Not signed in (Sign In)

Pitch: [Business Solutions] Playtest

Bottom of Page

1 to 50 of 69

  1. <
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. >
  1.  
    Hey Friends,

    I'd like to try out Snail's Pace and facilitate a test of a game I'm working on. It's a three-player game and I'd love to get three people and just see what happens - it's still deeply in playtest and probably has some mechanical problems remaining. Business Solutions is a game about the lives, loves and adventures of photocopy machine technicians. It is strongly influenced by media properties with "Office" in the title, as a point of reference. Let me know if you are interested, and I'll send you a current draft to look over. It's a very simple game and at the table plays to a conclusion in about two hours. I have no idea what that translates to in Snail time.

    We'll use a wiki to keep track of stuff.

    Thanks!
    •  
      CommentAuthorSimon C
    • CommentTimeNov 14th 2007
     
    Yeah, I'm interested. How regularly would you like people to post? I can manage roughly once a day, but more than that gets hectic. Also, I'm not good at following multi-tread games. Do you imagine it would need more than one?
  3.  
    This is a new format to me, so I don't really know what works and what doesn't. I'm open to suggestions. I want to keep it to one thread myself and am OK with mixing OOC and IC stuff. I'd imagined a faster pace than one post per day. Also - any suggestions on how to handle playing card draws?
    •  
      CommentAuthorSimon C
    • CommentTimeNov 15th 2007
     
    Ooh, cards are a tough one. It's very possible to do... ...if you're capable in coding php. There's currently not a card-draw extension for vanilla, which would mean going to some outside source, sorry.

    I can probably manage posting more than once a day for a short period, but living in Japan means I'm usually active when everyone else is asleep. Maybe this isn't the game for me.
  5.  
    I think it might not be - I need feedback more rapidly and establishing the elements of play is very collaborative.

    As for cards, I think I'll just shuffle a deck and tell everybody what they have to work with.
  6.  
    Hi Jason,

    I'm interested.

    Re card draws - is it only numbers you are after or do suits matter? If it's only numbers, maybe the built-in dice roller can roll a d13.

    If suits play a part, or if you are using specially designed cards, then I suggest you simply draw them yourself and tell the players the result.

    Per
  7.  
    Hi Per, welcome! Glad to have you. Whisper your preferred email address and I'll send you a draft.

    The game's designed around a single deck of cards, suit is irrelevant but card mix is important.
    • CommentAuthorDave Younce
    • CommentTimeNov 15th 2007 edited
     DiceRoller!
    oh, so once a card is used, it shouldn't show up again? hmm, that is tricky.

    Otherwise, you could just say 1=Clubs, 2=Diamonds, 3=Hearts, 4=Spades and do

    #dice( 1d4 )  02d4  
    #dice( 1d13 )  05d13  
  9.  
    Thanks Dave,

    Everybody draws 12 cards from the same deck, so you can't have any duplication. Numbers are important.
  10.  
    Hi Jason,

    Sign me up! I'll whisper my email address shortly.

    If you really want a digital deck of cards, the Foundry has one. However, if you're happy with privately telling us what we have, that's probably simpler than getting everyone acquainted with the intricacies of the Foundry.

    Cheers,
    Darcy
  11.  
    OK, we're full. That's great. Brian/Kuma will join us shortly (assuming he gets approved!)

    Simon, I appreciate your interest but I'd like the game to move more quickly than it sounds like you can manage right now. I'd still value your input and feedback, though (whisper your address and I'll send you a draft).

    If there's more interest I can facilitate a second three-person playtest and maybe we can have a shared OOC/rules/cards thread.

    But either way, this game is almost ready to go!

    Card handling and resolving conflicts are the pieces of primary concern for me. At the table the game has, so far, worked very well in terms of characters, structure, effective and engaging interactions. I'm quite open to suggestions and observations about any aspect of the design, though.
    • CommentAuthorKuma
    • CommentTimeNov 15th 2007
     
    I've been approved, and am ready to cook.

    As for the two concerns: If you're only acting as facilitator, Jason, then I'd just deal a deck of real cards, then whisper yourself the distribution in the thread. Then whisper each player their hand. The player then whispers you back with their distribution of cards between their Client, Noob and Main characters.

