Re: Playtesting "Trojan War"

From: bmclain1@khan2.dandelions.com ()

Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <40lvpn$e3t@cnn.Princeton.EDU>
Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk writes:

> Now, though there are players who stick in normal games to the bitter
> end, it seems even harder to find those whole do it for FREE in a
> playtest. Why? Surely if you are getting the game for free, and have
> the chance to decide the course and design of a new game, it's worth
> sticking in there and finding out how everything turns out, isn't it?

It's only worth it if the game is good.  I won't stick with a bad game, not
even for free turns.  As a playtester in many games over the past fourteen
years, I've seen perhaps 20% of them reach the market, usually with very
little modification from the original "unplaytested" design.  A playtest ought
to smooth rough edges; it's not meant to overhaul a bad design.

> LTWARS, HAND OF THE DEMON and our newby Apocalyptic game are all under
> playtest and the first two have suffered from useless testers. The
> third is on its very first turn - wonder how many of the people who
> asked to test it will not get around to sending in their first set of
> orders? I'll bet on 10% of them!

It's your fault if you've got useless testers.  The dumbest way to pick
playtesters is through advertising.  Any numbskull will jump at the chance to
play a game for free (I should know, I play lots of games for free!).  You
need to *select* playtesters.  Ask Nicky Palmer, ask other moderators, ask me:
we'll give you lists of folks who have playtested many games.  Then you send
them information about your game, invite them to join it, and hope they
accept.

I think we need a change of perspective here.  Moderators don't do playtesters
a favor by letting them play a new game for free.  Playtesters do moderators a
favor by sharing their expertise for free.

Bob McLain

References

Playtesting "Trojan War"
Steve Pritchard <Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Playtesting "Trojan War"
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Playtesting "Trojan War"
Steve Pritchard <Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Playtesting "Trojan War"
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000