After you’ve made the rules, you need to decide how you’re going to tell them. The right rule in the wrong order can make all the difference!
In this unscripted episode, we share our initial thoughts about how we want our next rulebook to start, how to include immersive writing without sacrificing clarity, and (for some reason) reminisce about spooky VHS covers we encountered as children.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
--------
40:31
Epilogues in Games
Story endings are hard! The epilogue of a game not only has to logically wrap up the story and tie up any loose ends—it’s also the moment to reflect on how your character has grown over many sessions, and a moment for you as the player to feel like the time spent playing was worthwhile.
In this episode, we talk about what makes roleplaying game epilogues special, and how we're approaching epilogue design in Escape from Wonderland.
Episode Mentions:
Return to Oz (1985 film)
Fortunately (1964 illustrated book, Remy Charlip)
Something Wicked this Way Comes (1962 novel, Ray Bradbury)
Tuiti and R2D2 at Dakin Animal Shelter
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
--------
47:27
Balancing the Pendulum
This week, we talk about the unpredictable mechanical swings that can happen between different versions of a game. Small tweaks to mechanics can trigger a cascade of unintended effects, causing the game design pendulum to swing from too many choices to too few and back again. We talk through examples of how we've managed these swings in Escape from Wonderland, and discuss our ongoing efforts to find the right balance.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
--------
52:27
Now You're the Bad Guy
We’re introducing a new dynamic to our latest roleplaying game! You all came to this amusement park as friends, but one of you started serving the park’s demonic forces. And things are about to get mean.
How can characters become enemies while players remain friends? When the rules ask you to clash with you peers, care and consideration needs to be given to keeping the antagonism fun.
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support Design Doc monthly on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Where to buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
--------
38:13
Don’t Stop Making Art! (Feat. Joshua A.C. Newman)
Hannah had to get a full time office job. Since then, finding the time and energy for creative work has been an uphill battle. In this episode, Hannah sits down with close friend and fellow game designer Joshua A.C. Newman to talk about life, art, and staying true to your values in trying times.
Support Joshua’s work!
https://www.patreon.com/joshua
https://www.patreon.com/PunkPedagogy
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Come along with Hannah and Evan in a living documentation of the game design process, from the first spark of an idea, to every disastrous surprise. It’s not an instruction manual, but a travel guide, with lots of unexpected stops along the way.
New Zealand