1KM1KT / Free RPG Blog 24 Hour RPG Competition: It's over!

[Rob Lang]

Everyone, it's great to have you aboard. I'm keen to hear what you get up to and what the experience was like. Please don't be strangers!

[Drohem]

*tosses hat into ring*

I think that I am going to go with Primordial Chicken Soup!

[Drohem]

I've got a question about the contest since this my first time. I read the rules and I understand that I can't research or put anything on paper (figuratively) before I start the 24-hour period.

Can I think about it before I start the 24-hour period?

[Rob Lang]

You may think as much as you like! I like to believe that 24 hour RPG is about getting that RPG that's been stuck in your head for years out onto paper.

[Drohem]

Coolness.

I've a couple genres that I am tossing around in my head for this RPG.

[Nicephorus]

So many good choices I couldn't decide. So I rolled the dice 3 times and chose two of the results. I'm going with both Power Squid! and Magic Pants.

I'm hoping for a part of a day with the kids busy with other things, then write at night and take a nap the next day to get it done. Given my lack of art skills, layout will be crude and art skimpy to nonexistent.

[Drohem]

[Peril Planet]

I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, and they can certainly can be a distraction when trying to cram an entire game into 24-hours.

I started my game yesterday (my windows of opportunity are infrequent), but it took a while to get my account activated (my fault, not Rob's!). I chose FANTASYPUNK. I am a big cyberpunk fan.

While I was waiting for activation I blogged about my progress. You can find it here;


I have submitted the game - Verge - to 1km1kt and posted it on my website too;



Cheers,
Nathan

[Spacemouse]

I just skimmed through Verge, and it's really impressive. You created all that stuff in 24 hours minus distractions? Wow. Very professional-looking layout, too. The bar's been set high for this compo! 8P

[Peril Planet]

Thanks for the positive comments.

For me, the key is to get the layout sorted first, then type the stuff straight in. I use InDesign and set up my layout, heading hierarchy etc. straight away. This means that I don't have to worry about those fiddly things when the time crunch really hits. It also makes things like creating tables of contents a snap.

Getting images / icons for layout is as easy as a google search - all (both?) the images in Verge were free to use (). Having the layout in place and evocative fonts also helps me keep the theme or tone in mind as I write - the thick black borders in Verge reminded me of the dark, oppressive city and the sinister forest that are central to my concept.

Honestly, the breaks from the computer (forced or otherwise) are my secret weapon. Instead of sitting at the laptop banging my head, I get to think things through and get my ideas sorted, even as I am driving kids about or making meals. When I get back to work I can just blast the ideas straight out. Of course, this can lead to trash that should be removed before "publishing" (which I may or may not have succeeded at!). Also, breaks keep the body and mind fresh - an essential for those creative juices.

While I used InDesign (and am reasonably familiar with the program), you can get very impressive results with Word style sheets (and two columns always seems to look more "professional") and creative use of evocative fonts (which you can get for free - try to begin, but google really is your friend). But don't spend too long setting your pages up - get writing!

I look forward to reading other's games.

- Nathan