Proportionate Power Dynamic

The Good Game Theory

Remember learning about homeostasis? For me, it was in freshman year biology class. My vague recollection of the definition would be: life systems seeking balance. I hope that would pass on the test. As human beings, we have reached the point that we can control our environment better than all other creatures. Yet, like all life forces, we still seek balance.

The majority of board games are designed to be balanced from the start. There are some asymmetrical outliers, designed imbalanced for purpose. Even if you play these games, you know what you are getting into. The phrase ‘all things being equal’ comes to mind when I play. This phrase may be used in conversation when trying to make a point about something, but there is almost always some imbalanced variable (such as gender, class, race, etc.) that can prove to be an exception to the rule. Board game rules are as standard as they get. No exceptions. When the game is layed out with all players seated, for a moment it feels like utopia. Then, as always, toxic human nature takes over & all hell breaks loose. This, my friends, is the course of natural selection.