[Circle of Hands] Playtester announcement

[Ron Edwards]

Hi! As of right now, March 7, I have so many changes to make and so much material to add that getting into further discussion will only slow down and possibly stall the work. I'm also the solo parent while my kids are on spring break and I am not on spring break. And the washing machine just broke down for good.

So please feel free to talk about your games some more, and I'll read them, but this is not the time to make or debate rules recommendations. The rules you're looking at are beyond obsolete, thanks in part to you, which is good news. I have a lot to work with already, and a lot to do. I won't be able to post much except "Mm, how interesting," or "Me too," or things like that. I'll make the new draft - probably the first that can actually be called a real draft - as soon as I can, and it will be available to you and anyone else who comes by here. Then we go at it again!

Best, Ron

[Jonas Ferry]

Thanks for the update, Ron. 'Tis the fate of the external playtester.

My group's first session after character creation is on Monday, and we'll play with the latest rules available at that time, even if they're obsolete. My focus will be on the procedures of play, to see if the generated scenario works and if the players know what to do, rather than dissect the initiative system or a specific spell. Of course I'll report any stumbling blocks, so you can see if they're already covered by the rewrites.

[Ron Edwards]

That's fine, Jonas!
Best, Ron

[Moreno R.]

Hi Ron!

Not as any sort of deadline, promise, precise date or anything like that: at this time when do you think you'll have the new draft? (we are trying to organize dates and commitments, and even a vague idea could be really useful, even if it's only a "not before xxxx, I think")

[Ron Edwards]

It is guaranteed that whatever I say, it will be late. Therefore the safest thing to say is, "Tomorrow!!" If I say that, I can guarantee that it will in fact be late. But that would be cruel.

If it weren't for the washing machine breaking, then I could devote a lot of time to it this week. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to. I really don't want to give you any date.

[Moreno R.]

Well, if the answer is "days" (even without knowing the number) it's already useful: It's much easier to play a one-shot or skipping a week than finding a game for a specific duration...

[Ron Edwards]

My current notes show me this to-do list:

---
1. Beef up creatures

2. Results of tallies: serious disadvantages in zones, re: demons and eidolons (whereas undead and avatars like you more)
possibly hard limit to the number in one color? or random chance to "disappear"?

3. New culture and technology text throughout
Horses
The death of the potato

4. Combat rehaul including breaking weapons, damage from unnamed NPCs

5. Prep: emphasize emergent conflict
Call out the three 'other' ways to play
Don't fix them with the fiction, never works

6. New/disrupted Circle creation

7. Spell reform

8. Music list: Comus, Paladin, (Cyborg) Assassin
---

I think it's hilarious that two of the band/album names, chosen because of their strictly musical relevance, are in fact the two D&D classes that I'm combining for the player-characters in this game.

[Ron Edwards]

Ha! NEW DRAFT IS NOW AVAILABLE: Circle Playtest 1.1.

Here's what will help me:

1. Ask how to do something if you don't see how from the text.

2. Tell me what happened during preparation or play.

Please do not:

1. Tell me why the current text confused you or led you to think X or Y or whatever.

2. Remind me that the text needs to be clearer or more complete.

[Moreno R.]

Rule questions: here or in another thread?

[Ron Edwards]

Another thread.

[Moreno R.]

Another question, about this:

[things to avoid]2. Remind me that the text needs to be clearer or more complete.

Does this include citing the parts where the text still reference old draft? ("5 points of spells" instead of W at page 78, "Bless" referred as a mini-oath on page 82 even if now it work differently, for examples). I am assuming not, but I am checking just to be sure...

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Moreno,

I do appreciate all information like that, but I don't want it at this moment. I'm asking that you make a list of these things and save it for later, when I say, "Please help me with all phrasing and consistency across the manuscript." Right now, it's not even a manuscript.

Best, Ron

[John W]

Hi Ron, it would be really helpful if, in draft iterations, the new and changed text was highlighted somehow.  So we don't have to read the whole thing again.  Just an idea - I don't know if that's an easy thing for you to do.

Thanks,
-J