Is there a simple way to figure out the maximum number of players that can play a new game? I'm designing a new board game that uses cards that players can use on themselves or on other players. Players hold the cards until they need them and once the cards are used, they return to the deck (bottom).
How many players?
Thu, 06/01/2006 - 22:54
Fri, 06/02/2006 - 01:49
#1
How many players?
The answer is no... Number of players depends on a lot of factors.
I presume that you have a minimum number of required players.
The main issue is the player down time. How long will a player sit and do nothing?
If it takes 2 minutes for each player to take there turn, then in a 6 player game there will be 10 minutes down time for each player.
Another key is the interaction between players. If you add more players to a game, the game become more chaotic. Each player will add a new level of randomness to the game.
The components are also a limitation. Do you have to add more components per player? If you have a deck of cards, do you want every card to be dealt each turn or?
Winning conditions: If you add more players, you normally have to adjust the winning conditions. A 2 and a 6 player game is completely different.
// Johan
Fri, 06/02/2006 - 02:54
#2
How many players?
I would say that you experiment, and test with different number of players. Many games can take 5 or 6 players, but really shouldn't. It drastically alters the feel of a game. Whether that alteration is good or not depends on the kind of game you have created, or intend to create.
Also, perhaps you have an ideal situation in mind when you visualise your game being played. This could be a big group talking and bartering often, or a smaller much more focussed, intense game. Or even light quick play for two.
So the question might be, how many do you want it to play?[/b]
I see. Thanks. I'd like to shoot for 4 players max. Players will be drawing a card from a central deck on each turn (cards returned to deck after use). Besides using the cards on themselves or each other, they can choose to cash them in for points (and return to deck) that they will need later to pass through the goal. I'm still designing the various cards but it will probably be around 75~100.