Introduction
What is level/adventure design?
Questions you must consider when you make a level/adventure
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Originating a level/adventure (4:41)
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Strategic or tactical? (3:10)
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Overcoming obstacles, or solving puzzles? (2:03)
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Open versus linear levels/adventures (2:58)
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Objective/Story (4:21)
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The role of story - from my "Learning Game Design" class (6:21)
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Characterization and Role-playing (2:27)
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Taking control away from the player(s) (2:30)
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Realism, fidelity, willing suspension of disbelief - it ain't what it used to be (6:32)
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Style and Mood (5:25)
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Tutorials (1:51)
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Player versus player/"multiplayer (5:53)
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Have you been writing things down?
Producing the Design
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Obstacles animate and inanimate (6:44)
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The Map (6:52)
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Puzzles (4:25)
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Quests (7:19)
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"Bosses" (4:41)
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"Loot" (3:20)
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Map-drawing Practice
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Pacing (2:53)
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Phases, acts, and the hero's journey - from my (5:56)
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Game Balance (3:32)
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Practice - write your own overview of a level/adventure
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Example of an overview of a level/adventure
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Co-operative play (5:38)
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Do's and Don'ts Part 2 (5:25)
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Do's and Don'ts, Part 1 (9:23)
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Practice: list the elements you'll use in a level/adventure
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Warren Spector's "Deus Ex Rules of Role-playing" (9:47)
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Playtesting is "Sovereign" (4:12)
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Production clarity and document editing (8:00)
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Software assist (not level editors) (5:56)
Campaigns, and Conclusion
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How campaigns differ from single adventures/levels (3:53)
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Example of campaign document
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Text Adventures /MUDs (4:35)
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Situations versus Specifics, Independence versus Handholding (2:59)
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Wargame scenarios (3:19)
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State of the tabletop RPG market (4:01)
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Conclusion and where to from here (3:08)
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Exit Survey
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All the slides used in this course
Bonus Material
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Your Game Design Portfolio - from "Learning Game Design" class (1:48)
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How the industry works - from "Get a Job in the Video Game Industry" (7:35)
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Rules-emergent versus Progressive Games - from "Learning Game Design" (4:49)
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Why I wrote my book "Game Design" (8:24)
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What makes my book unusual or unique (4:40)
