Playtester Feedback

[potluckgames]

For those of you with Print and Play.  How easy is it to learn the symbols?  I assume one or two games should be enough, and you will likely be playing with someone who has played more than a couple games.

 

 

[griffinppatterson]

The only difficulty I had was mixing up the sword and shield (remembering if it was me or the monster's dice that get rerolled) and the axe and the hammer (sometimes thought the axe could open a chest and the hammer could execute), but if I didn't pick up on it immediately, another player did. Rarely made a mistake on game 3 and only had to reference once or twice on game two. Reference cards are cute and fun, but will quickly become unused.

[Michael R.]

Agreed, though I don't think I had any troubles at all. Reference cards might be a cute stretch goal...

[griffinppatterson]

In addition to player created reference card, I would love it if someone with a bit of art skills created a playmat that had Active Dice, Unequipped dice, one use dice, injuries and fame boxes to keep your dice nice and separate. One again, completely unneccesary, but a great addition if done right. Something like:

[potluckgames]

That is simple but it adds a lot of organization to the game.

They aren't too costly, but they won't store in a bag.

 

I like the idea of printing them.  I think the one you did looks great.  I would just change 'unequipped' to 'inventory' for flavor.

[griffinppatterson]

Give me two hours with photoshop tomorrow and I'll try and make it a little less MS Paint. But I would simply print it on a heavy stock paper and keep it in the large storage bag. Short of making a cloth mat, I don't think it would work well as a stretch goal. The idea is that you can throw everything into the big bag and there won't be any bits bending or sticking out. (though a cloth mat would be ultra badass. something like a piece of parchment tint with an aged scrawl for boxes.

[Michael R.]

That is Totally. Badass. Can we please have this as a stretch goal? Regardless if we meet it I think I'll print some of my own. Maybe you could even make it an add-on...

[potluckgames]

Ha.  I'm looking into companies that produce cloth maps.  I think this may be possible to do cheaply.

[griffinppatterson]

I'm glad I was onto something! Hopefully you know a few graphic designers that'll be able to produce something a little more suitable than an MS paint template.

[griffinppatterson]

It could be as easy as printing your own fabric from professional websites like Spoonflower, which would simply repeat the pattern, allowing you like 100 mats per yard (totally made that number up) and you would simply need to have them cut up to be individual mats.

[potluckgames]

We can create the rough idea in illustrator, but it would be a lot more complicated to commission artwork. 

 

For now, I'm looking at mouse pads.  Because they are designed to lay flat and roll up (cloth might be low quality).  Consider the thinnest type of mouse pad, with polyester top.  They run about a dollar each with printing.

[binarysunrise]

I think you just hit upon a truly innovative use of a mousepad :)

I look at other KS projects offering either free mousepads, or add-on mousepads, and I keep thinking "Who uses mousepads?"

But as a cheap play mat....

[binarysunrise]

Tweaked the playmat design. I think I'll try using this to see if it'll help my girls stay a bit organized (they often have extra equipment drift over to their playing pile...)

[casu.gianluca]

There, it is more like that. This talks to me better than the other one. Two remarks

- Why only three places for trophies? We need 4 fames to win

- The wound section has to be covered by a coin or something, which brings another piece in the game? Or do you simply move the dice on the wounded section?

[binarysunrise]

I tried to make squares to keep the dice in place, for those that get moved around a lot. When you get injured, you take your hero level die (up to 3) and move it to the wounded area, where it is clearly out of gameplay.

I only had 3 trophy mounts for a few reasons - aesthetics, space on the board, and need. I haven't played a game where I've won by getting 4 1-fame monsters. But if I did, the game would be over and I wouldn't have to mount it :)

The fame was the only thing I couldn't track easily - but again, it's only up to 4, so we should be able to count (since besides the trophies, you could have artifacts that you were wielding, etc.)

I ordered a cheap 99-cent mousepad to see what it looks like, how large the squares actually are, etc. If anyone wants to test out one, you can pick one (only 1 per household) at artscow:

$1 custom mousepad with free shipping. 
http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/mousepad/large-mousepad-160 
Coupon code: Z099PLAY2KT6T, Expires on 6-30-2013

Of course I'm not posting this elsewhere, as I want everyone to get theirs through Kickstarter. But it could be fun to try out with your PnP game while you wait....

Another option is you could almost have another playmat (different design) for the center of the table to hold the monster level dice and spells....

[binarysunrise]

Gotta say, using a mousepad for a playmat is GENIUS!!!

Just got in my cheap sample to see how it is for gameplay. The kids had to go to bed, so I didn't try it out yet, but it looks like a mousepad is the *perfect* size to hold your dice. I'll probably give it to one of my daughters who gets a bit confused at times with where her dice should be (always at some point, I ask - *how* many weapons are you using??)

So be sure to grab a set on the KS page if you haven't yet!

[Michael]

So I've been playing with the new "worn" equipment PnP pieces from the KS campaign since last week.  If it's possible I would like to make a request that something be done to them to make it readily apparent that they're the "worn" version.  This isn't a problem with the "magic" versions, as they have the additional magic icon on it somewhere.  The "worn" ones however, just have lower numbers or have fewer sides with symbols.  Maybe something like a different colored ink or the die could be made from a lighter colored plastic?  I don't know what the cost repercussions would be, but I've decided I don't like knowing if what I've drawn is a regular sword or a "worn" sword.

[Michael]

I noticed in the latest PnP docs that you made the ink a lighter color for the "worn" items.  I like it, thank you.