Most of the rest of this site is going to be fairly dry and analytical. That is a direct result of how I approach game, and system, design.

At the core games are about solving puzzles and systems. So I like to distill and abstract things, so I can discern the patterns and connections of a system. Once I see these stripped down patterns I can build a full system. When the system is in place then the glitz, cool story, and Molotov cocktails can be added to the game.

(Designer Note - when the boss is coming to see a demo make sure there is a big fire ball and the project will be approved. I call this the Molotov effect.)

But this abstraction can causes us to lose what games are suppose to be about ... FUN.

So once I get all hot about an elegant mathematical formula, or how I can use a Prisoner's Dilemma in some game system, I sit back and ask where is the Flying Scythe Monkey? What is the thing that people will see in the game that will cause them to feel elation, delight, joy or just wonderful befuddlement. Once you have that element, you have found your Flying Scythe Monkey.

(Designer note - I play a flying monkey that rides the head of a troll in a Runequest game. One day our party had to harvest an endless field of wheat before the sun set. The party gave the flying monkey two scimitars, and heavily augmented his flying speed with a few spells. Thus was born FLYING SCYTHE MONKEY LAWN CARE. We have fun with our games.)