Math of making a games strategy balanced

For topics that do not fit in another sub-forum.

Moderator: Oberlus

Post Reply
Message
Author
trace
Space Squid
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2003 6:23 pm
Location: Milkyway

Math of making a games strategy balanced

#1 Post by trace »

What kind of math is needed to make a computer games strategy-system balanced?
Numerical analysis, operations research, statistics and probability theory

Are evolutionary algorithms needed for that? Is it neccessary to create AIs that play that game hundrets of times to find out how to set the games strategy system correct, that its balanced?

I think, that one of the highest priority for a strategy game is that the stratagy system of it is balanced.

That means: The shall not be a race that is the best and a race that is the worst ; not a weapon that is the best and the worst and so on.

freedom
Space Krill
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:34 am

Re: Math of making a games strategy balanced

#2 Post by freedom »

bump for attention of more experienced people!Odin Quest is a browser-based MMORPG by YouJoy, owned by China-based DragonsMeet, the operator of Yoogames.com.
Last edited by freedom on Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
OllyG
Space Kraken
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:03 pm

Re: Math of making a games strategy balanced

#3 Post by OllyG »

What is needed is play-testing - not maths!

Playing games is much more fun than doing maths! :)

User avatar
eleazar
Design & Graphics Lead Emeritus
Posts: 3858
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: USA — midwest

Re: Math of making a games strategy balanced

#4 Post by eleazar »

FO is far too incomplete to be finely balanced. Or at least for it to be worthwhile for us to try to finely balance, since a lot of development is adding/removing features and content.

I find it worthwhile to get things informally, roughly balanced, but not much beyond that.

Though if someone has the skills and inclination to take a more mathematical, rigorous approach, that would be great.

Morgian
Space Krill
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:23 pm

Re: Math of making a games strategy balanced

#5 Post by Morgian »

I bet most designers do it my way: use the rule of thumb and adjust after having built the prototype. Having some experience is useful, because your thumb will be more on target, but not strictly required.

I am not sure if anyone ever balanced a game using a mathematical approach, but might be interesting to see, if the result is worth the effort.

Post Reply