International Tabletop Day, Playtest #72

Overview:

• Graphic design updates
• Bow cost experiment

Played with a new mix of four players, including one new player, and two who haven't played in a while. Gave an abbreviated rules teach which highlighted some graphic design updates that are needed. Also drove home for me the importance of receiving acknowledgement that players understand the end game scoring, which is simple, but vital!

Graphic Design

After seeing the dice graphics in print, it's clear that they need to be higher contrast.

As Christopher Badell (from Greater Than Games) pointed out, I need a stronger visual indication of what is Hunter equipment, and what belongs to Gatherer.

I also need to convey graphically which weapons require ammunition. The bow is obvious, but the Atlatl is less known, and unique in that spears can be used by themselves.

Bow & Arrow

Statistically the bow is a powerful weapon, it does medium damage, able to kill anything with two shots, and is one of the most accurate weapons. Logistically it is weaker, players favor the spear because the investment is less than what you get when you re-spawn after dying. So I could raise the cost of the spear, but I don't like that because it reduces player starting options. Instead I'll try lowering the cost of the bow.