Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I am definitely NOT going CRAZY thinking about how fast 2025 flew by and wondering how I'm going to get everything I want done in the new year.
Today I want to talk to you about something front of mind- playtesting Muffles' Life Sentence. Why? Because playtesting on the final episode is set to start REALLY SOON! I'd give an exact date but trust me, it's coming very soon.
How have playtesters impacted Muffles? How do I use feedback to make the game better? And what about RPGs necessitates a lot of player involvement during the creation?
I have no idea.
Just kidding I got some ideas.
Players are the secret weapon
Our playtesters have much more impact on Muffles than they even realize. It's not just about bugs and typos- they help guide the pacing, flow, balance, and focus of the entire experience. And for an RPG, these things are absolutely critical!
I joke with the inmates (members of the Discord) when they bring up crazy and silly ideas that if they aren't careful I will put their ideas in the game full stop. For some reason, that doesn't in any way stop them from throwing out wild suggestions.
A few ideas from players that I used in game:
Emo pettys
Secret dialogue if you sequence break into the Drachencrag orientation room
A map that Dee scribbled to help you navigate Tangletop forest
A lot of times it's people telling me they really like a certain character, and so I'll give them more of a chance to shine. Other times it's a lot more subtle, with different players having vastly different or contradicting opinions on characters, combat, places, story elements, etc.
No better time for me to touch on how I use (and when I don't use) feedback.
Without a vision, feedback will destroy you
Someone will say "I think this combat encounter is too long." And then you'll shorten it by giving the enemies less health, or simplifying mechanics, or some other method. And then someone else will say "Ah man I really liked how it was before that change!"
And then what do you do? Change it back or leave it as is? Do you listen to the person with the most experience giving feedback? Are you unbiased enough to listen to your own instincts and filter out what some of your players are telling you?
Don't make it so complicated! Follow your pillars and your inspirations!
Because I want Muffles' to feel like the strange and disturbed child of Paper Mario, OFF, and Undertale, I can look to these to know what choices to make.
If I know the player suggesting the combat is too long is not a hardcore strategy player and prioritizes enjoying the story elements, then their feedback is probably the gold standard because that's the kind of game I'm trying to make!
You have thousands of choices you can make in the process of building an RPG. Follow your vision. Filter feedback through your goals, your inspirations, and your scope, and the choices you are left with are manageable.
Why do RPGs need playtesting
This one's kind of a 'no duh.' RPGs are sprawling, multifaceted, multilayered experiences where player choices stack to make for diverse experiences and where many systems work together dynamically to bring the experience to life. And also it has to be fun. And not break. And support niche strategies because those are cool. And-
RPGs are a less common game genre, especially for indies. Which is kind of weird, because I actually think they are a great fit for indies with a few caveats.
More curated experiences (just because it's an RPG doesn't mean it needs to be all things)
Game length and graphical scope are limited
Insightful playtesters are involved in every step of the process
Even as I write these, I can see how they might seem antithetical to the core idea of an RPG- games that are famously gargantuan, graphically-polished, and wide-ranging experiences. Are you asking yourself- how can there be a GOOD RPG that doesn't meet these principles?
*COUGH* Muffles' Life Sentence *COUGH*
In Other News
New year, new fears.
I mean hopes and dreams! What are y'all's resolutions? What games are y'all playing? Want to play Muffles' Life Sentence Episode 5? You should join the Discord and hit up Bossy or Nomad!
Until next time~