Difference between revisions of "Abilities"

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[[Category:Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Action Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Action Patterns]]
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[[Category:Needs revision]]
 
[[Category:Needs revision]]
[[Category:Needs examples]]
 
 
[[Category:Needs references]]
 
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[[Category:Patterns created on the Wiki]]
 
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[[Category:Stub]]
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[[Category:To be Published]]
''Actions through which characters or units can affect game worlds.''
+
''Actions that agents can do which allow players to affect game states.''
  
This pattern is a still a stub.
+
Players need to be able to perform actions in order for them to have gameplay. The actions that are coupled to specific agents in the game worlds are called the [[Abilities]] of those agents.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
The various pieces used in [[Chess]] all have the [[Abilities|Ability]] to move, and capture the pieces in the square they move to; The ''en passant''<ref name="en_passant"/> move is a special [[Abilities|Ability]] of pawns to capture other pawns that just moved two squares.
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 +
In one sense [[Pac-Man]] only has movement [[Abilities]], but a more inclusive view would add the [[Abilities|Ability]] to eat pills, power pills, bonus fruits, and ghosts while under the influence of a power pill. [[Space Invaders]] only lets players move their ship left and right and shoot.
 +
 +
[[:Category:Fighting Games|Fighting Games]] such as the [[Street Fighter series|Street Fighter]] or [[Tekken series]] have many characters with [[Abilities]] related both to movement and combat. In many cases these [[Abilities]] can be combined into various combos.
 +
 +
It is difficult to judge exactly how many [[Abilities]] players of [[:Category:Tabletop Roleplaying Games|Tabletop Roleplaying Games]] such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] or [[Fiasco]] have. This since while there may be specific rules for certain actions, game masters can allow anything the players want to do based on how well they feel it works with the gameplay style they wish the game to have.
 +
 +
==== Anti-Examples ====
 +
Seeing the stones used in [[Go]] as having [[Abilities]] is somewhat difficult to do since players but only use them to mark places on the game board. The capturing of surrounded enemy stones could be argued to be an [[Abilities|Ability]] but since several stones need to be used to achieve this, it is difficult to see this as an individual accomplishment.
  
 
== Using the pattern ==
 
== Using the pattern ==
=== Can Modulate ===
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[[Abilities]] can modify [[Avatars]], [[Characters]], [[Companions]], and [[Units]] by giving players means of affecting the game state through using these game elements. [[Competence Areas]], [[Orthogonal Differentiation]], and [[Privileged Abilities]] can all be created by only providing certain [[Abilities]] to certain game elements. [[Skills]] can be used to differentiate how powerful [[Abilities]] are for different game elements.
[[Avatars]],  
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[[Characters]],  
+
[[Companions]],  
+
[[Units]]
+
  
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
+
Many games have rules regarding changing which [[Abilities]] players have access to, typically ass part of [[Penalties]] or [[Rewards]], or related to [[Character Development|Character]] or [[Abstract Player Construct Development]]. [[Ability Losses]], [[Cooldown]], [[Decreased Abilities]], [[New Abilities]], [[Improved Abilities]], [[Power-Ups]], and [[Unlocking]] are all general patterns related to this, in many cases making [[Abilities]] into [[Temporary Abilities]] or attaching [[Gain Competence]] goals to the [[Abilities]]. [[Area Control]], [[Deterioration]], and [[Location-Fixed Abilities]] are ways of relating access to [[Abilities]] to other parts of the game system. Requiring two or more players or [[Agents]] to perform actions, i.e. [[Collaborative Actions]], is generic category of [[Abilities]] that requires [[Cooperation]] or [[Coordination]].
[[Ammunition]],  
+
[[Powers]]
+
  
