P.A.T.H.: Vietnam

P.A.T.H.: Vietnam — Developer's Dispatch

Game Updates, Reflections, and Dev Notes

Developer's Dispatches on design, history, systems, and other stories behind the P.A.T.H. Games title; P.A.T.H.: VIETNAM.

All Dispatches

An artillery crew working around a field gun as it fires at sunset

The Number Belongs to the Job

Narrator guide · 5 min read
DesignGame PlayLearning Curve

There is a quick way to make me stop caring about preparation in a game. Let me make a careful plan, gather help and improve my chances—then quietly raise the target because the roll would otherwise be too easy.

P.A.T.H.: VietnamLucky 8Game DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
Soldiers carrying a casualty on a stretcher toward a helicopter

The Cost of One More Die

systems guide · 6 min read
DesignGame PlayLearning Curve

There is a very familiar moment at a roleplaying table when the player looks at a small pool and begins negotiating. Could this count as help? What about the equipment? Surely being very determined is worth something?

P.A.T.H.: VietnamLucky 8Game DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
An engineer checking a track with a mine detector while another soldier watches

A Roll Starts Before the Dice

table guide · 6 min read
DesignGame PlayLearning Curve

“Can I roll for it?” is a perfectly reasonable question at a roleplaying table. It is also a question I want to answer with one of my own: what are you actually trying to do?

P.A.T.H.: VietnamLucky 8Game DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
Recruits practising with rifles along a training line

A Dice Pool Is Not a Personality Test

systems guide · 5 min read
DesignGame PlayLearning Curve

I have spent enough time moving numbers around a character sheet to know how easily the person disappears. You start with an idea for a young man, discover an efficient combination of ratings, and suddenly his entire chi

P.A.T.H.: VietnamLucky 8Game DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
Soldiers watching a rice-field position from behind a low bank

How Lucky 8 Works: A New Player’s First Roll

player guide · 6 min read
DesignGame PlayLearning Curve

When I am working on a rules example, I have a useful test: could someone make this roll without me sitting beside them to explain what I meant? If not, I still have work to do. For P.A.T.H.: Vietnam (Pivotal Actions Thr

P.A.T.H.: VietnamLucky 8Game DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
Soldiers fitting timber into a camp position under construction

What was Rebuilt Between the Scenes: A Week of Reliability Work

weekly development review · 7 min read
DevelopmentTesting and DebuggingReflectionsGame Play

This week I have spent a lot of time on what happens between the scenes. It is less photogenic than new art, but it matters: a parcel arriving, a tour surviving a reload, or a setting still doing what the player asked. I

P.A.T.H.: VietnamTesting & DebuggingLearning & IterationPlayer ExperienceSolo Development
Soldiers carrying their belongings toward transport at a departure depot

Your Tour Goes With You: Portable Saves on the Web

player feature and reliability note · 5 min read
DevelopmentSupportTesting and DebuggingGame Play

I want to be able to put the tour down on one device and pick it up on another without wondering which version of the soldier will turn up. That is the standard I am working toward. A game asking for a year of someone's

P.A.T.H.: VietnamTesting & DebuggingPlayer ExperienceGameplay SystemsAccessibilityPublishing & Release
A soldier receiving new rank insignia from another soldier

The Soldier You're Becoming: EP and Advancement

player advancement guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHintsDesign

I have been working on advancement, and the question that keeps me occupied is quite simple: what has this person actually learned? A year is long enough for someone to change. It is also long enough for a generous rewar

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceGame Design
A soldier resting in a hammock under shelter

Set the Intensity, Not the Outcome

accessibility and sensitivity guide · 5 min read
SupportDesignGame Play

I have my own preferred reading pace and tolerance for noise, movement and flashing. They are not particularly useful defaults for everyone else. I want players to adjust the presentation and still have the same meaningf

P.A.T.H.: VietnamAccessibilityPlayer ExperienceGame DesignGameplay Systems
Two soldiers examining a crowded display of small goods

