Alex & Adam - Getting +1 Wit for Kills: Why it's a really poor change to Outwitters

[Ravernoth]

(10-26-2012 04:12 AM)worldfamous Wrote:  

(10-26-2012 04:09 AM)Ravernoth Wrote:  Adam and Alex, many thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I had the impression that a big motivation behind this change was to increase the profit, so apologies for that.

Re: making the gameplay more unpredictable, I can see where you are coming from.

The thing is, one of the great things about Outwitters is being a strategy game where there are no random elements and a win comes down purely to your tactics.

That's the reason a win is so satisfying and a loss is always a learning opportunity.

By adding this unpredictable factor, it changes that - and that will result in you willing or losing, but not knowing exactly why or whether it was more down to chance of how the kill wits played out than skill and strategy.

I feel that is not a worthwhile tradeoff, as the current gameplay already allow for skill and fun in abundance.

Less predictable doesn't mean random. It will just be more challenging to run the numbers in your head.

You're right, I don't mean random - I mean unknowable elements, or elements that are impractical to account for, for most gamers.

For example, look at a scenario under both systems:

1) Current Game

I've scouted and deduced from his moves that the enemy has X units in one of 2 formations.

I can work out an attack, calculating his responses, and my response in return, and execute a tactically correct attack that will lead to an advantage in both scenarios, leading to a win.

2) With the 'Wits for Kills' change

I've scouted and deduced from his moves that the enemy has X units in one of 2 formations.

I can work out an attack - but it's difficult to calculate his possible responses, and I have only a vague idea of what things will look like my following turn.

I attack anyway, and maybe it leads to a win, or a loss.


More unpredictable, yes. But less skill, and more guesswork too. Is that a good change?