

Playtest May 19, 2026 - “Killing My Darlings”
Town Brewing Co. — Charlotte, NC Tuesday evening, 7:00pm GridCore was playtested with a new table, including three first-time GridCore players: Timothy, Abraham, and Taylor. What started as a normal session quickly turned into a live simplification experiment. I think the unlock for me to feel at peace and go with what the table was feeling was hearing Taylor say: “I would buy this game.” That created enough safety for me to seriously explore a different direction. So we bega
4 days ago1 min read


Playtest April 8, 2026
Smaller Slices The most recent playtest focused on smaller slices, isolating individual moments and watching them more closely. Not whether a card is liked, but whether the same moment pulls people in different directions, and how that shows up at the table. Which moments hold. Which ones pass without reaction. Whether people hesitate or optimize. Where they commit quickly. These signals are clearer when looked at one at a time. The design focus: Play by instinct. Example of
Apr 121 min read


First unguided playtest of GridCore
Dr. Lauren Woolsey is an astrophysicist and college professor from Michigan. I had contacted her after stumbling upon her website CGS unit when seeking out an unguided playtesting experience as a first time game designer. I did not expect the support I received and what I would get out of this process. Lauren played two full games with different audiences, returned detailed written notes, an annotated rulebook, and followed up with a video call that is significantly shaping
Apr 63 min read


Playtest March 11, 2026
GridCore was playtested at the Game Designers of NC #Charlotte Meet at Divine Barrel Brewery with five players using Rulebook v7. Session date: March 11, 2026. Players: Nate, John, Chris, Cam, Bryan. Players moved through the turn structure without confusion: Ready → Choose → Reveal → Grid Responds They also navigated OnGrid movement, the OffGrid Spiral, and Jury Mode correctly. The scenario cards generated discussion, and a memorable moment - the reader made a funny sound f
Mar 181 min read























