7.2 Testing Your Story

Playtesting involves experiencing your story as a reader would. This helps you evaluate:

  • Flow: Are transitions between nodes smooth and logical?
  • Choice Clarity: Do readers understand the implications of their decisions?
  • Balance: Are branches equally engaging, or do some feel weaker than others?

Steps for Playtesting:

  1. Start to Finish Runs:
    • Play through the story from the beginning to various endings to check overall structure and pacing.
  2. Branch Testing:
    • Explore each branch to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or dead ends.
  3. Conditional Logic Checks:
    • Test how previous choices affect future nodes and ensure conditions work as intended.

Using AdventureBuildr Tools

  • Preview Mode:
    • AdventureBuildr allows you to preview the story as a reader, simulating different choices and paths.
  • Node Tracking:
    • View how nodes connect and ensure all branches are linked correctly.
  • Condition Validation:
    • Verify that conditional outcomes trigger appropriately based on previous decisions.