Difference between revisions of "Capture"

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[[Category:Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Action Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Action Patterns]]
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[[Category:Goal Patterns]]
 
[[Category:Needs revision]]
 
[[Category:Needs revision]]
 
''The elimination or change of ownership of an game element.''
 
''The elimination or change of ownership of an game element.''
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Three main decisions need to be done for each type of [[Capture]] allowed in games: which game elements can perform the [[Capture]], which game elements can be the targets, and what actions are required to activate the [[Capture]]. [[MacGuffins]] work well as game elements to [[Capture]] when this is the primary focus of the game and they are not destroyed when captured. Otherwise [[Units]] are the most common type of game elements used, although [[Avatars]] make rare appearance, e.g. through ''King'' pieces in [[Chess]] ([[Units]] will be referred to mostly in the following but unless explicitly noted this could be replaced by [[MacGuffins]] or [[Avatars]]). Many games, e.g. [[Chess]], [[Go]], and [[Draughts]], make no distinction of which game elements can [[Capture]], but the ''Bombs'' in [[Stratego]] cannot move and therefore not actively try to [[Capture]] other pieces. Likewise, most pieces can be the target of [[Capture]] actions but [[Hnefatafl]] has special requires for capturing the king piece and [[Stratego]] as special rules for which [[Units]] can [[Capture]] which. Combined with the [[Imperfect Information]] in [[Stratego]], this makes capturing there have an element of [[Risk/Reward]].
 
Three main decisions need to be done for each type of [[Capture]] allowed in games: which game elements can perform the [[Capture]], which game elements can be the targets, and what actions are required to activate the [[Capture]]. [[MacGuffins]] work well as game elements to [[Capture]] when this is the primary focus of the game and they are not destroyed when captured. Otherwise [[Units]] are the most common type of game elements used, although [[Avatars]] make rare appearance, e.g. through ''King'' pieces in [[Chess]] ([[Units]] will be referred to mostly in the following but unless explicitly noted this could be replaced by [[MacGuffins]] or [[Avatars]]). Many games, e.g. [[Chess]], [[Go]], and [[Draughts]], make no distinction of which game elements can [[Capture]], but the ''Bombs'' in [[Stratego]] cannot move and therefore not actively try to [[Capture]] other pieces. Likewise, most pieces can be the target of [[Capture]] actions but [[Hnefatafl]] has special requires for capturing the king piece and [[Stratego]] as special rules for which [[Units]] can [[Capture]] which. Combined with the [[Imperfect Information]] in [[Stratego]], this makes capturing there have an element of [[Risk/Reward]].
  
Parlett<ref name="Parlett"/> describes in some detail 7 ways to [[Capture]] in board games: ''Custodianship'', ''Displacement'', ''Enclosure'', ''Intervention'', ''Leap'', ''Approach'', and ''Withdrawal''. ''Custodianship'' consist of flanking a target by placing [[Units]] in [[Contact]] with it. This example of [[Combos]] can be found in ordinary [[Capture|Captures]] in [[Hnefatafl]]. ''Displacement'' is simply using [[Movement]] to enter the space occupied by the target and remove it, as is done for example in [[Chess]]. ''Enclosure'', used in [[Go]], requires placing [[Units]] in all spaces adjacent to the target or target group (the capture of the king in [[Hnefatafl]] can be seen as an example of this as well, or a double case of ''Custodianship''). ''Intervention'' is the inverse of ''Custodianship'' but Parlett provides no examples. ''Leap'' is capturing by moving over the target, as for example is done in [[Draughts]] (''line leaps'' allow several target to be capture simultaneously; ''long leaps'' do not require that either the starting or stopping space is adjacent to the target). ''Approach'' is capturing by moving adjacent to the target while ''Withdrawal'' is capturing by moving away from it (Parlett mentions [[Fanorona]] as an example of both). More ways are possible (e.g. ''Reflection'' and ''Telekinesis'') but have rarely been used.
+
Parlett<ref name="Parlett"/> describes in some detail 7 ways to [[Capture]] in board games: ''Custodianship'', ''Displacement'', [[Enclosure]], ''Intervention'', ''Leap'', ''Approach'', and ''Withdrawal''. ''Custodianship'' consist of flanking a target by placing [[Units]] in [[Connection]] with it. This example of [[Combos]] can be found in ordinary [[Capture|Captures]] in [[Hnefatafl]]. ''Displacement'' is simply using [[Movement]] to enter the space occupied by the target and remove it, as is done for example in [[Chess]]. ''Enclosure'', used in [[Go]], requires placing [[Units]] in all spaces adjacent to the target or target group (the capture of the king in [[Hnefatafl]] can be seen as an example of this as well, or a double case of ''Custodianship''). ''Intervention'' is the inverse of ''Custodianship'' but Parlett provides no examples. ''Leap'' is capturing by moving over the target, as for example is done in [[Draughts]] (''line leaps'' allow several target to be capture simultaneously; ''long leaps'' do not require that either the starting or stopping space is adjacent to the target). ''Approach'' is capturing by moving adjacent to the target while ''Withdrawal'' is capturing by moving away from it (Parlett mentions [[Fanorona]] as an example of both). More ways are possible (e.g. ''Reflection'' and ''Telekinesis'') but have rarely been used.
  