Ninety Small Objects: Making the Tour Tangible

visual content feature · 5 min read
DesignDevelopmentGame Play

Ninety objects sounded manageable when I wrote it down. Then I started asking what each one looked like, how it was carried and where the player would actually see it. I still think this is worthwhile work. A list become

P.A.T.H.: VietnamArt DirectionEquipment & LoadoutsPlayer ExperienceGame Design
A period-inspired China Beach postcard illustration with a swimsuit model

A New Pin-Up for Every Month of the Tour

visual feature reflection · 5 min read
DesignGame PlayReflections

I have been working on the calendar again. There is the practical side, keeping the dates and the count toward home readable, and then there is the wall itself. Changing the picture when the month turns is a small pleasu

P.A.T.H.: VietnamArt DirectionHistorical ResearchNarrative DesignPlayer Experience
Illustrated cover for seven AFVN-inspired radio programmes

Rebuilding the Sound of AFVN

audio production reflection · 5 min read
SoundsDesignDevelopmentReflections

I thought the radio would be a piece of atmosphere. It has turned into programmes, fictional presenters, service announcements and songs. That is very typical of this project: I go looking for one small human detail and

P.A.T.H.: VietnamSound & MusicArt DirectionHistorical ResearchLearning & Iteration
Soldiers repairing wire along the edge of a camp

The Fixes a Player Can Feel

progress report · 6 min read
Testing and DebuggingDevelopment

I have been working on the sorts of fixes that are difficult to make exciting in a progress post. Nobody asks for a dramatic trailer about a button staying within reach. You certainly notice when it does not, though, so

P.A.T.H.: VietnamTesting & DebuggingPlayer ExperienceAccessibilityLearning & IterationSolo Development
People at home watching a television report about the war

History Without the Lecture

design and responsibility essay · 6 min read
Learning CurveDesign

The history is one of the reasons I keep working on this, and one of the reasons the work takes time. I want it present in the day without turning every scene into me standing at the front of a classroom. There is a pers

P.A.T.H.: VietnamHistorical ResearchNarrative DesignGame DesignLearning & Iteration
A tired soldier sitting alone inside a dimly lit hooch

Stress, Morale, Trust: The Numbers You Feel

systems reflection and player guide · 5 min read
Game PlayDesign

I want to write about stress, morale and trust without making three coloured bars do all the acting. The figures help me keep consequences consistent. The interesting part is whether you notice that someone has stopped s

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceNarrative DesignAccessibility
A group of soldiers listening together to a radio in their quarters

The Radio Brings the World Together

audio design story · 7 min read
SoundsDevelopment

The radio has become one of my favourite ways to let the outside world into a small scene. I can leave a soldier at his desk and still let news, a familiar voice or a ridiculous announcement change the feel of the room.

P.A.T.H.: VietnamSound & MusicArt DirectionHistorical ResearchPlayer Experience
A soldier receiving a decoration during a formation

Medals Arrive After the Moment

feature reflection · 5 min read
DesignReflections

I have been resisting the instant medal pop-up. A game can award something immediately and make the transaction very clear, but I want a little distance between the event, the paperwork and the public version of what hap

P.A.T.H.: VietnamNarrative DesignHistorical ResearchGameplay SystemsPlayer Experience
Soldiers with bags walking toward the aircraft that will take them home

The Calendar Is Counting With You

design essay and menu guide · 5 min read
DesignGame Play

I keep opening the calendar while I work. A date can look quite harmless on its own; put a departure date at the far end and suddenly every week has a different weight. I want the player to have that small ritual too.

P.A.T.H.: VietnamField DeskGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceGame Design
A soldier photographing his squad outside their quarters

The Photo You Decided to Take

feature story · 5 min read
DesignReflections

I want taking a photograph to be a decision. Someone buys or borrows a camera, uses an exposure and chooses what belongs in the album. I find that much more interesting than handing out a completed scrapbook when the pla

P.A.T.H.: VietnamArt DirectionNarrative DesignPlayer ExperienceDeveloper Reflections
A soldier writing in a small notebook beside his camp position

Journal and Tour Log: Two Records of the Same Day

menu guide and reflection · 5 min read
ReflectionsGame Play

I keep two records because I want to know both what happened and what it felt like. Those are related questions, but they do not always produce the same answer. The Journal and Tour Log are my attempt to leave space for

P.A.T.H.: VietnamField DeskDeveloper ReflectionsNarrative DesignPlayer Experience
Soldiers queuing at a desk to receive their pay

What Your Pay Says About You

finance guide · 5 min read
Game PlayDesign

I do not particularly want to build a game about managing a bank balance. I do want money to pull the character in different directions: something useful here, help sent home, a plan for later. That is the reason I keep

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGameplay SystemsNarrative DesignPlayer ExperienceGame Design
A mail carrier delivering an envelope to a family home

The Catalogue Sends Something Home

menu feature · 5 min read
Game PlayDesign

The part I enjoy about building the Catalogue is the moment a purchase stops being a purchase. I can list a watch, a toy or a camera quite easily. Working out who receives it, and what it says coming from this soldier, i

P.A.T.H.: VietnamEquipment & LoadoutsNarrative DesignPlayer ExperienceHistorical Research
Soldiers gathered around a truck delivering PX stock

The PX Truck and the Small Comfort

feature and player guide · 5 min read
Game PlayDesign

I have spent a surprising amount of development time on the arrival of ordinary goods. I like that the PX truck can give the day something to look forward to without anyone needing to win a battle first. Sometimes dry so

P.A.T.H.: VietnamEquipment & LoadoutsGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceHistorical Research
A soldier cleaning his rifle at a makeshift work surface

Carried, Locker, Ruck: Building a Loadout

how-to guide · 5 min read
HintsGame Play

I have been separating the things you have from the things you can actually reach. A useful item back in the locker is still yours, but it cannot help you from there. That sounds obvious until a game quietly lets the who

P.A.T.H.: VietnamEquipment & LoadoutsGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceGame Design
Field equipment, clothing and personal items laid out together

Weight Is a Decision

kit system guide · 5 min read
HintsGame Play

Every time I add an interesting piece of equipment, I am also adding something somebody has to carry. That is a useful check on my enthusiasm. I want packing to involve a few uncomfortable decisions, because having every

P.A.T.H.: VietnamEquipment & LoadoutsGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceGame Design
A soldier reading paperwork while seated on his cot

How to Read Your Service Record

menu guide · 5 min read
SupportHints

I want the Service Record to answer a question quickly. Who is this person, how are they doing, and what do I need to pay attention to? There is plenty to record. My job is to keep the paperwork from becoming a second to

P.A.T.H.: VietnamField DeskCharacter CreationPlayer ExperienceGameplay Systems
Two officers leaning over maps and paperwork at a field desk

The Field Desk Is the Other Battlefield

feature tour · 6 min read
DesignSupport

The Field Desk keeps growing because I keep finding another part of the soldier's life that needs somewhere to live. The trick now is making it feel like a desk I can use, rather than a filing cabinet I have accidentally

P.A.T.H.: VietnamField DeskPlayer ExperienceGame DesignAccessibility
Soldiers sitting together in a hooch while one plays a guitar

Major Work, Minor Human Moments

action planning guide · 5 min read
HintsGame Play

I chose Major and Minor as practical labels, then immediately ran into the problem with them: a minor action can be the thing you remember. I want the schedule to make sense without telling you that a letter matters less

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGameplay SystemsNarrative DesignPlayer ExperienceGame Design
Soldiers talking and resting inside a firebase at dusk

A Day in Four Shifts

core loop guide · 5 min read
Game PlayDesign

Dividing the day into four shifts is one of those small decisions that keeps affecting everything else I build. I need enough time for work and danger, but also for a letter, a wash or an evening that passes without beco

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGameplay SystemsGame DesignPlayer ExperienceNarrative Design
Soldiers arriving beside a transport aircraft on a tropical airfield

From Home to Dau Tieng: Your First Days

onboarding guide · 6 min read
HintsSupport

I am spending time on the arrival because I do not want the first patrol to belong to a stranger I just assembled in a menu. There should be a road into this: home, training, the trip and the slightly unpleasant discover

P.A.T.H.: VietnamOnboardingCharacter CreationPlayer ExperienceGameplay Systems
Soldiers moving cautiously through dense jungle vegetation

What Kind of Game Is P.A.T.H.: Vietnam?

player introduction · 6 min read
Game PlayMarketing

I keep being asked what kind of game I am making. Fair question. I have spent enough time trying different versions that I ought to be able to answer it without opening six tabs. The clearest answer I have is this: follo

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGame DesignNarrative DesignGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceCommunity & Marketing
A mechanic working on an armoured personnel carrier in camp

Three Jobs That Hold the Tour Together

archetype field guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHints

I have been looking at the jobs that make everyone else's plans possible. A working vehicle, a safe route and a clear report are easy to take for granted until one is missing. These are three roles I want to feel useful

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsEquipment & LoadoutsPlayer Experience
A radio operator using a field telephone handset beside his radio and notes

The RTO Carries the Voice

archetype guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHints

I like the RTO because the job puts you in the middle of things without handing you command of them. You carry the connection, hear fragments of a much larger situation and try to make a useful message out of it. I want

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsEquipment & LoadoutsPlayer Experience
A medic treating a seated soldier while others wait nearby

The Medic Keeps People in the Story

archetype guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHints

When I work on the Medic, I keep trying to get away from the familiar game habit of treating a person as a health bar with boots. I want you to know who is hurt, what you have available and why you are trying to keep thi

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceNarrative Design
A machine gunner maintaining an M60 with ammunition belts beside him

The Grenadier and Machine Gunner: Two Kinds of Firepower

paired archetype guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHints

I nearly wrote these two roles as an equipment comparison. That would have been tidy, and it would have missed the part I care about. I want the weapon to change what the squad expects from you, including the awkward que

P.A.T.H.: VietnamGameplay SystemsEquipment & LoadoutsCharacter CreationPlayer Experience
A rifleman working at a sandbagged position with his rifle beside him

The Grunt: Learning the Ground War

archetype guide · 5 min read
Game PlayHints

I do not want the Grunt to be the role you pick because you have not read the other seven. I keep coming back to the ordinary work: carrying, watching, digging, waiting, then suddenly needing to get something right. That

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsEquipment & LoadoutsPlayer Experience
New arrivals waiting together at a military processing depot

Eight Ways to Begin the Tour

role selection guide · 5 min read
HintsGame Play

I am working with eight roles for the first tour. That sounds like a tidy list until I start asking what each person actually does on an ordinary Tuesday. Getting those differences into the day is much more interesting t

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceOnboarding
A small American hometown street with shops and parked cars

Create a Person, Not a Superhero

character creation guide · 5 min read
HintsGame Play

I have spent a fair amount of time looking at character screens and asking myself whether I have made a person or just a very efficient collection of advantages. The numbers are useful. I also want to know who is going t

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationGameplay SystemsPlayer ExperienceNarrative Design
A young man sitting on the porch of a family home

LifeP.A.T.H.: The Road Before the Tour

design story · 5 min read
DesignReflections

I keep returning to the part before the uniform. A person has already learned things, disappointed people, found work, left work and imagined a future before I ever ask the player to choose a military role. That is the b

P.A.T.H.: VietnamCharacter CreationNarrative DesignGame DesignHistorical Research
Illustrated soldier, road, maps and unit insignia arranged as a development cover

The Long Road to P.A.T.H.: Vietnam

developer reflection · 5 min read
ReflectionsDevelopment

Earlier this year, I decided to give this idea the time I had been promising it for years. I have been sitting on some version of it for nearly a decade, and experimenting with narrative systems since 2019. There was no

P.A.T.H.: VietnamSolo DevelopmentDeveloper ReflectionsGame DesignHistorical Research