How To Balance an MMO, And How To Stop  Can you perfectly
predict the weather? No, because it’s too complex — the “chaos
factor” makes it impossible to perfectly predict. The same holds
true of the balance of any modern MMO. This may be surprising.
We create every aspect of MMOs, so why can’t we perfectly
predict them? It turns out that the “chaos factor” in an MMO
comes very quickly too — much more quickly than players realize
— and there’s no way to model the entire possibility space.
But, like weathermen, if we put enough effort and energy into
balancing a game, we can at least be more accurate than we are
inaccurate. Which is usually good enough. Let’s create some
simple game systems for a WoW-like MMO, and then see how
balancing happens.  Pick your axiomatic values  So you’re the
lead systems designer on a new MMO. Where do you start? It’s a
brand new world that you can bend to your needs — and more
importantly, to the needs of your target audience. Start with
that target audience. Brainstorm what they