Канал: Game Design

10 "Need to Knows" about writing clear rules, part 1

10 "Need to Knows" about writing clear rules, part 1

Spector's Deus Ex Rules of Roleplaying

Spector's Deus Ex Rules of Roleplaying

Different attitudes toward randomness in exploration kinds of games

Different attitudes toward randomness in exploration kinds of games

10 steps to designing a game

10 steps to designing a game

Action points in games

Action points in games

Game Design: Do I need a lawyer?

Game Design: Do I need a lawyer?

Melee versus Firepower

Melee versus Firepower

Economies in Warfare

Economies in Warfare

Flexibiity in Games

Flexibiity in Games

One of the 10 structures of "all" games: Sequencing

One of the 10 structures of "all" games: Sequencing

Team sports and "see what happens next" in games

Team sports and "see what happens next" in games

Seven fundamental questions of game design

Seven fundamental questions of game design

Designer "Diaries" for Tabletop Games?

Designer "Diaries" for Tabletop Games?

Myth busting - hard realities of game design

Myth busting - hard realities of game design

Tabletop Game Rules: Online aids

Tabletop Game Rules: Online aids

Deck construction and deck accumulation

Deck construction and deck accumulation

How to add "color" to tabletop game presentation

How to add "color" to tabletop game presentation

"Living Rules"

"Living Rules"

Legislating against something in game rules vs changing the design

Legislating against something in game rules vs changing the design

Top 10+1 Reasons for a Game to Sell Poorly

Top 10+1 Reasons for a Game to Sell Poorly

Planners, Adapters, Improvisors, and Fluidity part 2

Planners, Adapters, Improvisors, and Fluidity part 2

Planners, Adapters, Improvisors, and Fluidity part 1

Planners, Adapters, Improvisors, and Fluidity part 1

Derivatives in tabletop game contracts

Derivatives in tabletop game contracts

Wargame design: Combat vs Maneuver - do you want either to dominate?

Wargame design: Combat vs Maneuver - do you want either to dominate?

Design Flaw of Multi-sided Games: Turtling

Design Flaw of Multi-sided Games: Turtling

War, Battle, and Conquest games

War, Battle, and Conquest games

Combat (in RPGs or otherwise): sport or war?

Combat (in RPGs or otherwise): sport or war?

What is the player going to DO?

What is the player going to DO?

Constraints and Creativity

Constraints and Creativity

Models, Abstractions, Simulations

Models, Abstractions, Simulations

Hazards of using a publisher for a (tabletop) game design rather than self-publish

Hazards of using a publisher for a (tabletop) game design rather than self-publish

A (war)game for a 6 year old?

A (war)game for a 6 year old?

Why do we think a particular game is or isnt a wargame?

Why do we think a particular game is or isnt a wargame?

Kinds of "Fun"

Kinds of "Fun"

The "curtain"

The "curtain"

Games: Who is Winning, using Ukraine as an example

Games: Who is Winning, using Ukraine as an example

Board state is not enough to know what's going on in a game

Board state is not enough to know what's going on in a game

Corporate manager vs command styles of play, part 2

Corporate manager vs command styles of play, part 2

Corporate manager vs command styles of play, part 1

Corporate manager vs command styles of play, part 1

Game design is a way of thinking and behaving

Game design is a way of thinking and behaving

PrezCon 2024, esp. attendance

PrezCon 2024, esp. attendance

Go It Alone Games

Go It Alone Games

Nine Structures common to "All"(?) Games

Nine Structures common to "All"(?) Games

Realism in commercial wargames frequently isn't fun

Realism in commercial wargames frequently isn't fun

How much detail for a game world (mainly, RPGs)?

How much detail for a game world (mainly, RPGs)?

Rules-writing: People who skim rather than read

Rules-writing: People who skim rather than read

One general view of negotiation, originating with a soccer agent

One general view of negotiation, originating with a soccer agent

Direct vs Indirect methods of warfare

Direct vs Indirect methods of warfare

RPG game design: business vs hobby

RPG game design: business vs hobby

Enabling RPG rules to fit theme, part 2

Enabling RPG rules to fit theme, part 2

Enabling game rules to fit the theme in RPGs, Part 1

Enabling game rules to fit the theme in RPGs, Part 1

Getting a job in games: Work for Free to get your foot in the door?

