RPG Design Panelcast

Episode 204 - Creating Engaging Characters

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019

Presented by Emily Griggs, Camdon Wright, Sharang Biswas, & Cat Ramen

Most great stories start with great characters, and the stories told around a game table are no exception. A discussion about creating player characters that will engage everyone in the table, and help tell amazing stories that everyone will enjoy.

Panelists: Emily Griggs, Camdon Wright, Sharang Biswas, Cat Ramen
Moderator: Emily Griggs

Episode 203 - Designing Asian Themes in Board and Roleplaying Games

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019

Presented by James Mendez Hodes, Sharang Biswas, Agatha Cheng. Moderated by Daniel Kwan  Regrets from Banana Chan 

Are you interested in how Asian cultures can inspire games and game design? Are you curious about Asian portrayal in games? Join us for a panel discussion about these topics as experienced Asian TTRPG, LARP, and board game designers discuss cultural and historical themes. We will talk through examples that we’ve seen, the differences between Asian American and overseas Asian perspectives, and the impact of thoughtful representation and why it matters.

Episode 202 - What Art can do for your Game

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019

Presented by Shel Khan & Emily Griggs, with moderation by Jonathan Lavallee

A breakdown of how the art you include in your RPG book contributes to your RPG as a marketing technique, as education and information for your GM, and as permission and inspiration for players.

Episode 201 - Board Game Design Basics

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019

Presented by Allysha Tulk, Nikki Valens, Shannon McDowell and moderated by Daryl Andrews

Common practices and workflow when designing games, including the basic expectations, and the basic assumptions of design work. Notes, playtesting, knowing your audience and art will all be discussed as we walk through what it is like to build a Boardgame.

Episode 200 - Publishing on a Tight Budget

Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019

Presented by Todd Crapper, Tim Rodriguez, Cheyenne Grimes with moderation by Bronwyn Friesen

Not everyone has access to thousands of dollars or the benefit of a successful Kickstarter under their belt. Many indie publishers start off with financial difficulties, including poverty, but are driven to create new and exciting games. This panel looks to provide some "tips and tricks" for creating games on a tight budget or with no funds at all.

Episode 199 - Horror Mechanics

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Anne Ratchat, Kenneth Hite, Elsa Henry, Julia Ellingboe, Jabari Weathers. 

Horror Mechanics (For More Than Just Horror)"In the genre of horror, game designers and writers have developed an arsenal of tools specifically to disempower the characters in their worlds. These mechanics are assumed one-trick ponies but can also serve as useful mechanics for empowering play as well when understood. The goal of this panel is to break down why specific horror mechanics work and how to use them effectively, regardless of genre.

Episode 198 - Choice Mechanics

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?

Episode 197 - You Need a Business Partner!

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Nicole Perry, Peter Hayward.

When turning your board game idea into a board game company, the first step is sorting out the logistics. Unless you have a burning desire to deal with accountants, spreadsheets, corporate structures, and The Joy of Taxes, you need a business partner. Nicole Perry and Peter Hayward are business partners; listen to them discuss how they split tasks, make sure that everything is covered, and the unexpected benefits of working closely with a partner. 

Episode 196 - So you want to be a Podcaster!

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Philip Vecchione, Senda Linaugh, Monica Speca.

Podcasting is the new blogging. Fame, fortune, influence. Or...software glitches, audience-building, busy cohosts. Let's talk about the complications and joys of being a podcaster in a roundtable format.

Episode 195 - Ask a Marketing Expert

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by: Beth Rimmels, Mike Roberts & Mandy Perry.

Learn the answers to your specific marketing & promotion questions from the experts. Beth Rimmels & Mike Roberts work for a digital marketing agency and are experts in social media marketing and SEO (how people find you on Google). Mandy Perry is an expert in tumblr marketing who just wrapped their first highly successful Kickstarter. This interactive workshop will also include live analysis of web sites as time allows. Bring your questions and learn how to get the word out about your product and establish a professional presence online. 

Episode 194 - Love like a Bomb

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Kate Beaman-Martinez and Jonaya Kemper

"Love Like A Bomb". We're going to examine some evolving wisdom about balanced, healthy intimate relationships and apply it to group dynamics. In this case, we're going to talk about how the concept of "love bombing" applies to gaming communities.

