Prototyping
overview
Get it playable. Learn faster.
Your game is ahead of your art — that’s normal. We build clear, test-ready assets so you can validate mechanics, teach flow, and UX without waiting on illustration. Clarity first, pretty later.
Readable placeholder components—cards, boards/mats, icons, tokens, UI elements—assembled into a Tabletop Simulator mod for immediate play. On request, we also export digital PnP files (print-friendly PDFs and dielines) for at-home testing. (We don’t handle printing or shipping.)
We wireframe the essentials, use AI to accelerate placeholder iconography and layout exploration, then human-edit for legibility and fit. You get a tidy TTS table, optional A/B-ready variants, and labeled assets you can hand to your artist later.
Not final art or art direction. Prototypes exist to answer questions quickly. We watermark and label outputs so nothing “accidentally ships.”
Why Prototype With Us
Built for learning, not looks
We strip your game to clear, testable parts so sessions answer real questions — mechanics, teach flow, and UX — without waiting on art.
Fast, then precise
AI helps us explore options quickly; humans lock in legibility, hierarchy, and consistency. You get speed without the mush.
TTS-native, PnP-friendly
Everything lands in a tidy Tabletop Simulator mod for instant play, with optional PnP PDFs for home tests. SVG masters ride along for painless edits later.
A/B without the rebuild
We set up light variants and toggles so you can compare wording, costs, or layouts in minutes—not weeks.
Clean handoff to art
Style tokens, SVG icon sets, and redlines make it easy for your illustrator to replace placeholders with final art when you’re ready.
deliverables
What You Get
Prototype Asset Pack (SVG/PNG)
Clean, legible placeholders for cards, boards/mats, icons, tokens, and UI. Organized, named, and ready for quick edits or handoff to your artist.
Playable TTS Table
A tidy Tabletop Simulator setup with labeled components and sensible defaults, so your first reps happen fast.
PnP PDFs (optional)
Print-friendly sheets and dielines for at-home tests. We deliver files only — no printing or shipping.
A/B-Ready Variants
Light toggles or duplicate components so you can compare wording, costs, or layouts without rebuilding the table.
README & Changelog
Plain-English notes on setup, controls, and what changed this round. Everything clearly marked “Prototype.”
Accessibility Notes (optional)
Quick checks for contrast, icon redundancy, and color-blind safety—so more players can give you cleaner feedback.
process
How Prototyping Works
A clear path from idea to playable. Minimal friction, tight feedback loops.
Quick Brief & Scope
Share components, your top questions, and any constraints (player count, teach goals, accessibility). We align on what’s in/out and lock a sensible timeline.
Wire the Essentials
We draft low-fidelity cards, mats, icons, and UI. Typography and sizing get set early, so everything reads at arm’s length.
AI Assist, Human Edit
AI helps us explore options fast; we then refine by hand for legibility and consistency. Where helpful, we add basic accessibility checks (contrast, icon redundancy).
Build the Table + PnP
Assets go into a tidy TTS mod with zones, snap points, and camera bookmarks. If you want home testing, we also export PnP PDFs. Light A/B variants are set up where comparing wording, costs, or layouts will help.
Micro-Test & Handoff
We run a short internal pass to catch friction, then deliver: the TTS save (private), the SVG/PNG asset pack, optional PnP PDFs, and a concise README + changelog—everything clearly labeled “Prototype.”
technical
AI, used responsibly
So you move faster, not fuzzier.
Faster trials, cleaner A/Bs, and SVG masters you can hand to an illustrator later — without redoing the work.
We use AI to explore options quickly—icons, textures, layout sketches—then we edit by hand for clarity and consistency.
Not final art. Prototype outputs are clearly labeled and watermarked so nothing “accidentally ships.”
Guardrails We Keep
Original shapes, not mimicry
We design simple, readable forms for testing—no style-cloning of living artists or franchises.
No IP lookalikes
Prompts avoid brand/trademark-adjacent language. If something feels close, we redraw it.
Clear provenance
Changelog notes what was AI-assisted vs. hand-drawn, so you (and your artist) know what to keep or replace.
Private by default
Your files stay private; prompts are scrubbed of project details before any AI use.
add-ons
Good Pairings
Add-ons that play nice.
Quickstart Playtest
One focused session with outside players to validate readability and flow. You get receipts, not vibes.
Rules & Systems Tune-Up
Light edits to wording, costs, and loop clarity based on what the prototype reveals—so tests measure the right thing.
