Introduction
Game Name: Nature’s preservers
Game Genre: Strategy, Card Game
Numbers of Players: Single Player
Game Time: 30 min – 1 hour
Age: Above 5
Nature's
preservers
Backgrond
"Nature’s preservers" board game was born out of a deep passion for the environment and a desire to educate and engage others in the wonders of nature. The inspiration behind the game came from a personal journey into the heart of the Shenzhen Mangrove Nature Reserve, where I became a volunteer and guide.
The gameplay concept start with the inspiration of single-player auto chess games. I decided to incorporate a simple auto-adversarial mechanism into a plants-Vs-disasters electic game. But later in the design process, I found some mechanism form Artifact and Gwent suit the gameplay well. I end up with a board game design.
inspiration
materials
In the reserve, I witnessed the intricate web of life that thrives in this delicate ecosystem. I learned how animals and plants work together to build a harmonious environment, and how they serve as nature's first line of defense against disasters. This experience left a profound impact on me, and I was determined to find a creative way to share this knowledge with a wider audience.
introduction
"Nature’s preservers" is a single-player strategy board game where players take on the role of a Nature Reserve Designer tasked with defending their reserve against various natural disasters. Players must strategically plant different types of trees and utilize special items to fortify their defenses and protect the environment.
DEsign process
The initial design process for the first edition of "Nature’s preservers" was a journey of discovery and refinement. The aim was to immerse players in the role of a Nature Reserve Designer defending against natural disasters. Core mechanics centered on strategic tree planting to resist damage, optimize growth, and maximize yield. The gameplay featured four unit types: trees, items, birds, and disasters. This design allowed players to combat against these elements, emphasizing the delicate balance required to protect and nurture the reserve.
During the finalization of the combat system in "Nature’s preservers," a genre shift occurred, transforming it into a meticulously designed strategy board game. The revamped system introduced diverse units with attributes like value and gold, allowing precise evaluation of their impact. Spatial considerations influenced unit placement and effectiveness, and turn settlement rules ensured an equitable gameplay experience. This strategic overhaul solidified the game's core, emphasizing dynamic and thoughtful combat.
In crafting the relationships between resource units, the game mirrors real ecosystems. Various tree types serve unique functions, some focusing on defense, others on economic benefits. Props like saplings and fences supplement defenses strategically. Birds, such as woodpeckers, add complexity, influencing unit behavior. This interplay creates a dynamic, interdependent ecosystem where each element plays a vital role in defending nature's guardians.
Design process
Brainstorm
How "Nature’s preservers” was balance
In designing "Nature’s preservers," a robust numerical system was established, equating 1 health to 1 money for an intuitive in-game economy. Anticipating three cards used per turn over ten rounds led to a need for more than 30 cards in the deck. The relationship between card usage and available resources aimed for players to gain 20 gold each round, starting with a base of 5 gold. Three-quarters of this gold, derived from the woods, complicated resource management.
The intricately derived value of disaster cards aligns with the game's mechanics, emphasizing their role in fortifying defenses through dynamic interaction with trees. This symbiotic relationship shapes strategic decisions, enhancing the depth of gameplay.
The game's evolution centered on diversifying trees and introducing new enemies for heightened complexity. Each tree type, mirroring real-world counterparts, enriched gameplay with strategic depth. Players navigated the unique characteristics of each tree, intensifying the strategic dimension of defense planning.
The inclusion of animals, like woodpeckers, seamlessly extended the game's design. Beyond enhancing narrative representation, these additions provided an extra layer of interaction within the ecosystem. Woodpeckers, for example, played a vital role in protecting specific trees from distinct threats, emphasizing the interconnectedness of species in the reserve. This streamlined design fosters strategic engagement and ecological synergy.
Card Brainstorm List
Each level in "Nature’s preservers" presents distinct challenges, guiding players through strategic shifts. The early stage emphasizes protective measures to safeguard gold-yielding trees. In the mid-game, focus shifts to acquiring items for tree fortification, and the late game centers on refreshing the in-game shop and strategically selecting trees for optimal value.
For example, envision an early game scenario where players strategically deploy Cedar trees for defense while planting Pine trees for valuable gold income. Transitioning to the mid-game, the focus turns to strategic development, with players investing in fertilizer for growth and planting Populus trees for sustained advantage. In the late game, players employ the grafting combo, splitting large trees for a dual-row defense. This level design seamlessly integrates defensive tactics with economic gain, capturing the dynamic and evolving nature of the game across its three stages.
Design process
strategy
Play Test
During the playtesting phase of "Nature’s preservers," I employed Figma online as a pivotal tool in the testing process. Figma provided a versatile platform where I could create and iterate on various game elements, including cards and the game board itself. I utilized Figma's powerful plugin ecosystem to implement dynamic effects like card shuffling and flipping, enhancing the overall playtesting experience.
Through this self-playtest, I uncovered several critical areas for improvement:
Q: Overwhelming disaster cards destroy the early experience
S: Decreased the number of early turn disaster cards
Q: The late game lacked excitement and strategic depth
S: Introduced stronger and Unique disasters
After refining the game through self-playtesting, I opened it up to external playtesters to gather valuable feedback and insights from a wider audience.They highlighted several key points:
Insufficient Gold:
Identified Issue: Testers often ran into situations where they didn't have enough gold to make meaningful decisions.
Solution: Trees that provided additional sources of gold were introduced. This allowed players to have more flexibility in their resource management and strategic planning.
Limited Strategic Options:
Identified Issue: Testers felt that the available tree options were limited in terms of strategic diversity.
Solution: To address this, a variety of trees with distinct strategic purposes were added. This included trees focused on continuous growth, economic benefits, and other unique traits. This expanded the range of viable strategies for players to explore.
my WORK FLOW
↑ STORE
game board
↑
Disaster Phase(End)
how to play
Player's Phase
At the beginning of each turn, the player receives 5 Promote Gold tokens.
At the beginning of each turn, remember to settle tree and animal effects.
Once the disaster cards are placed on the game board, move each disaster cards based on the instruction on cards along their designated path.
After moving the disaster cards, resolve the abilities of each disaster token.
While disaster cards collapse the tree cards, calculate the value and skills on their cards.
At the start of each round, the player flips over the disaster card on this round's disaster block. These cards represent the disasters that the player will face in that round.
Player's Phase
Action
Players can use Promote Gold to purchase additional trees or special items from the Shop.
Players have the option to spend 2 Promote Gold to refresh the contents of the Shop. If a block is empty, shuffle shop cards and reset the shop block.
Players can plant trees and use items to grow the trees
Disaster Phase
(Beginning)
Set UP
b. Set disaster cards: Each stage contains five disaster cards, in stage five, nine and ten replace a normal disaster cards with a hard stage card (Yellow exclamation mar behind).
Place Basic Tree Cards
Set Up Shop
Select Animal Friend
Set up baisc Gold
X5
X5
X5
X5
X5
Card Design
Disaster cards
Item cards
front
Back
Tree Cards
These cards dictate the type and order of disasters that the player will face in each round. Each card provides information on the disaster's type, movement, and special abilities.
Players will strategically choose and plant these trees to defend against disasters.
Gold Token
Animal Token
You can buy items in Shop. These items can be used to enhance the effectiveness of trees or provide additional protection against disasters. Players choose one Animal Friend at the beginning of the game to assist them throughout. Each Animal Friend offers a unique ability or provides special items to aid in defense.
Tokens Design
users Feedback
Map Design
