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Old 07-13-2018, 03:06 AM   #1
Chris Rice
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
Default Designers Notes

Given the unique history of TFT I'm really hoping Steve will include a few pages of designers notes in the new edition. I always feel designers notes add a lot of flavour to a ruleset and help the GM/players get into the mindset of the designer.

And on an unrelated tangent, will there be a KS option for a hardback binding of ITL?
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Old 07-13-2018, 03:12 AM   #2
philreed
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Default Re: Designers Notes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Rice View Post
And on an unrelated tangent, will there be a KS option for a hardback binding of ITL?
A hardcover is not _currently_ part of the project. The issue comes down to keeping the I Want It All package as inexpensive as possible; upgrading that book to hardcover would force us to increase the I Want It All price.
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Old 07-13-2018, 05:05 AM   #3
Chris Rice
 
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Default Re: Designers Notes

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Originally Posted by philreed View Post
A hardcover is not _currently_ part of the project. The issue comes down to keeping the I Want It All package as inexpensive as possible; upgrading that book to hardcover would force us to increase the I Want It All price.
Ah well. I'll keep my fingers crossed we can have one in the future.
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Old 07-13-2018, 11:02 AM   #4
JLV
 
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Default Re: Designers Notes

I'd like to add a voice in support of fairly extensive designer's notes. There are several reasons why I consider them important:

1) They give insight into how the designer approached the game -- or, as Chris puts it, "the designer's mindset."

2) They allow the players to better understand the designer's intent in the rules overall -- which simplifies the task of interpreting any rules that are unclear to the players.

3) They allow the reader to experience some of the background development that went into the rules -- which not only supports #2 above, but also is just fun and interesting to read.

4) They frequently provide insight into what rules did NOT make the final cut, and why -- which again supports #2 above, but also allows the players to better understand how to apply Occam's Razor to both their understanding of the rules as written, and to any house rules they may decide to entertain.

I'm sure there are more advantages than just those I've listed, but those four alone always make me read the Designer's Notes among the first items I read in the rules as a whole. So yes, please, Steve, provide us with as extensive a set of Designer's Notes as you feel you can; they help enormously.
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Old 07-13-2018, 11:19 AM   #5
Steve Jackson
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Default Re: Designers Notes

Noted. I had NOT intended to take up precious book space with design notes - figured I would put them on the site. The intro needs a full rewrite, of course, since we no longer have to explain what an RPG is!
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Old 07-13-2018, 11:49 AM   #6
Skarg
 
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Default Re: Designers Notes

Designer's notes would be lovely - do people prefer them in the book?

As long as they're not hidden in someplace like Space Gamer magazine, I'd probably rather have more room for game content, and that you be able to wax prolific in online designer's notes that aren't constrained by printing issues/costs.
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Old 07-13-2018, 12:08 PM   #7
JLV
 
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Default Re: Designers Notes

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Noted. I had NOT intended to take up precious book space with design notes - figured I would put them on the site. The intro needs a full rewrite, of course, since we no longer have to explain what an RPG is!
Putting them on-line would be just fine by me!
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:56 PM   #8
Jim Kane
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Default Re: Designers Notes

Agreed. Online Designer Notes. Save the book space for rules.

JK
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Old 07-13-2018, 02:47 PM   #9
Rick_Smith
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
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Default Re: Designers Notes - put on line.

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Agreed. Online Designer Notes. Save the book space for rules. JK
I agree with JVL and Jim. I'm fine with designer notes online. Save the book space for extra talents and monsters, etc. Warm regards, Rick.
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Old 07-13-2018, 03:24 PM   #10
Wayne
 
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Default Re: Designers Notes

I'd prefer to see something printed, it doesn't have to be multiple pages of course!

Why? Websites disappear, get rearranged etc.
If it's in print in the book, the chance of it getting lost drops dramatically.

"Honey, @#$#%$#%$ dog's eaten my TFT book!"
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