Choosing Between Score Timers and Round Timers
One big difference between tabletop and digital games is the need for a timer in the former to ensure the game ends. Two common types of timers are score timers, which end the
Ananda Guneratne
Creating Texture in Hidden-Movement Search Mechanics
Traditionally, in a hidden movement game, one player moves around the board in secret while the others try to figure out where they are and catch them. If the seekers find the hider,
First-Strike Attacks Need No Additional Reward
The main feature that separates combat mechanics from most other mechanics is the focus on degrading your opponent's abilities. Attacking another player generally weakens them, so the first player to attack
Externalities Make Games Easier to Learn
The biggest barrier to introducing a new game is teaching someone how to play. They not only need to learn the rules but also figure out which strategies and goals to pursue before
Static Boards Are Better for Early Prototypes
One way that tabletop games create replayability for players is through modular boards. Catan is the classic example: by shuffling the positions of the terrain hexes and the productivity tokens on them, each