I’ve read about, or watched videos on computer game balance and find it such an interesting topic. How you can measure and perceive the strength of each character/unit, or attempt to fix the issue to rebalance the game.
Second Wind have made a video on Teamflight Tactics.
I’ve never played this game, or even similar games, but it has the same general problems to solve in its design that many games do.
So taking the transcript, and running it through AI, I’ve made a good blog on it.
Teamfight Tactics
Teamfight Tactics (TFT) by Riot Games is a strategic auto-battler, inspired by the League of Legends universe and drawing elements from Dota Auto Chess. In this competitive online game, players are pitted against seven adversaries, each vying to construct a dominant team that outlasts the rest.
In a game like League of Legends, a single overpowered champion can only be selected by one player and would be banned in competitions once discovered. In TFT, all Champions and items are available all at once creating many possibilities for players to find exploits in.
Balancing the dynamic of Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is a compelling challenge. Comparing it to card games like Hearthstone, where adjustments are made through a limited set of variables, TFT presents a stark contrast with its myriad of factors such as health, armour, animation speed to name a few.
Initially, it might seem that having numerous variables at one’s disposal would simplify the balancing process. Even minor adjustments can significantly influence the game’s equilibrium. For instance, a mere 0.25-second reduction in a character’s animation speed can transform an underperforming champion into an overwhelmingly dominant force.
The sensitivity of each variable is due to the intricate interconnections within the game. A single element that is either too weak or too strong, regardless of potential counters, can trigger a cascade of effects that alter the entire gameplay experience.
Consider the analogy of a card game where an overpowered card exists. In such a scenario, there are usually counters or alternative strategies to mitigate its impact. However, if a card is deemed too weak, it’s simply excluded from a player’s deck without much consequence. Contrast this with a game like Teamfight Tactics, where the strength of a champion is intrinsically linked to its traits and the overall synergy within a team composition. If a champion is underpowered, it doesn’t just affect the viability of that single unit; it extends to the entire trait group, potentially diminishing the strength of related champions. This interconnectedness presents a challenging balance but manageable through data analysis. Player perceptions of balance are shaped by this data.
Vladimir The Placebo, and Vain the Unappreciated
The character Vladimir in League of Legends had become notably powerful, overshadowing others in the game’s “meta”. To address this, developers proposed minor tweaks to balance his abilities. However, when the update was released, Vladimir’s dedicated players were outraged, believing their favourite character had been weakened to the point of being nonviable. But, in an unexpected turn of events, the nerf was never actually implemented due to an oversight. The players’ reactions were solely based on the anticipated changes they read about, not on any real modification to Vladimir’s capabilities. This psychological effect influenced Vladimir users to play more cautiously, while their opponents became more bold, illustrating how perception can shape reality.
Data only reflects the current state, not the potential. Particularly in a strategy game like Team Fight Tactics, which is complex and “unsolved”, players’ understanding and use of characters can be heavily swayed by their perceptions. Perception often becomes the player’s reality.
In the fifth instalment of the game, there emerged a low-cost champion named Vain. Initially, after the game’s release, the consensus was that Vain was underperforming—deemed the least desirable among her tier. The development team had reservations; they believed she wasn’t as ineffective as portrayed. Consequently, a minor enhancement was scheduled for Vain. However, before the update could go live, feedback from players in China indicated they had discovered a potent strategy for Vain. This revelation transformed her status drastically within three days, elevating her from the least favoured to potentially one of the most overpowering champions ever introduced.
This scenario underscores the limitations of relying solely on data, whether from players or developers, as it may not reveal the full picture. Balancing in gaming is often perceived in black and white terms by the player base—they view a character as either strong or weak, which leads to calls for nerfs or buffs. However, they frequently overlook the subtle intricacies and minute adjustments that can have significant impacts on gameplay.
Different Players
In competitive games like League of Legends, different balance parameters are set for various levels of play. A character might dominate in lower ranks but may not be as effective in higher tiers of play.
When it comes to balancing games like Teamfight Tactics, developers have taken an approach by balancing the game as if computers were playing it. The game is designed to test strategic thinking rather than reflexes and mechanical skill.
In Army A versus Army B, the outcome is predetermined. However, this does not mean we should nerf an army simply because it performs well at a lower skill level. Instead, it presents a learning opportunity for players to improve their skills.
