Unpredictability and control in turn-based combat: an examination

Unpredictability makes art interesting. Twists of plot, unconventional characterizations, and surprising character development engage a reader’s imagination; unique instrumentation, sudden shifts in time signature, or an unexpected chord progression delight the ear. So is it with games. Exploration, experimentation, discovery: all of these depend upon unpredictability, on gaps in the…

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Telepath Tactics October 2012 update

Another month, another update on Telepath Tactics! Much of this past month was spent wrangling: wrangling artists, wrangling with weird security-based behaviors in Windows, wrangling interface issues, and wrangling livestock. (Okay, just the first three.) First, on the art front: the fantastically talented Benn Marion is working on some proper…

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Telepath Tactics September 2012 update

Hey there folks, welcome to another update on our progress in developing Telepath Tactics! There were a few hiccups this month. First, I had a bit of a roommate transition, which resulted in my not having internet at home until late Saturday evening. This, in turn, made it impossible for…

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What makes a game indie: a universal definition

I’ve been content to stand on the sidelines of the “what is indie” debate for a number of years now, satisfied that whatever the outcome, it wouldn’t really matter. I no longer think that. When a multi-million-dollar game with a team of nearly 50, created with the backing of a…

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Telepath Tactics August 2012 Update

Hey, folks! It’s that special time once again, where I fill you in on all the goings-on in the development of Telepath Tactics. First and most importantly, Telepath Tactics now supports user-created campaigns! You may recall me mentioning last month that Telepath Tactics will have a single player campaign. Well,…

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6 more ways to improve turn-based RPG combat systems

Almost exactly one year ago, I discussed the four virtues of a good turn-based combat system and shared 12 techniques that RPGs commonly overlook for achieving those virtues. Today, after a year of contemplation and careful design work, I feel ready to expand the list. What follows are 6 additional…

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Telepath Tactics July 2012 Update

Time for another update on Telepath Tactics! Since the last update, I had the opportunity to demo Telepath Tactics at Tech Week. The response was pretty much universally positive, with several people returning repeatedly over the course of the two days to keep playing matches. Since then, I’ve focused on…

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