Varied Gameplay

Variation in gameplay for a game, either within a single play session or between different play sessions.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Using the pattern

There are two main categories of Varied Gameplay: that which is varied between game instances and that which is varied within game instances. A game can of course aspire to provide both.

Asymmetric Abilities, Asymmetric Goals, Asymmetric Resource Distribution, Asymmetric Starting Conditions, and Orthogonal Differentiation (between players' abilities) typically provide Varied Gameplay between game instances through giving players different Abilities or Resources each time they play (limited by the number of different Abilities and Resources). This can be packaged as Asymmetric Roles and in Multiplayer Games this can take the form of Functional Roles. Competence Areas in general can support Varied Gameplay but more likely between players than for individual players. Flanking Routes lets players have difference between game instances in that they can use different routes to achieve their goals between the instances. Back-to-Back Game Sessions can be used to any game design that has Varied Gameplay between game instances to further provide Varied Gameplay although this is most often used in games with Asymmetric Starting Conditions to create Player Balance over game instances.

During game instances Varied Gameplay can be forced on players through Ability Losses and Cooldown effects since these can make players have to handle challenges in different ways during a game instance. More positively from the players' perspective, Varied Gameplay can be achieved by presenting them with New Abilities (possibly through access to new Weapons), Sidegrades, Temporary Abilities, and new or improved Skills. Letting players meet or control different Units or Vehicles is another way to give Varied Gameplay to them; or in more general terms, having Orthogonal Differentiation among the various game elements encountered in a game.

Complex Gameplay on a more abstract level promotes Varied Gameplay since players may both need to handle more different types of challenges (and have more different actions available) and need to vary their style of playing overtime. Having different phases is another way of having Varied Gameplay in a game, for example through the use of patterns such as Construction/Scoring Phase Shift or games with Planning Phases or Execution Phases, or both. Focusing more specifically on games with Levels, these can offer variety in gameplay through introducing Environmental Effects. Backtracking Levels is a production efficient way of proving Varied Gameplay over a Level as long as it isn't symmetric.

One of the most general ways of ensuring Varied Gameplay within a game instance is to vary the rules that apply in that instance. This can either simply be by having Varying Rule Sets but an alternative is to have Evolving Rule Sets.

In general, Randomness is a way to promote Varied Gameplay. This can be done both within and between game instances, for example through applying Randomness on Enemies, Ephemeral Goals, Game Worlds, Levels, or Quests. For Game Worlds specifically, Procedurally Generated Game Worlds, Player Constructed Worlds, or Reconfigurable Game Worlds can be used to make these vary between game instances.

Diegetic Aspects

Narration Aspects

Consequences

Varied Gameplay can make games have Challenging Gameplay since players need to be able to handle shifting contexts (besides how challenging the actual activities are). This naturally affect how easy it is to haveGameplay Mastery of such a game.