View source for Tactical Planning

[[Category:Patterns]]
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[[Category:Dynamic Patterns]]
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''Planning based on what one knows of the current game state.''

Many games make players plan what actions to perform based upon which possible action is most feasible at the current point of the gameplay. This type of planning, which depends on the current game state and what the game state may be within a couple of gameplay events, is called [[Tactical Planning]].

=== Examples ===
[[:Category:Perfect Information Games|Perfect Information Games]], ranging from the ancient games of [[Chess]] and [[Go]] to more modern examples such as [[Hex]], [[Hare and Tortoise]], and [[Hive]], all require [[Tactical Planning]]. This is not to say that [[:Category:Imperfect Information Games|Imperfect Information Games]] do not need [[Tactical Planning]]; [[Advanced Squad Leader]], [[Stratego]], [[Agricola]], and [[Amun-Re]] are all examples of such games that require extensive [[Tactical Planning]].

[[RoboRally]] requires players to plan five moves for their robot to perform while racing and fighting several other robots in an environment where various machinery at regular interval provide deadly effects. [[Ricochet Robots]] does not have a dangerous environment, but players need to think several steps ahead and make use of the current and possible future positions of other robots to get one specific robot to one specific square on the game board.

Both the board game and computer game versions of [[Space Hulk]] require players to under time pressure plan how space marines should move and engage in combat against genestealers. The board game allows players to move the marine one at a time but since they need to support each other the movements of the first must be done with thoughts of how the others should move; the computer version moves all marines at once but players can only give orders in a planning mode that one has time-limited access to.

== Using the pattern ==
One a general level, providing the possibility of [[Tactical Planning]] in a game consists of letting players have a [[Freedom of Choice]] between some actions they can perform, letting the feasibility of those actions depend on local circumstances, and providing them with some time to choose between them. Common examples of how to provide a number of possible actions and a need for planning how to perform them based on the current game state include [[Action Programming]], [[Budgeted Action Points]], [[Paper-Rock-Scissors]], [[Puzzle Solving]], and [[Token Placement]]. [[Privileged Abilities]] can also be used for this purpose but introducing them during gameplay increases the need for [[Tactical Planning]] since players then need to reconsider their [[Freedom of Choice]]. 

[[Tactical Planning]] can also be created by having [[Risk/Reward]] or [[Tradeoffs]] associated with the possible actions. The presence of [[Combos]], [[Delayed Effects]], and [[Development Time]] are all examples 
of this. [[Ammunition]] that are [[Limited Resources]] or require [[Downtime]] while reloading show how this can be applied to [[Combat]] besides [[Combos]], as do have [[Enemies]] that have [[Vulnerabilities]] or [[Achilles' Heels]] towards certain [[Weapons]] or [[Powers]] (and the two require more planning when combine). Achieving [[Capture]] through [[Bidding]] or [[Investment]] actions is another example of activities that typically require [[Tactical Planning]]. 

Many aspects of gameplay environments can encourage [[Tactical Planning]]. Placing [[Environmental Effects]], [[Power-Ups]], or [[Destructible Objects]] that can function as [[Traps]] are ways of achieving [[Tactical Planning]] based upon how players can interact with game elements in [[Game Worlds]]. So is using [[Capture]] goals that depend on [[Movement]]. [[Sniper Locations]] encourages [[Tactical Planning]], both in how to make use of them and in how to overcome [[Enemies]] using them. [[Flanking Routes]] creates need for [[Tactical Planning]] since they let attacking forces have alternatives whose merits depend on the current situation, as does trying to defend locations to which [[Flanking Routes]] exist.