Even given one of these ways of [[Capture]], the game design must support some action that facilitates it. In the case of [[Real-Time Games]], this typically is [[Maneuvering]] or [[Aim & Shoot]], all promoting skills in [[Dexterity-Based Actions]]. [[Turn-Based Games]] favor the use of [[Movement]], promoting [[Puzzle Solving]] and [[Tactical Planning|Tactical]] and through that [[Stimulated Planning]], but can also make use of [[Investments]] or [[Bidding]]. [[Real-Time Games]] usually has the subgoal of [[Contact]] (but [[Qix]] shows as an example of using [[Enclosure]]) while [[Turn-Based Games]] commonly have subgoals such as [[Alignment]], [[Enclosure]], [[Configuration]], or [[Connection]] in additional to [[Contact]]. Those that have [[Movement]] as the way to achieve [[Capture]] can modulate the difficulty of performing the action by using [[Privileged Movement]].
+
Even given one of these ways of [[Capture]], the game design must support some action that facilitates it. [[Turn-Based Games]] favor the use of [[Movement]], promoting [[Puzzle Solving]] and [[Tactical Planning]] and through that [[Stimulated Planning]], but can also make use of [[Investments]] or [[Bidding]]. In the case of [[Real-Time Games]], [[Movement]] in the form of [[Maneuvering]] is typical as is  [[Aim & Shoot]], both promoting skills in [[Dexterity-Based Actions]]. [[Real-Time Games]] usually has the subgoal of [[Connection]] (but [[Qix]] shows as an example of using [[Enclosure]]) while [[Turn-Based Games]] commonly have subgoals such as [[Alignment]], [[Enclosure]], [[Configuration]], or [[Connection]]. Those that have [[Movement]] as the way to achieve [[Capture]] can modulate the difficulty of performing the action by using [[Privileged Movement]].
  
 
Parlett also mentions ''Conversion'', which is the [[Transfer of Control]] of a game element to another players and which can be used as a modifier to any of the [[Capture]] methods listed ([[Reversi]] is an example of this), and conflates [[Capture]] with [[Gain Ownership]]. Another possible modifier is ''Huffing'', allowing [[Units]] that could have captured but did not to themselves be captured. Parlett also notes that a [[Capture]] can be immediate (the most common case), or be a [[Delayed Effects|Delayed Effect]] that can open up for making it an [[Interruptible Actions|Interruptible Action]] (as is argued to exist by those reconstructing the rules of [[Ludus Latrunculorum]]).
 
Parlett also mentions ''Conversion'', which is the [[Transfer of Control]] of a game element to another players and which can be used as a modifier to any of the [[Capture]] methods listed ([[Reversi]] is an example of this), and conflates [[Capture]] with [[Gain Ownership]]. Another possible modifier is ''Huffing'', allowing [[Units]] that could have captured but did not to themselves be captured. Parlett also notes that a [[Capture]] can be immediate (the most common case), or be a [[Delayed Effects|Delayed Effect]] that can open up for making it an [[Interruptible Actions|Interruptible Action]] (as is argued to exist by those reconstructing the rules of [[Ludus Latrunculorum]]).
  
