Utilising experience gained from re-designing the Dune: Imperiumgame-board, I turned to a project I’d considering for well over a year. Scribbling notes and coming up with ideas for a game’s core mechanics of the game is one thing, feeling like you have something serious and taking it development is quite something else!

In many ways, the development of a game is like that of writing a novel itself. Turning all those disparate nuggets and cool thoughts into something that feels cohesive, makes sense and follows its own narrative path.

With this in mind, FUGUE the game, is based on my novel of the same name. Emerging through the final stages of writing and editing the novel, I found myself turning inexorably toward the game. Fully embracing and building prototype designs during the spring of 2023.

The game? Well, it’s an intriguing blend of worker placement, deck building, combined with themes and core mechanics woven from my novel. Much like adapting a novel to the screen, this experience found me re-imagining sequences in new and interesting ways from the written word, finding ways to give action to often introspective thought. And, of course, not spoiling the novel’ for those’s various plot-points.

Below are a few photos to tease the design (see graviccino.art for the images). These are subject to change, especially as I print and begin play-testing the game during the second half of 2023. Some graphical elements like the artwork that appears in ‘worker placement’ boxes are temporary, giving me and others an idea. During play-testing, I will be seeking to commission art based on the novel to go into these spaces. And then, perhaps, the project will transition to Kickstarter. Watch this space!

As this continues, I will write further posts on developing the various aspects of the game and perhaps impart some useful information for others.