People of Note's approach to designing a turn-based musical RPG

Iridium Studios founder Jason Wishnov discusses the design philosophy behind People of Note, a turn-based musical RPG blending Broadway-style musical numbers with deep combat mechanics. The game uses a staff-based turn order system inspired by sheet music, avoids attrition-based resource management in favor of battle-strategic design, and offers extensive player customization including the ability to skip puzzles, cutscenes, or even combat. Wishnov argues that giving players full control over their experience is the best way to lure them into unfamiliar genres, comparing it to a restaurant that accommodates any order modification without judgment.