GDW and Game "Privacy"

I think you should go with the second one (especially if you clean it up first).

If it were me, I'd go with the first, despite the contest entry and the possibility of theft. I sort of have to say that, look how I plastered this site with 8/7c stuff. I guess I just don't think anything will happen.

However I'm also somewhat irresponsible in doing that. I am not entering any Hippodice or anything so for me perhaps the risks aren't as big.

In the end it's up to you. What's the readership of this site? How many of us are entering that Hippodice contest? Of those, how unscroupulous are people going to be?

I wouldn't GDW the contest entry and only give the info to certain people, because that's not really in the spirit of the GDW. If you want feedback on your contest entry, I'd be happy to give you my opinions outside the public forum, as I'm sure would others.

- Seth

I guess I am inclined to agree with the other posters, that your 2nd game sounds more appropriate for the GDW.

Again, the GDW isn't "my thing", but I think my opinion carries perhaps a little weight, and here it is: I feel that the GDW is full, public disclosure. Only being willing to send your game to "your friends" is totally contrary to the spirit of what the GDW is meant to be. Moreover, it sounds like your 1st game is basically done, so you'd have to ask what kind of feedback you could generate from the GDW, and whether it would be useful. As Sedjtroll is finding, play balance questions are hard to answer without playtesting. Games that you're willing to overhaul complete systems, or get radically new ideas on, seem more appropriate for that forum.

I admit that personally, I do this for fun and not for profit, and so I really kind of chuckle at how cagey people sometimes are about their designs. That's not to say I'm always looking to give away all of my great mechanics, but at the same time, in the GDW, for instance, we've seen 3 great ideas, yet I haven't been tempted to borrow. (although I really did like Scurra's "battle tile" mechanic...) Moreover, when I play a published game with a clever idea, I don't usually find myself saying "geez, I could use this mechanic"; more likely, I'll be saying "well, now there's something else that I have to avoid similarity with" or "how can I push this to come up with something different". That said, some of my designs have indirectly lifted mechanics from other games, but it's generally subconcious, and generally minor systems.

At the same time, I respect that others feel like they have such a great idea that someone might steal it, and I respect that making anything public on the web is not a good idea for such a person. However, I'd want to see one example where someone deliberately stole someone else's idea for a game and went on to make money on it. Personally, I just don't believe it happens. There are so few people who design games, and all of them have their own ideas; moreover, there is so little money to be made in game design, and the chances of a lawsuit are just too expensive. So, I just don't think anyone is really going to steal other people's games. I would be happy to be corrected if someone knows that it's happened.

But, for the GDW, personally, I want games that people are willing to talk about fully and publicly. If you don't feel comfortable doing that with "Game 1", then probably "Game 2" would be best.

Looking forward to it! (I don't know if you'll be up "next", or if I'll take "my turn" which was supposed to be before Scurra). I'll let you know by the end of this week...

-Jeff

On the contrary, your opinion carries a lot of weight here. In fact, I would say it carries the most weight. Don't be afraid to assert your influence, as your decisions can make or break the usefullness of the workshop. :wink:

Fast,

My opinion is this; bump yourself back one rotation on the schedule and give yourself an extra two weeks to work on the second idea. I think you're a bit of a perfectionist, and your uneasy about the second idea. Clean it up a bit and come back with it. It's a good compromise, one you'll probably be able to rest easier with.

Back to Jwarrend. Can you post a sticky message that has the current schedule/queue so we can keep up on what's coming up? I.E. Just a one no reply message that has the current schedule, that you can edit on an as needed basis? I think that would allow us to better plan what designs we want to workshop and when. For example, if I see that it will be 2 months before an empty slot is open, I might want to go with a design that's more unfinished to try and polish it in that time. If there's only two weeks before the next slot is open, obviously I'd use an idea that was more finished. Make sense? Let me know if you need any help setting up said message.

-Darke

I know what you mean!

Surely there must be ways of doing that. Prior to the GDW, I proposed "rulebook swaps", ie, I'll look at your rulebook if you look at mine. It would be like the Workshop, only you're only getting feedback from one person at a time. I'd still be willing to get involved in such an endeavor, and there are others here who are chomping at the bit to get feedback on their games, so I'm sure you'd have no trouble arranging such a thing. If it's something enough people want to do, you could set up a dedicated discussion forum for people to arrange such swaps.

Wow, I just can't even imagine that anyone would actually do this; it just seems like such a lame and stupid thing to do! Perhaps I have just a more optimistic view of people than you. I understand that you wouldn't want to take the chance, but man, someone who would do that is such a loser!

Ok, I'll probably go. My game isn't totally done, ie, there are a few issues I'm trying to resolve, but then, that's the point of the GDW. I will go next, followed by you, Brykovian, Bandecko, (or maybe those two are switched, I'll have to see), and then one or two others have also gotten in line.

-Jeff