Conflux closed test
This weekend we went to Tucson Games and Gadgets in the Tucson Mall to test the first playable build of Conflux
First Conflux Playtest Complete
This weekend I was fortunate enough to run the first playable build of Conflux at Tucson Games and Gadgets in the Tucson Mall. It was a small closed playtest attended by my friends Cougar and Eliot, my girlfriend Kat aka Arizona Angeli, and my parents.
We only played a single game, but even that was enough to uncover several small yet important issues that need attention before the next test.
Key Takeaways
• The Climb mechanic needs to be better defined, especially for Large and Goliath figures.
• The round and turn structure needs to be finalized and clearly documented.
• The game needs a "Critical Hit" mechanic when all attack or defensive dice are rolled as hits.
Beyond those issues, most of the game played surprisingly smoothly, even with the accidental addition of some custom units.
My original intention was to focus solely on testing the core gameplay and save unit creation for a future session. Instead, we ended up experimenting with both. While it became obvious that the unit creation system will need significant revision and extensive testing, I also came away convinced that it may become the feature that truly sets Conflux apart from other tabletop games.
Even during this brief playtest, we saw some wonderfully absurd matchups. Kat fielded an army of stuffed animals against a force of power-armored marines and Star Wars LEGO figures. Watching those armies clash on the battlefield perfectly captured the kind of creativity and flexibility I want Conflux to encourage.
Outside of development, I've also been spending some time playing the tabletop game Rangers of Shadow Deep. Its gameplay loop has me thinking about ways to incorporate solo gaming experiences into Conflux in the future. The idea of creating narrative driven single-player content that works alongside the main game is becoming increasingly appealing.
For now, though, the focus remains on fixing what didn't work, refining the core mechanics, and rewriting the unit creation system. At the moment, I'm leaning toward moving custom unit creation into a separate companion book rather than including it in the core rules.
Overall, the first playtest was a success. Conflux is officially playable, and now the real work begins.
-Kai aka Chai