/gdg/ - Game Design General - where

You know what niche isn't filled right now?

Near future sci fi wargame. It's all either historical stuff, modern, fantasy, or far future like 40k and Beyond The Gates of Antares

Actually working on one... sorta. Its near future, but with a Hellgate: London/DOOM slant.

People don't want to play a game that'll be outdated tomorrow

>1. What's more important--the feel of a game or the balance of a game?

I would have thought the two were complimentary. I guess it depends on what you're referring to when you say "feel".

>2. What are (You) best at? Writing? Art? System design? How does this affect you game?

Of those three I'm best I writing, but that's not saying much. I don't really try at art. If I could pay someone to sit with me and teach me that would be marvelous.

>3. What are you currently most proud of in your game?

I'm really liking the way that everything ties together in simple ways, all while using just a d10. The challenge is whether or not I can keep things simple while providing a robust system that lets players and GMs do a whole lot.

/gdg/ is normally bi-monthly. This is a recent surge, rather than a recent lull.

Hexes or pixel?
I have a 401x401 hexes map I occasionally chip away at.

Hmm.

1. I think balance is more crucial at the design level. "Feel" seems like something you can adjust through the setting or modification of the base system.
2. I have multiple talents but few that I nurture. Making sure things are fair is very important to me and I'm proud of the abstractions I've made. However, I'm generally better at writing than anything else.
3. I have a lot of pride in the way the character sheet will "flow" and will not require a lot of backtracking to find or apply rules.
Won't know for sure until it's done and tested.

I spent a gorillion hours making a cheeky website for my s.t.a.l.k.e.r campaign and players instead of working on the rules.
Still woundering if it was worth it.

stlk.mysupertech.org

How do you playtest a new project? How do YOU playtest a new project? What things should you focus on and look out for? How often should you playtest? Gonna playtest my second game next week, trying to prepare. Testing is probably my weakest skill as a designer

Bump