Looney Labs Icehouse Mailing list Archive

["Sam Zitin" <sammyz@xxxxxxxxx>]

I haven't heard of the decktet system, I'll have to look into that, thanks!

The game is intended to be boardgame-like enough on the one end that you DON'T need a GM, but can use the shared experience of the game to tack on flavor and introduce people to the CONCEPT of roleplaying without having to get too heavily into it.  The GM is intended to only be an adjudicator of bonuses and minimize the "burden" of roleplaying on newer players.  However it isn't necessary at all for a purely flavorless game.

PVP was added almost as an afterthought and I'm considering dropping it entirely in it's current form.  One piece of feedback I've received is that PVP would be done at players on adjacent cards rather than the same one, and that you could slide that player rather than move forward as a strategic move.  After a quick playtest last night though, I'm not sure it adds to much to the game and I'm considering dropping it (or at least making it optional).

On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 6:11 AM, Jorge Arroyo <trozo@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I've read the rules on the wiki and the first thing that came to my mind is how well suited the Decktet card system would be for this game instead of a regular deck of cards. Each suit on the decktet can be easily matched to an icehouse color and the fact that each card can have two suits may give the game more flexibility.

I'm also not sure about the GM, as the mechanics are so boardgame-like there doesn't seem to be a need for a GM. If the special abilities are well described it should be clear when they can be used, and if not, all the players may vote to decide.

And about PvP combat. I'm surprised the stats for each character don't affect it. The way it is described the result is totally random. Maybe a system could be devised where the attacker decides on a stat and they both roll, or just use the most appropiate stat for combat. This of course would depend on what stats are used in the game.

Right now, the system does remind me a bit of the game World Gauntlet Federation but with the possibility of moving to the sides too.

-Jorge

On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 6:57 AM, TheLoneGoldfish <thelonegoldfish@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I read over the rules... and the game looks interesting, but I don't
really see the point of the GM.

It seems he's a distributor of bonuses, and describer of challenges.
Which would be fine in a cooperative game, but the other players may
think it's an unfair and arbitrary advantage in a competitive game.

