Roleplaying as a Solution to the Quarterbacking Problem of Cooperative and Educational Games
Roleplaying as a Solution to the Quarterbacking Problem of Cooperative and Educational Games
Roleplaying as a Solution to the Quarterbacking Problem of Cooperative and Educational Games
By Josh Aaron Miller
June 6, 2021
Summary
The quarterbacking problem or "Alpha gamer problem"1 is a well-known phenomenon in tabletop cooperative games in which one or more alpha player(s)2 dominate the decision-making of the game against the consent of the other players.
Since Koster is examining this space with respect to trust mechanics, he also notes that the quarterbacking problem occurs primarily in games with a moderate level of trust: games with minimal asymmetric mechanics, a mix of cooperative shifting roles and oppositional teams, overlapping but distinct roles, abilities to help others, and perfect information except against opponents.
Like cooperative games, multiplayer educational games also often include working together to solve a problem.
In this article, I argue that the dynamic of roleplaying is an underexplored design pattern uniquely suited for addressing both quarterbacking and the need for learning in cooperative and educational games.
Although these two games don't span the entire design space of what Roleplaying can do to restrict quarterbacking, they demonstrate how Roleplaying can be used in both entertainment and educational contexts.
Quarterbacking has been a well-known problem in cooperative games for more than a decade now.
I proposed roleplaying as an underexplored solution to the quarterbacking problem which is also uniquely designed to additionally address the need for learning in educational cooperative games.
Reference
Miller, J. (2021, June 06). Roleplaying as a Solution to the Quarterbacking Problem of Cooperative and Educational Games. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from https://analoggamestudies.org/2021/06/roleplaying-as-a-solution-to-the-quarterbacking-problem-of-cooperative-and-educational-games/