This blog is where game designer Jon Vallerand records his thoughts about designing and self-publishing board games, and the lessons he has learned along the way.
WHEN to add variability to your design
Last week, I talked about going from idea to prototype. Today, I want to talk about one of the pitfalls many of us fall into when prototyping. I’m a huge proponent of variable setups, missions, objectives, factions, and characters. I feel like it’s the one thing all of my games will have in common: “20 … Continue reading WHEN to add variability to your design
From Idea to First Playtest
I’ve always had a lot of ideas for games, but it took me a long time to figure out how to get from an idea to a first prototype.
This is MY method.
I just beat designer’s block
I ran my first Kickstarter campaign in July to publish Subsurface’s first release, With a Smile & a Gun. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience, but it’s also been draining, especially during a worldwide pandemic. Since then, between said pandemic, the lack of a regular game night, and the remaining amount of work related to … Continue reading I just beat designer’s block
