December 2025 - Paper Hero's Games Playtesting!

Players and game designers wanted for this open house style event!
Hey everyone, Chris here! I'm going to be hosting a Saturday playtesting event at Paper Hero's Games in Santa Monica again, and both players and designers are wanted!

DESIGNER SIGN UP: If you have a game to test during session one or two signup here:
Fill out the form here- First Play LA Designer Sign-Up
Note there is a 1 hour session and a 2 hour session. Your game will be assigned to whichever session is more suitable. Very short games (20min or less) should be brought to Open Play instead. Please note new members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game.

SCHEDULE:
Game days have 3 segments. You do not need to come for the whole day! However, if you are testing your own game you should stay and test at least one other designer's game as well.

OPEN PLAY TESTING 2:00pm - 3:00 pm
Ruin Run! (Chris Barker): Simple table top card game where players use cards in hand to beat cards on the table and collect as many tokens before the cards run out!

This is unstructured play time, ideal for very short games (20min or less), or games requiring 1-2 players. If you're a designer check in with me and then grab an available table and let people know you are looking for players. If you're a player, just sit down at a game and play!

SESSION ONE 3:15pm - 4:15pm
Blood & Wishes (Christopher Poole): In this simple card game, you'll take on the role of a monster hunter in dark fairy tale world as you compete for kills, lay traps, and lure your fellow hunters with terrible gifts.

DARVO (Chris Daniel): Manipulation? Gas Lighting? Learn the game so you wont be played.

SESSION TWO 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Pass the Brain Cell (Benjamin Hendel): Work together to guide one character through a story of corporate influence, interacting with many items and NPCs. Gain points for coordinating and behaving tactfully, lose points if your character makes a fool out themselves!

TacTile (Joseph Bugbee): Tactile is an abstract strategy engine builder where you are building a tableau of bonus actions but you must move onto the correct tiles to activate them. I’m testing some new in game resources

Scheduled sessions are the core of First Play! There is a 1 hour session and a 2 hour session. Before each session designers will be asked to give an 'elevator pitch' of their game, after which players can decide which game they want to play. Sessions are ideal for games that are 20-90 minutes. After play, be sure to leave time to give and receive feedback!

SPECIAL NOTES: No fee to play, and you're welcome to stay and play until the store closes at 10PM.

Please read these guides, especially if you are new to design or playtesting-
How to do better playtesting!
How to explain rules for your confusing game prototype!

Code of Conduct Rules

1. Be kind.
2. Seriously, be even more kind than you think you need to be.
3. Read the guidelines for giving and receiving feedback.
4. Respect the rules of our venues (Geeky Teas, Paper Heroes, Odyssey, etc). We will continue to be welcome as long as we continue to be good guests.
5. New members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game.
6. If you have RSVP'd to run a game, show up for your time slot. If you do not show up for your time slot, you will get a strike against you. Three strikes and moderators will discuss next steps with you about if you will be allowed to continue running games.
7. Be respectful of other community members- give as much as you receive. Playtest other peoples' games, not just your own.
8. In the case of an unresolvable or continuing conflict, please let a moderator know so we can determine next steps.
9. You will receive a warning if a legitimate complaint is lodged against you. In the case of a continuous issue, a group of at least 3 moderators will discuss and determine next steps. Consistent bad behavior will lead to a group ban.

See you soon!

Have questions?
For FAQ's, please see here - First Play FAQ’s
For a specific question please email: *chris@eternalstudios.com*
For community conversations join the Cardboard Alchemy Discord: https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT - find the #first-play-la-chat channel!