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Design Doc

Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland

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.

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Top 10 Design Doc Episodes

Best episodes ranked by Goodpods Users most listened

Designing a Game Design Workday

Design Doc

09/28/20 • 57 min

We talk about how we've redesigned the structure of our workday, because boundaries around work are important even when—and ESPECIALLY when—it's work you love.

Design doc intro/outro theme: by Pat King

Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

The Games You Want to Make, The Life You Want to Live

Design Doc

07/31/20 • 32 min

We sit down for an unplanned recording of Design Doc when Evan says something sad.

Note: This episode discusses the toll that work can take on physical and mental health.

End of episode donation notes:

The Okra Project - https://www.theokraproject.com/
Black Mental Health Alliance - https://blackmentalhealth.com/
Bail Fund List - https://bailfunds.github.io/

Music:

Design Doc Intro/Outro theme by Pat King
New Ages I by Little Dog Big Ears

Burnout

Design Doc

05/07/20 • 40 min

In this episode we talk about completing a project that made us our own worst bosses and what it's like coming back from burnout.

Link to re-launched Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

The Ski Bike

Design Doc

03/31/20 • 9 min

Its purpose, the act of creation. Its destiny, unknowable. Today's episode is about a bike on skis.

Design Doc intro theme by Pat King.
Intermission and outro music, New Ages I by Little Dog Big Ears.

Breaking up with Character Creation

Design Doc

12/17/19 • 60 min

Character creation in Questlandia 1 lasted two hours. Character creation in Questlandia 2 is five minutes. What changed?

Intro/Outro music: by Pat King

When to Add Ghosts to Your Game

Design Doc

10/22/19 • 46 min

The junk poets are changing again. This time, maybe in a spoooooky way.

We talk again about the junk poets as GMing tools and making them less corporeal, but more present than ever.

Design Doc Intro/outro theme: Pat King
Intermission music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears
Design Doc on twitter: @designdocpod

When No One Is the GM, Everyone Is

Design Doc

08/23/19 • 44 min

Questlandia 2 is a campaign game with no Game Master. Without a designated person in the GM role, that responsibility must be distributed among all players. We talk about how the Junk Poets can support every player in the GM role.

The UltraLux Bait-and-Switch

Design Doc

07/24/19 • 36 min

Questlandia 2 has been delayed. Now, we're releasing an entirely different RPG first. We talk about—and try not to apologize for—how timelines and business have to adapt to design difficulties.

Design Doc intro/outro theme: by Pat King

Your Kickstarter Questions (Mostly) Answered

Design Doc

06/18/19 • 78 min

We asked on Twitter what you wanted to know about running a roleplaying game Kickstarter. Now, we're answering your questions. From self-promotion to self-care, what to say when there's nothing to say, and pretending we know anything about taxes.

Show notes:

Design Doc Intro/Outro theme by Pat King
Additional music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears

Scopeful Optimism

Design Doc

01/12/21 • 56 min

We talk about what makes a game's scope big or small, why Q2 has taken so long, and all the projects we've made in the meantime.

Support Design Doc on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

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