My current game design is finally in a state where the mechanics are rock solid, and the game plays well. A lot of trial and error has gotten me to where I am and it's overall really exciting to have a playable and, more importantly, fun design.
The new challenge now is developing how the game plays, in regards to balance, pacing, and feel. This phase is quite foreign to me. Do you guys have any tips on how to proceed from your own experiences? Or is it pretty similar to what came before - create changes, test them, garner feedback, repeat?
@ The Professor
Considering my first round of blind playtesting has gone really well, where participants have chosen, on their own volition, to replay the game after the initial test, and have even gone as far as to show their friends the game, I'd say the game is in a more playable, solid state than you're assuming. But yes, it's always good to have the mindset that everything is malleable and suspect to change, no matter how intrinsic the concept is to the design. I wouldn't be where I am now without that mindset.
Sounds like as long as I keep plugging away, playtesting the thing and getting new eyes on it, it'll continue to fall into place.