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
+
There are many common actions in games that can be [[Abilities]]. [[Movement]] is a one (sometimes in the form of [[Quick Travel]]), and [[Capture]] is another which can be expanded to also provide [[Combat]] or make the game elements into [[Consumers]]. [[Aim & Shoot]] is the primary option to make [[Combat]] possible at a distance through [[Abilities]]. Two other common actions that can be [[Abilities]] are [[Construction]] and (somewhat paradoxically) [[No-Ops]]. [[Producers]] is perhaps not as common but found in many [[:Category:Real-Time Strategy Games|Real-Time Strategy Games]] and all [[:Category:FPS Games|FPS Games]] where shots actually need to traverse the space between shooter and target.
[[Ability Losses]],
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[[Area Control]],
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[[Competence Areas]],  
+
[[Cooldown]],
+
[[Decreased Abilities]],
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[[Deterioration]],
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[[Feigned Die Rolls]],
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[[Gain Competence]],
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[[Improved Abilities]],
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[[Location-Fixed Abilities]],
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[[New Abilities]],
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[[Orthogonal Differentiation]],
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[[Power-Ups]],
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[[Privileged Abilities]],
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[[Temporary Abilities]],
+
[[Unlocking]]
+
  
=== Diegetic Aspects ===
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[[Powers]] is a specific type of [[Abilities]]. [[Ammunition]] can be this also when different types of [[Ammunition]] provide different types of [[Abilities]]. [[Combos]] can be seen as higher order [[Abilities]] that are created by offering sequences of more basic [[Abilities]] as a possible action for players. These [[Combos]] may provide additional effects or simply be [[Combos]] because they basic [[Abilities]] could not be performed otherwise (or performed as quickly). While [[Action Programming]] is often built by providing players with [[Abilities]] that need to be placed in a sequence, it does not create [[Abilities]] like [[Combos]] do because the resulting programming cannot be said to be done by the game element itself.
  
=== Interface Aspects ===
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[[Abilities]] that have been design can be modified in a number of ways. [[Extended Actions]] can make them take longer time and add [[Tension]] if they are also [[Interruptible Actions]]. If they cause [[Irreversible Events]], this can require more consideration before they are done and also increase [[Tension]] (and work against the presence of [[Experimenting]] or [[Pottering]]). [[Anonymous Actions]] can be used to let players not only have secret plans, but keep (at least part) of the execution of these plans secret as well. Linking the use of [[Resources]] to the use of [[Abilities]] (which [[Ammunition]] is an example of) introduces [[Resource Management]] as part of using one's [[Abilities]] well.
  
=== Narrative Aspects ===
+
In many cases, [[Game Masters]] can both provide players with new [[Abilities]] or modify existing ones based simply on the players stating that they want to do something. [[Game Masters]] can also modify their own and players [[Abilities]] through [[Feigned Die Rolls]].
  
 
== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
=== Can Modulate ===
+
Providing game elements with [[Abilities]] make it possible for players to interpret them as [[Agents]]. They case provide a basis for [[Character Defining Actions]] in games with [[Characters]], especially those that result in [[Irreversible Events]].
[[Avatars]],
+
 
[[Characters]],  
+
Since [[Abilities]] can give players possibilities to try and affect the game state of a game, the pattern typically gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] of what to do and may cause them to have an [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]]. While [[Abilities]] do affect the game state of a game, it does not necessarily need to cause player to focus on facing particular challenges, they can also make [[Pottering]] possible. Limiting the number of [[Abilities]] is one way of guaranteeing that players have a [[Limited Set of Actions]] while providing many [[Abilities]] can create [[Complex Gameplay]].
[[Companions]],  
+
[[Units]]
+
  
 
== Relations ==
 
== Relations ==
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
-
+
[[Action Programming]],
 +
[[Agents]],
 +
[[Complex Gameplay]],
 +
[[Combos]],
 +
[[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]],
 +
[[Freedom of Choice]],
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[[Limited Set of Actions]],
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[[Pottering]]
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 +
==== with [[Characters]] ====
 +
[[Character Defining Actions]]
  
