Claustrophobia!

[CptPhoenix]

[misterecho]

Now you'll have people thinking I helped with the formatting of your game! :P lol.

It's no problem, good luck with the contest.

[CptPhoenix]

Our group play tested the game yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. There were a few rules we thought needed some polish but over all the game ran well. The best two things for me was that players could tell the story they wanted and that the game flowed well, much faster than D20 style games.

There are many things I love about this competition, one of them is the chance to build a game and have people play it. I know of at least two actual plays including our own. I was a little nervous running the game at first (if it doesn't work, I'm going to look bad), but it worked out so well and everyone was happy. It was a truly rewarding experience.

I've been busy on my blog too. Check out this article about and this one about the .

[CptPhoenix]

If you've had a chance to play I'd love to know what you thought, even if you only had a chance to read through the book. Please check out survey.

[CptPhoenix]

Judges feedback please.

[Rob Lang]

Claustrophobia! is an awesome game and came within a gnat's left buttock to winning. The main reason that SMAF pipped it was that SMAF is the entire setting - a whole world whereas Claustrophobia feels more like an adventure because the vessel is going from somewhere to somewhere. There is by definition a big, supporting world out there. That's splitting hairs but then that's what you have to do with the best games.

I love the system, the mechanics feel claustrophobic - which is a massive achievement. Having a dice pool per player is wonderful. Other niggly things include my usual gripes about no contents or back page and the style of the layout doesn't feel like gnomes to me. It's very pretty to look at but not very gnomey. Gnomey to me feels more home-made or folksy.

All in all, Claustrophobia came really close. I do hope you join us again next year!

[CptPhoenix]

Thanks Rob.That means a lot. I'll be whipping it into better shape and releasing a newer version (as a Beta) sometime soonish, so I'll take what you said to heart.

I loved this competition, thank you so much for running it.

[Rob Lang]

Cool! I'll definitely read the Beta. And when you're happy post-Beta, I'll definitely review it. I'm tempted to review the 24 hour version but as the blog ends up a sort of archive of reviews, it is best if I review the one that isn't rushed!

[CptPhoenix]

Works for me. Anyone interested in Beta testing and getting their name in the book as a play tester is also hereby invited to send me their e-mail address.

[CptPhoenix]

I've queued up a new version of the combat rules which will go live on my sometime tomorrow. These rules are even simpler than the previous version and benefit from some of my play testing both with my group and solo.