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Author Topic: Interview with Donald X.  (Read 2264129 times)

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AJD

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5775 on: September 23, 2024, 03:46:31 am »
+6

What's your favorite token type?

The art for Werewolf is cool but not very werewolf-y. How come?

I do sometimes* wonder how the artist got away with submitting that art for "werewolf".

(*Whenever I look at the werewolf card.)

Donald X has answered this before:

Quote
That's what werewolves look like during the day - just regular people.

I specifically asked for a daytime, not-in-wolf-form werewolf in the artist notes. I still like that.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5776 on: September 23, 2024, 01:24:36 pm »
+3

What's your favorite token type?

The art for Werewolf is cool but not very werewolf-y. How come?
The moon isn't out! Half the time, that's what a werewolf looks like. Don't blame it on the artist; the artist notes I wrote up said to show the human form.

Villagers? Villagers are fun.
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MatthewTaranto

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5777 on: September 25, 2024, 03:25:33 pm »
+1

I wondered if that was the reason!

I just got my Rising Sun in today, looking forward to trying it out. I'm now curious how the colors of the box sides got decided though--this one has a blue hue almost identical to Seaside, when initially I expected it to be a bold red (which we don't really have yet), similar to the Japanese flag.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5778 on: September 26, 2024, 11:24:41 am »
+2

I just got my Rising Sun in today, looking forward to trying it out. I'm now curious how the colors of the box sides got decided though--this one has a blue hue almost identical to Seaside, when initially I expected it to be a bold red (which we don't really have yet), similar to the Japanese flag.
Jay (Rio Grande Games) picks the colors, and then there they are. I don't know his system.
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Snorka

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5779 on: September 30, 2024, 01:38:10 am »
0

Would you ever consider doing a promo that breaks the fourth wall, or just doesn't match the setting at all? Something like Magic's un-set Gamers and Richard Garfield card, or a card named a modern day thing like uh Telephone or Airplane.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5780 on: September 30, 2024, 01:30:47 pm »
+2

Would you ever consider doing a promo that breaks the fourth wall, or just doesn't match the setting at all? Something like Magic's un-set Gamers and Richard Garfield card, or a card named a modern day thing like uh Telephone or Airplane.
I don't need to rule it out, but there's no special draw there either.
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Jesster

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5781 on: October 01, 2024, 12:10:29 pm »
0

Would you ever consider doing a promo that breaks the fourth wall, or just doesn't match the setting at all? Something like Magic's un-set Gamers and Richard Garfield card, or a card named a modern day thing like uh Telephone or Airplane.

It may be impractical given the delays in getting art for cards, but I like the idea of a pile called "Anachronism" where each card in the pile has the same name/type(s)/mechanics, but each one has different art of a modern day item being used (sometimes awkwardly) in a medieval setting.  No idea what the card should actually do, though.
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4est

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5782 on: October 01, 2024, 12:34:13 pm »
+3

Was there any concern around junking Attacks in games with Progress (especially in multiplayer) and players getting big stacks of junk on their deck? I know e.g. Sea Hag got the discard the top card part to mitigate this.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5783 on: October 01, 2024, 01:36:09 pm »
+5

Was there any concern around junking Attacks in games with Progress (especially in multiplayer) and players getting big stacks of junk on their deck? I know e.g. Sea Hag got the discard the top card part to mitigate this.
It was a thing to make sure I could live with, and I did. You get a window to build up before Progress becomes active. It makes a big difference.
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Snorka

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5784 on: October 12, 2024, 01:11:50 am »
+2

Are you thinking about doing Dark Ages 2E? Cards like Scavenger, Mystic, Pillage and especially Rebuild feel like they could be replaced. I feel like Looters in general could use a bit of a do-over.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5785 on: October 12, 2024, 01:42:10 pm »
+4

Are you thinking about doing Dark Ages 2E? Cards like Scavenger, Mystic, Pillage and especially Rebuild feel like they could be replaced. I feel like Looters in general could use a bit of a do-over.
Sadly this question cannot be answered.
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dz

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5786 on: October 16, 2024, 01:58:40 pm »
+2

Can you answer these questions using only song titles/lyrics?

4am thoughts?

If you could become fluent in any language, what would you pick?

Honestly, tell me can you see me through the screen?

"Autumn" or "fall"?

Tips for smiling for the camera without looking awkward?

How do you feel about the hyphen being in the wrong place on Riverboat?

Was it easy picking songs, or was it more of a chore?
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Will(ow|iam)

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5787 on: October 17, 2024, 09:43:54 am »
0

Can you think of any cards where, on initial design they didn't seem super interesting, but players really liked them when they got to playtesting?
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5788 on: October 17, 2024, 02:28:13 pm »
+7

Can you answer these questions using only song titles/lyrics?

