Comments on: 4 misuses of Bartle’s Four in narrative design http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/ Tips, tricks, and unconscionable wastes of time for game developers dealing with writers or narrative Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:48:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: What type of gamer is everyone else? « Writers Cabal Blog http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5861 What type of gamer is everyone else? « Writers Cabal Blog Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:42:58 +0000 http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5861 [...] We often talk about writing and designing a game for each gamer type, especially Bartle’s Four.  Now’s your chance to find out where you lie.  GamerDNA has hit 500,000 tests today and [...] [...] We often talk about writing and designing a game for each gamer type, especially Bartle’s Four.  Now’s your chance to find out where you lie.  GamerDNA has hit 500,000 tests today and [...]

]]> By: writerscabal http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5598 writerscabal Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:19:44 +0000 http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5598 Sure, we've certainly seen cooperative roles in MMOs. I saw in Gemstone and in WoW thieves who would just sit in the city and open boxes, while the explorers would return with their boxes for them to open. This type of design is great for emergent story, though its benefit to narrative story is not immediately apparent. It might be interesting if it's a story that would only become apparent if you were sitting in the city opening 20 boxes in a row. A series of items that tell a story, and if you open them out of order, you kinda get the story, and if you open them in order, you get the story and win cookies. Of course, you could be an exploring achiever, and wouldn't wait for everyone to bring their phat loot. The dangers of ignoring point number 2. -Anne Sure, we’ve certainly seen cooperative roles in MMOs. I saw in Gemstone and in WoW thieves who would just sit in the city and open boxes, while the explorers would return with their boxes for them to open. This type of design is great for emergent story, though its benefit to narrative story is not immediately apparent.

It might be interesting if it’s a story that would only become apparent if you were sitting in the city opening 20 boxes in a row. A series of items that tell a story, and if you open them out of order, you kinda get the story, and if you open them in order, you get the story and win cookies.

Of course, you could be an exploring achiever, and wouldn’t wait for everyone to bring their phat loot. The dangers of ignoring point number 2.

-Anne

]]> By: Aaron http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5597 Aaron Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:52:01 +0000 http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5597 While it's good to make any single design attractive to multiple playstyles, it's often worthwhile to design separate content for different styles. The trick is to design for them as cooperative roles. Allow players to act separately and yet augment each other's gameplay by doing so. Games have long included cooperative roles in the form of classes, but it should go beyond that. Economy is another way. Allow explorers to wander through wilderness and puzzlers to unlock treasures; then reward them for bringing their discoveries back to the market and community. Likewise, enable killers and achievers to empower explorers and puzzlers through financial support or the clearing of paths. While it’s good to make any single design attractive to multiple playstyles, it’s often worthwhile to design separate content for different styles. The trick is to design for them as cooperative roles. Allow players to act separately and yet augment each other’s gameplay by doing so.

Games have long included cooperative roles in the form of classes, but it should go beyond that. Economy is another way. Allow explorers to wander through wilderness and puzzlers to unlock treasures; then reward them for bringing their discoveries back to the market and community. Likewise, enable killers and achievers to empower explorers and puzzlers through financial support or the clearing of paths.

]]> By: What D&D teaches about game design « Writers Cabal Blog http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5593 What D&D teaches about game design « Writers Cabal Blog Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:25:15 +0000 http://writerscabal.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/4-misuses-of-bartles-four-in-narrative-design/#comment-5593 [...] you have all these player types in mind, though, you will need to avoid the 4 misuses of Bartle’s Four.  What other wisdom is buried in D&D?  Stay [...] [...] you have all these player types in mind, though, you will need to avoid the 4 misuses of Bartle’s Four.  What other wisdom is buried in D&D?  Stay [...]

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