Abstract Player Constructs

From gdp3
Revision as of 07:58, 21 April 2011 by Staffan Björk (Talk | contribs) (Examples)

Jump to: navigation, search

The abstract attributes and characteristics associated with a player of a game.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

Grand strategy games such as the Civilization series and the Europa Universalis series let players take control over civilizations or countries.

The empires built in Race for the Galaxy, the colonies constructed in Puerto Rico, and the farms developed in Agricola are all Abstract Player Constructs since they are not part of one game world (even if the represent parts of it). Similarly, the abilities developed for species in Ursuppe, Spore, and American Megafauna are Abstract Player Constructs, as are the technologies developed in Origins: How We Became Human.

The people played in Roleplaying Games, e.g. Dungeons & Dragons or GURPS, are Abstract Player Constructs but are usually simply called Characters. The third edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay does add another type of Abstract Player Constructs - party sheets representing the type of group the players are and which provides specific abilities to them.

Using the pattern

While what types of information is a prime concern for the design of Abstract Player Constructs, a likewise important aspect is how they connect to how players can affect Game Worlds.


Erosion

Installations

Characters are a special case of Abstract Player Constructs that often tie them to Avatars.

Excise


Player Time Investments

While Abstract Player Constructs in general may not allow the same personalization as Characters, they can often become more powerful during gameplay through Abstract Player Construct Development.


Diegetic Aspects

Interface Aspects

The information contained in Abstract Player Constructs can be used to create Gameplay Statistics. One example of how this can be done exists in the ledgers Europa Universalis and Victoria series; these show both current and historical overviews of a country's statistics as well as comparisons to other countries of some types of statistics.

Narrative Aspects

Consequences

When players can have some control and foresight into the Abstract Player Construct Development, this leads to Player-Planned Development.

Relations

Can Instantiate

with Abstract Player Construct Development

Player-Planned Development

Can Modulate

Can Be Instantiated By

Characters

Can Be Modulated By

Abstract Player Construct Development, Gameplay Statistics

Possible Closure Effects

Potentially Conflicting With

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

References

-

Acknowledgements

-