Second Playtest: Observations and Adjustments
Feedback:
After the changes implemented following the first playtest, the second playtest revealed several positive improvements and areas for minor refinement:
1. Improved Game Flow:
• Players noted that the simplified turn structure (one major action per turn) made the game much smoother and faster.
• The pacing issues from the first playtest were largely resolved, with rounds progressing quickly without feeling rushed.
2. Balanced Offense and Defense:
• The rebalanced Mischief Cards and character abilities created a satisfying interplay between offensive actions (e.g., Steal, Forced Draw) and defensive strategies (e.g., Tiko the Tortoise’s ability to block Mischief Cards or Zari the Owl’s ability to draw and discard strategically).
• Players felt that they had meaningful choices each turn, contributing to a sense of control and engagement.
3. Card Readability:
• While the game mechanics were praised, players suggested improving the visual design of the cards for better readability.
• Specific Issues: Fonts for numbers and card effects were sometimes too small or overly stylized, making them harder to read at a glance.
• Impact: This caused minor delays during gameplay, particularly for new players unfamiliar with the card effects.
4. Character Abilities:
• Although the abilities were better balanced compared to the first version, some characters still felt slightly overpowered or underwhelming:
• Overpowered: Anansi’s ability to swap a card remained strong, particularly when combined with certain Mischief Cards.
• Underwhelming: Fari the Hyena’s ability to skip an opponent’s turn by making them laugh felt inconsistent in effectiveness.