Well, in a way it is, but maybe my diff is with 'your plan is 100% solid, you can do exactly the same every game'. Maybe more for making "general" plans…
Maybe a misunderstanding here. I’ve always considered planning one’s route as a general thing with this game. I might plan a few skill levels here and there in advance then completely forget about that plan after a minute in the game. Either way, it is fun trying to plan out a loose route, especially with other players. Even though it usually falls apart pretty early on. It can also be helpful to those new to this kind of way of playing music. I found it helps them feel grounded. Anyway, yeah, not meant as a 100% solid, you can’t escape your decision, idea. That would almost defeat the whole purpose of the game! I can change my wording on that in the instructions to make it more clear.
I still think it’s up to the player for things like Ambience. Restrictions are there for a reason. The main reason here is to be creative. For example, many acoustic ambient players might be better off choosing the Harmony character or Melody. A nice acoustic hurdy-gurdy could create nice ambiance using either of those characters.
I would feel bad making ppl read all the cards before the game.
With games like this, if I can, I always have the game characters available online, usually on places like FB event pages, or I email them to those who reserved their spot. I also give handouts with the game characters on them, and some other text, to the people as they enter the door to a meeting. It’s important for non-players to also have this information. People have a chance to read through everything and think about it before the game begins. I might make a few announcements that they should read the instructions. This is completely understood for a gathering titled ‘music games.’ There are usually a few of my friends there who know about the game and can help anyone who has questions. I never read through all the characters’ information myself at meetings. I usually simply go through the character names and leave the rest up to the players. I’ve yet had any problems with it. But, it is always good to have as many tests on these games as possible. Your way of holding meetings might bring completely different results, which of course are well worth investigating and discussing. It will only help all of us improve making better music games.
And how about someone who just takes "that last card that was left
I always have more than enough cards. I keep them in a big binder. Never ran out.
I agree with a lot of what you're saying here. I’d prefer to see examples of what you’re talking about. Especially for ‘optimizing.’
Remember how I told you that until about a year ago I didn’t consider my game rules as set in stone? They were always in flux. And I still prefer to keep them that way with the games I’m personally involved with. SiC is my first attempt at solidifying the rules to this kind of character-based mechanic. So, I appreciate that I can get help from people like you, and I’m curious what others like Skwawkish, and hopefully more, have to say about it. Of course, I want to improve on creating written game rules. But, also, I see this character based game as one of many, each with their own characteristics of gameplay and how they sound and develop. For example, this one will often start slow and quiet, especially if the Rhythm character is used. That’s its character. You can start loud if you use Melody and Harmony characters. But, generally, it has slow and quiet starts. Another game can be made that has an opposite characteristic of starting loud and fast. My game “Choose Your Own Adventure” is open enough where you can choose from almost any characteristic. But, that game is going take a while to get into text format, I’m testing out how to do it with games like this one. I hope to have more text-based rules for character games. It should be as easy as making different character card decks. This first one os the Standard deck. The Instrument specific deck will have more freedom with the actual music with the restrictions being in the individual instruments.
Thx for Soundpainting review. I viewed it as an exciting "ultimate”
An ultimate would definitely work for a more complex game. I tried keeping this one simple.
All this discussion made me realize that we need to start a “Help Me Make My Game” category n the forums where people can put their ideas and everyone else can help them out or even test the games and critic them.
