playtesting – the Dee Sanction

Comfort — RPGaDay #17

August 12, 2020August 17, 2020

Is writing about the reverse of comfort appropriate for this topic? I find little comfort in writing. I find comfort in the research, but when it comes to gathering all that information together and it coalescing on the page, that’s another thing altogether. I find that the idea in my … Continue ReadingComfort — RPGaDay #17

Playtesting

Lost in Translation

November 4, 2019November 4, 2019

Thanks to a very positive run of Lost in Translation at The Kraken, one of my many playtest adventures for The Dee Sanction, I’ve finally managed to get the whole thing down in a first draft. Clearly the moment grabbed me, as 5,000 words just flowed out over the weekend, … Continue ReadingLost in Translation

Playtesting

The Princess Deviation

August 20, 2016

Building up to some more playtesting of The Dee Sanction, ready or not. As mentioned before, the game will use the same basic mechanic of needing to roll a 7, but I’ll be testing new approaches to improving the chances of success. Characters track their physical and mental condition with … Continue ReadingThe Princess Deviation

Game Mechanics

Resolve

January 4, 2016

Despite best efforts, the mechanics behind any version of the 214 system continue not quite to gel as I’d hoped. I think if I can’t quite get it to work in my head, it’ll be a tough sell at the table. I have run half-a-dozen convention demo games and run … Continue ReadingResolve

Playtesting

Weapons of Magick and Devilry

October 20, 2015August 17, 2016

The Dee Sanction is a game and setting in a steady state of development. It uses a fast-paced, card-based character generation system to get the game up-and-running in moments. Players take on the roles of outsiders, dabblers, and criminals, given a second chance when recruited as investigators into Queen Elizabeth’s … Continue ReadingWeapons of Magick and Devilry

Playtesting

Token-less and Dice-free

April 20, 2015August 17, 2016

It’s possible that I’m coming to a turning point with the whole system and approach for The Dee Sanction and the 214 system in general. Running an adventure without using half the system – and finding it works well – might prove worthy food for thought. I ran a new adventure – … Continue ReadingToken-less and Dice-free

Game Mechanics Playtesting

Narrative Results

November 11, 2014

Dice in the pair used for Complex 214 and The Dee Sanction have symbols on them, intended to help focus the story. The symbols include: equipment, surveillance/vigilance, access, the system, them, and mutation/magic. In practice, when you roll the dice initially, the symbol rolled can help understand – plotwise – … Continue ReadingNarrative Results

Playtesting

Quick Thoughts on Last Night’s Game

November 4, 2014

I ran The Bell’s Toll over the course of two short sessions with my regular gaming group. I have asked them for feedback on The Dee Sanction – and I look forward to getting some good stuff over many future sessions. Generally, the adventure seemed to work. I think the … Continue ReadingQuick Thoughts on Last Night’s Game