Topic: [Brag, Boast and Screw] Playtest draft ready for critique
Started by: Doug Ruff
Started on: 4/14/2005
Board: Indie Game Design
On 4/14/2005 at 7:07pm, Doug Ruff wrote:
[Brag, Boast and Screw] Playtest draft ready for critique
In the recent Forge Birthday calebrations, I made a couple of promises.
One of these was to design and release at least two free PDF games before the next Forge Birthday. The other was to develop the boasting mechanics I posted in this thread into a game.
So, as part payment against these promises, I present you with the first playtest draft of my new game: Brag, Boast and Screw
It's a one-shot game about heroes who compete for bragging rights by taking on increasingly difficult challenges. It uses playing cards for resolution, and you can stab each other in the back a lot.
The twist? The characters don't have any of the Skills they're boasting about, until after they successfully use them in play.
It's a complete game, if somewhat sparse in layout. However, I'd really appreciate any suggestions any of you have for making it a better complete game. Especially:
(1) Are the rules (especially regarding narration and Niche Protection) clear, or are there ambiguities?
(2) The game is intended to balance, so that one player doesn't dominate if they get a lucky hand early on. can you see any way in which the game can be easily 'broken'?
Thanks,
Doug
Forge Reference Links:
Topic 158948
On 4/18/2005 at 8:18pm, MatrixGamer wrote:
RE: [Brag, Boast and Screw] Playtest draft ready for critique
Fascinating. Looks like a fun game to play with a group of actors. I have an "Adventurers Club" in my house (with elephant head and African masks) where such a game would be a gas. I'll print off you game and see if I can get any takers.
Chris Engle
Hamster Press
On 4/20/2005 at 9:12am, Tobias wrote:
RE: [Brag, Boast and Screw] Playtest draft ready for critique
Looks fun. The only thing that worries me is 'getting off the ground' - will continuos Screwing in the beginning prevent the ball from rolling?
(Testing will tell... :) )
On 4/20/2005 at 10:16pm, Doug Ruff wrote:
RE: [Brag, Boast and Screw] Playtest draft ready for critique
Tobias wrote: Looks fun. The only thing that worries me is 'getting off the ground' - will continuos Screwing in the beginning prevent the ball from rolling?
According to the playtest comments in this thread at RPG.net, this looks like it's a problem.
I'm going to do a revamp, but haven't got round to it yet. I expect to make the following changes:
(1) Players start with 5 cards instead of 3
(2) You can add as many extra cards from your hand as you like: it's not limited to the number of players who didn't Screw you
(3) No point scoring: just take the best 3 cards from each side, best hand wins. This means that a player never has to use more than 3 cards to attempt the challenge.
You may want to include these as 'house rules' if you try the game.