Unusual Practice

Unusual Practice, authored by game designer Tom Jolly and published in 2019, represents a distinct pivot from the author's well-known career in tabletop game design. While Jolly is widely recognized for creating classic strategy games such as Wiz-War and Elasund, this volume serves as a personal collection of reflections and technical insights regarding the intersection of creative theory and practical methodology. It was developed to offer readers a deeper understanding of the thought processes that underpin complex decision-making, drawing directly from decades of experience in high-level game architecture.

The design and tone of the book reflect a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, intentionally stripping away academic pretension in favor of a direct, analytical style. It was self-published during a period when many established game designers were increasingly leveraging independent platforms to bypass traditional publishing gatekeepers and speak directly to their communities. Upon its release, the work was received as a niche but thoughtful contribution to the literature of ludology, appealing primarily to game designers and hobbyists interested in the mechanics of creative evolution.