The work on Dream Palace progresses. Since this project has taken me on more twists and turns than the entire Harry Potter series, I thought I'd lay down the goals I have for this game before I continue with the design. I'm hoping they will keep me on target with what I am actually trying to accomplish with this game. I thought I would share them with you.

Intended Audience

Movie Fans. Gamers that would like to exercise their creativity over their match skills. People that would like to try roleplaying games, but are put off by the volume of information they must absorb.

Design Goals

I wish for Dream Palace to have the following features within the basic game itself.

• The overall goal is to have the game simulate the dramatic structure of the movies. There should be a buildup of dramatic tension until there it reaches a crisis point which leads to a resolution.
• Character generation is to be done "In Media Res." Very little is known about the characters at the beginning of the game. As it progresses, the players are allowed to establish facts about the characters, allowing them to grow and change.
• How Important a person or thing is to the storyline will indicate how difficult it is to destroy. For example, a nameless henchman could be easily dispatched, while the major villain will be incredibly hard to kill. Players will be able to build up the Importance of their characters during the game.
• A "franchise option" will be available for those that want to carry their characters over into another movie.
• The game will use a currency system for regulating how much power the Director and the players will have over the game environment.
• An escalating conflict resolution system that doesn't ask the question, "Can you do it?" but asks, "How bad do you want it?"
• The game will follow the Three Act structure used by the movies- Setup, Confrontation, & Resolution. The rules of the game will shift as it moves from one Act to another.

Packaging Goals

If possible, I would like to market three different versions of Dream Palace.

• The Basic Book
• The Basic Book and DVD Combo.
• The Reel Deal - A boxed set that includes the Basic Book, the DVD, and all the game components needed to play.

Expansion Goals

• Genre Guides - Different genres of movies each have there own sets of internal rules. (Just try to produce a Fantasy movie without including a Dark Lord in the story, I dare you!) The books will cover common conventions in each of the genres. They should provide a guide to players and Directors, as well as provide an entertaining read and the potential for building Treatments.
• World Guides - Similar to the Genre Guides, but fill out a specific setting.
• Treatments - Pre-made movie outlines for Directors to follow.