How did you prototype your game???

Did you prototype it at all, or just think of an idea and jump in feet first? Did you have a way you brainstormed, etc? Have you tried different things in different jams, or found something especially effective/ineffective?

I'm really curious about how other people have been approaching jams, and especially interested in paper prototyping for jams, though I'm not sure how common that is.

(Mockup and Prototype used loosely here, since many of the jam games are still technically prototypes)