The Black Box is getting close to complete, so I want to review my goals and make sure what I’ve built (am building) is right. This list is not exhaustive, but it’s a start.
At the beginning of the prelude/prologue:
- Don’t assume the player knows how to play interactive fiction. Conventions may not be clear, some hand-holding may be required.
- The player has one or two utility items (wand, boots, notebook, etc).
- The player knows nothing about the story, the world, the tone, or the game mechanics.
In the middle:
- The player is proficient at moving around the world, interacting with objects, and speaking to NPCs.
- The player has acquired additional items, such as the Rainbow Sword.
- The player has started one or more quests, and may have completed a side quest already.
- The tone of the game and the core mechanics are established. A small amount of worldbuilding has been done.
At the end:
- The player has completed multiple quests and received rewards for them.
- The player has a general idea of what the overall story is about.
- The tone of the game is firmly established, but there will still be surprises.
- The player has interacted with multiple NPCs, who may be friends or enemies now based on the player’s actions.
- The player has had an opportunity to use at least one of their class/race traits.