Extra Glenns - Sure

4am thoughts?

Harry Reser's Syncopators - I Wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep

If you could become fluent in any language, what would you pick?

Ian Anderson - The Secret Language of Birds

Honestly, tell me can you see me through the screen?

They Might Be Giants - I Don't Understand You

"Autumn" or "fall"?

Sugarplastic - Autumn All the Time

Tips for smiling for the camera without looking awkward?

Book of Mormon obc - Man Up

Rutles - Things I Could Have Said

Beatles - Act Naturally
Fred Astaire - Let Yourself Go
Gothic Archies - Smile! No One Cares How You Feel
Guided by Voices - Be Impeccable
Joni Mitchell - Be Cool
Donner Party - Try to Imagine a Terrible World

How do you feel about the hyphen being in the wrong place on Riverboat?

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Honey Child What Can I Do

Was it easy picking songs, or was it more of a chore?

Cocksure Lads - Easy Peasy
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5789 on: October 17, 2024, 02:29:31 pm »
+1

Can you think of any cards where, on initial design they didn't seem super interesting, but players really liked them when they got to playtesting?
I'm always trying cards that look interesting to me, so from my perspective, no, not so much. From the perspective of other players, sure; most recently, the on-play debt cards must not look super interesting to some people.
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dz

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5790 on: October 18, 2024, 03:27:54 am »
0

Interested in doing another answer-with-music-references challenge?

Do you listen to any songs that are sung in a language that isn't English?

How come all anyone has ever done, is shoot me with a gun, while claiming that it's all in good fun?

Can I hear some words of wisdom? Tell me I don't need anything but my brain.

How do I properly show respect to others without letting it turn into sarcasm?

Is "love" just a game? They all say it, but do they mean it?

Rather than in the bigger box, happiness seems to be stored in the smaller one. What should I do?

A lot of these questions are secretly just music references; did you catch any of them?
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5791 on: October 18, 2024, 03:46:44 pm »
+3

Interested in doing another answer-with-music-references challenge?

Dressy Bessy - Just Once More

Do you listen to any songs that are sung in a language that isn't English?

70 Girls 70 obc - Yes
New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno

Divine Comedy - I Like
Guided by Voices - Two or Three Songs
Howling Wolf Orchestra - Is It Mostly (It Is Mostly)
Destroyer - English Music

How come all anyone has ever done, is shoot me with a gun, while claiming that it's all in good fun?

Robyn Hitchcock - You're So Repulsive
Weird Al Yankovic - You're Pitiful
(Future Bible Heroes - But You're So Beautiful)

Can I hear some words of wisdom? Tell me I don't need anything but my brain.

Brian Dewan - Words of Wisdom
Paul McCartney - Get It

Jonathon Coulton - Re: Your Brains
Game Theory - All You Need Is White

How do I properly show respect to others without letting it turn into sarcasm?

Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Noah and the Whale - Do What You Do
Angie Hart - Feel What You Don't
Big Moon - Don't Think
Peter Blegvad - Too Much

Is "love" just a game? They all say it, but do they mean it?

David Bowie - It's No Game

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog - So They Say
Kirsty MacColl - They Don't Know
Jason Webley - They Just Want
Beatles - Something

Rather than in the bigger box, happiness seems to be stored in the smaller one. What should I do?

Ray Noble / Al Bowlly - Make Yourself a Happiness Pie

A lot of these questions are secretly just music references; did you catch any of them?

Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows

Phil Ochs - No More Songs
Sparks - A More Constructive Use of Leisure Time
Apples in Stereo - Please
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Malta1978

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5792 on: October 19, 2024, 06:12:18 am »
0

Mix between comment and question.

Although I recognize the first couple of Second Editions made sense in creating a more "fluid" game, didn't it go too far afterwards?
Seems to me like it deflated the value of many expansions significantly and a lot of interesting cards, which added exactly the flavour, which is/was the charm of this game, got lost. And of course as a big fan and collector it was difficult to keep track of both new expansions and second editions of the old ones. Personally, I gave up collecting Second Edition supplement packs and settled for having the news cards in the online version, while playing with the first edition expansions when playing offline.
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5793 on: October 19, 2024, 01:24:29 pm »
+7

Although I recognize the first couple of Second Editions made sense in creating a more "fluid" game, didn't it go too far afterwards?
Seems to me like it deflated the value of many expansions significantly and a lot of interesting cards, which added exactly the flavour, which is/was the charm of this game, got lost. And of course as a big fan and collector it was difficult to keep track of both new expansions and second editions of the old ones. Personally, I gave up collecting Second Edition supplement packs and settled for having the news cards in the online version, while playing with the first edition expansions when playing offline.
For me the point to the second editions was to have better products. Anyone buying e.g. Prosperity gets a better expansion than they would have. And that's true, mission accomplished. People who already had it could buy just the new cards if they wanted, and didn't have to, hooray.

