Designer Diary #13 – Sig’s Spellbinding Week!
Hi everyone, Anne here! For those who don’t know me, I’m Sigfried’s wife and his partner in crime (and tech support!) over here at Sig Trent Games. This past week has been a whirlwind of hushed muttering, frantic typing, and the occasional excited outburst from his desk. Translation? He’s been deep in the weeds of game design for his new project, Shotgun Fantasy. Let me give you the inside scoop from my side of the monitor.
Shotgun Fantasy: It’s All About the Magic (Apparently!)
Honestly, the level of focus Sig has had on the spell system for Shotgun Fantasy is intense. I’ve overheard snippets about “no more MVS.” If you’re a seasoned D&D player, you know that means “Material”, “Verbal”, and “Somatic” – the three types of components required to cast a spell. He’s been passionately explaining how the spells will have these cool, descriptive introductions before diving into the actual rules. I think that’ll make them so much more engaging and easier to grasp.
The biggest topic of conversation around the house, though, has been this new concept he’s calling “Foci.” From what I gather, it’s a completely different way to handle magical limitations, moving away from the traditional concentration mechanic. He’s been excitedly explaining how it ties into how much magic a character can handle and even how it might affect magic items. As gamers, I’m sure we’ve all encountered a spell or magic point system before, but given how Sig’s system might tie into magic items and enchantments I can see why he wanted to call it something else. I can’t wait to see what he’ll cook up. He even mentioned it might make magic items scale with your character’s level, which is a pretty neat idea!
It’s fascinating to witness his creative process. He gets so immersed in these intricate systems, and it’s clear how much thought and care he puts into every detail. I’m really excited to see how this Shotgun Fantasy magic system comes together.
Power Cycles: Even Our Downtime is Game Design!
Even during our downtime, game design seems to seep into our conversations. I don’t mind it I’m a gamer after all. This week, Sig was particularly chatty about called “Power Cycles.” He was explaining how players go through phases of feeling confident, then struggling with challenges, and finally experiencing triumph. Apparently, this cycle is crucial for keeping players engaged in RPGs.
He even used his recent (and slightly dramatic!) defeat in Baldur’s Gate 3 as an example. He was so confident in his “ambushy ranged attack focused party” until he hit a wall – General Thorm. It was a classic case of overconfidence leading to a humbling struggle! It was actually quite funny to hear him recount his strategic failures. It definitely reinforced his point about the importance of that cycle in games.
It’s interesting to see how these design philosophies influence even the games he plays for fun. It’s like his game designer brain never really switches off!
Good Vibes All Around (Finally!)
On a more personal note, I’ve definitely noticed a shift in Sig’s energy levels this week. He’s been much more upbeat and motivated, which is always great to see. He even mentioned tweaking his vitamin routine, so maybe that’s been a factor. Whatever it is, the positive energy is contagious! It makes the whole atmosphere around here much more productive and enjoyable.
Want to Dive Deeper into Shotgun Fantasy?
If you’re as intrigued as I am by Sig’s ideas for Shotgun Fantasy and this whole “Foci” magic system, you absolutely have to join the Sig Trent Games Discord! He’s been actively sharing early spell concepts and discussing these design choices directly with the community in the #everyday-heroes channel. It’s the perfect place to get your questions answered, share your own thoughts, and be part of the development process. Trust me, you’ll get way more of the nitty-gritty details there than I can relay!
Come hang out with us – we’d love to hear from you!
Click here to join the Sig Trent Games Discord and talk Shotgun Fantasy!
– Anne
