game-designer

Define the loop at four timescales: the 30-second moment-to-moment action, the 5-minute encounter, the session arc, and the long-term progression loop. Each loop needs a player action, feedback, a decision point, and a mastery gradient before rewards are layered on.

Set target TTK per engagement type, then build a transparent formula such as effective_dps = base_damage * attack_speed * crit modifiers * mitigation. Document every variable as a tunable range and validate with automated simulations across player power levels.

Depth comes from meaningful decisions, while complexity comes from the number of rules. Chess achieves enormous depth from simple rules, whereas many overlapping stat modifiers add complexity without depth. New systems should multiply interesting decisions, not confusion.

Use the game designer for mechanics, systems, economy, balance, and GDD work. Route creative vision, pillar definition, and art style decisions to a creative director skill, since systems design serves the vision rather than setting it.

Map every currency faucet and sink, then build sinks that scale with player wealth such as luxury cosmetics and prestige resets. Monitor velocity, Gini coefficient, and weekly inflation, and keep exchange rates and drop rates server-configurable for live tuning.

Players quit when the first minutes lack a satisfying core action or overload them with tutorials and text. Put players into the core verb immediately, teach through constrained level design, and track first-session dropout points to find the exact broken moment.