I'll give you a brief update on my progress. Feel free to skip it.
On Friday Feb 8th I met with some friends for the last play test. We determined the rules were close, maybe 70% to where they needed to be. Since that point I completely redesigned the experience system, modified combat, revamped 10% of the cards, and completely changed the majority of the heroes. I had lunch with a friend yesterday to discuss the new rules with a friend and we agreed the rules are close enough in theory that I just need testing data now.
Coagulation from TL is working on the card art. It's really amazing. Like 5x better than I ever imagined, and 10x better than would have been possible if I worked with anyone from outside of TL. I would love to show off what he's done so far, but I think I should hold off until the game design has progressed further.
I met with my lawyer friend last week. She didn't know enough about IP law to answer a lot of my questions, but I have a meeting set up with her colleague that does on Friday. I (or rather my future company) don't want to get sued by Hasbro.
What I'm looking for in alpha testers is 10-20 people that fit the following. I've bolded the most important two:
- Are legal drinking age (in your country). - Have (and their friends have) a good handle on their drinking capabilities. The amount of drinks you have to take are just numbers on a page. These haven't been checked against the average person's ability. I need people that will understand that they can't drink more AND WILL STOP. - Enjoy games and have friends that enjoy games. - Are willing to put in ~1 hour learning the rules. Imagine the first time you tried to learn to play M:tG. It's pretty complicated. So like any new game, it will take a little bit to learn. - Are willing to spend 5-10 minutes after the game to fill out a brief feedback form online. Without this feedback, all testing is valueless!
If you'd like to help me test, I would greatly, greatly appreciate it. I've thought about the game as much as one person can theoretically go through it. But now I just need test feedback.
If you'd like to help, please reply in this thread. On Thursday, February 21st, you will receive a PM linking to a file containing the following:
- a readme file explaining how to prepare the cards, a link to a youtube video detailing how to prepare the cards and how to play, and a link to a google drive feedback form for after you've played. - pdf files containing 22 pages of cards. These will require you to cut them out. Sorry - pdf files containing the full instructions. I would recommend you print one version to have on hand in case any issues come up. - a pdf file of a 1 page "cheat sheet". I would recommend you print one per player. It's a summary of the instructions, what you can do on a turn, etc.
You will be asked to supply:
- Alcohol (OPTIONAL). You can (and I have) play this game just fine without drinking. It is designed and "balanced" for drinking. I suggest beer or a very tall mixed drink (mixed to beer % alcohol). The average player will be drinking a decent volume if you have 6 players. - People. The game is 2 - 6 players. I don't recommend playing with more than 6, but it's possible. - Dice. One die is required. You may use dice to track levels more easily too, in which case you also need a die per person. - Pen & paper
Thanks for you help If you have any questions or comments about the game (and don't want to test) please post them here as well!
Drinking games always come from their simplicity, the ability to explain something in 2 minutes is what makes certain games appealing. Taking an hour to introduce new players to the rules seems very cumbersome and would put off many players. Obviously this is something that you have thought about, I wonder how you think this will do and your target audience.
Cheaply laminating the cards at kinkos or something will work better than sleeves, especially for drinking games. SLeeves will trap in the drinks and make you have to recut cards after every game. /experience.
Seriously though, I might see if they're down for this. Once or twice a month me and some friends usually have a games night, so this might fit in well. Can't sure I'm a yes until I talk it over with some buddies though.
On February 20 2013 10:29 jcroisdale wrote: Drinking games always come from their simplicity, the ability to explain something in 2 minutes is what makes certain games appealing. Taking an hour to introduce new players to the rules seems very cumbersome and would put off many players. Obviously this is something that you have thought about, I wonder how you think this will do and your target audience.
I agree, but think of this more as a game that happens to have drinking, not a drinking game.
On February 20 2013 12:12 PrinceXizor wrote: Cheaply laminating the cards at kinkos or something will work better than sleeves, especially for drinking games. SLeeves will trap in the drinks and make you have to recut cards after every game. /experience.
Haha good call I would have never thought of this.
Thanks for the help guys. I will get the package ready tonight and likely PM it out Thursday. I'll include my email address in the package in case you need to contact me with any issues. Of course you can always PM me here too.
My group (4 people including myself; can ask another person to possibly have a group of 5) regularly play a couple card/board games and 2 of them said they are willing to test out --though didn't respond past "do you guys want to help test out a munchkin-like drinking game? [note unsure if newer changes make it differ from munchkin more and more, but the basic premise of having a character level up by slaying monster cards] -> "yeah sure". Have yet to ask 1 guy but I'd bet he'd be in.
I have a group of friends and we play board games on a semi-weekly basis (Catan, 7 wonders, Agricola and Eclipse for example). Only a couple MTG players in the group though but we have played other card/board games like Dominion or Thunderstone.
I would be very happy to give it a shot as well. Have met a couple of new people here in San Francisco who might be interested in playing it (let me just hear them first - I am a maybe so far, will update post soon(TM) with final response).
Chill, sign me up. I read both of your previous blogs when you first posted them and I think the game is a great idea. I can definitely find a few nerd ballers here in the DC area who'd be willing to play.
I'd love to help out with this. My friends and I have some experience in game design, and everyone enjoys drinking, but we've been on the hunt for decent drinking games for some time now. I can probably get 4-ish people together to playtest as soon as this weekend.
EPT
If you have any questions or comments about the game (and don't want to test) please post them here as well!
