The Game Design Round Table #302 Wildermyth with Nate Austin
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Oct 24, 2023 Nate Austin, co-creator of tactical RPG Wildermyth, discusses the origins of the game and its mechanics. They talk about character-focused storytelling, different styles of game writing, and the balance between market appeal and complex mechanics. They also explore the journey of turning a side project into a full-fledged game, the impact of narrative direction on game design, and the mechanics behind hero transformations. The speakers touch on balancing player feedback, character-driven stories, and provide valuable game design advice.
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Equip Writers With Technical Tools
- Build authoring tools that make writers productive with technical markup and validation.
- Hire writers willing to work with semi-technical pipelines to scale procedural narrative.
Two-Layer Narrative Targeting
- Use targeting facts to trigger context-appropriate lines rather than linear scripted dialogue.
- Layer small text variations to personalize lines based on relationships and traits.
Trim Systems To Serve Core Pillars
- Cut systems that don't serve your core pillars, even if they're cool simulations.
- Focused pillars (iconic heroes, character stories) clarify what to keep or remove.