#12 - Moving Forward - Spoilers, Detailed Answers, Representation, and Changes

I'm going to dedicate some time to go puzzle by puzzle, move by move, detailing their connection, taking note of what other connections have been chosen and why, and how other answers are excluded, making the conclusion the best answer. I believe this will help me close the gap between what I intend the connection to be, and to troubleshoot adjusting any puzzles players do not make a the connection on or refute the logic behind.

Given how I want players to play again, but after an extended period, I only recommend these posts for people who do not want spoilers, who want to play the game (at all or more than once). 

I think this gives anyone puzzled by a connection to not be completely frustrated by not knowing reasons behind answers.

Based off continued play testing, I can also document any changes to puzzles, and design choices behind them.

Intended formula for these posts:

Post Title: Spoilers -Answer X"

Answers X is from Grave X to Grave X

Rationals why and exclusions of other choices:

Intended Puzzle Design:

Level of success/other graves that were guessed.

Changes/Issues/playtest reports

*** 

On one last note, there is something I've been meaning to touch on, and it is something that will certainly crop up as the game is seen by other people: the respect and representation portion of the game. In the rules, I knew I wanted a small alert about the themes concerned, as well as the same all-things-represented-are-fiction notice that some movies/shows have. I tried to keep topics below critical emotional levels, and wanted to treat all content with good intent - despite the dark/melancholy themes. That being said, there is a good chance I have mis-stepped in representation in some parts of the game, and I would love to talk about those things.

The first thing to recognize is that this graveyard is somewhat indicative of one I would see in the pacific northwest of the U.S., where I live. The player steps out in to a cold drizzle in the story, there is a man with an umbrella, the tree is intended to be a cedar, there is grass, etc. That also means the names, symbols, and burial customs match in some way. When creating the game, I tried not to think of representation in terms of filling a quota and having 'one of everything to cover all the bases'. Most of that came down to using names, symbols, and epitaphs that I know or would find common in my part of the world. I had to remember that not everything can be represented in 35 cards of content, and there are many cultures and customs I would not be able to adequately speak to.

I suppose that what I am acknowledging is that there is a good amount of biblical names, christian themes, and representation that would probably match the population local to me.