Crits at a Cost
One great thing about output randomness is getting better-than-average results. Who doesn't love rolling a natural 20 or seeing their dice explode? But in a competitive game, one player&
The Great Zimbabwe and the Design of Active Pricing in Passive Trade Systems
Passive trade systems in tabletop games solve a big problem: trade is fun, but negotiations can slow gameplay. In a passive trade system, some players offer resources for sale, and others can buy
How Cooperative Games Preserve Player Identity
Cooperative board games offer many advantages. Players can win more often, interactions are naturally positive, and players gain a sense of shared purpose. But being part of a team risks blurring a player’
Let Players Break Their Action Limits Once
Action limits let players anticipate their opponents' moves by narrowing the possible move space. When players predict their opponents' actions, they can prepare for them, resulting in interactive gameplay. The downside
Atomic Turns and Passive Threats
How much should a player do in one turn? Short turns may feel empty, while long turns create downtime for others. Ideally, turns should be atomic and meaningful. The key is to create