I have started work on revising MACE for what should be a final and complete document. I began my usual process for typing large documents, which reminded me of several posts regarding how to start typing an RPG.
So I have started this blog so I can show the game from beginning to completion. This is not about game mechanics, but about layout, wording and presentation of an RPG document. I hope MACE serves as a good example due to the nature of its rules and the importance of wording to clearly communicate how to play the game.
Attached is the first step I use, which is a heading skeleton. Firstly, I go through and type on a txt document all the headers I can think of that are relevant to the game.
Then, I review each header and decide whether it should be combined with other headers or split up even further. I also look at the wording of the headers to see if it is clear or unclear.
Once that is done, I cut and paste the headers into the order I think they should appear. There is no right way to do this, but I ask myself "Should they know this before reading other rules?". This usually determines the order for me.
Finally, I mark what is a chapter header and what is a sub header of a larger chapter. I also seperate the headers by group and do light editing so it stands out.
The attached document is the end result (so far). The reason I have done this is simple - all I have to do know is fill in each header. By the time I have typed the rules under each header, the first draft of the game will be complete! When I next comment, I will post my progress so far.
I thought that this post might be a refreshing twist on what I would normally post. Does anyone have any observations about either my approach to typing this game or other layout/wording techniques? Comment if you do, thanks!