Character Progression Pattern Exercise

Image via: https://saurondor.blogspot.com/2017/06/character-progression-in-black-swan.html

This is the most recent mechanics-focused game design pattern exercise from the upcoming second edition of my Pattern Language for Game Design textbook. This exercise focuses on the changes in mechanics focused on character progression. The articles about the first exercise for creating an ‘Atomic Mechanics Pattern’ can be found here.

This exercise and warm-up are intended to be completed by a group in a classroom setting. Still, it is possible to complete it as an individual designer, as I have done in the example that follows this article. While it is a bit more work alone, it can still be completed in an afternoon.

Character Progression Warm-up

Individually:

• Pick a game with many forms of progression.
• List and describe each form of progression.
• Classify each form of progression as Mechanics, Character Progression, or both.

As a group:

• Discuss each form of progression and argue!

Character Progression Pattern Exercise

(Group Exercise)

Purpose: By focusing on the ways characters change over time in various games, designers can recognize the reasons behind different changes and understand how the variation in a character can create the intended effect over the course of a game.

1. As a Group: Pick and describe a character that you know changed over time within the context of a single game.
2. As a Group: Name each of the ways that the character changed over the course of the game.
3. Individually: Each group member should pick one of the changing aspects and describe:
   a. The beginning state of the character with respect to this aspect.
   b. How the beginning state affected the character generally and the gameplay specifically
   c. The way that that aspect changed over the course of the game. (linearly, via unique power-ups, through use with diminishing returns)
   d. The character's state at the end of the game with respect to this aspect.
4. As a Group: Pick one of these character aspects.
5. Individually: Pick a different game that has this form of character progression.
6. Individually: For each game, describe the effect of the changing mechanic. Be specific as to how the mechanic changes produce this effect.
7. As a Group: Consider your answers to 3–6 list each pattern you recognize.
8. As a Group: Record one or more patterns you observe in the pattern library.

As a Group: You may repeat steps 4–8 for each character aspect.

I continue this set of posts with the example of me working through this exercise:

Deriving a Design Pattern from the Character Progression Mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes…