Session 31 — Simplify Job Creation

Session 31 — Simplify Job Creation

Date: May 2, 2026
Focus: Streamline job creation based on playtest feedback

What Happened

Playtesting revealed that world types (Block, Plush, Pocket, Wild) and tone were creating friction at the table. Players had their own world aesthetic in mind and paused too long interpreting the flipped world type. Decision: remove both entirely.

Locked Decisions

• Job creation reduced to 4 flips: Client, Event, Location, Urgency (was 5: Client, Event, Location, Tone, Countdown)
• Removed: World type mechanic (suit no longer determines which table column to use)
• Removed: Tone as a flipped element
• Renamed: “Countdown” → “Urgency” for clearer intent
• Simplified tables: All 4-column world-specific tables collapsed to single-column, genre-neutral entries

Why It Works

• Faster at the table: One fewer flip, no interpretive pause
• More player agency: Groups bring their own world/tone aesthetic
• Cleaner tables: Single-column is easier to scan than choosing between 4
• Same mechanics: Exploration, cooking, presentation unchanged — only the job generation changed

Files Updated

Core mechanics:

• vault-knowledge.md — Updated Job Creation and Exploration sections
• job-client.md — Now the main “Job Creation” entry page (was standalone job-creation.md)
• job-event.md — Simplified to single column
• job-location.md — Simplified to single column
• job-urgency.md — Created (replaces countdown concept)

Supporting docs:

• exploration.md — Removed world type references
• introduction.md — Updated to mention urgency instead of tone/countdown
• game-loop.md — Updated diagram to show 4 flips
• layer-3.md — Updated job creation description
• page-budget.md — Updated job section (still 6–8 pages, 4 tables instead of 5)
• character-creation.md — Updated navigation link
• manuscript.md — Updated navigation link
• decision-log.md — Added Session 31 locked decision
• revision-history.md — Updated current focus

New files:

• play-examples.md — Optional inspiration showing the game in fantasy, cyberpunk, cartoon worlds

Archived:

• job-countdown.md → archive-removed/
• job-tone.md → archive-removed/

Consolidated

• Removed standalone job-creation.md
• Merged intro content into job-client.md as the entry point
• Streamlined the navigation flow

What’s Next

Continue Layer 4 (write the zine) with the new simplified structure. All remaining sections should reflect that:

• Job creation is 4 flips
• Players bring their own world/tone aesthetic
• Tables are simpler and faster to reference

The whole game stays in sync — no section should get ahead of the others in detail level.

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Status: Complete
Next session: Continue zine writing with simplified job creation