# What I learned from playing every Choicescript game (patterns in good/bad games) **URL:** \ **Category:** Writing and Content\ **Created:** [April 1, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506 "2021-04-01T15:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Brian\_Rushton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/brian_rushton/32/258307_2.png) [@Brian\_Rushton](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Brian_Rushton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/62 "2024-08-21T01:54:41Z")
Chronicon Apocalyptica! Which is actually a game I like and wrote a positive review for on IFDB, but which has sold poorly judging from number of ratings. ---
**Author:** ![AletheiaKnights](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/aletheiaknights/32/270141_2.png) [@AletheiaKnights](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AletheiaKnights)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/63 "2024-08-21T02:31:20Z")
Ah, that’s one I haven’t read yet, although, judging by the plot description, it sounds like something that was cooked up in a lab to appeal to me specifically - elven changelings, the Green Children of Woolpit, and a bee with a mysterious past? also, a “Grammarian” stat. ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Rushton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/brian_rushton/32/258307_2.png) [@Brian\_Rushton](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Brian_Rushton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/64 "2024-08-21T02:44:07Z")
Yeah! I’d definitely try it then ---
**Author:** ![AletheiaKnights](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/aletheiaknights/32/270141_2.png) [@AletheiaKnights](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AletheiaKnights)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/65 "2024-08-21T02:51:24Z")
Oh, it’s not a question of “if” but “when.” You’re not the only completionist around here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Khipsky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/khipsky/32/105132_2.png) [@Khipsky](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Khipsky)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/66 "2024-08-21T12:57:57Z")
I did the copy editing on Chronicon and I must say it was a delight to read through. I thought the close-to-life Medieval British fantasy setting was lush, refreshing, and clearly well-researched. So if the gameplay starts to bother you, you might enjoy a code dive. ---
**Author:** ![Coldnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@Coldnight](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Coldnight)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/67 "2024-08-23T00:57:16Z")
The setting and plot of Chronicon is great, but the comment is spot on about its problem. ---
**Author:** ![Sujan\_Dhakal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/sujan_dhakal/32/134315_2.png) [@Sujan\_Dhakal](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Sujan_Dhakal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 7:41am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/68 "2024-08-23T07:41:09Z")
Arguably, it’s a consistent problem with a lot of games throughout the years, I’ve seen that complaint come up a lot ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Rushton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/brian_rushton/32/258307_2.png) [@Brian\_Rushton](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Brian_Rushton)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/69 "2024-08-24T14:05:43Z")
Right, exactly, that’s what my essay is about. ---
**Author:** ![Basketball\_Fanatic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/basketball_fanatic/32/140032_2.png) [@Basketball\_Fanatic](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Basketball_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/70 "2024-08-24T15:26:30Z")
Oh what I wouldn’t give to have WIP reviewers break things down this thoroughly ---
**Author:** ![Cataphrak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cataphrak/32/2883_2.png) [@Cataphrak](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Cataphrak)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/71 "2024-08-25T19:37:58Z")
This is generally why I try to keep attributes as minimal as possible. At the most, I’ll try to divide those attributes into “sets” of three or four, which means that players should very rarely feel overwhelmed by the number of stat choices ~~and feel more overwhelmed by the particular choices on offer~~. ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Rushton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/brian_rushton/32/258307_2.png) [@Brian\_Rushton](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Brian_Rushton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/72 "2024-09-07T21:44:24Z")
Just popping in to say that that book I mentioned has been (self-)published now and is available here: > **[Releases · brirush84/IFTextbook](https://github.com/brirush84/IFTextbook/releases)** > > Contribute to brirush84/IFTextbook development by creating an account on GitHub. The ‘learning’ ones are APA format and the ‘chicago’ ones are Chicago format but they are essentially the same. Only one chapter is directly about Choicescript games, most are about IFComp and the XYZZY Awards. ---
**Author:** ![AletheiaKnights](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/aletheiaknights/32/270141_2.png) [@AletheiaKnights](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AletheiaKnights)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/73 "2024-09-07T22:12:27Z")
Downloaded. Thanks for sharing! Too bad you’re not selling print copies, I would happily pay for a signed one. 🙂 @Mifga, I think you’ll be interested in this. ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Rushton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/brian_rushton/32/258307_2.png) [@Brian\_Rushton](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Brian_Rushton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/74 "2024-09-07T22:25:43Z")
> [@AletheiaKnights](#): > > Too bad you’re not selling print copies, I would happily pay for a signed one. That would be fun! Fortunately I already got paid for this; the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation funded a microgrant for the book, which gave me time to complete it! [https://www.iftechfoundation.org/committees/grants/past-grants/2024/](https://www.iftechfoundation.org/committees/grants/past-grants/2024/) ---
**Author:** ![AletheiaKnights](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/aletheiaknights/32/270141_2.png) [@AletheiaKnights](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AletheiaKnights)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/75 "2024-09-07T22:49:13Z")
Oooh, I see Felicity Banks is on the list too - you’re in good company! If you haven’t played her IFComp entry yet, I definitely recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Mifga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/mifga/32/124891_2.png) [@Mifga](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Mifga)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/76 "2024-09-07T22:50:25Z")
i’m really looking forward to this! loved the writing you ready completed and shared for this topic! ---
**Author:** ![HarrisPS](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/harrisps/32/240120_2.png) [@HarrisPS](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/HarrisPS)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/77 "2024-09-08T06:26:21Z")
I spotted this and meant to post about it before life caught up with me - congratulations and I’m so looking forward to taking a proper look at this! Fantastic work! ---
**Author:** ![RGHV](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/rghv/32/258361_2.png) [@RGHV](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/RGHV)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 11:27am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/78 "2025-08-01T11:27:57Z")
Wow! This was an amazing read, you’ve given me so much to think about, and there’s so much great advice here. Thanks a ton for taking the time to write it all out! It’s already given me a bunch of ideas for things I can fix and improve in my WIP. ---
**Author:** ![TonyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/tonyg/32/259131_2.png) [@TonyG](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/TonyG)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506/79 "2025-08-05T04:49:55Z")
Just came across this (a bit late, I know), but this was super helpful. I really appreciate the time and effort you’ve put in writing this! Tons of solid advice, and it’s actually helped shake me out of a bit of writer’s block. [Previous page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-i-learned-from-playing-every-choicescript-game-patterns-in-good-bad-games/97506.md?page=3)