    Without the introduction of an off-site database and some PHP or AJAX (which I think would be an interesting challenge, actually), automatic handling isn't really an option.

    Conflict resolution (again) would be a whisper to you, Jason, with you revealing the plays in a post and making edits to the master list, like an asterisk to show the cards played.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSimon C
    • CommentTimeNov 15th 2007
     
    No worries Jason, I'll bow out. Start an audience thread though, if you want to, to get feedback from non-players.

    Sidenote: If anyone were to script a card-drawing extension for Vanilla like the dice roller that's already installed, they would never again want for internet props.
  14.  
    OK, this is great. Brian, Per, and Darcy, we can get started. Once we have all the technicians and clients written, I'll just "hand" you your cards, and you can divide them up as you like. I'll assume you've all read the draft - any initial questions? Need more time? Let me know. Otherwise, let's decide on the tone of your game - remember, I'm just here to help you along.

    So - Funny? Melodramatic? Slice of life? Preferences? Arguments pro or con?
  15.  
    Hey Brian, Hey Per.

    It's nice to be playing with you.

    As for tone, I'll prioritize them in descending order of preference. However, the spread between them is actually quite small, I'd be ok with any of them.

    Slice of Life
    Funny
    Melodramatic

    Cheers,
    Darcy
  16.  
    Hi Jason,

    I'd like to clarify a few things.

    Just to be clear: the BSI forms are owned by individual players, right? So, I get "A", Per gets "B" and Brian gets "C" (as a for instance).

    The weekly schedule is intended to organize player roles on each day. Again, for instance, on Mondays, "B" is playing the client, "C" is playing the lead employee, and "A" is playing the trainee (who also happens to be the target for the troublemaker?)

    What happens if the Client plays a Joker?

    Can you call tech support when you're playing the Client? If so, how does blame get assigned?

    Let's start there.

    Cheers,
    Darcy

    -edited to not dis Per with a miniscule 'p'
  17.  
    Hi guys,

    Nice to be here :)

    I'd prefer Slice of Life, and can live with Melodramatic, but would like to avoid Funny.

    Per
  18.  
    Posted By: Darcy BurgessHi Jason,
    Just to be clear: the BSI forms are owned by individual players, right? So, I get "A", per gets "B" and Brian gets "C" (as a for instance).

    Right. Let's do it that way - Darcy is A, Per is B, and Brian is C. Pick the correct sheet and you'll see who to play on each day/scene.


    The weekly schedule is intended to organize player roles on each day. Again, for instance, on Mondays, "B" is playing the client, "C" is playing the lead employee, and "A" is playing the trainee (who also happens to be the target for the troublemaker?)

    Right, in each of the six scenes you'll have one of the three roles you've created, and they alternate. Every tech will appear twice, and every client will appear twice. Each tech is in trouble in one scene.


    What happens if the Client plays a Joker?

    Had not considered this, thanks. I think a joker played by the client behaves like an ace. is that too fiddly?


    Can you call tech support when you're playing the Client? If so, how does blame get assigned?

    No. Since ties go to the Client and there's no Client win condition, this isn't an option. I'll clarify.
  19.  
    Two votes for slice of life ... Brian?
  20.  
    Hi Jason,

    I think that the Joker-as-Ace is too fiddly.

    Why not simply disallow its play when you're the Client. It enshrines an assumption I had (that I wouldn't, not that I couldn't), and puts pressure on the player to get the Joker out of his hand before he's stuck with it.

    Cheers,
    Darcy
  21.  
    OK, requiring a technician to play it is logical and simple. Let's go with that. It amounts to an irritating little betrayal at worst and a monstrous hosing of your fellow tech at best.
  22.  
    Unless Brian strongly objects, let's go with Slice of Life. I've never tested that one so all the better. So:

    The six Attitudes are Lonely, Troubled, Curious, Hard Working, Good Natured, and Unfriendly.
    The six Roles are Retiree, Student, Immigrant, Single Parent, Expert, and Family Guy.

    You guys choose an attitude or role for one of your technicians, one at a time and taking turns, until all twelve have been claimed. So if you really are hot to be the Student or Curious, for example, grab that first.

