Rulebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HUaVuP7Ek_gCa2kH-GFT3JANSOORPEnfbJMb...
Basic draft of board: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qWh9kXi3G5618z7oH-EdPfk8BXsR_EV/view?u...
Planets list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Eac6g7Rx81BuwPLRmCp8_YwAdFaJH2p...
Note: not yet a playable game! I’m close I think. Feedback welcome!
 | Finalists Selected for the VHS Case Challenge (5) by larienna |
 | DuelBotz: Sample New Card (18) by questccg |
| How to design and balance a Rock-Paper-Scissor like mechanism (36) by X3M |
| 2025 New Year Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Build your own [insert game genre here] (12) by lewpuls |
| Merry Christmas 2024! (0) by questccg |
| Winner Announced for "That Cool Stock Part Challenge" (0) by The Game Crafter |
| End of Year Playtest Event at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Board Game Pieces: 13mm Wood Cubes (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Board Game Blueprint - New Episode Every Wednesday (24) by The Game Crafter |
| Madison Game Design Cabal (0) by The Game Crafter |
| PoA — Major shift back closer to FCE (13) by questccg |
| Voting Begins for "VHS Case Challenge" at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Product: Large Quad-Fold Game Boards (0) by The Game Crafter |
| 2025 New Year Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Board Game Design Contest: ZSA Cards Challenge (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Black Friday Sale Ends Tonight (0) by The Game Crafter |
| The Shadow Of The Nokizaru Update! (0) by Jacob |
| Black Friday Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Power Creep, a Dungeon Pages adventure (0) by jasongreeno |
| Premium Bullet & Premium Toxic Waste Board Game Pieces at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| What “Should” Be in an RPG Design Book (11) by lewpuls |
| Blank Poker Card Sale - 3 Cents Each! (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Blank Playing Cards - Bridge 57mm x 89mm UK (1) by questccg |
| Finally returned after all these years (1) by DyminoMonsters2004 |
Comments
Doubling Symbols
The Flourish result doubles the number of meeples of a given type on a planet. But then it takes six meeples to upgrade to the next given type. This means however that you'll always end up with more than six meeples when you flourish the third time.
To cut down on pieces and make it simpler for the players involved, why not use a single meeple during this process? When grouping objects I always think to myself, "Three's the magic number." When Flourishing or Evolving, use the number of three as a threshold instead.
Also, if you plan on allowing any colours for plants or animals, I strongly recommend that symbols/illustrations are the same, or shapes are the same, so that animals and plants can be quickly assessed at a glance of the board.
On a different topic: I strongly suggest you streamline your Game Objective. It contains a lot of context without clarity, and this can muddle understanding of what players should be doing in your game.
///
How much playtesting has been done with Dark Forest so far?
Reap/Remove
I just noticed that in one case Watcher powers/abilities remove plants or animals from other planets. Plus, the Reap action removes plants or animals to develop Bots.
All this resource exchange needs to be tested for balance as soon as it's convenient for you. This could all be very fiddly and cumbersome should you let it grow out of hand. Be careful. :)
Thanks for your comments!
Thanks for your comments! Much appreciated. No playtesting has happened yet sadly, soon!