Episode 193 - Intersectional Feminism

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Julia Ellingboe, Moyra Turkington, Jonaya Kemper, and Misha Bushyager.

"Intersectional Feminism: Game Design That Tackles Topics that Matter". Designing historical games is complicated, especially when we're telling the stories of people who are often forgotten. How do we handle those stories without accidentally perpetuating or compounding existing damage?

Episode 192 - Metaphorical Games

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Jason Pitre, Mark Diaz Truman, Kate Bullock

Games are art, and can explore challenging subject material. It can often be useful to use fictional metaphors to recontextualize these difficult topics and make them easier to to examine with a layer of emotional distance. On this panel, the speakers will explore how and when to use metaphors in your game design, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Episode 191 - We Want to Sign your Game

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Nicole Perry, Peter Hayward, & Curt Covert.

Every publisher is looking for the next big hit. Every time they sit down with you, they want your game to be that hit. Here are some simple tips to making games that publishers are excited to sign.

Episode 190 - Success Through Iteration

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Jay Treat, Mark Richardson.

How much do you change your game between tests? Which way do you change it? How do you evaluate playtester feedback and suggestions against your design goals? When do you stop tweaking or abandon a path? Iteration is the key to success not just in a single project but in your design career. Let's talk about how, how to do that better, and what not to do.

Episode 189 - Expanding Fantasy

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by DC

Participate in a discussion about expanding the narrative fantasies applied to tabletop RPGs. The standard "set" of explored backgrounds and settings are not only old, but also fundamentally structured around a singular perspective. Inspecting the foundation of our fiction allows us to better understand the values or pitfalls of those choices, and how they may affect who decides to, or not to, join us at our table

Episode 188 - Productive Playtesting

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Isaac Shalev, Gil Hova, Jennifer Graham-Macht.

Join us for a roundtable conversation about how to get the best data from your time at the playtesting table. We'll discuss our experiences running playtests, and talk about common mistakes and how to avoid them

Episode 187 - Face your Fears

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Kiva Fecteau, David Beever, Jim Dagg , Kate Beaman-Martinez, Beth Rimmels.

Congratulations. You screwed up the courage and got yourself to METATOPIA! Prepare to panic... or not. Talk with fellow participants in small groups to identify your fears and where they come from. You'll probably discover a lot of commonalities. Our workshop leaders have begun to overcome their own fears, and have seen success at METATOPIA. They'll share tips and techniques to help you stay afloat during the weekend.

Episode 186 - Understanding Financial Regulation

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Bradley Hausman.

A brief overview of SEC and some state regulations regarding crowdfunding, and other forms of raising capital, and registering your campaign. In this roundtable, feel free to discuss your experiences and how others can learn from them

Episode 185 - Navigating Consent in Gaming

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by Sam Saltiel, Brand Robins, Camdon Wright, Eli Eaton

Good consent practice requires that consent is enthusiastic and informed. Let's talk about how to encourage a higher level of consent. We will discuss tools you can add at the table, but then we'll explore ways to integrate consent into the foundations of your design.

Episode 184 - Podcasting for Promotion

Recorded at Metatopia 2018

Presented by James D'Amato and Senda Linaugh.

Being a guest on podcasts is a fantastic way to promote your game and build your brand. Our moderators will talk about how this might work and things you should know in advance to be a good guest. This will be run as a roundtable discussion.

Episode 183 - Failing Forward

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Joshua Yearsley, Hannah Shaffer and Mark Richardson.

Being competent at something just means you've already made all the mistakes, so come learn from ours! We'll discuss some of our own juiciest mistakes and setbacks from our years of games work - maybe even some from projects we've worked on together? - and explore how we used those experiences to grow, improve our craft, and do better the next time.

Episode 182 - Replication Versus Reinvention

Recorded at Metatopia 2017

Presented by Brendan Conway and Kevin Kulp.

When you're designing a game, you often start by picking a kind of genre, or even a particular work, that you'd love to experience as an RPG. But many of the strongest games out there take it beyond just replicating a particular story; they say something new or different. How do you do that, and why should you spend the time to make sure you do?

Episode 181 - The Shape of your Game

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.

Episode 180 - Capture the Heart: Designing Emotionally Evocative Games

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.