Sketching

The idea came to life sometime around the century transition, but there are no accurate records to accurately date it. The notebook, one of several where I deposit ideas, notes, drafts and sketches, contained no dates.

Then it stayed around, not ripe enough, half forgotten, hovering, competing with other ideas across time, seeing some light again whenever browsing through the pages or rearranging books and games.

It recently resurfaced during a conversation with Pedro Gordalina, about ongoing and still to be projects, at Invicta Con, Portugal, last November.

And a few weeks later it regained a place of its own in a notebook, now with dated entries.  The first one read: "27/11/2019" together with a provisional name.


On the first page notes on the theme, the objective or objectives, the locations for the action to take place, the underlying concepts for the experience of the game, the sensations around the theme. A remission to the notes of the past, some to build upon, others to be added, still others to keep on hold.

Then a first exploration. Notes for the core version, for possible advanced versions, or even expansions. Visions for the board or the boards. Goals, mechanisms, materials. Just dumping them, to then analyze, filter, rank..

Underline: start with the basics, develop progressively, avoid over complicating (an ever-present trend, dragging me into a simulation-like approach).

From the idea to the notebook. From the notebook to the table.
Paper and cardboard, pencil and rulers, a pawn.
To experiment, move around, feel, evaluate.

Early stages, with increasing regularity.

Sketching, in 2020.