Ludology Ludology 302 Line of Insight
Jun 27, 2023
Nicholas Yu, a renowned tabletop game designer known for tactical games like Adventure Tactics and D&D: Onslaught, joins the hosts. He shares insights into the balance of competitive wargaming and player agency, revealing the differences between puzzle-focused and cinematic players. Nicholas dives into the importance of playtesting, the influence of video games on tabletop design, and strategies for onboarding D&D players. He also discusses faction identities in Onslaught and the advantages of established IPs while hinting at exciting narrative developments ahead.
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Two Player Motivations In Tactical Games
- Tactical gamers want interesting turn-by-turn decisions and the ability to plan ahead.
- Some players also prioritize cinematic minis and visual spectacle over deep puzzle-like choices.
Make Balance Your First Priority
- Prioritize balance heavily when designing tactical skirmish games with asymmetric units.
- Use formulas to start but rely on extensive playtesting to find real balance issues.
History As Scenario Inspiration Not Strict Template
- Historical battles offer mythologized tactical moments designers can replicate as scenarios.
- But pure historical accuracy can produce poor gameplay if it yields uninteresting imbalances.
