PAHD Log 003 - The Pivot

    The more I played with these cards myself, the more I felt they wanted to be a full game. So I started working on combat and survival mechanics. It seemed easy enough; just make a table of x-number equals x-damage. Well, if you want it to be fun, you can't kill off the characters in their first fight, which is the problem I was having. Take a look at this picture of my trials at making a balanced combat system. 

 

    Each color on that page represents a different trial with different combinations of damage tables. The first six tries, my character would die after the second enemy. Which was a problem because the player can encounter up to three enemies at once (randomized by a die roll, of course). 

     Ultimately, I think I got the balance under control between my last table and adjusting the healing mechanics. In my latest test play, my character was able to go up against four enemies in a row (two one round and two another) and survive. They only had two health left, but they did survive. Luckily, the both fights happened near a doctor and my character was able to trade some food for health. A few tiles later, though, they ran into another enemy. Won that fight too and found a stash of food, but they were left at three health, and had to make their way back to the doctor. 

    I ended the session with three guns, one first aid kit, three water, and nine food. Some photos below of my map and character sheet (the little green eraser is to mark where I am on the map).

    
    Overall, that last test play went really well. I realized some cards are missing instructions, though, so I'll be fixing that tomorrow.  

     That's it for now; thanks for reading and have a great rest of your day.