Playtest Program

The next work should reduce uncertainty, not add content. Promote a draft to LOCKED only after wording, timing, cost, and interaction checks pass. Separate fun-but-unclear, clear-but-flat, and broken observations.

Priority design queue

1. Define Encounter cards E01–E08.
2. Audit Conflict 021–032 against Momentum, Crown responses, Open War, and the completed timing glossary.
3. Audit Discovery 065–071, Relics 072–078, Majors 079–083, and Flex 084–089 against Realm Seed, Veil, and Breaking Point.
4. Hold cards 001–020 for the creator’s Champion and Cohort design pass.
5. Build the low-cost Prototype v0.1, achievement sheet, Crown markers, crisis aids, and structured playtest log; run controlled Test A before adding mechanics.
6. Preserve every future simulation model, settings file, procedure, and raw output with its summary. Do not publish victory percentages without a recoverable dataset.
7. Finalize icons, accessibility/manual UV fallback, Aegis branding, blind rules, and manufacturing specifications only after observed play.
8. Grand Reign remains parked until Micro Reign has documented playtest evidence.

Track time to first meaningful decision, rules pauses, unused cards, resource bottlenecks, Chaos, diplomacy, and win-path visibility. Change only one or two variables between sessions. State the test question before setup.