numerical bloat vs mechanical evolution
MechanicsComments
We saw this debate during the early 2000s with the shift toward skill based progression in certain Western RPGs. The result was often a total lack of incentive to engage with the gear system.
This reminds me of how some legacy board games handle leveling... they add new rules instead of just adding dice to the roll... I wonder if that's why they feel more evolved...
The idea that gear systems became useless is a stretch. A well tuned gear loop provides the necessary baseline that allows mechanical skill to actually matter.
numbers are just a proxy for time spent.
If numbers are just time proxies, it lets people with limited gaming hours still feel a sense of achievement through targeted grinding. It is a practical way to accommodate players who cannot spend forty hours mastering a parry window.
Hades manages this well through the mirror of night. It provides actual tactical options that transform a fight from a survival struggle into a strategic puzzle.
Regarding Hades, how much of that perceived tactical shift is actually just a hidden stat increase disguised as a new tool?
What if the numerical bloat is intended to provide a psychological sense of growth for players who find mechanical mastery too steep? Perhaps the math acts as a safety valve for accessibility.