I can't get players to use certain skills. The testers ignore them. So I buff them to be the mathematically superior option. The testers still ignore them. But why? Well, you'll be happy to know I think I solved the case.

The Curios Case of the Inferior Skill

We just introduced our new, perfectly balanced axe wielder. He's got two skills: Eviscerate, which deals 200 damage to a single target, and Cyclone Axe, which deals 50 damage to all targets.

Our player encounters a group of 5 rouge bandits, 150 HP each. It's obvious what will happen, right? Let's watch.

Expected:

• Turn 1: Cyclone Axe
  
• Turn 2: Cyclone Axe
  
• Turn 3: Cyclone Axe
  
• "What an efficient victory. Thank you game developer."
  

Actual:

• Turn 1: Eviscerate on Bandit 1
  
• "Did you see that? I just one shotted that guy."
  
• Turn 2: Eviscerate on Bandit 2
  
• Turn 3: Eviscerate on Bandit 3
  
• Turn 4: Eviscerate on Bandit 4
  
• Turn 5: Eviscerate on Bandit 5
  
• "Man, Eviscerate is OP."
  
• "What about Cyclone Axe?"
  
• "Oh that? That skill sucks."
  

But how? Why would the player do that to us?

Let's take a second look at our skills, but to truly see our skills, we must do the scariest thing an RPG developer can do - ignore the numbers.

When using Eviscerate, a big value pops up and an enemy dies. When using Cyclone Axe, several small values pop up and well, nothing else happens.

Perfectly Balanced Axe Wielder, Take 2

After gathering player feedback, we add a new mechanic to our axe wielder. The character can skip a turn to charge 1 stack of adrenaline. Cyclone Axe now costs 2 adrenaline to use and does 150 damage. Mathematically the same as the original Cyclone Axe.

Time to release Cyclone Axe v2 into the wild and see what happens.

• Turn 1: Charge 1 adrenaline
  
• Turn 2: Charge 1 adrenaline
  
• Turn 3: Cyclone Axe
  
• "Took them all out in one blow. Better you didn't expect players to do that!"
  
• "What about Eviscerate?"
  
• "Oh yeah, that skills good too. Just wasn't right for this battle."
  

But Cyclone Axe has the same damage per turn as before! Why, players, why?

Okay, same as last time. We throw away the numbers and look at how it feels to use the skill. The player makes a tactical decision to go for a long term payoff with big rewards. She spends two turns prepping the plan, then is reward by wiping out every enemy with a single skill.

The Conclusion

Skills should feel good to use.
Most players will use the skill that feels the best, regardless of which skill is mathematically the best.