Reposted by JDAG
One of my favorite and most effective design patterns is "tell the player exactly what you're gonna do to them, then do it." You can be SIGNIFICANTLY meaner to the player if you simply tell them ahead of time that that's exactly what you'll be doing, and also the suspense of the warning is a delight
![Guidance is a form of communication.
[Achievement from UNBEATABLE: "OHHH I GET IT. THEY ALL HAVE MUSIC NAMES - when you explain an idea, the idea fundamentally changes."]
And communication changes the player’s thought processes in more ways than merely the information being given. Guidance tells the player what to think about and what not to. It establishes safe, “brain-free” spaces. That can be useful! Especially in an overwhelming game. But it can also quietly smother thoughts that might have sprung up in its absence.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2jjromh55tf7pp7s4hsvurf4/bafkreihawao3jknub6ubajnqaqov25ijbfx3itfdnw4smddzwcdozke72e)
