Curse

lyra_song · May 05, 2007, 07:18 PM // 19:18

edit: Come on you guys

How does Guild Wars satisfy your player type? or not satisfy?

-The 9 Basic Player types.
-According to Chris Bates (Philosopher, Author, Game Designer)

Caillois patterns of play:
Ludus,
Paidia,
Agon,
Alea,
Mimicry,
Ilinx

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Conqueror
“I’ll beat any challenge”
* Play: Hard Agon
* Emotions: Anger/Fiero, (Fear?)
* Skills: Strategic, Tactical & Logistical

The fiero-seeking Conqueror is the economic mainstay of the upper market of videogames, thriving on a diet rich in First Person Shooters. Challenge is the draw for this player – when the complaint “it was too easy” is heard, it is heard from a Conqueror. Fiero, the emotion of “triumph over adversity” requires that the player be put through the ringer, pushed to their limits, and as a result anger and (possibly) fear are likely to be related emotions. It is likely that Conquerors are younger on average than other players.

Manager
“I have to know how it works”
* Play: Complex Ludus, Agon
* Emotions: Contentment, Fiero
* Skills: Strategic

The strategic-minded manager is a complexity-seeking player. Games with many rules, including both strategy games, and certain cRPGs, are the mainstay of such a player, although adventure games will also be enjoyed by many. Although fiero is likely to be a theme, the Manager is less dependent upon this one emotion, and seeks the satisfaction of knowledge or mastery, expressed through the feeling of contentment. They can rack up serious hours on the games they really love.

Wanderer
“Escape to another world”
* Play: Mimicry, Paidia
* Emotions: Wonder, Curiosity, (Fear?)
* Skills: Tactical & Diplomatic?

The escapist Wanderer seeks immersion in the sense of engagement with an imaginary world. Such a player enjoys the beauty of fantasy worlds, and is driven by a curiosity to see what is out there. Story (specifically characters) is a greater drive than challenge, and indeed the desire to know how the story ends may drive engagement with any game. Fear may be enjoyed for the experience, in the manner of a fairground spook house.

Participant
“Let’s play together”
* Play: Agon? Paidia?
* Emotions: Belonging, Amusement, Naches
* Skills: Any?

The archetypal social player, the Participant doesn’t want to play alone. Although competition (agon) is enjoyed, it is enjoyed principally for the opportunity to be part of something taking place between people. The need to belong, to be part of something, is likely to be expressed most strongly with such a player.

Hoarder
“As much as I can get”
* Play: Mimicry, Ludus?
* Emotions: Greed, Contentment
* Skills: Logistical

The logistically minded Hoarder cannot resist acquisition of game resources. Likely found playing equipment-heavy cRPGs, as well as MMORPGs, the Hoarder is a thorough player, gaining satisfaction (and hence contentment) from the completion of “stamp collections” and the like. When they finish a game, they usually find they have accumulated an absurd amount of equipment, ammunition or money.

Zoner
“Time has lost all meaning”
* Play: Simple Ludus, Alea, Ilinx?
* Emotions: Excitement, Relief
* Skills: Tactical

Puzzle games are the zoner’s remit – lost in the flow of an abstract game, they become intent upon the actions of the game they are playing to the exclusion of all else. However, as much as they love the games they play, they may not play for long period of times. Short games played often is the nature of the experience.

Juggernaut
“Knock ‘em down”
* Play: Easy Agon, Mimicry, Paidia
* Emotions: Amusement, Contentment, Excitement
* Skills: Tactical?

The Juggernaut seeks a little resistance in the game they are playing, but mostly wants to push through everything with comparative (and amusing!) ease. A little excitement is desired, but the Juggernaut isn’t looking for the degree of challenge that would consistently supply fiero. Rather, they just want to play around – often completely dominating the game they are playing. For the Juggernaut, games aren’t about stress, they’re about unwinding.

Monster
“Evil is my middle name”
* Play: Agon, Paidia
* Emotions: Schadenfreude, Amusement
* Skills: Strategic? Tactical

The emotion of schadenfreude – taking delight in the misfortune of others – drives the Monster. Mischief is their primary occupation – “griefing” of strangers in a MMOG, and playful annoyance when among friends. The Monster player is not interested in rules – except in so much as they can find new ways to break them.

Hotshot
“The thrill of the ride”
* Play: Ilinx, Mimicry
* Emotions: Excitement, Relief, (Fear?)
* Skills: Tactical

The master of high speeds and nail biting rides, the Hotshot is the master of vertigo (ilinx). The ultimate payoff of victory (fiero) will be enjoyed, but it is the experience of being at the brink of control – the excitement (and perhaps fear) of being right on the edge that is the driving force.

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Finished reading? Great article, ne? I was reading this and realizing how many different players i see playing Guild Wars.

So I guess the question is.

How does Guild Wars satisfy your player type?

Im all across the board on this one. I feel like a Wanderer/Manager/Participant with a little bit of hoarder. I see a lot of board conflicts around here occur as fundamental differences in playing styles colliding at the same point in game with differing goals.

so post your response. What type are you and how does Guild Wars fill your needs according to the type?

Zinger314 · May 05, 2007, 07:29 PM // 19:29

Since Guild Wars is more Magic: The Gathering-esque, I think the proper player archtypes would be "Johnny," the casual, "Spike," the PvPer, and "Timmy," the lover of big things.

Alleji · May 05, 2007, 07:29 PM // 19:29

Manager/Hotshot ("manager" being more prevalent, that is)

EDIT: Zinger, that's a really bad definition of johnny/timmy/spike

Redfeather1975 · May 05, 2007, 07:33 PM // 19:33

I'm a Wanderer/Participant lyra. We are very similar.

