What happens when a top designer slows down to go deeper? ๐ฒ๐ง
Dirk & David talk with Cole Wehrle about:
๐๏ธ Leaving Leder Games to start Buried Giant Studios
๐ข Why making โfewer games more slowlyโ matters
๐ป How digital playtesting is changing design
#GameDesign#BoardGames
How is AI changing game design? ๐ค๐ฒ
Dirk & David talk with Raven Zachary about:
๐ Nevaros, a browser-based exploration game
๐ง Using AI as a design partner
๐ Iteration as the key to learning
โ๏ธ Building without being a programmer
#GameDesign#AI#IndieDev
What makes a great social word game? ๐งฉโจ
Dirk & David talk with Rohit Crasta about:
๐ฐ Designing Crossplay
๐ฑ Moving beyond microtransactions
๐ง Native apps vs game engines
๐ฉ The impact of Wordle-style sharing
A thoughtful look at design in the NYTโs daily ritual ecosystem.
How do you innovate within a civ-style framework? ๐บ๏ธ๐ฒ
Dirk & David sit down with Reed Erlandson, designer of Rogue Hex, to explore:
๐ท Hex-based systems & emergent gameplay
โ๏ธ Balancing complexity with accessibility
๐ง Designing meaningful player choices
#GameDesign
What makes a bluffing game work? ๐ญ๐ฒ
Dirk & David sit down with Rikki Tahta (Coup) to talk:
๐ Hidden information & tension
โ๏ธ Technical design challenges
๐ฅ Designing for large groups
โฑ๏ธ Pacing, engagement & elimination
#GameDesign#Tabletop#BoardGames
A community-driven RPG discussion ๐ฒ
Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron dive into a conversation sparked by a Discord comment โ exploring the role of cards in combat mechanics and Davidโs connection to D&D.
Thoughtful insights rooted in player experience.
#RPGPodcast#GameDesign
Rob Daviau returns to talk RPGs ๐ฒ
Dirk, David, and Rob dig into:
๐งญ Practical realities of RPGs & GMing
๐ฆ Challenges from tariffs
๐ช The impact of less face-to-face play
A meaningful conversation that opens up deeper ideas around RPGs and the GM experience.
#RPGPodcast#TTRPG
A behind-the-scenes conversation ๐๏ธ
Ellie Dix (@EllieDixTweets ) joins Dirk Knemeyer to reflect on the series, its core themes, and how production thinking shapes game design and creative work.
Plus a look at whatโs coming next.
#GameDesign#Tabletop
What makes D&D work at its core?
David talks with Mike Mearls, one of the key figures behind 5E, about:
๐ถ What makes D&D & MTG compelling
๐ ๏ธ First steps into TTRPG design
๐ The good & bad of online discussion
โฟ Accessibility for all players
๐ญ Encouraging strong GMs
How do you handle rejection in game design? ๐ฒ๐ฌ
Ellie talks with designer Brett Gilbert about:
๐๏ธ Why some concepts get abandoned
๐ซ Why designers & publishers walk away
๐ช Pitching resilience
๐ Reframing setbacks as growth
๐ง Staying grounded in a competitive industry
In this new episode, Dirk & David sit down with legendary designer Keith Baker (@HellcowKeith ) to talk:
๐ The origins of Eberron
๐ How each edition carries its core forward
๐ฅ Influence on projects like Phoenix
๐ญ Player autonomy & narrative flexibility
#Podcast#GameDesign
What makes a successful convention experience in the tabletop world? ๐ฒโ๏ธ
In this new episode, Ellie talks with designer Marcus Ross about:
๐งญ How to get the most out of every trip
โ๏ธ Tools like Tabletop Simulator
๐ The joys & challenges of traveling for events
What does realistic success look like in the RPG space today? ๐ฒ
Dirk & David reflect on the seasonโs highlights โ from surprises and takeaways to the rise of solo RPG play.
A thoughtful wrap-up full of insight and perspective.
#RPGPodcast#GameDesign#TabletopRPG
How can digital tools level up your game design? ๐ป๐ฒ
In this episode of BtC, Ellie Dix talks with designer & playtesting expert Chris Backe (@chrisbacke ) about:
๐งฉ Virtual playtesting platforms
๐น๏ธ Mastering Tabletop Simulator
๐ Creating real player experiences online
In this new episode, Dirk Knemeyer & David Heron reflect on recent RPG podcast episodes ๐๏ธ๐
They dive deeper into:
โจ Conceptual ideas about RPG design
๐ค TribeNetโs powerful community and connection for Dirk
#RPGPodcast#GameDesign#TabletopRPG
How do you balance authenticity and strategy online? ๐ฌ
Ellie chats with Chrissy Fagerholt of EAP Toys & Games โ designer of The Lunch Room and Go Big or Go Broke โ about:
๐ฏ Being real on social media
๐ก Sharing wins and failures
๐ค The power of women in game design
#RPGPodcast
How does a play-by-email RPG stay alive for decades? ๐ฒ
Dirk & David talk with Jeff Perkins, creator of Tribe Net, about:
๐ Its evolution from Tribe Vibes
๐งฉ The art of hand moderation
๐ฅ Keeping a creative community thriving
๐ง Listen now:
#RPGPodcast#GameDesign#TabletopRPG
In this new episode of BtC, Ellie Dix talks with Ross Connell about:
๐๏ธ The power of visuals in defining a gameโs identity
๐ What makes a game truly marketable
๐ก Creative tactics to boost engagement
A must-listen for designers looking to make their games stand out! ๐ฒโจ
What does it mean to write for RPGs? โ๏ธ๐ฒ
In this episode of RPG, Dirk Knemeyer & David Heron talk with MJ Newman (@natsunoyoru) about:
โ๏ธ Writing for big publishers vs small ones
๐ญ Adapting mechanics to capture atmosphere
๐ป What makes horror RPGs stand out
#RPG#GameDesign
What does it mean to build your brand as a game designer?
In this episode of BtC, Ellie Dix talks with Bez Shahriari (@stuffbybez) about:
๐ง Defining your creative purpose
๐ฏ Designing with a specific audience in mind
๐ Letting your brand shape your games, events & community