4 ms·

Board games have exactly the same tropes and design patterns as computer games. Once you've played enough games, you begin to recognize the pattern and can tel

Board games have exactly the same tropes and design patterns as computer games. Once you've played enough games, you begin to recognize the pattern and can tell if it's going to be a new and engaging game or just another trope. But they are a nice stimulus to get together in person, that part is right on.

ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
> Board games have exactly the same tropes and design patterns as computer games. To an extent, but board games can also highlight ambiguous interpretations of the rules. Just last night, I was playing Cosmic Encounter with some friends and a good proportion of the fun was banter and arguments about some of the specific rules. I think board games can get away with a lot more randomness and chaos than computer games as they have a big social aspect to them. If you go from a successful, winning strategy to losing in a computer game because of someone having a specific card, then you'd probably stop enjoying the game, but with a board game it tends to spur a round of laughter instead.
- antisthenes 3y ago
  > I think board games can get away with a lot more randomness and chaos than computer games as they have a big social aspect to them. If you go from a successful, winning strategy to losing in a computer game because of someone having a specific card, then you'd probably stop enjoying the game, but with a board game it tends to spur a round of laughter instead. I'm not sure why you think there's any difference. RNG is RNG. At least that's how we treat it in our group.
  - ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
    The difference is in the design of the game. A computer game that has too much of the gameplay assigned to randomness will get boring quickly, whereas a board/card game can be unfair and unbalanced as part of the fun is the players' reactions. An example would be the Fluxx card game which dramatically changes the rules as play continues which makes strategising almost useless.
    - antisthenes 3y ago
      Changing the rules during play and having too much RNG are not the same thing.
    - Ancapistani 3y ago
      > A computer game that has too much of the gameplay assigned to randomness will get boring quickly Are you familiar with roguelikes? Nethack? The games that I replay most often are the ones that are ridiculously difficult and callously unfair to the player - because they're also the ones that get my mind engaged the most, and where I get the most enjoyment from overcoming an unfair situation.
- erikerikson 3y ago
  Hearthstone allowed for a lot of card dynamics that were not available in Magic The Gathering due to its digital only format. Particularly random card effects involving unowned cards. So... While I appreciate rules lawyering conversations as much or more than the next person, whether digital or analog games have more RNG may not be so straightforward as you write here.

ndsipa_pomu 3y ago

> Board games have exactly the same tropes and design patterns as computer games. To an extent, but board games can also highlight ambiguous interpretations of the rules. Just last night, I was playing Cosmic Encounter with some friends and a good proportion of the fun was banter and arguments about some of the specific rules. I think board games can get away with a lot more randomness and chaos than computer games as they have a big social aspect to them. If you go from a successful, winning strategy to losing in a computer game because of someone having a specific card, then you'd probably stop enjoying the game, but with a board game it tends to spur a round of laughter instead.

antisthenes 3y ago
> I think board games can get away with a lot more randomness and chaos than computer games as they have a big social aspect to them. If you go from a successful, winning strategy to losing in a computer game because of someone having a specific card, then you'd probably stop enjoying the game, but with a board game it tends to spur a round of laughter instead. I'm not sure why you think there's any difference. RNG is RNG. At least that's how we treat it in our group.
- ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
  The difference is in the design of the game. A computer game that has too much of the gameplay assigned to randomness will get boring quickly, whereas a board/card game can be unfair and unbalanced as part of the fun is the players' reactions. An example would be the Fluxx card game which dramatically changes the rules as play continues which makes strategising almost useless.
  - antisthenes 3y ago
    Changing the rules during play and having too much RNG are not the same thing.
  - Ancapistani 3y ago
    > A computer game that has too much of the gameplay assigned to randomness will get boring quickly Are you familiar with roguelikes? Nethack? The games that I replay most often are the ones that are ridiculously difficult and callously unfair to the player - because they're also the ones that get my mind engaged the most, and where I get the most enjoyment from overcoming an unfair situation.
erikerikson 3y ago
Hearthstone allowed for a lot of card dynamics that were not available in Magic The Gathering due to its digital only format. Particularly random card effects involving unowned cards. So... While I appreciate rules lawyering conversations as much or more than the next person, whether digital or analog games have more RNG may not be so straightforward as you write here.