Interestingly, perceived imbalances can serve as educational tools. As players engage with the game, they gain knowledge through experimentation. For example, if a player tries a certain composition with specific items and it fails, they can reflect on whether it was a misstep or an unforeseen event. Learning that a champion doesn’t synergize well with a particular item is valuable knowledge to carry into future games.
There are build combinations that could potentially disrupt the game’s balance if the perfect mix is achieved. This aspect works well in single-player modes like Roguelikes, where the aim is to become overwhelmingly powerful. However, the challenge arises in maintaining this sense of excitement while ensuring these powerful builds don’t lead to exploitation in a multiplayer setting.
Risks & Rewards
Balancing isn’t merely about pitting one army against another to see the outcome. It’s also about the risks involved in reaching that point. For instance, if there’s a build that appears once in every 10,000 games, requiring a perfect alignment of circumstances, it’s only fair that such a build is more potent than one that’s easily attainable in every game. Therefore, in games like TFT, balancing involves weighing the relative power against the rarity of acquisition, ensuring that when a player encounters a significantly rare build, it feels justified because of the risks taken or the innovative strategies employed.
TFT thrives on the abundance of possible outcomes, with a multitude of combinations and variables at play. It’s crucial for these games to offer not just a handful of ‘high roll’ moments but a wide array, potentially hundreds, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. TFT reaches its pinnacle when players are presented with numerous potential strategies and must adapt their approach based on the augments, items, and champions they encounter in a given game, crafting their path to victory with the resources at hand.
New Content Updates
The allure of both playing and developing this game lies in its inherent unpredictability. Each session is a unique experience, a stark contrast to many Roguelike games that, despite their initial promise of variety, tend to become predictable after extensive play. Teamfight Tactics, however, stands out with its vast array of possible combinations. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new set is introduced, refreshing the game entirely. This happens every four months, an impressive feat that adds a fresh roster of champions, traits, and augments.
The question arises: how is it possible to introduce such a significant amount of content regularly while maintaining balance and preventing the randomness from skewing too far towards being either underwhelming or overpowering? The answer lies in ‘Randomness Distribution Systems’. These systems are designed to control the frequency and type of experiences players encounter. As a game designer, the instinct might be to embrace randomness in its purest form, but the key is to harness it. By setting minimum and maximum thresholds for experiences, we ensure that all elements of randomness fall within these bounds, creating a balanced and engaging game environment.
In Mario Party, have you ever noticed that you never seem to roll the same number on the dice four times consecutively? This isn’t a coincidence; it’s actually by design. Nintendo has implemented a system of controlled randomness to prevent such repetition, as it could lead to a frustrating gaming experience.
This concept is akin to a crafted ‘Ludo-narrative’, where game designers aim to shape player experiences through seemingly random events, but with a controlled distribution to keep the gameplay enjoyable and engaging. The goal is to allow players to encounter extreme situations, but these are skewed towards positive outcomes rather than negative ones.
This scenario might distort the essence of randomness, but surprisingly, players may not voice their dissatisfaction. Despite the statistical improbability, with millions of players engaging in a game daily, someone is bound to encounter this experience. Even odds as low as 1 in 10,000 can impact thousands of players at scale, highlighting the importance of considering player frustration as a crucial aspect of the gaming experience.
Perfectly Balanced
When discussing game balance, it’s not just about whether a feature is frustrating; it’s about recognising that frustration indicates a flaw in the design that needs to be addressed and learned from. Game balance is a complex, ever-evolving challenge that developers continuously tweak, hoping to align with player expectations. However, there will always be criticism, no matter the adjustments made.
The perception of balance is significant, and within any gaming community, you’ll find voices claiming that perfectly balanced video games don’t exist. Some players set such lofty standards for balance that they seem nearly impossible to meet. The key is establishing a solid foundation that dictates how the game should unfold, ensuring that the core gameplay aligns with the intended player experience.
In Teamfight Tactics, the ideal duration for rounds is targeted to be between 18 and 25 seconds, which is considered the standard for a well-paced battle. By setting these benchmarks, developers can align the game’s balance with this envisioned state and is key to achieving a finely-tuned game.
Conclusion
It’s essential to have a clear, balanced vision for the game and to persistently follow through with it. Balancing a game is a complex and dynamic challenge, not merely a matter of adjusting to data but also managing player perceptions and their experiences of frustration. Navigating this ever-changing landscape is no easy feat, especially when the development team must juggle multiple roles at a rapid pace. However, it’s precisely this complexity that adds to the excitement and enjoyment of Teamfight Tactics.
Stranger Coding Tings 