Where are the play-test reports?

[deadeyethingy]

I KNOW that you folks are still playing and testing...

How come no more play test reports? I thoroughly enjoyed the first few that were posted... I figured there might be one a month or so.

Of course, Francesco and Co. have been wonderful putting out all manner of sneak peeks (thanks Veldrin for the site!!) - so I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth...

[steveowen]

The playtesting finished prior to us putting up the reports. We haven't done more because many of the rest were with previous manifestations of the rules, set-up and so on. The designers were keen, understandably, that we concentrated on the final state of the game when playtesting was completed. If you think they may be a best seller I will happily put up the rest of the 50 playtests after the original is published! However as you have shown an interest I will look at the other recent tests to see if there is another I can report on

[deadeyethingy]

Ahhh. I see how it worked then... interesting.

I know I would love to read some more - they really give a great idea of how play dynamics will work (and how different players and circustances lend themselves to different conclusions)

[steveowen]

Just to let you know that I have sent a four player test to Krisofter so should see it here soon. One of our longest games which lasted 21 turns and just over 3 hours. My 46th playtest for this game (55 in all!).

[Veldrin]

The report is now online at the site in the reports section. It is located at the bottom of the reports page so you will need to scroll down, through the older reports.

[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]

[deadeyethingy]

Hey - wow!

Thanks a ton!

What I assume to be card play sounds really great! ("The Lure of the Ring", Strider and the herbs for healing corruption, "On, on they went", etc).

I can't wait to pour over the cards when I get the game - it sounds like they really influence the game, but in unique and fun (and plot appropriate) ways.

Thanks Steve for the report, and Thanks Veldrin for the post!!!

[deadeyethingy]

P.S. That was the most exciting one yet!!

The tension was palpable... I could only imagine the tension at the table - The SF players desperate to sweep the victory conditions, the FP players desperate to hold on just a bit longer for Frodo and the ring to make it to Mount Doom, meanwhile, key locations are falling left and right and the fellowship keeps losing members and gaining corruption!

Sounded great.

[steveowen]

Thanks Steve for the report, and Thanks Veldrin for the post!!!

You're welcome
The only downside is that you probably want another one from the archive now!
Reporting them is actually quite time consuming in that although I have made notes on every action, card play, hunt dice and action dice rolled, being a doctor means that reading my own writing is very difficult!

[deadeyethingy]

This one will keep me humming for a while I think (not sure about the other visitors and board members). I might have to "demand" (read "beg") another one next month to keep me held over until the actual release of the game.

Thanks man!

[Francesco]

deadeyethingy said:

What I assume to be card play sounds really great! ("The Lure of the Ring", Strider and the herbs for healing corruption, "On, on they went", etc). I can't wait to pour over the cards when I get the game - it sounds like they really influence the game, but in unique and fun (and plot appropriate) ways.

Event cards in WotR are, to me, much more than simply a mechanic reinforcing the game system. Card play is a least 50% of the game, as I see the hand of cards as a kind of 'screenplay', or a set of objectives that I should try to accomplish/follow if I want to win. So, one of he thing you learn is that you should try to 'play along' your hand of cards, because they can greatly help you if used correctly. Since every player has two decks of cards, and every card has a dual use (event/combat), the interpretation of 'playing along' your set of cards can vary greatly from game to game, and from player to player.

Francesco

[Francesco]

A minor precisation regarding Steve's most recent playtest: the effect of the card 'Morgul Wound' is meant to simulate the effects on Frodo of the old wound suffered at Amon Sul, not a new one.