Snippersly
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Play Tested?For my fellow scenario writers and players...
When you write a scenario, do you playtest it before you post? Do you playtest it after you post? Do you even play the scenarios you write?
For the players...do you prefer a scenario that has been playtested? Do you mind being the guinea pig that playtests a scenario for the dsigner? Do you care at all, just so long as the game is on?
Multiple Choice poll... let me know.
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general Hoth
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Voted. 
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carrion
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Ive written one scenario and did not have time to playtest it. Had a custom map though, it is on the dead computer, still working on getting it fixed.
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Steel_Panther
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I'd play something if it needed playtesting if:
A. I had the units, or
1. If my gaming group was meeting fairly soon, and I could get someone else in on the game.
In hindsight, ignore 1 vote for 'playtested only' 
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RedBaron
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all my scenarios are playtested before hitting the forum.
usually I balance them fairly good from the start, and the test games are used for fine tuning.
re/
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Bean965
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I definitely playtest.
A big reason for this is that I've been playing the game long enough that I feel like there are no new scenarios/builds left under the sun unless I introduce something new and unique in the design of the scenario. This usually requires designing special rules. If I don't playtest, then I will miss things about those rules that may not be clear from the way they're written and I won't know what effect those rules have on balance.
Sometimes I wish I wasn't as concerned about balance - I'm on my fourth playtest of a scenario and I still have more questions about it than answers 
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general Hoth
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| carrion wrote: | | Ive written one scenario and did not have time to playtest it. Had a custom map though, it is on the dead computer, still working on getting it fixed. |
Share.
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Sharpe
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I don't mind either way, as long as the author clearly identifies what stage the scenario is at (newly born, slightly tested, etc). Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a scenario is having another gamer look at it.
It's also interesting to see the scenarios as a work in progress.
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Snippersly
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| Bean965 wrote: | | Sometimes I wish I wasn't as concerned about balance - I'm on my fourth playtest of a scenario and I still have more questions about it than answers |
Post what you have and we'll help you... or PM the scenario to me and my son and I will run through it.
Snips
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Bean965
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Thanks - coming soon.
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general Hoth
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| Sharpe wrote: | Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a scenario is having another gamer look at it.
It's also interesting to see the scenarios as a work in progress. |
Very true Sharpe!
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Bean965
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Okay gents,
45% of you who replied to the poll, not to mention a couple of gracious individuals, have indicated that you're willing to serve as playtesters for beleaguered scenario designers like me who have time to write but less time to playtest.
I've got two scenarios up in this thread that need playtesting:
Panzers Painted White in St. Vith
Operation Tractable: A Hazy, Boggy Crossing
Charge!
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general Hoth
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I've promised i'll try your Ardennes scenario and will do. Just bear with me i've just managed to put up a french play group. Of course we started with my 1st US army mini campaign. 
Hot on the list is yours, my manila scenario (or wiking) and then, probably, a big "mini-campain" on the forthcoming Kursk map courtesy of Red Baron. This is a challenging task. I can bet it will only be for players with:
1/ lots of space
2/lots of minis
3/a night off
4/a lot of dedication for AAM.
It's good: on this forum we have plenty of scenarios to play before i start on my early war themed scenarios.
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Remember-OWS-
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I am always playtesting my scenario, at least 3 times. Alone in the my dark basement with my swastika hanging on the celling.... 
Seriously, I am always playtesting 3 times.
First - Set up in mind
Second - Re-playability
Third - Touch up
I am always delivering a final product, but it can always be adapted.[/b]
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boersma8
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I usually do play them once or twice before posting them, but it's quite easy to overlook something, therefore I do prefer others to further playtest them (if I earned my money by designing scenarios I'd definitely playtest them more thoroughly). I hope you enjoy the scenarios I post regardless. Soon I'll post another one: " The battle of Mokra" . So far it's been playtested once and nothing seems to be too off, but when several dozens of people play it and also try out different strategies, thing can always come to the surface. Therefore I never mind changing certain things after a design flaw has been proven.
Another reason I don't playtest my own scenarios 5 times or more is that I also want to have some time left to play somebody else's!
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general Hoth
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| boersma8 wrote: | I usually do play them once or twice before posting them, but it's quite easy to overlook something, therefore I do prefer others to further playtest them (if I earned my money by designing scenarios I'd definitely playtest them more thoroughly). I hope you enjoy the scenarios I post regardless. Soon I'll post another one: " The battle of Mokra" . So far it's been playtested once and nothing seems to be too off, but when several dozens of people play it and also try out different strategies, thing can always come to the surface. Therefore I never mind changing certain things after a design flaw has been proven.
Another reason I don't playtest my own scenarios 5 times or more is that I also want to have some time left to play somebody else's! |
cant wait to try your scenario, its been a while i havent played one of yours.
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Bean965
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| boersma8 wrote: | | Another reason I don't playtest my own scenarios 5 times or more is that I also want to have some time left to play somebody else's! |
Good plan - there's at least 1/2 dozen scenarios from other designers out there that I want to play but haven't had the time b/c of playtesting my own...
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