Looking in nature for mechanics model

This is an interesting idea. I like where your going with this. In my own creations, whatever they may be, I tend to use processes that relate to other fields of creation. I can definately relate to what your saying. Are familiar with the "golden section"? Chew on it. Math.....Nature...Art....Music....game theory...they seem to sleep together.

I also look to nature or even physical/chemical processes (an extension of nature) to find ideas for new game mechanic design. However, by the time I read the end of the post I was much more intrigued by what this forum's perception is of keeping game mechanics in check with the reality of the theme. Given that some themes are clearly in the fantasy realm, even within that fantasy there would need to be a semblance of the realism of the mechanic. For instance there would not seem to be a reason to have an auction for the best weapon to kill off zombies after dark. But what is better in that scenario? Having fun using an auction to acquire extremely cool weapons? Or, having a more realistic way of acquiring really cool weapons, such as a mechanic where they are randomly found in an armory? I would love to hear what others feel about this.

Would this hypothetical scenario work with the auction mechanic?

Since everybody is probably familiar with Fighters, Mages, Thieves, etc. I'll stick with those for my example.

In many games, certain classes of characters can't use the weapons/items of a different class because they don't have the skills. For instance, a fighter can't use a Mage Staff because he doesn't use magic, or the magic he has isn't the right "kind" of magic he needs to use the staff. He's been trained to fight, not cast spells. (Yes...there are exceptions to this...maybe our hero can light a fire with magic, or perhaps he can magically repair his weapons...these are still in character, though. They're practical to his life and his occupation).

Now...just because he can't use a mage staff, doesn't mean he can't find one on his adventures, yes? What if he kills a Mage somehow? Perhaps the mage is occupied with something/someone else and our hero simply bashes him on the head from behind? Whatever the reason, our Fighter now has a mage staff he can't use. What does ANYONE do with something he/she can't use? You can give it away, or you can sell it, right?

So now we have our game. Could one of the options on a player's turn be to have an auction and sell items to the highest bidder? That might be interesting, because the other players are rivals for whatever spoils the game has to offer. "I don't really want to give the Fighter all this money, but I REALLY want that staff!"

Meh. I don't know. I can see flaws with this, but maybe I'm being too specific? What if you're playing a game and you've got some extra inventory, or perhaps you don't WANT to sell your stuff, but you need healing potions or some other necessity? A player-run auction might be kind of a cool option to have on your turn. Perhaps you have to get to a town before you can start your auction? I was toying with this idea in my current game. Either an auction or a trading option on a player's turn. My game takes too long to play at the moment, and I abandoned the idea because I thought it would slow things down.

Specific mechanics aside, do you think this general idea would work?

I totally agree that nature (also history) is a great source of inspiration for games. Sometimes the myths and associations surrounding say an animal, like a lemming, is more interesting than the actual facts. Case in point is that oh so simple creature, the lemming. Though those silly little creatures aren't supposed to be keen on committing mass suicide, that old computer game "Lemmings," where you build detours and contraptions to stop them from running over a cliff, is fun.

Like what other posters have said, nature can provide logic to a game in that a certain thing "would" or "would not" behave in a particular way. If the game mechanic goes against that, then it doesn't fit.

Cloud Buster if your looking at a game where characters collect equipment, and can only use the ones that fit there character you should take a look at WoW the boardgame. Its multiple mechanics like that in a game that the WoW game have great replay value.

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The risk (at least in my book it is a risk) is designing a simulation rather than a game with nice flow. Many American 80's games were tests of endurance where players spent hours looking numbers up in charts to try and simulate reality. In some instances of sheer boredom with no other obligations in life this may be fun.

I think the upswing in board game interest over the last decade is that they feature more interesting player interaction, which has its own logic (nature). Things like auctions, alliances, negotiation are all fun ways to interact and can lead to interesting choices. If a theme feels rather pasted on and this is insurmountable to your enjoyment, perhaps the author should have just done a better job picking a theme (a pitfall you should avoid), or perhaps you should consider how boring it might be to simply make the development of your technology a straight out matter of arithmetic and accounting with some luck thrown in.

Rather than let your game imitate nature, let nature (human nature) be facilitated by your game.