-Evan

On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 11:09 PM,  <jdunaway@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi, Sam,
>
> I'll be happy to check out your new game. I have full stashes of all 12
> colors (at least I will once the pink treehouse set I pre-ordered arrives).
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: icehouse-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Friday, December 5, 2008 4:46 pm
> Subject: Icehouse Digest, Vol 43, Issue 1
> To: icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> 1. New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters
>> (Sam Zitin)
>> 2. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters
>> (Christopher Hickman)
>> 3. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters
>> (nic asman)
>> 4. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters
>> (Nick Lamicela)
>> 5. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters
>> (Sam Zitin)
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>> -----
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 15:01:57 -0500
>> From: "Sam Zitin"
>> Subject: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial
>> comments/playtesters
>> To: icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Message-ID:
>> <6b0d93400812051201y1d3635f6g4339b8e7d3430dbc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually
>> designed an
>> Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the
>> community? I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at
>> Wiki editing.
>> In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a
>> boardgame/flavorlessrpg system using Icehouse pieces and a
>> standard deck of playing cards. If
>> anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or
>> playtest please
>> let me know.
>>
>> --
>> Sam Zitin
>> Director of Information Management
>> Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
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>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:26:05 -0500
>> From: Christopher Hickman
>> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial
>> comments/playtesters
>> To: Icehouse Discussion List
>> Message-ID: <2592069943981879506405643111258104052-Webmail@xxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin"
>> wrote:
>> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually
>> designed an
>> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the
>> community?> I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept
>> at Wiki editing.
>> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a
>> boardgame/flavorless>rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a
>> standard deck of playing cards. If
>> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or
>> playtest please
>> >let me know.
>>
>> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, and
>> those who *are* adept will clean it up. :)
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 15:12:52 -0600
>> From: "nic asman"
>> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial
>> comments/playtesters
>> To: "Icehouse Discussion List"
>> Message-ID:
>> <2d317cfd0812051312t3f367863q2e8f8f39deb0681a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of
>> xeno pieces, so
>> if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are enough
>> then send me a
>> copy and i would love to give you feed back.
>>
>> nic
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman
>> wrote:
>>
>> > On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin"
>> > wrote:
>> > >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually
>> designed an
>> > >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the
>> community?> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept
>> at Wiki editing.
>> > >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a
>> boardgame/flavorless> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a
>> standard deck of playing cards. If
>> > >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or
>> playtest> please
>> > >let me know.
>> >
>> > You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, and
>> those who
>> > *are* adept will clean it up. :)
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Icehouse mailing list
>> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >
>> -------------- next part --------------
>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:41:05 -0500
>> From: "Nick Lamicela"
>> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial
>> comments/playtesters
>> To: "Icehouse Discussion List"
>> Message-ID:
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> I'll try, maybe I can bring it to the next gaming group I go to.
>> How long is
>> it supposed to be?
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM, nic asman
>> wrote:
>> > i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of
>> xeno pieces,
>> > so if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are
>> enough then send
>> > me a copy and i would love to give you feed back.
>> >
>> > nic
>> >
>> >
>> > On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin"
>> >> wrote:
>> >> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually
>> designed an
>> >> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to
>> the community?
>> >> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at Wiki
>> editing.>> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a
>> boardgame/flavorless>> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a
>> standard deck of playing cards.
>> >> If
>> >> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or
>> playtest>> please
>> >> >let me know.
>> >>
>> >> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki,
>> and those who
>> >> *are* adept will clean it up. :)
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Icehouse mailing list
>> >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Icehouse mailing list
>> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> ~nupanick (or other appropriate name)
>>
>> ===================
>> Guvf VF zl jvggl fvtangher.
>> -------------- next part --------------
>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:46:21 -0500
>> From: "Sam Zitin"
>> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial
>> comments/playtesters
>> To: "Icehouse Discussion List"
>> Message-ID:
>> <6b0d93400812051346r759e30feh51d1fb10c08844d7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Don't know exactly how long it will play out to be yet. It's
>> designed as a
>> boardgame that can be expanded into a fast and light RPG system,
>> so some of
>> that will depend on the players. The intent though is that if
>> desired, an
>> entire rpg scenario could be played out in less than 30 minutes,
>> and the
>> "winner" could GM the next round, presenting an entirely
>> different scenario
>> if desired. The game is ready to be perused but probably not
>> ready for play
>> yet as I'm still working out some probabilities to decide upon
>> difficultylevels.
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:41 PM, Nick Lamicela
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I'll try, maybe I can bring it to the next gaming group I go
>> to. How long
>> > is it supposed to be?
>> >
>> >
>> > On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM, nic asman
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of
>> xeno pieces,
>> >> so if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are
>> enough then send
>> >> me a copy and i would love to give you feed back.
>> >>
>> >> nic
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman
>> wrote:>>
>> >>> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin"
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually
>> designed an
>> >>> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to
>> the community?
>> >>> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at Wiki
>> editing.>>> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a
>> >>> boardgame/flavorless
>> >>> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a standard deck of
>> playing cards.
>> >>> If
>> >>> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback
>> or playtest
>> >>> please
>> >>> >let me know.
>> >>>
>> >>> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki,
>> and those who
>> >>> *are* adept will clean it up. :)
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Icehouse mailing list
>> >>> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Icehouse mailing list
>> >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > ~nupanick (or other appropriate name)
>> >
>> > ===================
>> > Guvf VF zl jvggl fvtangher.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Icehouse mailing list
>> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Sam Zitin
>> Director of Information Management
>> Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
>> Office:317-876-1913
>> Cell: 317-710-0925
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>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse
>>
>>
>> End of Icehouse Digest, Vol 43, Issue 1
>> ***************************************
>>
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--
Sam Zitin
Director of Information Management
Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
Office:317-876-1913
Cell:   317-710-0925