Name: [Playtesting] Heirless
Start: 2025-11-30T15:15:00+01:00
End: 2025-11-30T17:30:00+01:00
Location: BlastoDice

In this session, we'll playtest Heirless, a board game I am designing ([https://heirless.segfault.tech](https://heirless.segfault.tech)). A game focused on deal-making, be it trades or agreements, with area-control aspects (similar to Rising Sun) and tableau building (similar to Terraforming Mars).

There is no physical copies as of yet: playtesting will be done **on computers** at the bar (**make sure to bring your own laptop**). You can [start a game session](https://airboardgame.net/playgame/jNGHybeW32) to check how your device handles it.

In terms of complexity, I would rate Heirless as slightly north of 3/5 using board game geek's rating system.

This game is in a very early state. Unbalances are expected and, so far, we tend to end the game due to time constraints, not because of gameplay reasons.

The goals of these sessions are to help balancing the game, figure out where downtime occurs to remove it, and get input from players.

The rulebook is available at [https://heirless.segfault.tech/](https://heirless.segfault.tech/), but images are sometimes missing or outdated (the text is pretty much always up-to-date, however). As usual with our game sessions, all the rules will be explained at the start.

If you have played a previous playtesting session for Heirless, the main changes are:
\- Battle phase trivialized to resolving area control but with a potential ally \(removes considerable downtime\)\. No more knight attributes\. They just have levels \(1 to 3\) indicating their strength\.
\- Resource conversion is now unlocked as an action\, then made freely available for the round \(removes downtime caused by having to plan ahead too much\)\.
\- Workplace effects are stronger\. As this is a balance issue\, it remains very much a work in progress\.
\- "Location of Interest" replaced by "Events\," cards which affect a faction for the round\. All known in advance\. Helps to further break symmetry between the factions\, in a way that changes every game\.
\- 6 rounds limit\. Trying to balance around a reasonable play time\. The tediousness of using a virtual interface makes even that round limit difficult to reach\.

I am of course available to answer any queries about it.

Quick summary of our Meetup group's description, just in case:

* This meetup is for people who want to play board games in English.
* While the primary intent is to provide an occasion to practice English while having fun, native speakers are also welcome.
* Players are not expected to be familiar with the game being played.
* English level B2 or above required.
* Sessions are in English only.
* 2 Euros participation fee (i.e. Blastodice fee to access the games). Whether it'll be asked of you kinda depends on the barman, so I warn about it just in case.

If you previously thought you would attend a session but changed your mind, it's okay, but please change your status on the session's invitation list accordingly as soon as possible: spots are limited and you might be needlessly preventing others from attending.

Weekend session warnings:

* The bar opens at 3PM.
* The bar does not serve much food before 6:30PM (muffins and stuff like that are available, but no meal before that time). They sell plenty of drinks, though.

nsensfel

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