Scoring is what incentivises different behaviours. So, to a large extent, your scoring system IS your game. A good scoring system can provide a higher skill ceiling, differentiation of skill, reward interesting/fun play, tension of risk/reward, and real meaningful choices.
— Bez
Most strategic games are about decisions, and when you decide to do something you’re also often deciding not to do something else. And there is a cost there, and that cost is often not appreciated by some designers.
— Tom Lehmann