Recorded at Metatopia 2019

Presented by Kate Bullock, Camdon Wright, Bronwyn Sperling.

Want to learn how to create safety tools that fit your game and are baked into the mechanics instead of just adding pre-established tools on top? This panel dives into the creative and mechanical process of understanding safety and support and integrating it into your ttrpg designs.

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Philip Vecchione, Senda Linaugh and Alex Roberts.

Let's talk about integrating safety tools into your design process from the foundation. Yes, the x-card is valuable. Let's talk about design that builds the next generation of tools in from the beginning

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Jim McClure.

This panel will cover the art behind using game mechanics to influence player behavior. The panelist will dissect mechanics from published games and discuss how these mechanics influence play, and what lessons designers can learn from them.

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Anne Ratchat, Rob Donoghue

In each game, players make choices starting character design/assignment. How does a designer balance creating meaningful decisions while balancing choice paralysis? How does the feel of the game change by increasing and decreasing choices available?

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Peter Hayward.

Every game has a shape. Beginning, middle, end, turn structure, round structure, end-game condition, victory condition. Learn about common shapes, the direction that games are evolving, and how to make sure that YOUR game has an appealing and suitable shape for the modern board gamer.

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Curt Covert.

There are may approaches to game design. Come learn about one specific style focused on stirring the emotions during play as the core design thrust. How does this design style contrast to other approaches? What is its benefit? How can you apply these principles to your own designs? Curt Covert of Smirk & Dagger / Smirk & Laughter discusses. 

Special Episode

Presented by Jason Pitre and Phil Vecchione,

In this special episode, Jason and Phil talk about communities and settlements in games. Each of us bring our respective projects to the table to discuss and explore the potential mechanics which model/support these elements of play. Phil presents Hydro Hacker Operatives, his game about heroes who steal water for their communities in a cyberpunk dystopia. Jason presents After the War  , a game about building and protecting settlements on an alien world, a decade after a galactic war. 

Enjoy our discussion of this exciting area of design where we discuss what communities and settlements bring to games, the stories they let us tell, and the mechanics which represent them. 

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Phil Vecchione, Will Hindmarch, Beth Rimmels.

Designing the "For GMs" Section of your RPG" . GMing sections of RPGs are often a collection of rules, advice, etc, but they are not always effective. In addition, there is a host of great, generic GMing advice in both blog and podcast form, that no longer needs to be included in an RPG. What can we, as game designers, do when we design the GMing section of a game to better empower GMs to run the games we are creating?

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Gil Hova. 

"Player in Three Persons - Studying the Theme/Mechanism Join of Board Games". "This game is so immersive!" "This theme is pasted on!" "Should designers start with theme or mechanism?" Lots of board game fans like to debate theme and mechanism. This panel is a technical deep-dive into the fascinating join of theme and mechanism of a commercial board game, and why the two don't always get along. 

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2018

Presented by: Rachel Kahn, Mark Richardson, Daniel Kwan, Alex Roberts

Moderator: Philip Vecchione

How do maps, minis, props, tools and other tactile elements enhance or affect our tabletop RPG games? Ways to add a tempting, touchable layer to your gaming experience, whether for your home group or as a designer.