.com.unity Forums
  The Official e-Store of Shrapnel Games

This Month's Specials

Raging Tiger- Save $9.00
The Star and the Crescent- Save $9.00

   







Go Back   .com.unity Forums > Shrapnel Community > Space Empires: IV & V

View Poll Results: Do you prefer to know the formulas which determine what happens in a game, or do you prefer not to k
I strongly prefer to know the formulas. 20 40.82%
I somewhat prefer to know the formulas. 18 36.73%
I don't have a specific preference. 2 4.08%
I sort of prefer not to know the exact formulas. 6 12.24%
I strongly prefer not to know the exact formulas. 3 6.12%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #4  
Old December 18th, 2004, 12:34 AM
Suicide Junkie's Avatar
Suicide Junkie Suicide Junkie is offline
Shrapnel Fanatic
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,451
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Suicide Junkie is on a distinguished road
Default Re: (OT) Do you prefer to know game formulas?

To me, lack of detail is associated with poor balancing.

The best possible balance is achieved when you can specify clearly and precisely what things do, and where players can and do win with widely differing choices.

Now, a lack of detail in items that you can't reproduce yet is quite reasonable.
However anything you do produce should have all the statistics you care to know about it. We aren't producing stone spears here, and if the factory can't tell me and guarantee to fine tolerances all the details, they won't be around very long.
Anything from fines and the loss of the build contract, to a "visit" from the elite stormtroopers, depending on your current government type.

Granted, giving me all the details without a summary is also a bad idea. Give me the range, damage, etc and any variance on each instead of making me keep a calculator beside my mouse

-----

In the big picture, lack of knowledge is fleeting. If you try to hide the details, players will slowly figure it out, and there will be a huge experience penalty to new players, regardless of their skill.

To level the playing field, either give everybody full information, or destroy the information advantage of the old hands by randomizing the tech tree and component values/strengths
Reply With Quote
 

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2025, Shrapnel Games, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.