Us vs. It

Tanks vs. Robot●Cooperative “Boss Fight”●Tank players must destroy the Robot

before it reaches the city limits. ●Robot is controlled by “AI” rules.

The Robot● Has 10 Hit Points● Actions:

● Compute: Place target disc on board● Move: 1 space towards target● Laser Eye: Shoots straight forward● Crush: Attack all 8 adjacent spaces

● Self Destruct: Inflicts blast damage when destroyed.

The Tanks●Have 4 hit points●Each Turn:

● Shoot, Move, Move, Shoot●Move: 1 space (not diagonal)●Shoot: Horizontally or vertically for 1

damage.

Demo Game

Battle!● Set up the game board.● Tanks go first:● When tank finishes, robot moves:

● Execute steps in order● Robot stops after step 10

● Alternate Robot and Tanks until one side wins.

Play until 3:00

Tank Rules Reminder●Have 4 hit points●Three actions per turn

● Move, Move, Shoot, or● Move, Shoot, Shoot

●Move: 1 space (not diagonal)●Shoot: Horizontally or vertically for 1

damage.

Comments?

Your Mission:●Program the robot to maximize drama. ●What does that mean?

Your Mission:●Program the robot to maximize drama. ●What does that mean?

● Inevitability● Uncertainty● Dramatic Arc

Programming the Robot

You can specify: ● Laser Damage● Fist Damage● Target priorities● Sequence of Actions● Move Push/Block/Push Damage

Iterate Towards Drama●Fail faster!●Try to get in many iterations●Play complete games●Archive your iterations

Work until 4:00

Add a new feature●Attack ●Weapon●Rule●Don’t ruin the drama.●Don’t change the tanks!●Fail Fast!

Have an alpha version by 3:30

Beta Test at 4:45●Write your beta version down on the

submission sheet. ●Make sure your robot has a name!

Drama in Us vs. It●Uncertainty

Behavioral Complexity● Inevitability:

● March towards Goal● Decreasing Hitpoints

Aesthetics of “Us vs. It”

Aesthetics of “Us vs. It”●Fantasy: Tanks fighting robots●Challenge: Tactics, Problem Solving●Fellowship: Co-op PvE●Narrative: Drama

Mechanics of “Us vs. It”●Turn-based on a Grid●Hit Points●“Action Points”●Area of Effect●Stun

Dynamics of Us vs. It●Uncertainty ● Inevitability●AI “Give and Take.”

DiscussionWhat other mechanics can create

uncertainty?

DiscussionWhat other mechanics can create uncertainty?● Randomness● Hidden Information● Skill challenges● Negative Feedback● Escalation● Etc…

DiscussionWhat other mechanics can create

inevitability?

DiscussionWhat other mechanics can create

inevitability?●Time Limit●Pace monster●Non-renewable resource●Non-reversible process

DiscussionWhen does the climax occur?

Discussion

What is the role of the Self Destruct mechanic?

The Message

● “Dramatic” does not mean “Scripted”● Drama emerges from game dynamics

● Inevitability● Uncertainty● Building to a climax

● Embedded vs. Emergent Narrative

Robot battle!●Let’s watch some robots fight each other!

We’re Done!

●Wrap-up at 5:30 in 236