how do you go about designing puzzles? do you come up with an idea and then combine it with another one? or just randomly place stuff till something works?
Viewing post in A Knight and his Ghost - 'Change' Gamejam comments
I start out coding the base mechanics, then I sketch up a simple level that follows these mechanics. With that level I start testing ideas, all the what if’s, and how can I’s.
Sometimes levels just appear as a full formes idea, and sometimes they are forced into existence. But a puzzle to me is a gameplay mechanic + skill (understanding).
To make a good puzzle you must understand how the entire set of mechanics play together, to identify and use all the funny quirks to your advandtage. Make something and then make levels bades on how it breaks.
Do keep in mind that not all “breaks” are good, but some will lead you to wonder how a level could be bades on Discovery and mastery of the mechanic and its breaking quirk.
hope that was useful, do let me know if anything is unclear :)