Design Notes

Development blog for Tipping Points game design: iterations, playtesting, card design, and theoretical explorations.

About This Collection

This collection documents the design and development process of Tipping Points. Posts cover:

Design Iterations - Changes to game mechanics, rules refinements, system evolution
Playtesting Reports - Session summaries, player feedback, observed gameplay patterns
Card Design - Individual card concepts, sets, themes, and design rationale
Theoretical Explorations - How academic concepts map to game mechanics
Development Updates - Progress, blockers, design decisions

Posts are organized chronologically, with categories and tags for filtering by topic.

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Use the category filters above to explore specific aspects of the design process.

Playtest Session 1: Initial Mechanics Testing

playtesting

First playtesting session with initial card set and basic mechanics. Key observations on game flow, player engagement, and areas for improvement.

Jan 15, 2025

Mechanics Iteration 2: Threshold System Redesign

design-iteration

Major revision to the threshold and tipping point mechanics based on initial playtesting. Moving from fixed thresholds to dynamic, context-dependent triggers.

Jan 10, 2025

Card Design: Heatwave Climate Card

card-design

Design process and rationale for the Heatwave climate card. Exploring how to model extreme temperature events and their cascading effects on multiple systems.

Jan 5, 2025