Finding the Obvious

Designing my current project, Defenders of Wessex, I encountered many problems with the first build. But that first play test was terrible! Nothing worked properly (because one of the core mechanics was flawed). I puzzled out the problem for a while, but I could not think of a solution.

Then one of my players gave a suggestion and it all came together, and version 2.0 was born (its up to about version 2.3 now, but has been at 2.3 for about 6 weeks).

So yes, right under your nose solutions happen to me too.

Psychology 101, your brain is funny and unreliable.

Someone ever tell you to go grab an item from the cellar and you look all over... but its just not there. They walk down and grab it right off?

When you're brain has "The Solution" it saves processing power by blocking off those paths. There's no need keep looking if it has the answer. Your brain doesn't even see that it could be there.

The solutions I find most effective are:
- Step away, do something entirely unrelated, clear your head and come back to look.
- Get someone else involved to point at it and say "Hey, dummy"

I do both on a regular basic just because I know how unreliable my brain and emotions can be.