The best strategy games with RNG - here comes the role of chance

02 December 2020, 12:30 / by Tom Schwiha
The best strategy games with RNG - here comes the role of chance

Since the modern society began to step into casinos and gambling, the random number generator (Random Number Generator; short: RNG) has introduced the mechanism that is used for slot machines and other gambling. The possibilities that are available with this technology seem endless in comparison to the traditional means.

The RNG in video games makes it impossible for players to develop a foolproof plan that they could use throughout their entire adventure. Yes, it's fun to always win with the same plan that you've created from scratch, but by doing so you might be ignoring other elements of the game.

The developers added the RNG so that players would also have to engage in strategies outside of the game, such as missing a chance. Needless to say, there is a love-hate relationship between players and the RNG. Here are some of the best strategy games where the RNG can ruin your plans:

Fallout: New Vegas

FN V is the least polished title in the Fallout franchise. However, compared to Fallout 4 and 3, it is considered the most interesting. This is mainly due to the game's level in terms of story, quest design, and dialogue. In all three areas, Obsidian, the developer of the game, excels.

Notably, the game features randomness through random encounters while traveling, possible loot, VATS, and gambling. The latter should not be surprising because it is a PEGI-18 game. Once the player reaches the Las Vegas Strip, they are transported into a world that resembles an explorable version of Bitcasino. Instead of meeting helpful members of the community, you meet murderers and even cannibals.

The gambling minigame in FNV is only there to add variety to the world. They also offer players a good way to get caps easily. There are slot machines, roulette, blackjack, and an original card game called Caravan. It is better to look up guides online before playing because many beginners end up wasting money on bad bets. The RNG in this game is not as refined as the one in online casinos.

XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is a game about planning battles. You have to plan where your soldiers will be before you shoot at the enemy, or how you can survive the next move of the enemy. Bring your units to safety or find a way to get an unobstructed view of a target.

The rules are deceptively simple: cover is good, open is bad. The results of a shot are however random. Your favorite soldier could still be shot behind high cover and miss a shot against an exposed enemy. This frustrates players because it can lead to the death of their beloved units or the failure of the mission.

 

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is based on a tabletop RPG with a similar title, which in turn is based on Dungeons and Dragons. This type of game is always based on dice to determine hits and misses. The dice also determine whether a person survives an attack or not. What makes Pathfinder even more unfair for the players of the computer game is the way in which dialogues are also influenced by a dice roll.

Of course, all these "chances" are more likely if the players who perform the actions have the right statistics. However, this does not stop the players from simply loading a save file and repeating the conversations until they get the desired result. Some also say that it feels unfair when the spell they need to control the course of the battle simply fails and their entire troop dies.

 

Every card game on PC and mobile

The term "top deck" refers to the card at the very top of the stack or the one that is next to be drawn, and which can change the course of the game at the whim of fate. This has been feared and celebrated since Magic: The Gathering became a competitive tabletop card game. This phenomenon is still widespread among virtual card games on online platforms.

However, what sets PC and mobile versions of card games apart is the way in which cards are obtained. Paper cards allow players to buy cards directly from other players or from single retailers. This way they can easily build their ideal deck. However, players of the virtual versions are at the mercy of fate, as they rely on booster packs. This means that casual players are not able to play their preferred style because they cannot get the desired cards.

 

Conclusion

RNG is especially valued in online casinos such as Bitcasino because it makes games fair between the player and the house. Another thing is that casino games such as slot games usually rely on winning odds. Meanwhile, video games such as the skill- and progress-based games mentioned above are different.

Players expect their hard work and careful planning to be rewarded. Randomness is an additional experience with games. Nevertheless, it contributes to casual players developing a sense of caution, as is the case with gamblers. 

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