The action pattern [[Eliminate]] is a more specific form of [[Capture]] and typically used for [[Real-Time Games]], especially those using [[Aim & Shoot]]. It can be used to instantiate [[Capture]] but using other means allows less aggressive diegetic explanations of why game elements are removed, and what happens to them after they are removed. Designing [[Capture]] can for most cases be seen as choosing between whether to use [[Eliminate]] or [[Gain Ownership]], but can in both cases be seen as a struggle over [[Ownership]]. [[Guard]] goals can easily be added to make [[Capture]] goals more difficult, this makes others than those controlling a game element want to protect it.
+
The action pattern [[Eliminate]] is a more specific form of [[Capture]] and typically used for [[Real-Time Games]], especially those using [[Aim & Shoot]]. It can be used to instantiate [[Capture]] but using other means allows less aggressive diegetic explanations of why game elements are removed, and what happens to them after they are removed. Designing [[Capture]] can for most cases be seen as choosing between whether to use [[Eliminate]] or [[Gain Ownership]], but can in both cases be seen as a struggle over [[Ownership]]. [[Guard]] goals can easily be added to make [[Capture]] goals more difficult, this makes others than those controlling a game element want to protect it and create [[Excluding Goals]].
  
 
[[Capture]] can make a good candidate for [[Quests]] since the reason for the goal can easily be given diegetic explanations through the desires of [[Non-Player Characters]].
 
[[Capture]] can make a good candidate for [[Quests]] since the reason for the goal can easily be given diegetic explanations through the desires of [[Non-Player Characters]].
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== Consequences ==
 
== Consequences ==
[[Capture]] goals are ways of providing [[Combat]] in games, and are also very often related to [[Overcome]] goals in the [[Goal Hierarchies]]. It also typically causes [[Preventing Goals]] such as [[Evade]] for those controlling the targeted [[Units]]. The control of a new game element through [[Transfer of Control]] after a [[Capture]] can give [[New Abilities]], possibly [[Privileged Abilities]], but can also trigger retaliating [[Capture]] goals for the previous owner. How all these related to each other depends primarily on their individual [[Rewards|Reward]] structures and on players' tactics. However, since [[Units]] can typically [[Capture]] each other, all [[Units]] belonging to one players can work against another play and thereby work as [[Enemies]].
+
[[Capture]] is a common ways of providing [[Combat]] in games, and are also very often related to [[Overcome]] goals in the [[Goal Hierarchies]]. Since the action is connected to individual game elements, the pattern is often a [[Abilities|Ability]] (but [[Go]] can be seen as example of a game with [[Capture]] without having it associated with specific game elements). The pattern also typically causes [[Preventing Goals]] such as [[Evade]] for those controlling the targeted [[Units]]. The control of a new game element through [[Transfer of Control]] after a [[Capture]] can give [[New Abilities]], possibly [[Privileged Abilities]], but can also trigger retaliating [[Capture]] goals for the previous owner. How all these related to each other depends primarily on their individual [[Rewards|Reward]] structures and on players' tactics. However, since [[Units]] can typically [[Capture]] each other, all [[Units]] belonging to one players can work against another play and thereby work as [[Enemies]] as long as they are [[Agents]]. [[Capture]] goals focused upon the things delivered as part of [[Deliver]] goals cause [[Guard]] goals for those with the [[Deliver]] goals.  
  
[[Capture]] can modulate [[Rescue]] goals by being triggered when those that have [[Guard]] goals have fail so that they have a chance of restoring their initial [[Guard]] goals.
+
[[Capture]] can modulate [[Rescue]] goals by being triggered when those that have [[Guard]] goals have fail so that they have a chance of restoring their initial [[Guard]] goals. Similarly, [[Capture]] makes [[Maneuvering]] more important due to the added [[Penalties]] possible if mistakes are done.
  