 
=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===
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=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 +
[[Aim & Shoot]],
 
[[Ammunition]],  
 
[[Ammunition]],  
[[Powers]]
+
[[Capture]],
 +
[[Collaborative Actions]],
 +
[[Combat]],
 +
[[Combos]],
 +
[[Consumers]],
 +
[[Construction]],
 +
[[Movement]],
 +
[[No-Ops]].
 +
[[Game Masters]],
 +
[[Powers]],
 +
[[Producers]],
 +
[[Quick Travel]]  
  
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
[[Ability Losses]],  
 
[[Ability Losses]],  
 +
[[Anonymous Actions]],
 
[[Area Control]],  
 
[[Area Control]],  
 
[[Competence Areas]],  
 
[[Competence Areas]],  
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[[Decreased Abilities]],  
 
[[Decreased Abilities]],  
 
[[Deterioration]],  
 
[[Deterioration]],  
 +
[[Extended Actions]],
 
[[Feigned Die Rolls]],  
 
[[Feigned Die Rolls]],  
 +
[[Game Masters]],
 
[[Gain Competence]],  
 
[[Gain Competence]],  
 
[[Improved Abilities]],  
 
[[Improved Abilities]],  
 +
[[Interruptible Actions]],
 +
[[Irreversible Events]]
 
[[Location-Fixed Abilities]],  
 
[[Location-Fixed Abilities]],  
 
[[New Abilities]],  
 
[[New Abilities]],  
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[[Power-Ups]],  
 
[[Power-Ups]],  
 
[[Privileged Abilities]],  
 
[[Privileged Abilities]],  
 +
[[Resources]],
 +
[[Skills]],
 
[[Temporary Abilities]],  
 
[[Temporary Abilities]],  
 
[[Unlocking]]
 
[[Unlocking]]
Line 95: Line 107:
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
New pattern created in this wiki.
+
New pattern created for this wiki by [[User:Staffan Björk|Staffan Björk]].
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
-
+
<references>
 +
<ref name="en_passant">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_passant entry] for ''En passant'' on wikipedia.</ref>
 +
</references>
  
 
== Acknowledgements ==
 
== Acknowledgements ==
 
-
 
-

Latest revision as of 11:52, 4 August 2015

Actions that agents can do which allow players to affect game states.

Players need to be able to perform actions in order for them to have gameplay. The actions that are coupled to specific agents in the game worlds are called the Abilities of those agents.

Examples

The various pieces used in Chess all have the Ability to move, and capture the pieces in the square they move to; The en passant[1] move is a special Ability of pawns to capture other pawns that just moved two squares.

In one sense Pac-Man only has movement Abilities, but a more inclusive view would add the Ability to eat pills, power pills, bonus fruits, and ghosts while under the influence of a power pill. Space Invaders only lets players move their ship left and right and shoot.

Fighting Games such as the Street Fighter or Tekken series have many characters with Abilities related both to movement and combat. In many cases these Abilities can be combined into various combos.

It is difficult to judge exactly how many Abilities players of Tabletop Roleplaying Games such as Dungeons & Dragons or Fiasco have. This since while there may be specific rules for certain actions, game masters can allow anything the players want to do based on how well they feel it works with the gameplay style they wish the game to have.

Anti-Examples

Seeing the stones used in Go as having Abilities is somewhat difficult to do since players but only use them to mark places on the game board. The capturing of surrounded enemy stones could be argued to be an Ability but since several stones need to be used to achieve this, it is difficult to see this as an individual accomplishment.

Using the pattern

Abilities can modify Avatars, Characters, Companions, and Units by giving players means of affecting the game state through using these game elements. Competence Areas, Orthogonal Differentiation, and Privileged Abilities can all be created by only providing certain Abilities to certain game elements. Skills can be used to differentiate how powerful Abilities are for different game elements.

