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3iff · very unbifflike

I'm working on a new game for this forum which is turning out to be something close to an idea I've had for some time.

I've scribbled about 3 pages of text that contain most of the framework for the game but I now need a person or two to have a look through it and tell me if I'm designing something that 1) might work, 2) will be fun.

Any volunteers? It will probably help if you've designed your own games. Just looking for a critical eye to point out any glaring faults.

Thanks.

Zag · Tired of his old title

Sure. I'm always a sucker for a good discussion of game balance.

3iff · very unbifflike

Ok...I'm still messing about with the words...I'll PM the stuff soon.

MatthewV · Daedalian Member :_

I like changing games.

3iff · very unbifflike

Ok, I'll send you a copy. Zag has already ripped into it and I've decided it has too many flaws anyway. It needs a lot of rewriting at best.

See what you can do with it then...

3iff · very unbifflike

Thanks to Zag for continued assistance and some excellent feedback with this.

I've now put the rules on http://3iff.wikidot.com/start so that interested parties can view the rules so far.

They look long (and are quite long). If you have any comments, suggestions, ideas then please post or PM me here. A game title is especially needed.

The wiki page is messy, it needs cleaning up, but I'll get round to that when I get time. I'm also trying to use the wiki 'cold' (I have almost no idea how to do what I want...) so excuse the rough appearance for now.

Don't try to edit the wiki because (hopefully) you won't be able to...yet.

Thanks.

Suspence · Daedalian Member

The rules are much to complicated for me, but for a title...It's Good To Be King.
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3iff · very unbifflike

Thanks for taking the trouble to read it. I'd guess that playing wouldn't be that compicated...but the rules have taken on a "war and peace" life of their own...

I like the title suggestion. I'll see what other ideas come up.

Suspence · Daedalian Member

Also, King of the Hill. The rules seem to coincide with the kids game, as the goal is to remain King for as long as possible.
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lexprod · NOT not a title

I'd suggest something like Royal Feud, Long Live the King, or Battle Royal. Also the game seems neat, though a lot of fiddly bits as I'm sure you know, which make comprehending the full set of a rules a bit of a task. Are the dice rolls for spying necessary?

Also, the idea of Nobles ranking higher than knights doesn't really matter besides their ability to employ serfs, so maybe leave out the concept of rank outside of combat points.

Double also: is there any contingency rule to prevent a "lets all win together" scenario? For example, not allowing any faction to grow to a majority of the total players, so theoretically they can't win on sheer numbers.

Finally: If a trio of starting players decide to target the same opponent knight on the first night, their combined combat score is now 6. They can then repeat that pattern on another knight to get to a combined 9 and then 12, at which point they'd be hard to beat yes? I suppose factions could try to target one of them to weaken the group.

Note: I didn't read the resolution order yet, sorry if that clarifies the previous note.
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I'll have a P please...

lexprod · NOT not a title

Derp, read the last section about faction size, I am dumb.
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I'll have a P please...

3iff · very unbifflike

Dice rolls: possibly...some info need not necessarily be true...just mostly true, especially for scanning player strengths.

Rank: That's been a major problem for me. probably turning them into just nobles might be simpler. I do need players who can employ serfs though.

A faction is limited to a portion of the players involved (~25-30%) so that prevents a steamroller approach...I think.

The 3/6/9 power build up could be a problem but individual members of that faction can be targeted to break up the group.
Maybe only one participant from each faction involved in the killing can gain a kill bonus from a specific player kill? That means that a faction can target a single player and likely kill him but only one of the faction gets a benefit from it. That stops a faction getting a joint kill bonus from a single kill target.

This started off as quite a simple game (in my head) and has become more complex.

Assuming I can get enough people interested in an experimental game then I can decide if it's a glorious failure or something I can mould into a good shape.

Thanks for the comments.

Wikichange:
Modified to eliminate duke, changed to two barons as nobles. Also amended kill bonus so a faction can only gain 1 kill bonus from a player kill rather than all members gaining the bonus.

3iff · very unbifflike

lexprod · NOT not a title

3iff · very unbifflike

Possibly. A rapid combat points gain for a faction was something I didn't think of. A few turns of killing individuals could put a faction in an unbeatable position.

I need some limitation but I'm not really happy with the way I've changed it. I think this suggestion has some merit but I'm not sure if it will work well enough...but it might. The main idea is to block sure-thing attacks from a whole faction. If only 1 or 2 faction members make the attack then there should be no restrictions.

I'll give it more thought. Thanks for the idea