Balancing Multiplayer Games

For my university honours project and dissertation I focused on the subject of game balance. I used an asymmetric multiplayer game as a case study, designing new content for the existing game whilst also rebalancing the existing content.

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Game Balance

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Honours Project & Dissertation

for Abertay University

In this project I used multiple techniques to analyse the balance of the tabletop game Root (Leder Games, 2018) and make iterative balance changes to the various asymmetric factions. Parallel to this, I also designed a new faction for the game, and balanced it alongside the existing factions.

I made use of publicly available data concerning the structure and outcome of games to find out important information such as faction pick rates, game outcomes, and the game's average player count.

I analysed that data using techniques learned through academic reading and the completion of Ian Schreiber's Game Balance Concepts online course, applying those techniques using Microsoft Excel.

I designed my own faction with the aim of creating something that felt like a unique new addition, not just a small spin on an existing one, whilst still fitting neatly within Root’s existing portfolio. I designed the faction, and iterated upon its design and balance based upon playtesting sessions with volunteers.

For a more in depth overview of the project you can find the entire project portfolio for download at the top of the page.