idea to Reality
Hey everyone! As promised, here’s my blog about the process of prototyping and playtesting my board game. In my previous blog, I mentioned how having one big dream led me to the idea of creating a game that I believed had the potential to be great. That’s how my journey into game development truly began. I envisioned an exciting, strategy-driven game that balanced competition and cooperation, not just through mechanics but also through persuasion. However, I quickly realized that turning an idea into a fully functional game was a rollercoaster ride filled with revisions, unexpected obstacles, and moments of pure satisfaction.
The First Prototype: A Messy but Crucial Start
At first, I was convinced that my initial design was flawless—at least in my head. I sketched out rough mechanics, scribbled down some rules, and threw together a makeshift prototype using index cards, dice from an old game to represent Hit Points, and tokens for various game elements.
The first playtest? A total mess—but also incredibly enlightening. With four different characters (or gods) to test, I quickly realized the game was unbalanced. Some abilities took too long to activate, while others were far too easy to use. The game felt sluggish, confusing, and riddled with unforeseen loopholes, like some characters needing four different cards to trigger abilities while others required only one type. But that’s exactly why prototyping exists! While it was disheartening at first, I quickly learned that just because an idea sounds great on paper doesn’t mean it translates to fun gameplay. Back to the drawing board I went!
Refining the Game: Iteration, Iteration, and More Iteration
The real magic of game design lies in constant iteration and refinement. After each playtest, I gathered feedback—both from myself and from friends—tweaking mechanics, rebalancing numbers, and rewriting the rulebook. Some changes were minor, like adjusting the number of cards drawn. Others were major, including the complete removal of an entire phase that just wasn’t working.
Many early ideas had to be discarded because they were either too complex or made gameplay feel clunky. I spent countless hours refining each character’s mechanics, yet it never felt tedious—it was always an exciting challenge.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was NOT to get too attached to my original vision. Some mechanics I loved had to go because they slowed the game down or confused players. Changes is a must for improvement and every change brought the game closer to something truly enjoyable.
Another important lesson was keeping a design diary. Writing down errors and improvements helped me track my progress and avoid making the same mistakes twice. Now, I have a record of every change I’ve made to the characters and their abilities—something I highly recommend for any game designer.
Playtesting with Fresh Eyes
After a year of refining my game, I finally took it out into the real world for public playtesting. It was nerve-wracking. The fear of failure and judgment loomed over me, and I felt immense pressure. But I pushed through and put my game out there.
Watching new players struggle to understand the rules or exploit an overpowered strategy was both terrifying and invaluable. The playtests exposed many inconsistencies and loopholes—some of which I hadn’t even considered. I was completely caught off guard as players took advantage of certain characters' abilities in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Yet, instead of feeling discouraged, I embraced these discoveries. Finding these “anomalies” was part of the fun, and they provided crucial insight into what needed to be fixed. One major takeaway was the importance of silent playtesting—observing players without guiding them. If they got stuck or misunderstood something, it meant my rules or components needed to be clearer.
The Most Rewarding Moment
Some of you might ask : What is the most rewarding moment you have when designing your game? or What is the happiest time when you are creating your game? I found that there are 2 moments that I found the most accomplished.
The enjoyment of challenging the changes of the game mechanics. As it thrives your brain to think about the changes that need to be done.
After countless revisions, playtests, and redesigns, seeing others enjoy something that once existed only in my imagination was one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had.
Final Thoughts
Here are a few key takeaways from my playtesting journey:
Prototyping and playtesting are all about trial and error. Patience, flexibility, and the ability to let go of ineffective ideas are essential.
Keeping a design diary is invaluable. It helps track progress, record changes, and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Loopholes and exploits don’t mean failure—they highlight areas for improvement. Instead of being discouraged, take them as opportunities to refine your game further.
Seeing people enjoy your creation is one of the best feelings in the world.
Thank you for following along on my game design journey. Now, onto the next iteration!