Getting a job in games: Work for Free to get your foot in the door?

How to provide the opponent in co-op tabletop games

How to provide the opponent in co-op tabletop games

Mechanics, Rules, Descriptions - What's the Difference?

Mechanics, Rules, Descriptions - What's the Difference?

What's natural for card games (as opposed to board or video)

What's natural for card games (as opposed to board or video)

Level Design: Maps

Level Design: Maps

Comparing RPGs and novels - not what you might think

Comparing RPGs and novels - not what you might think

"Friction" in warfare

"Friction" in warfare

Keeping score in tabletop games, especially scoring errors

Keeping score in tabletop games, especially scoring errors

Long term prospects for (Ukraine) war

Long term prospects for (Ukraine) war

Tabletop game contracts: foreign publication

Tabletop game contracts: foreign publication

Tabletop game contracts: kill fee and reversion of rights

Tabletop game contracts: kill fee and reversion of rights

Brevity in game rules - brevity, not shortness

Brevity in game rules - brevity, not shortness

Is game design about making people feel clever? It depends.

Is game design about making people feel clever? It depends.

Game Contracts: if you don't understand (without further explanation), do not sign

Game Contracts: if you don't understand (without further explanation), do not sign

Game design analogs for some aspects of how people write fiction

Game design analogs for some aspects of how people write fiction

Reconnaissance and how it has changed, especially in the Ukraine War

Reconnaissance and how it has changed, especially in the Ukraine War

Long term vs short term in game playing

Long term vs short term in game playing

Ways of handling random events in tabletop games (Quora question)

Ways of handling random events in tabletop games (Quora question)

Expecting other people (or machines) to act a certain way - bad game design

Expecting other people (or machines) to act a certain way - bad game design

How many solo playtests should the designer play?

How many solo playtests should the designer play?

Was Germany doomed to lose WW II - why did they lose?

Was Germany doomed to lose WW II - why did they lose?

Favorite games . . . not so much these days

Favorite games . . . not so much these days

Gameplay depth and variety, part 2

Gameplay depth and variety, part 2

Gameplay depth and variety, part 1

Gameplay depth and variety, part 1

Refusal to be awed, in games, and focus on saving the world (universe)

Refusal to be awed, in games, and focus on saving the world (universe)

Fantasy games: are your gods all powerful, all-knowing, ever-present?

Fantasy games: are your gods all powerful, all-knowing, ever-present?

The Flanks (in battles involving cavalry)

The Flanks (in battles involving cavalry)

When to expand your holdings in conflict games

When to expand your holdings in conflict games

GrogCon (Orlando "Old School" RPGs) report

GrogCon (Orlando "Old School" RPGs) report

Perception vs reality in games

Perception vs reality in games

What is desirable to make a game a hit?

What is desirable to make a game a hit?

Avoiding player elimination

Avoiding player elimination

How "should" a (competitive) game end?

How "should" a (competitive) game end?

Russian Propaganda is Nonsense (Ukraine War)

Russian Propaganda is Nonsense (Ukraine War)

The "Gyp Factor"

The "Gyp Factor"

Cosmetic vs functional realism (especially in video games)

Cosmetic vs functional realism (especially in video games)

Ethnic replacement is NOT a reason for empires fall

Ethnic replacement is NOT a reason for empires fall

Playtesting "in the mind's eye"

Playtesting "in the mind's eye"

Cartoons, Comic Books, (Novels and) Reality

Cartoons, Comic Books, (Novels and) Reality

Are hobby games increasingly treated as toys rather than games?

Are hobby games increasingly treated as toys rather than games?

Blaming the game?

Blaming the game?

Puzzles are not necessarily abstract (or short)

Puzzles are not necessarily abstract (or short)

"Games are about people" does not equate with games of negotiation

"Games are about people" does not equate with games of negotiation

Align the way to succeed with the "fun" way to play in a game design

Align the way to succeed with the "fun" way to play in a game design

Inventions that make life easier in games, part 2 - video games

Inventions that make life easier in games, part 2 - video games

"Inventions" that make life easier in games, part 1

"Inventions" that make life easier in games, part 1

Three kinds of game designers: Artisan, Engineer, Mimic

Three kinds of game designers: Artisan, Engineer, Mimic

When possible, make a paper prototype before making video prototype

When possible, make a paper prototype before making video prototype

WBC 2023 and Problems with Scoring Tabletop Games

WBC 2023 and Problems with Scoring Tabletop Games

More about games as ways to organize play

More about games as ways to organize play

Tabletop games: *physically* robust?