[[Tactical Planning]] can be modulated by [[Limited Planning Ability]], either in restricting how much information is available about the game state or how much time players have to make use of that information. [[Perfect Information]] does not restrict information but modulates [[Tactical Planning]] nonetheless in that it lets players focus their planning on how they believe other players will behave or how [[Algorithmic Agents]] function. [[Imperfect Information]], e.g. through [[Fog of War]], make it necessary to work with a less than perfect understanding of the context although this may be modulated further through [[Game State Overviews]], [[Near Miss Indicators]], and [[Traces]]. [[Time Limits]] and [[Real-Time Games]] can make [[Tactical Planning]] more difficult since one has limited amount of time to do the planning within, but [[Tactical Planning]] can also be added as a part of gameplay in [[Real-Time Games]] to make the overall gameplay more difficult. [[Algorithmic Agents]], [[Enemies]], and other players in [[Multiplayer Games]] can create a [[Limited Planning Ability]] in several ways. They can make it a requirement to engage in [[Tactical Planning]], modulate how easy it is to be done, and enforce implicit [[Time Limits]] on how soon players need to have made up their minds on what to do (the last way is not limited to [[Real-Time Games]] for [[Multiplayer Games]] since the other players can hurry decisions through [[Extra-Game Actions]]).

While [[Tactical Planning]] depends on specific game states, [[Strategic Planning]] is planning depending on general structures of the game design. Since these are likely to interact and influence each other during gameplay, it is advisable to consider and design the presence of both patterns in a game simultaneously.

== Consequences ==
The possibility of doing [[Tactical Planning]] to increase one's chances of succeeding lead to [[Stimulated Planning]] in a game design. Further, it can support players to have an [[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]] and have [[Cognitive Engrossment]] but this may also cause [[Analysis Paralysis]] in [[Multiplayer Games]] that are also [[Turn-Based Games]]. The [[Analysis Paralysis]] pattern may not occur in [[Real-Time Games]] or those with specific [[Time Limits]] but these instead can create [[Tension]] if [[Tactical Planning]] is required.

That [[Tactical Planning]] can be done implies that there exist a [[Freedom of Choice]] for players, and when gameplay depends on how well this is used the pattern of [[Tactical Planning]] can be the basis for [[Player/Character Skill Composites]]. This allow makes [[Tactical Planning]] a likely source from which the possibility of [[Game Mastery]] can occur.

In games with [[Imperfect Information]], players wishing to engage in [[Tactical Planning]] are likely to give themselves [[Gain Information]] goals to have better grounds to make that planning on.

== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Cognitive Engrossment]], 
[[Exaggerated Perception of Influence]], 
[[Freedom of Choice]], 
[[Game Mastery]], 
[[Player/Character Skill Composites]], 
[[Stimulated Planning]]

==== with [[Imperfect Information]] ====
[[Gain Information]]

==== with [[Multiplayer Games]] and [[Turn-Based Games]] ====
[[Analysis Paralysis]]

==== with [[Real-Time Games]] or [[Time Limits]] ====
[[Tension]]

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Real-Time Games]]

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Action Programming]], 
[[Algorithmic Agents]], 
[[Budgeted Action Points]], 
[[Combos]], 
[[Delayed Effects]], 
[[Development Time]], 
[[Enemies]], 
[[Environmental Effects]], 
[[Flanking Routes]], 
[[Freedom of Choice]], 
[[Multiplayer Games]], 
[[Paper-Rock-Scissors]],
[[Power-Ups]], 
[[Privileged Abilities]], 
[[Puzzle Solving]], 
[[Risk/Reward]], 
[[Sniper Locations]], 
[[Token Placement]], 
[[Traces]], 
[[Tradeoffs]]

[[Achilles' Heels]] together with [[Powers]] or [[Weapons]]

[[Ammunition]] together with [[Downtime]] or [[Limited Resources]]

[[Capture]] together with [[Bidding]], [[Movement]], or [[Investment]]

[[Destructible Objects]] together with [[Traps]]

[[Vulnerabilities]] together with [[Powers]] or [[Weapons]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Algorithmic Agents]], 
[[Enemies]], 
[[Fog of War]], 
[[Game State Overviews]], 
[[Imperfect Information]], 
[[Limited Planning Ability]], 
[[Multiplayer Games]], 
[[Near Miss Indicators]], 
[[Perfect Information]], 
[[Real-Time Games]], 
[[Time Limits]]

=== Possible Closure Effects ===
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=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
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== History ==
New pattern created in this wiki.

== References ==
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== Acknowledgements ==
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