What do you guys think of RNG as a mechanic in games?

Deleted · February 12, 2016, 03:56:15 PM

Since the mechanic is in just about everything now from Pokemon Battles and Breeding to unlock systems in games to even Bullet Spread and Recoil patterns I think this is a mechanic worth dismissing it's merits and disadvantages.
Do you think RNG is ever a good or fair aspect to any games? Do you think that it's ever truly done right?

Personally I hate it as a concept. I don't like leaving wins and losses up to chance unless it's something you have directly influenced, such as building your own deck in a card game or something similar.

Verbatim · February 12, 2016, 03:58:26 PM

Always bad, but at times, it's a necessary evil, like in RPGs--which doesn't excuse it from being bad.

RPGs are just a fundamentally flawed genre like that.

BaconShelf · February 12, 2016, 04:39:41 PM

RNG in gameplay removes all elements of player skill.

R o c k e t · February 12, 2016, 04:45:17 PM

The way it's being utilized lately is shit

Turkey · February 12, 2016, 04:57:46 PM

When tied to rewards or chance of an action succeeding, it's almost always awful.

Jono · February 12, 2016, 07:24:09 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on February 12, 2016, 04:39:41 PM

RNG in gameplay removes all elements of player skill.

February 12, 2016, 07:55:14 PM

Runescape's RNG wasn't too terrible, even though the game focused around that.

Jet Wave · February 12, 2016, 08:09:19 PM

RNG will fuck you up 99.99% of the time.

eggsalad · February 12, 2016, 08:12:44 PM

Quote from: Jono on February 12, 2016, 07:24:09 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on February 12, 2016, 04:39:41 PM
RNG in gameplay removes all elements of player skill.

>pick Chaos Knight
>have to be able to weigh decisions on whether or not this roll is going to go well
>make well reasoned cost considerate risks
>if you fuck up and go in thinking you can win if roll a 4 second stun but wind up getting a 2 second one, you die

<pick invoker
<suck for a few games until you can just get the muscle memory of his combos down
<win every game from that point onward

tbh people who think skill trumps strategy in competitive environments should probably stick to cod

Coco · February 12, 2016, 08:13:30 PM

As an element of realtime skill-based scenarios, it's garbage. It's really difficult to integrate with anything competitive. See: bloom.
On top of that, it's a huge reason to why I don't give card games a chance.

TheOneTrueDesticle · February 12, 2016, 08:15:48 PM

Hate RNG. If possible I'd prefer everything to be based on player skill but it doesn't always work that way.

Zonda · February 13, 2016, 02:11:18 AM

YouTube

BaconShelf · February 13, 2016, 06:38:49 AM

Quote from: eggsalad on February 12, 2016, 08:12:44 PM

Quote from: Jono on February 12, 2016, 07:24:09 PM
Quote from: BaconShelf on February 12, 2016, 04:39:41 PM
RNG in gameplay removes all elements of player skill.
>pick Chaos Knight
>have to be able to weigh decisions on whether or not this roll is going to go well
>make well reasoned cost considerate risks
>if you fuck up and go in thinking you can win if roll a 4 second stun but wind up getting a 2 second one, you die

<pick invoker
<suck for a few games until you can just get the muscle memory of his combos down
<win every game from that point onward

tbh people who think skill trumps strategy in competitive environments should probably stick to cod

I'd argue that being a good strategist is as equal parts skill as having reflexes or whatever

The point was, RNG removes any elements of how good the player is and puts a win or loss down to chance. If you win, it's not because you did better. It's because the gods of RNG graced you with their favour.

big dog · February 13, 2016, 06:47:22 AM

It has its place in RPGs. Other than that, it's awful.

Flee · February 13, 2016, 11:43:19 AM

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Mattie G Indahouse · February 13, 2016, 04:09:58 PM

For RPGs I'm fine with it when it comes to things like speech cheeks, lock picking, stealing and other character abilities. When it comes to combat I think it's the worst thing there is. To me World of Tanks is a shit game because of it. One attack you do massive damage then for the second attack, even though you fired in the same spot you do less damage. I feel that RNG should only be in abilities like in RPG's but for combat with other players it should be a skill based system.

Mega Sceptile · February 13, 2016, 07:16:18 PM

Great in board games like D&D, it causes many memorable moments and fun gameplay. Not so great in video games, kills the competitive nature of the games.

Ghost Guy · February 13, 2016, 08:42:22 PM

Quote from: Mega Sceptile on February 13, 2016, 07:16:18 PM

Great in board games like D&D, it causes many memorable moments and fun gameplay. Not so great in video games, kills the competitive nature of the games.

i think the important difference is that the DM can moderate the difficulty of a situation to suit the party, whereas most games don't have comparable moderation tools.
I mean when rng is moderated for D&D it's only really semi-random, the DM is still the arbitrator of what really happens.