I love how I don't have to grind xp just to lvl up to explore new areas. Once I hit lvl 20 GW made me feel like a kid in a candy store. So many places to go, so much too see. lol
I also love the outposts where people collect. Sometimes I just log in to hang out in an outpost and chat about music or television. It's something I find myself doing more often nowadays.

lyra_song · May 05, 2007, 07:35 PM // 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Since Guild Wars is more Magic: The Gathering-esque, I think the proper player archtypes would be "Johnny," the casual, "Spike," the PvPer, and "Timmy," the lover of big things.

While I am aware of the application of the MTG Archtypes, these archtypes flow better across the many types of gameplay styles in Guild Wars, where as MTG archtypes are just different styles of 1 on 1 play.

Dr Strangelove · May 05, 2007, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Looks like I'm a manager/conqueror, playing mostly PvE with some light PvP on the side. I get a kick out of making the ideal group then beating the snot out of stupid enemies.

I'd be interested in seeing how these classifications break down between different player types in Guild Wars. I'd expect a lot of wanderer/hoarder style players in PvE, with a bunch of conqueror/managers in PvP.

I'm also curious how many participant, people-oriented people we have left in this game. Lately, it seems to me that everyone (myself included) is rocking out with heroes/hench.

Redfeather1975 · May 05, 2007, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Ooops! Can I add 1 more.
Sometimes in PVP I can be a 'Monster' when I play my mes.
Yes, the mes is the best video game class I've seen out there if you get a kick out of frustrating the living hell out of another player. And sometimes, I'm sorry, I do enjoy it.

semantic · May 05, 2007, 08:25 PM // 20:25

Honestly, I find myself motivated by each one of those at different times.

BassVII · May 05, 2007, 09:17 PM // 21:17

I'm a mix between a Monster and a hotshot!

Milennin · May 05, 2007, 10:14 PM // 22:14

I'm mostly a Manager (trying out builds and combinations), Conqueror (seeking a challenge), but also a bit of a Hoarder (getting some rare items) and a Wanderer (enjoying the scenery).

Sidheyuna Aetheris · May 05, 2007, 10:36 PM // 22:36

Cool thread, Lyra.

I'll have to agree with Semantic on this one. Each time I approach GW, or any other game, it's generally with some kind of random combination of those play types. Sometimes I get geared up to accomplish some goal that's been giving me difficulty, other times I sit in Kamadan spamming WTS and giggle over the shiny platinums filling up my storage box. I may hop over to someplace like Vizunah Square because I feel like helping some people out and get them through that mission, or I may pimp out my Necro with a sword and a glorified fake-tank build and farm gargoyles for the giggles of watching her lay into those lvl 7 or 8 mobs with 100 Blades. Sometimes, when I see exceptional models of stupidity strutting around House Zu Heltzer, I might possibly engage in some ridicule and repeated point/laugh behaviour. It all depends on what I feel like when I type in that password to logon, as well as what character I select. Since GW is a RPG, there's that lure of immersion (sometimes....thank goodness for heroes and henchies there, heh) and I'll admit that I play differently when I play different characters also.

Just chalk it up to a protean personality, I guess. You should see how often I change the furniture in my apartment too.

Corinthian · May 05, 2007, 10:38 PM // 22:38

Juggernaut, definitely. Sometimes Monster.

Terra Xin · May 05, 2007, 10:47 PM // 22:47

Wanderer + Juggernaut + Participant

I like mowing things down with My Mesmer, and I very much like to immerse myself in game lore as well as travel to every single corner of the chapters, just to know what it looks like.

In PvP, my favourite type of builds include lots of damage in a short amount of time (no, NOT assassins tyvm)

I'm easily guilted into helping people whenever they ask.

ValaOfTheFens · May 05, 2007, 10:50 PM // 22:50

I'm a Manager. I guess I have elements of the other types but the percentage is rather ephemeral so I'm identifying myself as a manager. I just love playing GW but I'm not extreme about it. By the Magic player archtypes I'm a Johnny/Spike but I tend to play MtG in a much different manner than I do GW. In Magic I'm more about winning in the coolest way possible. In GW I'm about outfitting my characters appropriately(vanity armor and weapon skins don't matter to me) and doing some adventuring and maybe some RA.

HawkofStorms · May 05, 2007, 11:05 PM // 23:05

Definately a wanderer here. I'm that guy who doesn't skip cutscenes.

Blame the Monks · May 05, 2007, 11:11 PM // 23:11

Conquerer, with a little bit of manager. At the end of the day, I play to overcome a challenge, which is why I PvP.

RPGmaniac · May 05, 2007, 11:20 PM // 23:20

I've found in the GW world I'm sort of a manager, I like trying out original builds and whatnot. Whenever I PvP, I'm motivated by my Monster side. I love annoying the living crap out of the other side. I also have a wanderer side because I just recently rediscovered the potential joy in exploring the GW world (now I want that title, but it's also about what I see along the way.) Also rarely I will exhibit a Juggernaut side too (I like seeing stuff blow up, but I don't wanna work hard to make it blow up).

Zui · May 05, 2007, 11:24 PM // 23:24

Conquerer with a bit of Manager and a much smaller bit of Hotshot.

*Darcy* · May 05, 2007, 11:41 PM // 23:41

Wanderer, some Zoner, some Manager

Epinephrine · May 05, 2007, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Manager/conqueror