First Move Advantage - How to Balance Turn-Based Games - Extra Credits

Summary

In this video, the topic of 'First Move Advantage' in turn-based games is explored, with insights on how game designers balance this challenge. The video delves into the impact of first move advantage in both static and developed resource games like Chess, Go, and Hearthstone. It emphasizes the complexity of designing balanced handicaps for the starting player and stresses the importance of metrics to monitor this advantage. The video also highlights how the advantage grows over time as players improve, and discusses its relevance in non-traditional turn-based elements, such as League of Legends' pick-and-ban phase.

Takeaways

• 😀 First move advantage is a critical issue in turn-based games, where the player who goes first typically has a significant edge.
• 😀 Games like Magic: The Gathering, Go, and Hearthstone have specific mechanics in place to counteract first move advantage, such as extra cards or free points.
• 😀 Despite efforts to balance first move advantage, it remains a persistent problem, especially in games like Go and professional Hearthstone.
• 😀 There are two primary types of turn-based games: Static-Resourced Games (e.g., Chess, Final Fantasy Tactics) and Developed-Resource Games (e.g., Magic: The Gathering, Go).
• 😀 The impact of first move advantage is generally more pronounced in Developed-Resource Games, making it more challenging to mitigate in these games.
• 😀 In Static-Resourced Games, the first move advantage can still be felt, but its effects are often less pronounced, with chess showing that White has a slight edge.
• 😀 Game designers need to incorporate tools that allow for fine-tuning the first player handicap to mitigate first move advantage effectively.
• 😀 Tracking and analyzing win percentages and metrics is crucial to understanding and adjusting the impact of first move advantage over time.
• 😀 First move advantage tends to grow over time as players become more skilled, making it necessary to continually adjust the game mechanics to maintain balance.
• 😀 First move advantage isn't limited to purely turn-based games; it can also affect games with turn-based elements, like the pick and ban phase in League of Legends.

Q & A

What is First Move Advantage in turn-based games?

First Move Advantage refers to the significant edge that the player who takes the first turn has over the opponent in turn-based games. It is a challenge in game design, as the first player often has a natural advantage that needs to be balanced.

Why is First Move Advantage a significant issue in game design?

First Move Advantage is a problem because in many turn-based games, being one turn ahead provides a substantial advantage. Designers must create systems to mitigate this edge, ensuring fairness for both players.

What are some examples of how First Move Advantage is mitigated in popular games?

In games like Magic: The Gathering, Hearthstone, and Go, various mechanisms are in place to balance First Move Advantage. For instance, the second player in Magic draws an extra card, and the second player in Go receives 7.5 free points.

What is the difference between Static-Resourced and Developed-Resource games?

Static-Resourced games are those where players have all their resources available from the start and do not build over time (e.g., Chess, Final Fantasy Tactics). Developed-Resource games involve players building up resources during the game (e.g., Magic: The Gathering, Go).

Why does First Move Advantage have a greater impact on Developed-Resource games?

In Developed-Resource games, players build up resources over time, and being one step ahead can provide a more noticeable edge. This makes balancing more critical in these types of games.

How do you measure the impact of First Move Advantage in a game?

Designers should integrate metrics into the game to track the win rates of first and second players. By collecting this data, they can fine-tune their approach to balancing First Move Advantage.

What role does player skill play in First Move Advantage over time?

As players become more skilled, the impact of First Move Advantage increases. Experienced players can exploit this advantage more effectively, making it necessary for designers to monitor win rates and adjust balance accordingly.

How does First Move Advantage affect professional e-sports?

In professional e-sports, as players improve over time, they become better at exploiting small edges, such as First Move Advantage. This has been observed in games like Starcraft and League of Legends.

Can First Move Advantage be mitigated in real-time games with turn-based elements, like League of Legends?

Yes, even in real-time games like League of Legends, First Move Advantage can still be present in the pick-and-ban phase, which is turn-based. Designers must account for this aspect to maintain balance in the game.

Why is it important for game designers to address First Move Advantage early in development?

Addressing First Move Advantage early allows designers to create mechanics and systems that ensure a balanced and fair experience for players, particularly in Developed-Resource games where the impact is more pronounced.