Concept
Intransitive balance
You might say: counters in a cycle
In an intransitive relationship, each option beats one option and loses to another, so no option is best in every matchup.
- What it does
- Creates horizontal variety and counterplay that a single cost curve cannot order.
- Ask
- What does this option beat, and what beats it?
Parts
- Counter cycle: A counter cycle is a directed matchup graph: each unit has a favorable target, an unfavorable target and conditions such as damage type, range, terrain or support that determine whether the advantage appears.
Sources
- Ian Schreiber, Game Design Concepts, Level 16: Game Balance
The second method is an intransitive relationship between game objects, better known as a rock-paper-scissors relationship.
- Ian Schreiber, Game Design Concepts, Level 16: Game Balance, transitive/intransitive relationships and rock-paper-scissors
The second method is an intransitive relationship between game objects, better known as a rock-paper-scissors relationship.
- Ian Schreiber, Level 9: Intransitive Mechanics, This Week; Solutions to intransitive mechanics; Who Cares?
games where there is no single dominant strategy
- Ian Schreiber, Game Design Concepts, Level 16: Game Balance, Three Ways to Balance Game Objects: intransitive relationships and rock-paper-scissors
The second method is an intransitive relationship between game objects, better known as a rock-paper-scissors relationship.
Use it on your project
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