An integrated approach to accelerate board game iteration cycles
Core Idea: A system that combines Dextrous Game Design Tool, Tabletop Simulator for Game Design, and Google Sheets for Game Design to enable near-instant implementation and testing of game design changes.
Key Elements
Workflow Components
- Data Management: Google Sheets for centralized game data and easy bulk changes
- Visual Design: Dextrous Game Design Tool for card and component layouts
- Testing Environment: Tabletop Simulator for Game Design for virtual playtesting
Implementation Process
- Design game components and layouts in Dextrous
- Create a spreadsheet with all game data (card names, costs, values, effects)
- Connect the spreadsheet to Dextrous by publishing as CSV
- Export from Dextrous to Tabletop Simulator
- Make changes in the spreadsheet and refresh in Dextrous
- Update the Tabletop Simulator module with new changes
Benefits
- Reduces iteration cycle from hours/days to minutes
- Enables testing of sweeping changes across all components simultaneously
- Makes collaborative design easier with multiple contributors
- Provides visual feedback on changes immediately
Common Pitfalls
- Keeping the same number of components between iterations to avoid art/text misalignment
- TTS mod caching can prevent updates from appearing (disable this option)
- Requires initial setup time before gaining speed benefits
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Game Design Process (where prototyping fits in the overall process)
- Applications: Remote Playtesting Methods (leveraging digital tools for distributed testing)
- See Also: Paper Prototyping (alternative method with different strengths)
References
- TBLOPcraft tutorial video on rapid prototyping
- Dextrous documentation and guides
#gamedesign #prototyping #workflow #boardgames #digitaltools
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