[Mage Blade]: Process Musings
Behind the cut are some musings about trying to write the character creation chapter of Mage Blade. I've got a pretty good, but vague, idea of everything that needs to happen while making a character, but the actual process of doing it has been keeping me from writing the chapter for well over a month now. Many of my friends are not gamers, and less are interested in game design, so I'm cutting out of courtesy.
What I've got:
Concept
Origin (previously Birth Status)
Lifepaths
Attributes (via the Bias system)
Skill Selection
Events and Traits
Exceptions
Problem is, the order's screwy, but I don't know how I want the order to be. Foremost is the skill selection bit. Each step along the path gives you some skills, semi-randomly determined. On the one hand, I want you to be able to focus entirely on choosing your lifepaths, and worry about skills later. On the other hand, I want you to determine your skills with each step. The former allows you to think about the history of the character as you're creating it, without having to worry about mechanics yet. The latter allows you to get an idea for your character's growing abilities as he goes through his life. Both have good points. I guess I simply need to pick one, and go forward.
Events and Traits is another sticking point. What I've got in my brain doesn't match up with what I want, in levels of coolness. Essentially, you get an Event when certain conditions are met. Every 5 years of life, or when switching lifepath/profession if you've been in for 3 or more years. This, like skills, can either be done after the fact, which allows you to think about what the character did in general terms, or during, which allows you to make future decisions based on the events.
Exceptions are... different. You need to know about them prior to doing much of anything else after concept, because they are an option during all stages of character creation. The current intent is to have them listed in a sidebar running through the character creation chapter.
I think this is a good time to consider the process flowchart technique that people have mentioned in the past. I can move things around and get a good idea of what needs to happen for ordering the process.
Another sticking point, aside from the order, is that some of the specifics of the steps are still very vague in my mind. Specifically, all of the data that will be provided by each lifepath is in flux. Obviously you will receive focus skills and potential skills, as well as an attribute bias. Lead-ins to other lifepaths are somewhat important as well, as are any prerequisites. I've also recently realized that I have neglected to think about monetary assets. ::groan:: This further reminds me that I have no solid concept for the value of a dollar, so to speak. Obviously for writing the procedure, I don't need to actually have the idea of value, I just need to decided the procedure.. But obviously I have to have an idea for how much any given lifepath will earn over the course of X years before I can move forward with actually enabling the creation of characters.
It looks like I've still got a job of work to do.
What I've got:
Concept
Origin (previously Birth Status)
Lifepaths
Attributes (via the Bias system)
Skill Selection
Events and Traits
Exceptions
Problem is, the order's screwy, but I don't know how I want the order to be. Foremost is the skill selection bit. Each step along the path gives you some skills, semi-randomly determined. On the one hand, I want you to be able to focus entirely on choosing your lifepaths, and worry about skills later. On the other hand, I want you to determine your skills with each step. The former allows you to think about the history of the character as you're creating it, without having to worry about mechanics yet. The latter allows you to get an idea for your character's growing abilities as he goes through his life. Both have good points. I guess I simply need to pick one, and go forward.
Events and Traits is another sticking point. What I've got in my brain doesn't match up with what I want, in levels of coolness. Essentially, you get an Event when certain conditions are met. Every 5 years of life, or when switching lifepath/profession if you've been in for 3 or more years. This, like skills, can either be done after the fact, which allows you to think about what the character did in general terms, or during, which allows you to make future decisions based on the events.
Exceptions are... different. You need to know about them prior to doing much of anything else after concept, because they are an option during all stages of character creation. The current intent is to have them listed in a sidebar running through the character creation chapter.
I think this is a good time to consider the process flowchart technique that people have mentioned in the past. I can move things around and get a good idea of what needs to happen for ordering the process.
Another sticking point, aside from the order, is that some of the specifics of the steps are still very vague in my mind. Specifically, all of the data that will be provided by each lifepath is in flux. Obviously you will receive focus skills and potential skills, as well as an attribute bias. Lead-ins to other lifepaths are somewhat important as well, as are any prerequisites. I've also recently realized that I have neglected to think about monetary assets. ::groan:: This further reminds me that I have no solid concept for the value of a dollar, so to speak. Obviously for writing the procedure, I don't need to actually have the idea of value, I just need to decided the procedure.. But obviously I have to have an idea for how much any given lifepath will earn over the course of X years before I can move forward with actually enabling the creation of characters.
It looks like I've still got a job of work to do.