Microscope Needs Playtesters
The new playtest draft of Microscope is ready (version 3 for those keeping score), and I’m looking for some brave souls to put it through its paces. Could that someone be you?
I’m specifically looking for people who will play the game and provide feedback, not just read it. The first two versions were playtested by the brave and beautiful gamers of Seattle, but I’ve been always directly involved. Now it’s time to see how the game does when I’m not sitting at the table.
It’s no-prep, no-GM. All you need is a few fellow gamers, your brain, and a mess of index cards.
Definitely bring your brain.
Interested? Leave a comment here and I’ll get your address from the (hidden) email field and contact you. Or just send an email to microscope-playtest + lamemage.com.
And while I’m at it, major thanks to everyone who has already played Microscope and helped get it where it is now: Tony Dowler, Ryan Dunleavy, Mike Frost, John Harper, Robert Haskell, Jem Lewis, Kevin Lewis, Ching-Ping Lin, Trey Marshall, and Paul Riddle, plus additional feedback from Stephen Scholz and Jonathan Walton. You guys rock.
I’d be willing to give it a go. I’ve got a regular group that I could probably spring it on. I’d want to review the PDF first to make sure that I understand and could arbitrate the current rule set.
Frank & Jeffrey, I’ll let you know as soon as the new version is ready to go.
Sign me up for playtesting, I’d like to spring this on my players.
I’ve been hooked on your site ever since PA linked you and I’ve been cobbling together my own “West Marches” style game to fill the summer gaming gap. Microscope though, sounds like just the ticket for our game night… we get together about once a month and like to try new games and this might be just the thing to steer us away from boardgames. Any chance of getting in on the playtest?
Absolutely
This summer we’re going to be doing a ton of rpg-related stuff, and I think playtesting Microscope would be an awesome addition. Add me to the list?
Cool Peter, I’ll add you to the list when the next playtest release is ready.
I’m interested in play testing microscope. Send me a line if you still need feedback.
Great Eisenhorn, I’ll put you on the list for when the next version is ready.
I’d love to get a chance to fiddle with these rules. We love new systems and meet twice a week, might be great for our alt game.
John & Frans: I’m working on another major tweak to the rules, so I’m going to hold off on sending out more copies until I get that ironed out. As soon as I have those changes ready, I’ll send you the package.
Hi if you still need any testers I would be interested in giving it a try with my buddies, when job and university lets me….
I am interested in trying this with my gaming group.
Fantastic! I want to hear all about it. There’s a whole thread for play reports:
Many Shades of History: Microscope Actual Play
One playtester was talking with a teacher about playing it with kids in her drama workshop, but I haven’t heard how it went. Suffice to say, if anyone tries it, I’m really curious to hear how it works.
Ben, I played last night with Justin Alexander and our crew, and I love the game. I want to play again as soon as possible. Has anyone tried playing with children?
Sounds interesting. I’d like to try it with my gaming/writing group
And another latecomer expressing profoundest interest on playtesting this, if possible!
How can I resist such enthusiasm?
This sounds AMAZING. Can I get in on the playtesting?
I’ve been following this for a while now, and I’m definitely interested in playtesting if you still need people to try it out. I swung the ideas by my group and everybody sounded really interested and excited by the idea.
I’d be interested in playtesting Microscope, if you still need more testers – it sounds like something my group would enjoy playing.
Welcome everybody! You should have your playtest instructions in email.
I’m also interested in playtesting Microscope if you would still like additional playtesters. It sounds like it would work very well with the group of people I currently play with.
Definitely looks like an interesting game – I’d love to playtest it if you still need testers. I enjoyed your West Marches posts immensely, to the point where my own West Marches style game is kicking off on Sunday with a player roster of 15 right now (and growing!). I’ll be sure to let you know how it turns out!
This seems like an interesting game, if you’re still doing playtesting on it, I would love to get one of my regular groups together to give it a try – we haven’t really done anything without a GM before, so this could be an interesting experiment!
Microscope sounds really interesting (I’ve just recently discovered your site and read through your playtests and other blog posts about it), and I’d love to get a few of my regular gaming group friends together and give it a test run! It looks like something different and unique to try, and we don’t have an ongoing campaign at the moment.
Thanks, Ben!
Kazz: I also had the forums in mind when I requested this. Check your email.
I wanna play! I wanna play! I always force my friends to play weird things, and this would be no exception. No offense.
The group I’m in has been experimenting with different play-styles and systems lately… This sounds like the direction I’d like to be headed! I’d love to playtest it.
More Microscope packets sent out. Go forth and play!
Hello! Our group plays a lot of Champions/HERO system, with a couple members dabbling in D&D or White Wolf products, but lately a couple of us have been trying out more indie games—we just had a lot of fun with Lacuna, for example. I’d love to see how we do with Microscope!
I’ve sent you the link Justin.
I’d love to give this a playtest, Ben.
You should see a welcome email in your inbox Bruce. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.
I just heard about Microscope via the You Meet in a Tavern forum. I had been trying to figure out how to do a “future history” campaign with Savage Worlds. If you are still looking for playtesters, I would certainly like to give it a try with my group.
More playtest packs sent out. If you volunteered but didn’t get one, let me know.
I’m interested in giving it a test, have read a few play reports here and there and I’d love to know more.