 
[[Capture]] depends on [[Timing]] in [[Real-Time Games]] but for [[Turn-Based Games]] [[Puzzle Solving]] is more often required, as players have to take other [[Agents]] actions into consideration due to [[Turn Taking]]. [[Capture]] combined with [[Eliminate]] of game elements that are [[Non-Renewable Resources]] can quicken gameplay as fewer game elements remain and promote [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] since each element represents a greater part of players' [[Resources]]. [[Capture]] can lead to [[Challenging Gameplay]] if one has to try and catch those with [[Evade]] goals and these have [[Privileged Movement]]; likewise those with [[Evade]] goals can have [[Challenging Gameplay]] if those with [[Capture]] goals have [[Privileged Movement]].
 
[[Capture]] depends on [[Timing]] in [[Real-Time Games]] but for [[Turn-Based Games]] [[Puzzle Solving]] is more often required, as players have to take other [[Agents]] actions into consideration due to [[Turn Taking]]. [[Capture]] combined with [[Eliminate]] of game elements that are [[Non-Renewable Resources]] can quicken gameplay as fewer game elements remain and promote [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] since each element represents a greater part of players' [[Resources]]. [[Capture]] can lead to [[Challenging Gameplay]] if one has to try and catch those with [[Evade]] goals and these have [[Privileged Movement]]; likewise those with [[Evade]] goals can have [[Challenging Gameplay]] if those with [[Capture]] goals have [[Privileged Movement]].
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== Relations ==
 
== Relations ==
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 
=== Can Instantiate ===
 +
[[Abilities]],
 
[[Combat]],  
 
[[Combat]],  
[[Combos]], [[Enemies]], [[Evade]], [[Goal Hierarchies]], [[Overcome]], [[Preventing Goals]], [[Quests]]
+
[[Combos]],  
 +
[[Evade]],  
 +
[[Goal Hierarchies]],  
 +
[[Guard]],  
 +
[[Overcome]],  
 +
[[Preventing Goals]],  
 +
[[Quests]]
 +
 
 +
==== with [[Agents]] ====
 +
[[Enemies]]
  
==== with [[Bidding]], [[Movement]], [[Investments]] ====
+
==== with [[Movement]], [[Investments]] ====
 
[[Puzzle Solving]], [[Tactical Planning]]
 
[[Puzzle Solving]], [[Tactical Planning]]
  
=== with [[Evade]] and [[Privileged Movement]] ====
+
==== with [[Evade]] and [[Privileged Movement]] ====
 
[[Challenging Gameplay]]
 
[[Challenging Gameplay]]
  
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==== with [[Game State Indicators]] ====
 
==== with [[Game State Indicators]] ====
 
[[Smooth Learning Curves]]
 
[[Smooth Learning Curves]]
 +
 +
==== with [[Guard]] ====
 +
[[Excluding Goals]]
  
 
==== with [[Non-Renewable Resources]] ====
 
==== with [[Non-Renewable Resources]] ====
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=== Can Modulate ===
 
=== Can Modulate ===
 +
[[Deliver]],
 +
[[Maneuvering]],
 
[[Ownership]],  
 
[[Ownership]],  
 
[[Rescue]],  
 
[[Rescue]],  
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=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
 
[[Aim & Shoot]],  
 
[[Aim & Shoot]],  
[[Alignment]], [[Avatars]],  
+
[[Alignment]],  
[[Configuration]], [[Connection]], [[Contact]], [[Eliminate]], [[Enclosure]], [[MacGuffins]],
+
[[Avatars]],  
[[Maneuvering]],  
+
[[Bidding]],  
 +
[[Configuration]], [[Connection]], [[Eliminate]], [[Enclosure]], [[MacGuffins]],  
 
[[Movement]], [[Units]]
 
[[Movement]], [[Units]]
  
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
 
=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Bidding]], [[Delayed Effects]], [[Game State Indicators]],
+
[[Delayed Effects]], [[Game State Indicators]],  
[[Guard]],  
+
 
[[Interruptible Actions]],  
 
[[Interruptible Actions]],  
 
[[Investments]],  
 
[[Investments]],  

Latest revision as of 08:45, 4 August 2022

The elimination or change of ownership of an game element.

