Enhancing role-play in games with a redesigned leveling and skill system without class restrictions
Author
Godtfredsen, Dennis
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-26
Pages
72
Abstract
Rollespil bruges i dag til mere end underholdning, for eksempel i undervisning. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan spilsystemer i computer‑RPG’er (rollespilsspil) kan styrke, at spilleren identificerer sig med sin figur. Udgangspunktet er, at identifikation især påvirkes af to forhold: hvor meget kontrol spilleren har, og hvor unik figuren kan blive. For at afsøge dette foreslås og afprøves et fokuseret designsæt for level‑ og færdighedssystemer: mastery‑niveauer (gradvis mestring), mekanikker til at skabe og kombinere færdigheder, såkaldt “super skilling” (avancerede specialiseringer) og afskaffelse af et traditionelt klassesystem (foruddefinerede roller). Som prototype blev der udviklet en modifikation (mod) til XCOM 2. Målet var en klasseløs oplevelse med et begrænset, men fleksibelt udvalg af evner. En enkelt arketype‑soldat erstatter alle standardklasser, kan trække på evner fra alle klasser for at muliggøre mange kombinationer, får flere valg af perks (fordele/evner) på hver rang, og har adgang til alle våben. I den tredje og sidste iteration blev to eksisterende mods, “Enhanced Perk Tree” og “Field Medic Class”, kombineret for at give spil uden klasser og mulighed for at vælge mellem syv perks pr. rang. Evalueringen blev planlagt som to onlineforløb: en spiltest med spørgeskema og en fokusgruppe med udgangspunkt i modden for at drøfte klasser og færdigheder i et bredere perspektiv. Spiltesten mislykkedes pga. manglende rekruttering, men fokusgruppen bestod af erfarne/veteranspillere. De fandt, at det var sjovere at spille uden klasser, at antallet af færdigheder bør balancere mellem anvendelighed og valgmuligheder, og at de var villige til at ændre deres foretrukne spillestil, hvis en mere optimeret opbygning var tilgængelig. Resultaterne peger på, at større kontrol og unikhed kan styrke figuridentifikation, men at frihed bør afbalanceres, så systemet forbliver overskueligt og ikke tilskynder én oplagt optimal løsning.
Role‑playing is used for more than entertainment today, including in education. This thesis examines how systems in computer role‑playing games (RPGs) can strengthen players’ identification with their characters. It starts from the view that identification is shaped by two factors: how much control players have and how unique their characters can become. To explore this, the thesis proposes and tests a focused set of design elements for leveling and skill systems: mastery levels (progressive proficiency), mechanics for creating and combining skills, so‑called “super skilling” (advanced specializations), and removing the traditional class system (predefined roles). A prototype was built as a modification (mod) for XCOM 2. The goal was a classless experience with a limited but flexible set of abilities. A single archetype soldier replaces all default classes, can draw abilities from all of them to enable many combinations, gains more perk choices per rank, and has access to all weapons. In the third and final iteration, two existing mods, “Enhanced Perk Tree” and “Field Medic Class,” were combined to deliver no classes and seven perk choices per rank. Evaluation was planned in two online phases: a playtest with a questionnaire and a focus group based on the mod to discuss classes and skills more generally. The playtest failed due to recruitment, but the focus group comprised veteran/expert players. They found classless play more enjoyable, felt the number of skills should balance usability with choice, and said they would change their preferred playstyle if a more optimized build was available. These findings suggest that increasing control and uniqueness can support character identification, while freedom still needs to be balanced to keep systems clear and to avoid pushing toward a single optimal solution.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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