    Who's first?
  23.  
    Single Parent

    Per
  24.  
    (I'll add these to the wiki as you choose. Or you can.)
  25.  
    Retiree!
  26.  
    Don't know about you guys, but I had kinda hoped for a bit faster pace, especially over the weekend where I actually have time to play. The last post was Friday, now it's Sunday night (my local time).

    I think Jason thought of at least one post per player per day, and I think that's the bare minimum if it's not going to take ages to complete.

    Per
  27.  
    Yes, for this to be useful for me it needs to proceed at a steadier clip. Two posts per day at a minimum, I'd say. If that isn't your cup of tea, let's talk about it.
  28.  
    I'm thinking this isn't going to work after all.
  29.  
    I wrote Brian and if it turns out he can't do it, are you guys OK with recruiting another person and continuing?
  30.  
    Absolutely :)

    Per
  31.  
    Please do!

    I think that this can in fact work. If the number of times I was checking this thread is any indication, I've got all kinds of time to waste...uh invest in this.

    Seriously Jason, I'm excited by this.

    D
  32.  
    OK, that's great. I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning and if I have not heard from Brian, we'll find a replacement. Thanks, guys!
    • CommentAuthorKuma
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2007 edited
     
    I'm here - sorry - I had access problems at home this weekend.

    Slice of life, OK!

    I'll take Immigrant for my Lead Tech (Yuriy Lubchenko!).

    To lower the number of posts necessary to finish this, I'll take Lonely for my Trainee's attitude - if anyone else wants it, go ahead.
  34.  
    Cool, glad you are still with us. What remains:

    Attitudes: Troubled; Curious; Hard Working; Good Natured; Unfriendly

    Roles: Student; Expert; Family Guy

    Interesting that you all went immediately for Roles.
  35.  
    Unfriendly

    Per
  36.  
    Darcy's having trouble connecting to SP, but he wrote me to claim Curious. Next?

    Attitudes: Troubled; Hard Working; Good Natured;

    Roles: Student; Expert; Family Guy
  37.  
    (don't know if it's my turn, but here goes).

    Troubled

    Per
    • CommentAuthorKuma
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2007 edited
     
    I'll take Student for my Trainee and Good Natured for my Tech, if that's OK.
  39.  
    OK, Darcy?
  40.  
    I'm going to be out of town Thursday and Friday, but you guys can carry on if you're all available. Prior to play we need:

    Needs (one for each tech, no duplication)
    Clients (one each, whatever you like)
    Troublemakers (one each, associated with Client business, Attitude and Role are created in play)
    Names for your techs.
  41.  
    I'll grab Hard-Working and Family Guy. Which forces Per's hand, leaving him with Expert.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPer Fischer
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2007 edited
     
    Grr...(just kidding)

    Expert it is. Can I have the first Need? Lust.

    So I have:
    Tech: Unfriendly Single Parent - Need: Lust
    Trainee: Troubled Expert
  43.  
    I'll grab Deception.
  44.  
    Brian?
    • CommentAuthorKuma
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2007 edited
     
    Slack!

    Also:

    My client is: Thunder Valley Bowling Alley
    Troublemaker: Doris Waldrup, wife of the owner and office manager.
  46.  
    Honesty.

    Client: Healthy Living Consultancy

    Troublemaker: Ben, Office Administrator
  47.  
    Great, almost there.

    (I'm on a flaky dialup connection deep in the country)
  48.  
    Technobedience! If you don't understand the machines, debase them!

    Client: Science-For-Hire Laboratories Inc.

    Troublemaker: Jamil

    question: doesn't defining the small-r role (owner's wife, office admin) get too far ahead? We haven't even chosen capital-R Roles for day one yet -- I could see that as problematic.
  49.  
    Darcy, I can see that as a social contract issue, with each group deciding how far to take troublemaker creation initially. My instinct is that name alone is probably perfect, since it opens the possibility that the troublemaker isn't directly associated with the Client. For example, maybe it's your softball league pal who works next door, who is also going to creepily mack on somebody else's trainee.

    (I'm back!)
  50.  
    Brain, a Need for your last guy and we're good to go. I'll whisper you guys your card draws momentarily.

1 to 50 of 69

  1. <
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. >