Many games contain events that remove game elements from play. Traditionally this is called to Capture the pieces, even if this may mean removing them or transforming them to so they become another player's pieces.

Note: While Board Games typically use the term Capture, Real-Time Games instead uses Eliminate. For this pattern collection, Eliminate is seen as a more specific form of Capture due to being a newer form of the same phenomena.

Examples

Board Games show many different ways to Capture enemy pieces: Hnefatafl by surrounding a piece from two opposing sides (four for the king), Go by completely enclosing an enemy group of stones, and Chess and Stratego by replacing a piece with ones own. It is also worth noticing that Go allows players to make their own groups be captured for larger tactical reasons while there exists specific rules for which pieces can Capture which pieces in Stratego.

Qix allows the player to catch computer-controlled units by enclosing them in the smaller area of the two areas that are created by outlining a path in the unmarked part of the game area.

Priests in Age of Empires series can convert pieces controlled by other players as their main offensive action.

Capture the Flag modes in the Quake series and the Team Fortress series pitch teams against each other in contest over game elements (flags and briefcases respectively).

Using the pattern

Three main decisions need to be done for each type of Capture allowed in games: which game elements can perform the Capture, which game elements can be the targets, and what actions are required to activate the Capture. MacGuffins work well as game elements to Capture when this is the primary focus of the game and they are not destroyed when captured. Otherwise Units are the most common type of game elements used, although Avatars make rare appearance, e.g. through King pieces in Chess (Units will be referred to mostly in the following but unless explicitly noted this could be replaced by MacGuffins or Avatars). Many games, e.g. Chess, Go, and Draughts, make no distinction of which game elements can Capture, but the Bombs in Stratego cannot move and therefore not actively try to Capture other pieces. Likewise, most pieces can be the target of Capture actions but Hnefatafl has special requires for capturing the king piece and Stratego as special rules for which Units can Capture which. Combined with the Imperfect Information in Stratego, this makes capturing there have an element of Risk/Reward.

Parlett[1] describes in some detail 7 ways to Capture in board games: Custodianship, Displacement, Enclosure, Intervention, Leap, Approach, and Withdrawal. Custodianship consist of flanking a target by placing Units in Connection with it. This example of Combos can be found in ordinary Captures in Hnefatafl. Displacement is simply using Movement to enter the space occupied by the target and remove it, as is done for example in Chess. Enclosure, used in Go, requires placing Units in all spaces adjacent to the target or target group (the capture of the king in Hnefatafl can be seen as an example of this as well, or a double case of Custodianship). Intervention is the inverse of Custodianship but Parlett provides no examples. Leap is capturing by moving over the target, as for example is done in Draughts (line leaps allow several target to be capture simultaneously; long leaps do not require that either the starting or stopping space is adjacent to the target). Approach is capturing by moving adjacent to the target while Withdrawal is capturing by moving away from it (Parlett mentions Fanorona as an example of both). More ways are possible (e.g. Reflection and Telekinesis) but have rarely been used.

Even given one of these ways of Capture, the game design must support some action that facilitates it. Turn-Based Games favor the use of Movement, promoting Puzzle Solving and Tactical Planning and through that Stimulated Planning, but can also make use of Investments or Bidding. In the case of Real-Time Games, Movement in the form of Maneuvering is typical as is Aim & Shoot, both promoting skills in Dexterity-Based Actions. Real-Time Games usually has the subgoal of Connection (but Qix shows as an example of using Enclosure) while Turn-Based Games commonly have subgoals such as Alignment, Enclosure, Configuration, or Connection. Those that have Movement as the way to achieve Capture can modulate the difficulty of performing the action by using Privileged Movement.