Tabletop games: physically robust?

Game designer as "rock star?" - no

Game designer as "rock star?" - no

When writing rules especially, but all the time, be a "truth speaker"

When writing rules especially, but all the time, be a "truth speaker"

When the "second in command" actually rules a country

When the "second in command" actually rules a country

Some negotiation tips

Some negotiation tips

Randomness and "equality"

Randomness and "equality"

Gameplay depth and variety part 1

Gameplay depth and variety part 1

Analyzing the basic elements of a particular game can be . . . deflating?

Analyzing the basic elements of a particular game can be . . . deflating?

Dos and don'ts of creating RPG monsters, part 1

Dos and don'ts of creating RPG monsters, part 1

How do strong empires become weak?

How do strong empires become weak?

Different kinds of setups in wargames, from chaotic to highly organized

Different kinds of setups in wargames, from chaotic to highly organized

What college major is "best" for video game design?

What college major is "best" for video game design?

The importance of choosing the best subordinates in war

The importance of choosing the best subordinates in war

Science fiction vs fantasy games - is one kind easier to play than the other?

Science fiction vs fantasy games - is one kind easier to play than the other?

Vital aspects of war rarely modeled in commercial games

Vital aspects of war rarely modeled in commercial games

Being driven to create games or other creative works

Being driven to create games or other creative works

Direct vs Indirect methods (Ukraine war examples)

Direct vs Indirect methods (Ukraine war examples)

How unit kills are rewarded in conflict games

How unit kills are rewarded in conflict games

Are your (RPG) game gods omniscient, omnipresent, all powerful?

Are your (RPG) game gods omniscient, omnipresent, all powerful?

Climate and Games

Climate and Games

Weather and conflict games

Weather and conflict games

Balancing number of players in asymmetric conflict games

Balancing number of players in asymmetric conflict games

Game design - keeping in touch with reality is really important

Game design - keeping in touch with reality is really important

"Are points systems in wargames a bad thing?"

"Are points systems in wargames a bad thing?"

Submission of nations or players in wargames

Submission of nations or players in wargames

Hand-holding in contemporary game design

Hand-holding in contemporary game design

Symmetry and asymmetry

Symmetry and asymmetry

Fundamental differences tabletop and video games

Fundamental differences tabletop and video games

Planning for simplicity in game design

Planning for simplicity in game design

Do Entire Militaries Collapse?

Do Entire Militaries Collapse?

Serious game players, explorers, bathers, socializers, and player agency

Serious game players, explorers, bathers, socializers, and player agency

Achieving Simplicity in Games

Achieving Simplicity in Games

Three kinds of games/game fans

Three kinds of games/game fans

Is monetization part of game design

Is monetization part of game design

The game industry wants "educated" people (no not degrees)

The game industry wants "educated" people (no not degrees)

"Probable" is not certain

"Probable" is not certain

Rules writing and car manuals

Rules writing and car manuals

Reconnaissance and trap-finding by dying

Reconnaissance and trap-finding by dying

Getting to the heart of the situation in Ukraine Mar23

Getting to the heart of the situation in Ukraine Mar23

Anti-vehicle Land Mines

Anti-vehicle Land Mines

Aesthetics: standardized test for games?

Aesthetics: standardized test for games?

Size does matter - for tanks. But not as you might think

Size does matter - for tanks. But not as you might think

Why your local game store sells more than just board games

Why your local game store sells more than just board games

What if Nuclear Weapons existed before WW I or WW II?

What if Nuclear Weapons existed before WW I or WW II?

Failures of "yomi"

Failures of "yomi"

Fog of war on your own side is rarely represented in commercial games

Fog of war on your own side is rarely represented in commercial games

Surprise is Key

Surprise is Key

Alliance Abandonment

Alliance Abandonment

Online behavior tips for game designers/devs

Online behavior tips for game designers/devs

Nuts & Bolts: Triangles in Conflict

Nuts & Bolts: Triangles in Conflict

Nuts & Bolts: Ways of Introducing uncertainty into board games

Nuts & Bolts: Ways of Introducing uncertainty into board games

A New Cold War? It's already started

A New Cold War? It's already started

Historical Top Myths About Games & Gamers

Historical Top Myths About Games & Gamers

What is the natural number of players for wargames?

