RoleReversal

1
Role-Reversal

• Group 2

2
Description

• Player objectss (player characterss) roles are
  reversed within an oppositional structure so that
  goals, abilities or actions are transformed to
  their opposites.

3
Consequences

• The pattern of Role-Reversal changes the
  direction of game and affects its tempo by
  creating a distinctly different game cycle. It
  also increases diversity of gameplay experience
  the players get to experience (both) main player
  roles. There are also consquences to the scoring
  system there can be at least two winning
  conditions or two ways of progressing in a game
  with Role-Reversal pattern.

4
Examples

• Tag
• Cops and Robbers
• Whose Afraid of the Black Man?
• Many childrens games (Ten Sticks on the Board,
  Polttopallo etc.)
• Baseball, American Football and many other sports
• Pac-Man, Quake III Arena, Capture the Flag

5
Using the Pattern

• This pattern can be used to create gameplay
  variability, game balance, change tempo and to
  create rhytm. One can also design a more complex
  scoring structure, winning conditions and game
  progress by using the Role-Reversal pattern.
• Potentially conflicting with this pattern are
  immersion into one role, ones systematic
  development or advancement in the game might be
  broken and possible narrative continuity is
  challenged.

6
Using the Pattern (cont.)

• Often the Role-Reversal pattern is introduced to
  the game by means of a special token that signals
  the role-reversal (when acquired, lost or
  otherwise introduced to the game).

7
Related Patterns

• Usually the pattern of Hovering Closure is
  related to the Role-Reversal as players are not
  expected to stick into quicly repeating loops of
  role-reversals they should have a momentary
  respite and then start in the new role again.
  Also Capture (of a special token) is often
  related to this pattern.
• Superior pattern Transformation of Character
  Abilities