Of course you like the clock mechanism. You want it to be more visual than noting “1/4” by the clock name. But maybe you don’t want to put the clock in a shape (like a circle or a square.) What else could you do to make it fun?
Hangman.
Four segments? Head, body, arms, legs. Six segments? Head, body, arm, arm, leg, leg. (You can put a number you’re aiming for by the top so everybody’s on the same page.)
And you can get even more creative! “Okay, that’s six segments for escaping, and that will be a coach.” So you draw the little goats pulling it, and then as the segments tick off you put a body, two wheels, a window, and the driver last of all.
Bring some art to your table! The players will remember your clocks for sure.
I love this.
Great idea!
I like this re-surgence in art-during-play movement, particularly games like the #indexcardrpg.
As Andrew suggests, picking a lock? Draw a lock piece by piece. Building a temple to Setarra? Draw the shrine, the pool of absolution, then crowned with the cloister. Battling some goons? Draw them one by one (or limb by limb) as you overcome them.
So So good.
Not to take any limelight away from your excellent idea, but this kinda kicks off something that was simmering in the back of my mind.
Why not use some antique clocks as your game clocks. Just don’t wind them up, but change the time on the clock in relation to changes inside the game.
David Goth I like this idea, though with the number of clocks that can show up in a game, this might make the supply of antiques problematic! Great for the big mission clocks or a global doom clock.
Also, the entire idea of drawing the clock in picture form can also conceal exactly how many segments you’ll need to finish it (YMMV if this is a good or bad thing, depending on table needs and style), unless you’re also up front about that.
For modern/cyberpunk hacks: Use hashtags for 4-count clocks (or multiples).
For clarity, it would be useful to put blanks along the bottom for how many segments maybe (like guessing letters), and put an x over each as they fill. Or just put the number to fill by the top, and if there’s a chance of losing clarity, hash marks with each fill as well as adding to the picture.
The clock is a series of postits on top of an image. As the clock ticks, more of the image is revealed. Bonus if you make the image something that acts as a hint/clue/benny, so the the players want to reveal it.