Well, well, well. This has been a curious exercise. Worked on a design problem for a little while, did up some basic rules for a fictional game, heeded the call and clamor for a real game based on the graphic design, and here we are, just about a week and a half later. I’ve got a date with the IP holders for this project, a proof of concept proto-game (ur-game?) to show off, and la de da, my dance card at GenCon is filling up. Want to see the contact sheet for the cards? Sure you do!
The BattleTech DMG: Really? Well, okay then.
Based on the feedback I’ve received over the past 48 hours, I think it may be time to move the BattleTech Deckbuilding ‘Mechfighting Game from graphic design project to actual game design project. Like every third member of BoardGameGeek, I fancy myself a game designer — I even have a designer page on the Geek based on my 24 Hour RPG stuff — and, as part of the DMG graphic design project, I somewhat designed the game. So why not take that to the next level? Especially with people threatening to pick me up and carry me to the Catalyst Game Labs booth at GenCon?
The BattleTech Deckbuilding ‘Mechfighting Game
The BattleTech deckbuilding/deckfighting project came from a Twitter conversation between Daniel Perez (Highmoon Media) and Philip J. Reed (Steve Jackson Games), which was taken over to Daniel’s blog. Daniel writes,”I’d like to see the idea of deckbuilding combined with deckfighting. I mentioned it to Phil in relation to what form a BattleTech deckbuilding game would take, and he said that it might get too long, like two games in one. He’s right, considering how long a game of Dominion took to play, but I can’t shake the idea that it would be a good combination.” That’s been a thought in the back of my mind for a while now, and, wanting to expand the portfolio a bit, I decided to take on the idea of developing this type of game into a design project.