Many games have rules regarding changing which Abilities players have access to, typically ass part of Penalties or Rewards, or related to Character or Abstract Player Construct Development. Ability Losses, Cooldown, Decreased Abilities, New Abilities, Improved Abilities, Power-Ups, and Unlocking are all general patterns related to this, in many cases making Abilities into Temporary Abilities or attaching Gain Competence goals to the Abilities. Area Control, Deterioration, and Location-Fixed Abilities are ways of relating access to Abilities to other parts of the game system. Requiring two or more players or Agents to perform actions, i.e. Collaborative Actions, is generic category of Abilities that requires Cooperation or Coordination.

There are many common actions in games that can be Abilities. Movement is a one (sometimes in the form of Quick Travel), and Capture is another which can be expanded to also provide Combat or make the game elements into Consumers. Aim & Shoot is the primary option to make Combat possible at a distance through Abilities. Two other common actions that can be Abilities are Construction and (somewhat paradoxically) No-Ops. Producers is perhaps not as common but found in many Real-Time Strategy Games and all FPS Games where shots actually need to traverse the space between shooter and target.

Powers is a specific type of Abilities. Ammunition can be this also when different types of Ammunition provide different types of Abilities. Combos can be seen as higher order Abilities that are created by offering sequences of more basic Abilities as a possible action for players. These Combos may provide additional effects or simply be Combos because they basic Abilities could not be performed otherwise (or performed as quickly). While Action Programming is often built by providing players with Abilities that need to be placed in a sequence, it does not create Abilities like Combos do because the resulting programming cannot be said to be done by the game element itself.

Abilities that have been design can be modified in a number of ways. Extended Actions can make them take longer time and add Tension if they are also Interruptible Actions. If they cause Irreversible Events, this can require more consideration before they are done and also increase Tension (and work against the presence of Experimenting or Pottering). Anonymous Actions can be used to let players not only have secret plans, but keep (at least part) of the execution of these plans secret as well. Linking the use of Resources to the use of Abilities (which Ammunition is an example of) introduces Resource Management as part of using one's Abilities well.

In many cases, Game Masters can both provide players with new Abilities or modify existing ones based simply on the players stating that they want to do something. Game Masters can also modify their own and players Abilities through Feigned Die Rolls.

Consequences

Providing game elements with Abilities make it possible for players to interpret them as Agents. They case provide a basis for Character Defining Actions in games with Characters, especially those that result in Irreversible Events.

Since Abilities can give players possibilities to try and affect the game state of a game, the pattern typically gives players a Freedom of Choice of what to do and may cause them to have an Exaggerated Perception of Influence. While Abilities do affect the game state of a game, it does not necessarily need to cause player to focus on facing particular challenges, they can also make Pottering possible. Limiting the number of Abilities is one way of guaranteeing that players have a Limited Set of Actions while providing many Abilities can create Complex Gameplay.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Action Programming, Agents, Complex Gameplay, Combos, Exaggerated Perception of Influence, Freedom of Choice, Limited Set of Actions, Pottering

with Characters

Character Defining Actions

Can Modulate

Avatars, Characters, Companions, Units

Can Be Instantiated By

Aim & Shoot, Ammunition, Capture, Collaborative Actions, Combat, Combos, Consumers, Construction, Movement, No-Ops. Game Masters, Powers, Producers, Quick Travel

Can Be Modulated By

Ability Losses, Anonymous Actions, Area Control, Competence Areas, Cooldown, Decreased Abilities, Deterioration, Extended Actions, Feigned Die Rolls, Game Masters, Gain Competence, Improved Abilities, Interruptible Actions, Irreversible Events Location-Fixed Abilities, New Abilities, Orthogonal Differentiation, Power-Ups, Privileged Abilities, Resources, Skills, Temporary Abilities, Unlocking

Possible Closure Effects

-

Potentially Conflicting With

-

History

New pattern created for this wiki by Staffan Björk.

References

  1. entry for En passant on wikipedia.

Acknowledgements

-