hinder the freedom players have regarding this, so the patterns can work against each other also.
Consequences
Letting players have Player-Planned Development have several consequences on game designs. It lets players have Creative Control, aim for specific Competence Areas, choose their own Player Defined Goals, and can strengthen their Identification with the game elements they can develop. Working toward these are Continuous Goals with can provide Anticipation and motivate Stimulated Planning, potentially in the form of pure Extra-Game Actions. While Player-Planned Development can cause players to have Exaggerated Perception of Influence they have, i.e. they may be under an Illusion of Influence, it can support the perception that they game elements under their control have an Open Destiny.
Player-Planned Development can cause players to view other parts of the game design differently. Privileged Abilities can become goals to achieve, especially if one aims at particular Competence Areas but can also steer the develop towards these so the patterns affect each other. It may motivate players to adjust their Roleplaying so it diegetically fits the planned development. Further, Player-Planned Development] modifies how Team Development functions when they pattern affects members of Teams.
Having Player-Planned Development may cause Enforced Agent Behavior in order to achieve the planned development, but the presence of Enforced Agent Behavior unrelated to such planning works against it. It can also cause Internal Conflicts since gameplay options provide may set different parts of the planned development against each other or may work against what is best from a short-term perspective or one related to winning a game.
In games where the game instances go on for long period of times, e.g. in games with Persistent Game Worlds, the work players to both in planning and actual gameplay actions performed towards having Player-Planned Development can be seen as Investments and provide players with a clear measure of Value of Effort for them.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Anticipation, Competence Areas, Continuous Goals, Creative Control, Enforced Agent Behavior, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Extra-Game Actions, Identification, Illusion of Influence, Internal Conflicts, Open Destiny, Player Defined Goals, Stimulated Planning
with Persistent Game Worlds
Can Modulate
Narration Structures, Player Characters, Player Created Game Elements, Privileged Abilities, Roleplaying, Teams, Team Development
Can Be Instantiated By
Character Defining Actions, Factions, Game Masters, Rewards, Unlocking
Abstract Player Constructs together with Abstract Player Construct Development and Freedom of Choice
Characters together with Character Development and Freedom of Choice
Freedom of Choice together with Gain Competence, Improved Abilities, or New Abilities
Can Be Modulated By
Dynamic Goal Characteristics, Incompatible Goals, Persistent Game Worlds, Predefined Goals, Privileged Abilities, Secondary Interface Screens, Unknown Goals
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
Enforced Agent Behavior, Narration Structures
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
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