Play Threadbare

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Why this task matters

Play Threadbare! While playing, take down notes about art, layout, mechanics, and how those mechanics reinforce the story. These notes will guide your own StoryQuest brainstorming and design.

Steps

1. Play & Observe

• Launch the game and explore Fray's End.
• Talk to the Elder on the left of the Eternal Loom to begin the main quest. Try and complete the LoreQuest.
• Talk to the StoryQuest Elder on the right side of Fray's End and play the Stella StoryQuest example to see how you might use Threadbare to create your own custom StoryQuest.
• Keep a notebook open and write whenever something stands out as you play.

2. Record your first-impression(during and after playthrough). Describe each of these core gameplay elements of Threadbare. Try and take an extra moment to also write down how you felt about these aspects of the game (e.g., “warm colors felt inviting,” “combat was really difficult”). Add your own category if an observation or reflection does not fit one of the categories below!

• Visual / Audio style: palette, lighting, music mood, UI look, overall vibe.
• Stand-out assets: props, special effects, memorable NPC art.
• Navigation & Layout: how rooms link, where branches or gates appear, sense of space.
• Challenges & Obstacles: puzzle types, enemy behavior, timing sections.

3. Integrating mechanics and story. Write down two or three mechanics you noticed in Threadbare and a brief note on how you feel it connects to the world and the narrative. Before thinking about mechanics, note that the LoreQuest follows a simple story frame: intro scene → beginning → middle → end → outro scene. Keep this structure in mind as you reflect on how gameplay moments fit into the narrative.

4. Brainstorm your own concept. Take 5-10 minutes to write initial ideas for your own StoryQuest:

• Who is your main character and what is their goal?
• What obstacles will they face?
• What actions might players take to help them succeed?

5. Save for Later
Save your observations and reflections in a notebook. You’ll use them in brainstorming tasks that follow.