JAN 102-01 - Design a Quest Board Game

Level:  100-level

Course Times:  9:15am - 11:55am

Course Materials Fee:  $20

Instructor(s):  Jenyth Gearhart-Utchen   

Email:  jjg13@stmarys-ca.edu

In this 100% in-person course, we will read quest narratives and create board games based on hero’s and heroine’s journey plot and character archetypes. Part reading, part writing, and part manufacturing, this interdisciplinary course encourages students to synthesize patterns of thinking and play as they contend with forms of winning. If you are curious how one may translate the Hero’s Journey into a game of skill or chance or thrones, this course is for you. If you wonder how the Heroine resolves feminine seduction and betrayal to overcome obstacles, you should study with us. If you’re questioning how play might help a protagonist heal their painful circumstances and become whole, try creating a board game using healing tokens and tiles to aid the protagonist across the finish line.

The course has several strands, including the History of Games, Journey Book Clubs, Journey Journal writing, Game Play/Evaluation, Game Design, and Stanford Design School principles for connecting play to life. It is suitable for beginner-level gamers and up.

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3