What is the natural number of players for wargames?

Why I don't play many (any?) new games

Why I don't play many (any?) new games

A game without struggle is a game that's dead?

A game without struggle is a game that's dead?

Negotiating in games is not horse trading or haggling

Negotiating in games is not horse trading or haggling

The old game Convoy Terror/Task Force uses an interesting technique related to Stratego.

The old game Convoy Terror/Task Force uses an interesting technique related to Stratego.

Move one piece, move many pieces, or move all pieces?

Move one piece, move many pieces, or move all pieces?

Game design problem? Do you do a mechanics search? I don't

Game design problem? Do you do a mechanics search? I don't

"Sensible" monster behavior in RPGs

"Sensible" monster behavior in RPGs

Chess exercise

Chess exercise

Has the USA fought nearly every major power, and many minor ones?

Has the USA fought nearly every major power, and many minor ones?

A few cases (rare) when an artist designs a game and gains marketing advantage

A few cases (rare) when an artist designs a game and gains marketing advantage

Russia: the "Sick Man" of Eurasia?

Russia: the "Sick Man" of Eurasia?

What makes a game a good teaching tool?

What makes a game a good teaching tool?

"Classic" - Personal validation, snobs, and taste in game preferences

"Classic" - Personal validation, snobs, and taste in game preferences

Strength in modern war: machines more than men

Strength in modern war: machines more than men

Why I tend to ignore the BoardGameGeek crowd

Why I tend to ignore the BoardGameGeek crowd

Negotiations in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine?

Negotiations in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine?

Lew's Laws of Management

Lew's Laws of Management

Why I'm not interested in designing video games today

Why I'm not interested in designing video games today

The Mythical notion that odds of 3 to 1 are needed for successful offensive

The Mythical notion that odds of 3 to 1 are needed for successful offensive

The trend toward action at greater distances in warfare

The trend toward action at greater distances in warfare

Ruminations: "Chess-like" might better be called "high reactivity" games

Ruminations: "Chess-like" might better be called "high reactivity" games

Confusions of Gaming: participation vs earning

Confusions of Gaming: participation vs earning

Conceive a game not a wish list

Conceive a game not a wish list

Discussing the Board

Discussing the Board

Do you need a lot of math to design games?

Do you need a lot of math to design games?

Direct and Indirect Action in Ukraine

Direct and Indirect Action in Ukraine

Raiding, Tribute, Conquest

Raiding, Tribute, Conquest

Episodic Games?

Episodic Games?

Should the RPG players know the rules?

Should the RPG players know the rules?

Starting a story with the End?

Starting a story with the End?

If something doesn't contribute to the game, ditch it

If something doesn't contribute to the game, ditch it

Are you a Game Designer or a Fiction Writer

Are you a Game Designer or a Fiction Writer

MORE about Old School and New School Differentiation (RPGs)

MORE about Old School and New School Differentiation (RPGs)

What if Russia tries tactical nuclear weapons? What are some possible American responses?

What if Russia tries tactical nuclear weapons? What are some possible American responses?

Comparing the Star Wars' Empire with . . . Russia today!

Comparing the Star Wars' Empire with . . . Russia today!

Being a good game isn't a requirement to be published any more

Being a good game isn't a requirement to be published any more

Examples of historical numbers of mobilized troops (demography)

Examples of historical numbers of mobilized troops (demography)

"Too Much Like Work" in games, and how that's changed the hobby

"Too Much Like Work" in games, and how that's changed the hobby

Techniques wargames should adopt from euros. Part 2

Techniques wargames should adopt from euros. Part 2

Techniques wargames might adopt from Euros, pt 1

Techniques wargames might adopt from Euros, pt 1

The Ukraine War 2 months later

The Ukraine War 2 months later

Some advice about designing "simulation" games

Some advice about designing "simulation" games

How will Intl football (soccer) rules change?

How will Intl football (soccer) rules change?

What is needed for individual units alternating play in a boardgame or boardgamelike video game?

What is needed for individual units alternating play in a boardgame or boardgamelike video game?

Defining "puzzle" as an activity where the outcome is known ahead of time, "game" as unknown?

Defining "puzzle" as an activity where the outcome is known ahead of time, "game" as unknown?