Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="ValhallaGH" data-source="post: 5749097" data-attributes="member: 41187">System balance is nice but the essential version is not what most gamers talk about when they speak of balance.Most gamers speak of balance as &quot;able to get the same results with the same actions&quot;.&nbsp; Or maybe &quot;all characters get equal spotlight via game mechanics.&quot;To my mind, the essential part of game balance is that all options are equally fun, assuming that players enjoy each of the different styles equally.&nbsp; (Obviously, everyone has their preferred play styles, and playing to those is more fun than playing something else.)&nbsp; This was the failing of the 3.x Bard - he's just not as fun as the rampaging Barbarain, murderous Rogue, machine-gun Sorcerer, polar bear Druid, or all-knowing Wizard; he can be a lot of fun, but those other options are more fun, even for players that love being the know-it-all social guy.As long as the fast-talking sneak is as much fun to play as the mighty wizard or the bulky warrior then the game is balanced.&nbsp; They all do different things, and use different game mechanics, but if they are equally fun* then the game has the most essential kind of balance.*If they are all equally bad and unfun then the game is balanced but so terrible that you shouldn't bother with it.&nbsp; Go fly a kite, hang out at a bar, or even play a different game, instead of playing with that system.This is a hobby about playing games.&nbsp; Fun is, ultimately, the only thing that matters.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ValhallaGH, post: 5749097, member: 41187"] System balance is nice but the essential version is not what most gamers talk about when they speak of balance. Most gamers speak of balance as "able to get the same results with the same actions". Or maybe "all characters get equal spotlight via game mechanics." To my mind, the [B]essential[/B] part of game balance is that [u]all options are equally fun[/u], assuming that players enjoy each of the different styles equally. (Obviously, everyone has their preferred play styles, and playing to those is more fun than playing something else.) This was the failing of the 3.x Bard - he's just not as fun as the rampaging Barbarain, murderous Rogue, machine-gun Sorcerer, polar bear Druid, or all-knowing Wizard; he can be a lot of fun, but those other options are more fun, even for players that love being the know-it-all social guy. As long as the fast-talking sneak is as much fun to play as the mighty wizard or the bulky warrior then the game is balanced. They all do different things, and use different game mechanics, but if they are [I]equally[/I] fun* then the game has the most essential kind of balance. *If they are all equally bad and unfun then the game is balanced but so terrible that you shouldn't bother with it. Go fly a kite, hang out at a bar, or even play a different game, instead of playing with that system. This is a hobby about playing games. Fun is, ultimately, the only thing that matters. [/QUOTE]

Verification