Strategy game basics
Before you start playing the different strategy games that you can find today, it will be best if you first learn what a strategy game really is and what benefits can you get out of playing them. This way, you can make the most of these games and enjoy while you learn at the same time.
A Quick glimpse in the wonderful world of strategy games
Humans by nature love to strategize. The evolvement of the race is primarily because humans strategized and conceptualized things. A particular amount of a well-defined and concrete planning is involved, combined with the right action that will lead to the strategy’s success. This very kind of logical thinking is also applicable to the world of today’s strategy games.
Strategy games are games in which the outcome is being determined based on the choices made by the player. Games of this kind can be won using tactics instead of technical proficiency or force. Checkers and chess are examples of strategy games as well as other kinds of board games. Strategy games are also considered as among the most famous genres of video games which encompass several types.
One type of strategy game is known as RTS or real time strategy game. Some of its most famous versions include Age of Empires, League of Legends and StarCraft, even though there are still hundreds of various games that belong to this genre. Usually, such games involve the need to move one or several characters across the map while using resources and winning certain map locations. The RTS games are commonly played by several types and move quickly.
There is also the so-called TBS or turn based strategy games. These have the same premise as that of RTS. However, instead of the real time occurring action, here, the player will formulate his moves when the game is on pause before he sees how his actions will pan out. Heroes of Might and Magic, Civilization and Total War are great examples of TBS games. Most TBS and RTS games are generally classified as war games.
Their players engage in battles, guide troops, conquer territories as well as acquire the power of dominating a battlefield. However, not all of the strategy games are really war simulations for there are in fact numerous strategy games that deal with the domestic topics. Most female gamers who are not into playing shooters choose playing these strategy games.
Strategy games are considered as the perfect way of engaging players through the use of game experiences that will urge them to think. Since these games are commonly interactive, these can also serve as an excellent means of forming social engagement among the users, with the strategy games ensuring to keep the players completely engaged, engrossed and away from boredom.
Strategy games require a lot of thinking and planning on the part of their players. But this is where it’s true beauty lies – using and reinforcing your wit in order to win. Whether you are playing solo or you will be a part of a battle among players from various parts of the world, strategy games are undoubtedly a fun way for honing your skills and strategies.
About Campaigns
Strategy games will never be complete without campaigns which can add more thrill, fun and excitement in each and every game that you play. If you want to have a successful strategy game, it is important that you know everything that there is to know about the different campaigns involved in them.
In the world of strategy games, campaigns refer to the continuing set of adventures or storyline that commonly involves similar characters. The main purpose of having a continuing storyline is for the introduction of additional game aspect – the development, improvement as well as growth or even the degeneration of its characters.
As far as campaigns are concerned, one section can become an act or scene in the overall arc of the story. During inception, campaigns may have a definitive conclusion or lack it in general. By definition, campaigns can span over one play session. Certain game aspects are almost as constant during the entire campaign: the players, the game master, and the setting. It is the game master who is in charge of running the campaign.
Campaign Aspects
The following aspects characterize a campaign:
- The setting or game world – This is where the adventures are taking place. It is a place or world that is unique and exceptional.
- The rules – The rules define the underlying system in the game that is being used. The game master is the one who changes, adds or subtracts from the rules. The game master can also have his own way of interpreting the rules.
- Humor – Is the game going to be comical or silly or is it going to be dark and serious?
- Realism – Is the game attempting to closely portray the actual world or are fantastic and unlikely happenings being its focus?
- Underlying storyline – Will the players become a part of bigger events that take place within the game world? So far, not all of the campaigns carry this kind of storyline but majority have some recurring characters.
Varied amounts of emphasis on any one of the said factors will be able to help in setting the campaign’s flavor. Campaigns, including their settings, history and character, are collaboratively made by the game master and the players.
Campaigns and their types
A dungeon crawl, kick in the door or hack and slash campaign focuses on finding treasure and slaying monsters. Campaigns of this type are usually episodic. On the other hand, war game campaigns focus on political and military activities, which generally involve the affairs of all the fictional states. Superheroes or four color campaigns have the same flavor as that of comic books; with the players usually give with different tasks.
The focus of detective campaigns are the mysteries that the players should solve or which will unfold during the course of the game. These mysteries can be paranormal or about ordinary crimes. Most of the variants of the said campaigns are made by the players themselves. These variations in nature are commonly exposed through the addition of a descriptive prefix before the term “campaign.” For instance, kiddie campaign has children characters while villain campaign has bad guys as players.
Excerpted from the book Strategy Game Strategies.
This excerpt has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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