AsteRace

Over the last couple of months I've been working on a game that was inspired by a tweet (on Bluesky, does that make it a skeet?).

In it Dan Thurot asked: "... I want a designer to tell me why roll-and-move sucks and they would never consider using it in their own game."

I answered it was the theme that bothered me.

If I can move 6 spaces, why do I sometimes move 3, and sometimes 1?

It gave me an idea for a game.

Note how I've immediately broken the premise of Dan's question.

I've spent the last 2 months designing that game.

It's a race through an asteroid belt.

AsteRace. Gettit?

The board spaces start blank, you fill them in as you move.

There are nine gates to visit.

First to visit all nine wins.

It's a simple roll & move & write game.

My playtesters have really enjoyed it.

But I can't see it becoming a 'product'.

So I'm giving it away in our next newsletter.

Free game!

Subscribe here if you're interested.

In other news, Gal4Xeon finishes soon and it's doing amazing!

Thurospiration

Dan Thurot writes excellent reviews.

I follow him on Bluesky.

Where he asked for designers to explain why Roll and Move games suck.

Lots of answers about lack of player agency.

How it's associated with old games like Monopoly, Clue(do), etc.

I'm more concerned about the theming.

When I answered the question, it gave me an idea.

I quickly knocked up a sheet using a hex grid from the internet.

And took it with me when I met up with my buddy Joe, the designer of the excellent Word Dungeon. 

We tried out my loose idea.

Tweaked it.

Tried it again.

He had some great ideas.

So I've knocked up another version.

Very rough and ready prototype

Hoping to meet up with him again next week and maybe try it again.

Roll and move.

Who'd have thought!