Certain vibes have always been central to the Derelict experience: uncertainty, suspense, off-beat humor, the satisfaction of effective teamwork. But a board game can’t be built on vibes alone. At the same time, an overcomplex rulebook runs the risk of making things a slog and sapping the spontaneity that a ghost ship game demands. As we’ve iterated on Derelict, Liz and I have strived to find a happy medium: gameplay mechanics that offer room for experimentation and creativity without impeding the exhilaration of exploring the unknown.
To this end, we have sought out intuitive core mechanics from which complexity can emerge contextually. For instance, our rules on finding, storing, and using items are fairly straightforward when considered on their own — the complexity comes from the many potential interactions of these items with one another, with the ship’s rooms, and with various characters.
By ensuring the basic mechanics are as approachable as possible, we invite players to wade into the nuances of Derelict at their own pace, experimenting with different characters, builds, synergies, and strategies with a minimum of hand-holding and prescriptivism from our side. We’re excited to hear about the experiences that emerge at your table!
– RPS