Matt Colville discusses details of MCDM

CommodoreKong · 2026-03-13T03:40:47+0000

Tigris said:
When you look at the book it really does not look like they hired the best people. The formating is basic, there are almost no colours helping with understanding, the rules are overall written in a way which makes it harder to find (mixed with character options), and overall you need a lot longer to read/understand this than other similar complexity games made with much smaller Budget like Beacon.

Of course there can still be quality in the gamedesign, adventure etc. but in rules writing layout etc. there is a lot of room for improvements, especially when you want such a huge price for a PDF.

I do agree that the formatting and layout of Heroes is the biggest issue I’ve had so far. It feels like they never had anyone who wasn’t an expert in Draw Steel look at it and give them feedback.

Tigris · 2026-03-13T09:28:05+0000

CommodoreKong said:
I do agree that the formatting and layout of Heroes is the biggest issue I’ve had so far. It feels like they never had anyone who wasn’t an expert in Draw Steel look at it and give them feedback.

Exactly this! I had the same feeling. Its really not good to learn the game at all.

I know its not the only book with such issues, and the pdf is at least linked (the dark eye I loon at you!), but still I was really really dissapointed when I bought the pdf for this reason. It also feels "cheap" not high production value this way.

I am sure people who want can still learn the game this way, but for me the motivation to learn it did drop.

zakael19 · 2026-03-13T18:58:42+0000

The graphic design sure is a Choice they made (that makes my eyes bleed compared to something like Dolmenwood). The actual writing therein is generally good, their idiosyncratic choices around tags aside. Ability and monster formatting is excellent. The folks writing and fusing mechanics + evocative names + class or monster theme etc did a truly incredible job.

Content A+, presentation mixed.

Zaukrie · 2026-03-13T19:00:32+0000

CommodoreKong said:
I do agree that the formatting and layout of Heroes is the biggest issue I’ve had so far. It feels like they never had anyone who wasn’t an expert in Draw Steel look at it and give them feedback.

100%. It took me three readings to really get it.

I like the game, but I don't know if we'll play it again. That said, we might, and I really appreciate how MCDM treats their people and the people they freelance with. A great example for others.