Looking back on last week, I think I learned a couple of things - the hard way - from entering Game Chef.
Firstly, resolution mechanics aren't the be-all and end-all of a game. I have a bad habit of moving too quickly from initial concept, to trying to model that concept with dice and abilities. With The Dinner Party, although I had some early ideas along this line, it was a lot less important than trying to work out how the characters would interact with each other. And I think the game is stronger for it.
Secondly, this is the first time I've designed a game without trying real hard to enforce "game balance" between the characters, and it's liberating. It makes me realise that good competitive play doesn't require everyone to start on an equal footing.
I don't think that either of these things are startlingly original concepts, but I think that I undestand them better as a result of this week's design efforts.
How about you?