Recently, I have been generating a lot of paper work. There is always a situation where I would not read what I have written. Which makes some ideas or though being lost
Now I am trying to find a way to structure the writings I am producing to make sure that:
- I don't rewrite things what has already being done.
- I don't write things which would never be read again.
- I can easily find the information I need.
- I can easily sort out the old information.
- I could keep track of a list of changes.
Look at the picture below, this is what I have designed so far.
You loop in the process until the game is complete. First you start with new ideas that are going to create design notes. At this point, probably these notes will not be structured yet. When you have enough material, you can create your first rule set. Then you are going to playtest your rules and take notes. Now you should read your notes and make a list of changes that should be applied in order to improve the game. These changes will either make direct modifications to the rules OR will either require to be redesigned which mean creating design notes again.
In order to keep track of all the documentation, I thought that a numbering system could be important to easily find and sort the documents.
Each rule set would have a 3 number version which identifies: Edition.Version.Revision. For example 1.12.3
Then each playtest session with this rule set will have a number added to the version of the rules. For example: 1.12.3_01 or 1.12.3_P01
When all playtests are done, you need to generate a list of changes that needs be applied. For small modification to the rules, you are not forced to number them individually, but for things that need to be redesigned, each element must be identified with a unique number by adding it to the version of the rules. For example: 1.12.3_03 or 1.12.3_C03.
This is also the number that will now be used by the design notes. So the creation of notes to solve changes will be identified with it's number.
The only thing I don't have so far is a system or a numbering system for keeping track of new ideas and additions to the design notes. Maybe they could be all identified as 1.12.3_new so that we know that they were added after that version of the rules.
Do you have any question or comments?
I have missed anything?
Do you think it could be useful for you?