TTS QoL Scripting
Shuffle, reset, counters, and simple A/B toggles (light Lua) that make repeat tests painless.
PnP Ready Pack
Print-friendly PDFs with cut marks and assembly notes, plus a short testing guide for at-home sessions.
Accessibility Booster
Contrast passes, icon redundancy, and color-safe palettes so more testers can participate without friction.
Variant Lab
A tidy folder of side-by-side component versions (labels and notes included) so you can compare options without rebuilding.
faqs
Popular Questions
Prototype
What exactly do you mean by “prototype”?
A clear, test-ready version of your game’s components — cards, boards/mats, icons, tokens, and UI — built to answer design questions quickly. It’s not final art or layout for publication.
Do you make physical prototypes?
We provide digital PnP files (print-friendly PDFs and dielines) you can print at home or via a service. We don’t handle printing or shipping.
Can I use the prototype art in my final game?
We don’t recommend it. Prototype art is intentionally simple and labeled “Prototype.” Use it to learn fast; hand the included SVG/icon set and specs to your illustrator for the final look.
What do you need from me to start?
A component list, your top questions (what you’re trying to learn), constraints (player count, teach goals, accessibility), and any existing assets you want us to reference.
How fast is a typical prototype?
Depends on scope and asset readiness. Simple card+icon passes go quickly; multi-board builds or complex icon systems take longer. We’ll give a scoped timeline after a short brief.
How are prototypes delivered?
Do you set up A/B testing?
Yes. We include light variants/toggles so you can compare wording, costs, or layouts without rebuilding the table.
Is accessibility considered?
On request, we run quick checks for contrast, icon redundancy, and color-blind safety, and include notes for future art.
Can you integrate my existing art or icons?
Yes, but we’ll still label the build as a prototype and keep clarity as the top priority (size, contrast, hierarchy). If something reduces readability, we’ll flag it.
Do you also run playtests?
We can. Prototyping pairs well with our Quickstart Playtest for fast, outside feedback. If rules/loops need work, we can loop in Rules & Systems support.
AI Use
Do you use AI images?
We may use AI to draft placeholder iconography and textures or to speed layout exploration — then we edit by hand for clarity and consistency. Final games should replace any AI-assisted placeholders with illustrator-made art.
Is it legal to use AI-assisted assets in a prototype?
For prototyping purposes, yes: our use is focused on non-final, functional placeholders. We avoid prompts or outputs that imitate living artists, brands, or protected IP, and we keep a provenance note in the changelog.
Will my game train anyone’s AI model?
No. Your files remain private. We don’t opt your materials into model training, and we scrub prompts of project details.
How do you avoid IP lookalikes?
We design original, generic shapes (e.g., resource pips, arrows) and avoid trademark-adjacent language. If something feels close, we redraw it.
Who owns the prototype assets?
You receive a license to use the prototype assets for development, playtesting, pitching, and internal docs. Our internal templates and libraries stay ours. For anything custom we create, you’ll have rights to use it in your game; we still recommend replacing placeholders with final art before publishing.
Can I commercially publish with AI outputs from the prototype?
We strongly advise no. Treat AI-assisted visuals as temporary. When you’re ready to publish, replace them with commissioned art and final layout.
Will you sign my NDA?
Yes. If you don’t have one, we can provide a simple mutual NDA.
Scope - Pricing - Changes
How do you price this work?
Scope varies widely, so we quote after a short brief. You’ll see what’s included, timeline, and any useful add-ons (playtest, scripting, etc.).
What if my scope changes?
No stress. If goals shift, we’ll re-scope together before proceeding — no surprises.
Do you offer support after delivery?
Yes. We include a short window for minor fixes and can schedule additional iterations or variants as you learn from tests.
Platforms & Files
Is this only for Tabletop Simulator?
TTS is our default for speed and stability. If you need Tabletop Playground or Tabletopia, tell us in the brief — some features may differ.
What file formats do I get?
SVG/PNG for components; PDFs for PnP; and a TTS save/workshop item (private). Fonts and any licensed assets are referenced with usage notes.
Can you hand off to my illustrator or layout designer?
Gladly. We’ll pass along the SVG/icon set, style tokens, and redlines so final art swaps in cleanly.
Leave a request
Start a Prototype Brief
Get it playable. Share components and top questions — we’ll scope a clear, test-ready build (TTS first, PnP optional) and send a quote.
