Play tester advice

[GMMichael]

I was wondering how you all get play testers? I know it's easy to get someone to play your game, but how do you get others to try it without worrying someone is going to take your content and run with it?

I usually play D&D for $15 an hour plus free beer. Don't know how deep your pockets are . . .

Or, if your game is close enough to D&D rules, don't say you're "playtesting." Just invite people to play with "some house rules," and directly ask their feedback every once in a while.

 

[J-H]

I'm playtesting one mini-campaign right now with my two kids each running 2 characters. It's helping me check that the combat is at the right level, and by doing it out loud at the table I find areas where my phrasing needs revision or explanations are unclear.

Beyond that, I've run several online as play-by-post games on Giant In The Playground. PBP is very slow, but it's a way to get players AND to have people you can request reviews from for published content once the game is done.