Mountain Missive Nr. 5

The Playtest

We awoke to a dreadful sound along the ridgeline. Ixy’s breath was that of a dying man - shallow, rattling. How had we failed to see how gravely ill he had become? He had borne his suffering with such quiet dignity.

- Dairy of Harriet

The things we fail to see ourselves. Back in the middle of a glitched blog on game design.

The truths of a game develop in recursions. Reflections in the experiences of others. Playtests are the backbone of development. Mirror mask opposition. Emotions as above, from the diary of Harriet. The second ascent of the Ambrose Massive. Missive from the massive. Tiny alterations between layers, back and forth as in a Waltz. Around and around the players’ minds.

This is to say danke to all the playtesters of the campaign made rules made book of tables made pamphlet of rules. This is also to say danke to all the future backers returning it to a book of tables. Backwards to reality. Always on the shoulders of others, all giants, to each their own.

One of the numbers of the things to find on a climbing route:

• 4 Old Aids: Old aids, some pitons, fixed ropes, or a via ferrata are on the route. The reason is unclear; they may be a help or artificially weakened to create a trap.

What story will you tell when the via ferrata breaks?

Gabriel Loppé - Lever de soleil sur les Grandes Jorasses, 1862-1872

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