Designer Diary: President
by Nicolas Cardona
In the vibrant world of board games, design is an intricate dance of ideas, mechanics, and player interactions. One such game that encapsulates this journey is President, created by designer and publisher Nicolas Cardona. Based in Barcelona, Cardona shares the evolution of this game, emphasizing the challenges, insights, and breakthroughs that shaped its final form.
The Initial Spark
The concept for President originated from Cardona’s master’s degree in organizational engineering, specifically from his fascination with game theory. This discipline explores incentives, predictions, trust, and decision-making under uncertainty—elements that are critical in board game design. The initial idea revolved around a hierarchical structure, akin to an organizational chart, where a player’s position determines their power and influence. This foundational concept laid the groundwork for the interactive dynamics that define the gameplay experience.
Core Design Challenges
Creating a game that accommodates large groups while maintaining a sense of social interaction and meaningful gameplay presented a significant challenge. Many social games either rely on hidden roles or become overly simplistic party games. Cardona sought to find a middle ground, focusing on elements such as:
- Timing
- Hierarchy
- Negotiation
- Reading opponents
- Risk management
However, early prototypes were overly complex, leading players to feel overwhelmed. Cardona realized that simplifying the design was crucial to achieving the fast-paced and engaging experience he envisioned. This period of refinement involved:
- Eliminating unnecessary mechanics
- Focusing on clarity and immediacy
- Prioritizing social interaction over complexity
Defining Features of President
Through extensive testing and iteration, several key features emerged that contributed to the game’s distinct identity:
- Shared Card Sets: All players utilize the same cards, promoting equality and strategic depth.
- Simultaneous Action Selection: Players choose actions at the same time, reducing downtime while maintaining tension.
- Defame Mechanic: This allows players to predict opponents’ actions, creating a dynamic layer of negotiation and deception.
- Day Cards: These introduce variability from round to round, encouraging table talk and strategic commitments.
- Ordered Resolution System: Actions resolve in a hierarchy, enhancing the game’s strategic depth and player engagement.
Conclusion
The journey of designing President taught Cardona invaluable lessons about the nature of game design. He learned that interaction is not merely an embellishment; it is foundational to creating memorable gameplay experiences. By prioritizing the overall player experience over individual mechanics, Cardona discovered that a game’s true essence often reveals itself through a process of trial and error.
Reflecting on his design journey, Cardona expresses pride in President not only as a game but as a testament to the iterative process of game design. It serves as a reminder that, in the realm of board games, the most rewarding experiences often arise from the challenges faced along the way.
Via BoardGameGeek Blog
