Podcasts by Design Games
We talk about game design, especially tabletop roleplaying and story games. We're professional designers ND Paoletta and Will Hindmarch. We're glad you're here.
Further podcasts by Nathan D Paoletta and Will Hindmarch
Podcast on the topic Design
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The Big Three Questions from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.585232
Let’s talk about how we talk about game designs. Let’s talk about how a game does its thing and how a design achieves (or doesn’t) its selected goals. What is your game about and how is it about...
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Recurring Questions from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.573961
Listen in as we reveal some of the questions and ideas that we consider and reconsider near the beginning of various game designs, like “Why is this a game?” and “How does it start?”
Iden...
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Characters from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.568725
This time, we talk about characters in theory, in practice, in play, and in design, with examples focusing on tabletop RPGs and some references to video games. This is a big topic worthy of more...
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Experience Points from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.563290
Here we look at the gist of experience points (XP) and character development, especially in tabletop RPGs, and how character progression can reward, reflect, and influence the play of your desig...
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Character Monogamy from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.557847
What is character monogamy in an RPG and what does it do in your design? Let’s talk about it!
This time we reference games like Ars Magica, The Adventures of Indiana Jones, Dark Sun, ...
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Reward Systems, Part One from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.546695
In this doozy (doozy!) of an episode, we talk about reward cycles in design and play, from their core dynamics and philosophies to how they can befit or bemuse different players differently. (Se...
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Reward Systems, Part Two from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.540431
We had more to say about reward cycles, systems, and mechanisms in theory and in practice, so this episode is about more of that.
As proof that the podcast is doing its job (for us, at le...
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Resolution from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.528203
Listen in as we discuss resolution mechanisms in RPGs, including musings about scope and scale and fictional time. How do you know when a thing has happened in your game? How do you know when to...
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Listener Questions from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.522852
For our not-spooky 13th episode, we address a few listener questions we’ve received. Still, things get a little spooky.
Design Games is made possible by our supporters at Patreon...
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Listener Questions, Part Two from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.517663
We’re tackling a few more listener questions this time — and it’s a bit of a challenge. These are great questions!
Of course, it was only after we recorded that we remembered a great exam...
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The Roles of the Game Master from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.512480
In this episode, we discuss the roles, responsibilities, and authority of the GM in tabletop RPGs and story games. It’s a role with a lot of permutations for designers to think about, plan for, ...
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Game Master Authority from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.506854
This time we’re talking about designing for GM authorities and responsibilities in tabletop RPGs — a rich topic that we’ll explore more in the future.
Here’s a version of the questions th...
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Game Master Influences from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.501797
This time we’re dropping names and game titles all over the place, focusing on just a few of the games that we’re feeling influenced by lately or over time — especially when it comes to GMing. Listen
Player/Designer Communication from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.496784
This time, we talk about communications between a game’s designer and its players—especially the GM—both implicit and explicit.
We also refer again to our previous questions, written by N...
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Antagonism from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.490452
What is antagonism in play — we talk about the problems inherent in the term, what it means in play, and how you can think about it in your design.
Design Games is made possible ...
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Reflections from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.483972
This time, we look back at the show and reflect on 20 episodes of conversations. What are we happy with and what do we still want to attempt? What course corrections might we attempt for the sho...
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Return to Beginnings from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.477682
What are some early exercises and tactics for starting a new design?
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Formalize your inspiration and vision. Make some notes on what is exciting you about this game. Visually ske...
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Mindfulness and Inspiration from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.471494
Let’s talk about influences on our designs and how we converse with them and with our own game’s vision and voice.
Design Games is made possible by our supporters at Patreon, whe...
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Setting, Part One from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.465596
How does your game’s setting interact with its design? How do you begin to design a setting? How does your setting suit your game — and why? We talk about this rich and vast topic, not for the l...
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Setting, Part Two from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.459653
Let’s talk more about settings and worlds for gameplay, including designing and recognizing links between your world and your game!
Design Games is made possible by our supporter...
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Success and Failure from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.421917
What is “a success” in play? What is failure? When do players’ and characters’ victories align? When do they diverge? And how do we talk about it all? Tune in and hear.
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Playstorming from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.415590
What even is a playstorm? We think we know and we dive into the answer in this episode, to consider what makes playstorming different from playtesting, what it’s for, and when we do it.
<...
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Bring It Together from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.411558
We’ve talked a lot already about design steps and techniques, thoughts and approaches. You’ve got vision and notes and notions. Now let’s talk about bringing it all together.
Design G...
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On Purpose from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.407367
Here we attempt to tackle another great question from the G+ community. This one’s about designing with purpose and how purpose can align with (or away from) content, context, vision, and more.<...
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Player Alignment from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.403443
Another great listener topic, another episode wrestling with said topic. This time: we talk about designs involving Player vs Player and PvE mechanics and, y'know, some of what that means.
<... Listen
Risk and Challenge from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.399185
This time, we tackle a great listener-submitted topic about how to makes risk and challenges feel dramatic and satisfying in your RPG designs — and how to help players think about risk and chall...
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On Visual Design from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.394228
Some game designs are highly visual. When does that work happen? How early is too early to think about art and a visual arrangement of ideas? We talk it out.
This episode references Listen
Affordances from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.390175
Let’s talk about how a game moves, functions, and adapts. Let’s talk about affordances.
Design Games is made possible by our supporters at Patreon, where you can back Listen
Universality and Hacking from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.385737
We set out to talk about designing games to be ready for hacking and remixing by the end user, but first a stopover at a discussion of universal systems, too. Let it go, Will.
Design ...
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Playtesting, Part One from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.380666
We’ve reach that time. Let’s talk about playtesting your design—specifically, how to prep and participate in the early playtests of your RPG.
Design Games is made possible by our...
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Playtesting, Part Two from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.376677
Episode forty?! Ye gads.
Here we explore more notions on the topic of your early playtests, and how to get information out of them, make sense of some of it, and prepare for revi...
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Early Writing from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.363881
You've got a lot of notes, you've got rules and systems, maybe you've been writing for yourself. How do you start writing all of that out for other people in addition to yourself? Let's talk. Listen
Production Tools from 2023-12-14T09:41:21.345978
Let's talk about some of the software that we—Nathan and Will—use for production purposes like layout and graphic design. More importantly, let's talk about how that impacts our game designs and...
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Funding Production from 2016-10-25T16:31
You need funding. You might give your game away for free, but you didn't make it for free. Your time and work have value. How does that translate to cost and how does your product help fund itse...
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Spheres of Production from 2016-08-25T18:02
As you're proceeding into production of your game, ask yourself: What can I do myself? When should I ask for help? What would I say to externalize my vision to a hire? What you do yourself, what...
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Form Factors from 2016-08-18T16:11
What form does your RPG take? Is it a book? A deck of cards? A poster or mousepad or business card? Are you sure?
Design Games is made possible by our supporters at Patreon, wher...
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Reflections 2 from 2016-07-13T13:34
Look around. Get your bearings. Take a look back at what's working and what you've learned, then move forward with the knowledge. That's what we're doing, this time.
Design Games...
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