Next round of themes. To be honest, I liked round 1 better, but there are still good ones.

Keep the light on [0]: It’s OK, but not much possibility for humor, which is essential for LD.

Explore [-1]: Too vague and seemingly content-based. And there’s just no time for quality content.

Castle [0]: Not too restricting, not too broad. Can give both mechanical and aesthetical ideas.

Keep it contained [-1]: Seen it, done it, don’t wanna do it again.

Roots [-1]: There are two routes to take, and both are pretty restrictive, so games would be too similar.

Treasure hunt [0]: Don’t mind it, can be done in very different genres. Good.

Piracy [+1]: I love pirates. That’s enough of a reason.

Sacrifice [-1]: Again, our usual contender. Let it go.

Garden [0]: It’s fine. I think.

Single use [-1]: That’s just bad for the environment.

Power source [0]: Might be fun, might be a nightmare.

It spreads [-1]: It doesn’t.

Strength in numbers [0]: Very similar to ‘Stronger Together’, but I mind it less.

Strange machines [-1]: Feels like a lot of art with no time for art.

Mutation [-1]: Cool theme, not for 48 hours.

Summoning [0]: It’s OK. Doesn’t make me go ‘I have a brilliant idea!!!’, but it’s OK.

Either I'm getting tired, or themes are getting less fun every round. Anyways, here's my judgement:

Cartography [0]: The games might get waaaay too similar, but I still think there’s some room for exploration here.

You don't play as the main character [-1]: Do I have good ideas that I’ve been nurturing for years that fit this theme perfectly? Yes. And yet I’m too tired of it popping up in every jam.

Recycle [0]: I see potential here. And I love environment.

Tunnels [-1]: For some reason I’m sure we’ll just get a thousand Mini Metro copies.

Pick your poison [1]: It gives me 1960s New Orleans for some reason, and I like it. Also has both mechanical and narrative interpretations.

Decay [-1]: I feel like most of the good interpretations need way more time to code. And I like my games pretty polished.

Digging [-1]: Not really DIGGING it.

©CaptainSpoof

Fishing [-1]: Too small of a palette.

Push your luck [-1]: No time to balance, games will seem unfair, everyone will be upset.

Out of reach [0]: It’s fine, I guess.

Symbiosis [0]: Similar to Stronger together, and similarly OK too.

Shelter [-1]: Not again.

Clockwork [-1]: I think games will get too complicated and I’ll have a hard time rating them.

Reflection [0]: Might be cool. Has both mechanical and narrative interpretations. Still everyone is likely to go down the same route.

Out of order [-1]: I’m an egoist and I already played with this one.

Change the rules [0]: Seems difficult, but fun.

So, it's the last round of voting, time to make a final decision, and I find myself in an awfull position.

There are 16 themes. Some of them, in my opinion, are better and some worse for the jam overall: they either allow more unique games to be made or may end up in everyone having the same idea. So I could judge them on that.

At the same time some of them sparked beautifull ideas for games I would love to make, and some didn't. So I could judge them on that.

Question is: what should I do? Should I aim for a better jam for everyone or an opportunity to express myself?

Would love to hear your thoughts, 'cause I'm stumped.

I really liked the game i done for the compo and decided to continue the work on the game for a future version. For now im preparing a bugfix for minor issues (final score calculation at the end of the levels and a bug allowing summon creature closer then it should be) but will leave the compo version untouched.

I really enjoyed trying something with a theme i really didn't wanted. Some friend suggested no mater the theme it should be a fishing game before the start.

2 features didn't make it into the game. A 3rd Summons to get treasures in dark water and a special fish The king Lobster.

For now. https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/55/magical-summoner-in-fishing-vacation

What do you think?!