Time for another development post. After receiving the great feedback from our playtesters at Gen Con 2016, we've had some time to discuss and look back over all playtests of the game for the past year. We use a modified version of the Unpub feedback form, asking people to rate the game from 1 to 5 (1=Poor and 5=Excellent) in these categories; Length of Game Play, Interactivity, Ease of Learning, Originality, Game Decisions, Player Down Time and Fun / Enjoyable. Here are the numbers for the playtesters that would buy our game:

3.92 - Length of Game Play 
4.13 - Interactivity 
4.21 - Ease of Learning 
4.65 - Originality 
4.42 - Game Decisions 
3.75 - Player Down Time 
4.69 - Fun / Enjoyable
4.25 - TOTAL Average Score
88% said they buy it

While these numbers are really good, we do have room for improvement (Length of Play and Player Down Time). We don't want just good, we want great. Many playtesters are playing for the first time, so it is understandable their first game takes a little longer and other players take a little longer on their turns.

So with everything taken into consideration, here are the major issues we are addressing:

• We need to develop a short version of a 4-player game that runs 45 to 60 minutes. 
• We need to develop a full version of a 4-player game that runs 90 to 120 minutes (or less).
• Tweak the card designs and encode the cards with more symbols (faster learning, international friendly and less math)
• Re-balance to make crafting a little easier (speeds up the game) but without making it too easy.
• Keep our special card text simple 

That's all for this week. We've started planning for our kickstarter in January 2017... More on that soon.

Thanks!
~Mike Warth

We had a wonderful experience at Gen Con this year. The folks at Double Exposure did a great job running the First Exposure Playtest Hall. We were able to get in six playtest sessions over the course of the first three days.  We are looking over the comments and already have a list of changes to make. The game plays well with both male and female and all age groups.  It’s time to start preparing for a Kickstarter in the first quarter of 2017. We’ll continue to playtest, refine the game and get it ready for the market.

Overall, 90% of gamers who play Dwarven Smithy like the game, would recommend it to a friend and buy it. That’s an incredible number!  The game plays well with both male and female and all age groups. 

We would also like to say a special thanks to our Gen Con playtesters; Aaron, Andrew, Ben, Bethany, Briana, Chris, Don, Duncan, Eva, Jeremy, Joe, Kevin, Laney, Lauren, Matthew, Nancy, Noah, Sarah, Stephanie and Stephen . 

Thanks to everyone for their support!

Here's our schedule in the First Exposure Playtest Hall (ICC : Rooms 107-110) at Gen Con 2016.

• B255 Friday 6 pm (Table 1)
• B299 Friday 10 pm (Table 1)
• B424 Saturday 4 pm (Table 9)
• B468 Saturday 8 pm (Table 9)

We'll also be setup in the Game Library & Pick Up and Play Area, so look for our banner!
​The Library is in ICC : Rooms 101-106.

In preparation for Gen Con 2016, we have released version 1.0 of the Print and Play for Dwarven Smithy.
Click here to go to the page.