Here's a list of the top five things to check before you publish your one-page RPG. Especially handy for Unknown Dungeon's One-Page RPG Jam. Do these, and you'll be off to a good start!
All very solid tips that I really try to keep in mind myself (but I like your clear bullet points, so I may make a reminder poster for over my desk.) I added two new tips to my own checklist this time around after feedback on my One Page RPG Jam entry. The first was to consider accessibility options - what if the player is colorblind and the game uses colors? What if the player doesn't own a tarot deck or a tumbling tower or dice? What if you've made a walking game and someone has mobility issues? Are there alternative suggestions for how to play?
The second caught me off guard. I gave a copy to a friend who shared it with his mom because he thought it was right up her alley. Once he explained what an RPG was, she seemed to have a great time, but her only critique was that I should have explained what an RPG was in the rules - not the hook, or the game loop, but what even was an RPG. I'm not quite sure yet how to address that in such a short format, but I am very grateful for both of these pieces of feedback because they exposed blind spots that I didn't even realize I had.
That's always the challenge. I personally try to keep the "Every comic is someone's first." philosophy in mind, but that's hard to do in a one-page game format. For larger zines I have started to include a "what is a solo rpg" section up front. Experienced players can ignore it and new players appreciate it.
You may have motivated me to clean up this list and format it as an actual checklist. Could throw the PDF up on itch. :)
All very solid tips that I really try to keep in mind myself (but I like your clear bullet points, so I may make a reminder poster for over my desk.) I added two new tips to my own checklist this time around after feedback on my One Page RPG Jam entry. The first was to consider accessibility options - what if the player is colorblind and the game uses colors? What if the player doesn't own a tarot deck or a tumbling tower or dice? What if you've made a walking game and someone has mobility issues? Are there alternative suggestions for how to play?
The second caught me off guard. I gave a copy to a friend who shared it with his mom because he thought it was right up her alley. Once he explained what an RPG was, she seemed to have a great time, but her only critique was that I should have explained what an RPG was in the rules - not the hook, or the game loop, but what even was an RPG. I'm not quite sure yet how to address that in such a short format, but I am very grateful for both of these pieces of feedback because they exposed blind spots that I didn't even realize I had.
That's always the challenge. I personally try to keep the "Every comic is someone's first." philosophy in mind, but that's hard to do in a one-page game format. For larger zines I have started to include a "what is a solo rpg" section up front. Experienced players can ignore it and new players appreciate it.
You may have motivated me to clean up this list and format it as an actual checklist. Could throw the PDF up on itch. :)
Thanks for the comment!
Great food for thought. Very helpful for new designers like myself.
Great! I hope it helps. It's all stuff I had to learn over time.
Thanks!!
You're welcome.