Game Design Podcast

The Game Design Round Table (TGDRT) podcast. Meaningful conversations about game design. Hosted by @dknemeyer & @DavidVHeron with @chicalashaw.

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

Join our community!

Discord (highly recommended): https://t.co/z90LB41Xng
Reddit: https://t.co/D8Oh2izZN5
Facebook: https://t.co/wtZVJV43WI

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What happens when a top designer slows down to go deeper? 🎲🧠

Dirk & David talk with Cole Wehrle about:

🏗️ Leaving Leder Games to start Buried Giant Studios
🐢 Why making “fewer games more slowly” matters
💻 How digital playtesting is changing design

#GameDesign #BoardGames

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How is AI changing game design? 🤖🎲

Dirk & David talk with Raven Zachary about:

🌊 Nevaros, a browser-based exploration game
🧠 Using AI as a design partner
🔁 Iteration as the key to learning
⚙️ Building without being a programmer

#GameDesign #AI #IndieDev

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What makes a great social word game? 🧩✨
Dirk & David talk with Rohit Crasta about:

📰 Designing Crossplay
📱 Moving beyond microtransactions
🔧 Native apps vs game engines
🟩 The impact of Wordle-style sharing

A thoughtful look at design in the NYT’s daily ritual ecosystem.

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How do you innovate within a civ-style framework? 🗺️🎲
Dirk & David sit down with Reed Erlandson, designer of Rogue Hex, to explore:

🔷 Hex-based systems & emergent gameplay
⚖️ Balancing complexity with accessibility
🧠 Designing meaningful player choices

#GameDesign

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What makes a bluffing game work? 🎭🎲

Dirk & David sit down with Rikki Tahta (Coup) to talk:

🃏 Hidden information & tension
⚙️ Technical design challenges
👥 Designing for large groups
⏱️ Pacing, engagement & elimination

#GameDesign #Tabletop #BoardGames

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

A community-driven RPG discussion 🎲

Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron dive into a conversation sparked by a Discord comment — exploring the role of cards in combat mechanics and David’s connection to D&D.

Thoughtful insights rooted in player experience.
#RPGPodcast #GameDesign

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

Rob Daviau returns to talk RPGs 🎲
Dirk, David, and Rob dig into:

🧭 Practical realities of RPGs & GMing
📦 Challenges from tariffs
🪑 The impact of less face-to-face play

A meaningful conversation that opens up deeper ideas around RPGs and the GM experience.
#RPGPodcast #TTRPG

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

A behind-the-scenes conversation 🎙️

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 what’s coming next.
#GameDesign #Tabletop

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What makes D&D work at its core?

David talks with Mike Mearls, one of the key figures behind 5E, about:

🔶 What makes D&D & MTG compelling
🛠️ First steps into TTRPG design
🌐 The good & bad of online discussion
♿ Accessibility for all players
🎭 Encouraging strong GMs

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How do you handle rejection in game design? 🎲💬
Ellie talks with designer Brett Gilbert about:

🗂️ Why some concepts get abandoned
🚫 Why designers & publishers walk away
💪 Pitching resilience
🔄 Reframing setbacks as growth
🧠 Staying grounded in a competitive industry

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

In this new episode, Dirk & David sit down with legendary designer Keith Baker (@HellcowKeith ) to talk:
🌍 The origins of Eberron
📚 How each edition carries its core forward
🔥 Influence on projects like Phoenix
🎭 Player autonomy & narrative flexibility
#Podcast #GameDesign

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What makes a successful convention experience in the tabletop world? 🎲✈️
In this new episode, Ellie talks with designer Marcus Ross about:
🧭 How to get the most out of every trip
⚙️ Tools like Tabletop Simulator
🌍 The joys & challenges of traveling for events

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What does realistic success look like in the RPG space today? 🎲

Dirk & David reflect on the season’s highlights — from surprises and takeaways to the rise of solo RPG play.
A thoughtful wrap-up full of insight and perspective.

#RPGPodcast #GameDesign #TabletopRPG

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How can digital tools level up your game design? 💻🎲

In this episode of BtC, Ellie Dix talks with designer & playtesting expert Chris Backe (@chrisbacke ) about:

🧩 Virtual playtesting platforms
🕹️ Mastering Tabletop Simulator
🌐 Creating real player experiences online

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

In this new episode, Dirk Knemeyer & David Heron reflect on recent RPG podcast episodes 🎙️🔍
They dive deeper into:

✨ Conceptual ideas about RPG design
🤝 TribeNet’s powerful community and connection for Dirk
#RPGPodcast #GameDesign #TabletopRPG

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How do you balance authenticity and strategy online? 💬
Ellie chats with Chrissy Fagerholt of EAP Toys & Games — designer of The Lunch Room and Go Big or Go Broke — about:
🎯 Being real on social media
💡 Sharing wins and failures
🤝 The power of women in game design
#RPGPodcast

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

How does a play-by-email RPG stay alive for decades? 🎲
Dirk & David talk with Jeff Perkins, creator of Tribe Net, about:
🌍 Its evolution from Tribe Vibes
🧩 The art of hand moderation
🔥 Keeping a creative community thriving
🎧 Listen now:
#RPGPodcast #GameDesign #TabletopRPG

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

In this new episode of BtC, Ellie Dix talks with Ross Connell about:

🖌️ The power of visuals in defining a game’s identity
📈 What makes a game truly marketable
💡 Creative tactics to boost engagement

A must-listen for designers looking to make their games stand out! 🎲✨

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

What does it mean to write for RPGs? ✍️🎲

In this episode of RPG, Dirk Knemeyer & David Heron talk with MJ Newman (@natsunoyoru) about:

⚖️ Writing for big publishers vs small ones
🎭 Adapting mechanics to capture atmosphere
👻 What makes horror RPGs stand out

#RPG #GameDesign

[Game Design Podcast @TGDRT]

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:
🧠 Defining your creative purpose
🎯 Designing with a specific audience in mind
🌈 Letting your brand shape your games, events & community