Information Passing

The passing, from a character to another, of information having influence on the gameplay.

One or more characters are talking. The information perceived could trigger new goals, add action possibilities, or improve changes to make good choices.

Examples

In Lies and Seductions finding out that a non-player character, Ed, is a good poker player, but becomes legless when drunk, reveals the possible strategy to win money from Ed.

Players of the Thief series of games receive new goals, or have current goals canceled, as their characters overheard discussions.

Using the pattern

Conversation can include Clues or trigger Predefined Goals to link information in the conversation to the gameplay.

Factions

Gossip

Consequences

Conversation becomes more tightly integrated with the Character-Driven Game Design gameplay and they can be used to tie the gameplay and the Narrative Structures together.

Typically, a game event of containing Information Passing results in information being gained by players also, although it may not be the same information or only the knowledge that information has been passed. When information is revealed, this may cause Surprises and the unfolding of Narrative Structures but regardless of this, the event may be sufficient to complete Gain Information goals.

Whenever the event gives information not only to characters but also to players, this makes the pattern incompatible with Perfect Information.

History

An updated version of the pattern Faction, first introduced in Lankoski 2010.