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:
- Start to Finish Runs:
- Play through the story from the beginning to various endings to check overall structure and pacing.
- Branch Testing:
- Explore each branch to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or dead ends.
- 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.