Can Simplifying My Game Make it Better?

I think about how to make my game better on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis. How often have you asked yourself the same question?

Something struck me yesterday, though. I’m preparing to read Cal Newport’s excellent Digital Minimalism again, and I realised I normally think about making my game better by adding something—background music, props, and so on.

So here’s the question: can I make my game better by taking something away?

In today’s world, we are bombarded by marketing messages. Few of those messages are trying to get you to remove something from your life. Most are trying to convince you to add something—a product or service—to your life.

But can I run a better game with less?

When I started running AD&D back when the world was young, I had a couple of rulebooks, a single set of dice and a module. We had a blast. Now, however, I need loads and loads of dice, apps to run my character, apps to play music, tons of painted miniatures, battle mats, scenery, dozens (or scores) of “optional” rulebooks and more.

I’m still having a blast. The thing is, though, I’m not having a blast x10.

Creighton Broadhurst is the Publisher of Useful Items at Raging Swan Press. He lives on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity. He is not planning to voyage far.