In terms of making money, it would have been smarter to just update packs into a new expansion. But the goal was improving those products.

No regrets!
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MatthewTaranto

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5794 on: October 20, 2024, 04:53:18 pm »
+1

You've mentioned that a couple cards (like Margrave) are a little strong and if you could, you'd make them more balanced by removing the +Buy or something. Are there any 2E cards like that, where if you could wave a wand to slightly nerf it, you would?
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5795 on: October 21, 2024, 10:58:03 am »
+4

You've mentioned that a couple cards (like Margrave) are a little strong and if you could, you'd make them more balanced by removing the +Buy or something. Are there any 2E cards like that, where if you could wave a wand to slightly nerf it, you would?
Yes, I'd make Sentry only trash one card.
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Įguia Branca

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5796 on: October 29, 2024, 02:02:35 pm »
0

How would you rank the following games in terms of depth (replayability, advantage for seasoned players, difficulty to build a competitive AI for, whatever you like)?
7 Wonders, Chess, Dominion (incl. all expansions), Go, Moon Colony Bloodbath, Puerto Rico, Texas Hold'em Poker

What percentage of games did you aim for getting Prophecies triggered? And on which turn?
« Last Edit: October 29, 2024, 02:09:48 pm by Įguia Branca »
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Donald X.

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Re: Interview with Donald X.
« Reply #5797 on: October 30, 2024, 02:17:43 pm »
+2

How would you rank the following games in terms of depth (replayability, advantage for seasoned players, difficulty to build a competitive AI for, whatever you like)?
7 Wonders, Chess, Dominion (incl. all expansions), Go, Moon Colony Bloodbath, Puerto Rico, Texas Hold'em Poker
I haven't played 7 Wonders or Hold'em.

Depth is easy. I will just mention. If you're pursuing variety, depth will just come with it.

Depth isn't the same as replayability; you can just enjoy say the anagramming in Boggle, even though it's always the same experience, even if you never get better at it. But even if we just look at replayability as seeing different things, well depth is about how long you can keep getting better at a game, which is just so different.

Chess and Go only have replayability in that you can enjoy thoroughly exploring their particular spaces. You haven't just seen everything immediately, because the situations are complex webs of interactions. For me this is not what I'm looking for; for me they have the replayability of say Boggle, but I like Boggle more. They have depth, sure; depth is easy. It's so easy even Go has it. But I mean. It requires you to endlessly play this game that is not really showing you new things. You can get this depth from just so many games, if you're willing to endlessly play those games. It's not like something to be praised. What Chess and Go have is that people actually played them that much.

Dominion has its plenty of depth that it got automatically. The replayability is on the table, it's not such a complex web. It's a simple web, but you know, sharply varying. It has way more replayability for me; I haven't exhausted it in 18 years. Though that's cheating because I keep adding new stuff. In terms of, how long can you keep getting better at it, man I don't know. Long enough, for sure.

Puerto Rico - which I like - is very low on replayability. You play once and you've had the experience. There will be some buildings you didn't get, and the skill level of the player ahead of you will vary, but. I don't know how much better you can get at it; it isn't worth finding out, for me. I enjoy playing it once every few years. It's hard to judge depth because I wouldn't want to play it enough to find out how much better I could get.

Poker has a psychological element, which gives it really endless replayability and also depth. This isn't praise for Poker specifically; iterative Rock-paper-scissors also has endless replayability and depth. You're not exploring configurations of game elements, you're exploring how people think. And when you switch opponents, there's new space to explore. I'm a big fan of psychological games.

Moon Colony Bloodbath has tons of variety; I made it, what were the odds. You get variety from drawing different cards and pursuing different strategies, and also having different setups. It will take a ton of plays to feel like you've seen everything. We didn't reach that point; I just had to get playtesting done on other projects. We got better at it all through playtesting; it has all that free depth that my games get.

What percentage of games did you aim for getting Prophecies triggered? And on which turn?
It wasn't like that. It was, "let's play some games, and see what happens, and see how we like it, and change it to make it more how we like it." Prophecies wanted to typically happen, so as not to be sad, but there was never "here is my percentage." Turn, I paid no attention to that. Again it's not like it wasn't part of it - if the Prophecy always happened the turn the game ended, I wouldn't have liked that. It was a factor but there was zero "what turn is it, how happy am I with that number." I never knew the number.
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