Parlett also mentions Conversion, which is the Transfer of Control of a game element to another players and which can be used as a modifier to any of the Capture methods listed (Reversi is an example of this), and conflates Capture with Gain Ownership. Another possible modifier is Huffing, allowing Units that could have captured but did not to themselves be captured. Parlett also notes that a Capture can be immediate (the most common case), or be a Delayed Effect that can open up for making it an Interruptible Action (as is argued to exist by those reconstructing the rules of Ludus Latrunculorum).

The action pattern Eliminate is a more specific form of Capture and typically used for Real-Time Games, especially those using Aim & Shoot. It can be used to instantiate Capture but using other means allows less aggressive diegetic explanations of why game elements are removed, and what happens to them after they are removed. Designing Capture can for most cases be seen as choosing between whether to use Eliminate or Gain Ownership, but can in both cases be seen as a struggle over Ownership. Guard goals can easily be added to make Capture goals more difficult, this makes others than those controlling a game element want to protect it and create Excluding Goals.

Capture can make a good candidate for Quests since the reason for the goal can easily be given diegetic explanations through the desires of Non-Player Characters.

Interface Aspects

To provide Smooth Learning Curves, game interfaces can use Game State Indicators to show which Units are under threat to be Captured.

Consequences

Capture is a common ways of providing Combat in games, and are also very often related to Overcome goals in the Goal Hierarchies. Since the action is connected to individual game elements, the pattern is often a Ability (but Go can be seen as example of a game with Capture without having it associated with specific game elements). The pattern also typically causes Preventing Goals such as Evade for those controlling the targeted Units. The control of a new game element through Transfer of Control after a Capture can give New Abilities, possibly Privileged Abilities, but can also trigger retaliating Capture goals for the previous owner. How all these related to each other depends primarily on their individual Reward structures and on players' tactics. However, since Units can typically Capture each other, all Units belonging to one players can work against another play and thereby work as Enemies as long as they are Agents. Capture goals focused upon the things delivered as part of Deliver goals cause Guard goals for those with the Deliver goals.

Capture can modulate Rescue goals by being triggered when those that have Guard goals have fail so that they have a chance of restoring their initial Guard goals. Similarly, Capture makes Maneuvering more important due to the added Penalties possible if mistakes are done.

Capture depends on Timing in Real-Time Games but for Turn-Based Games Puzzle Solving is more often required, as players have to take other Agents actions into consideration due to Turn Taking. Capture combined with Eliminate of game elements that are Non-Renewable Resources can quicken gameplay as fewer game elements remain and promote Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses since each element represents a greater part of players' Resources. Capture can lead to Challenging Gameplay if one has to try and catch those with Evade goals and these have Privileged Movement; likewise those with Evade goals can have Challenging Gameplay if those with Capture goals have Privileged Movement.

Quite naturally, successful captures can lead to Game Element Removal especially when Capture is instantiated through Eliminate.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Abilities, Combat, Combos, Evade, Goal Hierarchies, Guard, Overcome, Preventing Goals, Quests

with Agents

Enemies

with Movement, Investments

Puzzle Solving, Tactical Planning

with Evade and Privileged Movement

Challenging Gameplay

with Real-Time Games

Dexterity-Based Actions, Timing

with Game State Indicators

Smooth Learning Curves

with Guard

Excluding Goals

with Non-Renewable Resources

Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses

with Imperfect Information

Risk/Reward

with Transfer of Control

Gain Ownership, New Abilities, Privileged Abilities

Can Modulate

Deliver, Maneuvering, Ownership, Rescue, Transfer of Control

Can Be Instantiated By

Aim & Shoot, Alignment, Avatars, Bidding, Configuration, Connection, Eliminate, Enclosure, MacGuffins, Movement, Units

Can Be Modulated By

Delayed Effects, Game State Indicators, Interruptible Actions, Investments, Movement, Non-Renewable Resources, Privileged Movement, Risk/Reward

Possible Closure Effects

Game Element Removal

Potentially Conflicting With

-

History

An updated version of the pattern Capture that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design[2].

References

  1. Parlett, D. Oxford History of Board Games. Pages 232-233. ISBN-10: 0192129988.
  2. Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) Patterns in Game Design. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.

Acknowledgements

Karl Bergström, Martin Eriksson, Peter Ljungstrand