Check Fit & Readiness — The Design Dojo

Answer honestly. “Not yet” is a good outcome.

Where is your game really at?

This checklist is designed so a client can self-report without hype. The “monk” will respond as you answer and recommend the best next step.

Game title (optional)

Used only to personalize feedback on-screen.

Biggest risk (optional)

One sentence is enough.

These are the real gates for Cohort readiness.

Playable loop exists.

A complete start-to-finish loop can be played without the designer patching rules mid-game.

Rules / teach doc exists.

Even rough notes count if they can be followed by someone else.

Version discipline exists.

You can say what changed between versions and why (a simple changelog is fine).

Some testing history exists.

Even informal: “10 plays / 3 groups / 2 blind attempts.”

Loop + Rules are the biggest gates. Versions + Testing accelerates Cohort success.

These determine whether Cohort pressure will help or harm right now.

I’m willing to cut mechanics.

Cohort is compression. If you can’t cut, you’ll suffer.

I want blunt critique, not validation.

We optimize for outcomes, not feelings.

I’m still adding new core systems weekly.

That’s normal early — but Cohort will fight that instinct.

I can’t commit weekly time to iterate.

Cohort requires momentum. No iteration time = no results.

Answer a few checks and I’ll recommend the correct path.

View Cohort Apply

Tip: if your loop isn’t stable yet, starting in Playtest or Lab isn’t “lesser” — it’s faster.