The Game Design Round Table

Ellie Dix sits down with Sydney Engelstein to unpack what makes a game pitch succeed — and fail. Sydney shares some of the worst pitches she's witnessed, what separates a great pitch from a weak one (regardless of the game itself), and how designers can present themselves with confidence. They also explore whether physical prototypes are always necessary, how passion plays into the pitch, and Sydney's own experiences as a game designer.

Host Ellie Dix sits down with Danielle Reynolds to dive deep into the art of pitching tabletop games. Danielle shares what draws her to the process, the essential skills designers need, and how to approach pitch decks (and their alternatives). They also discuss common prep mistakes and get to know Danielle beyond the pitch. Whether you're new to pitching or looking to level up, this episode is packed with insight and practical advice.

In this episode, we are joined by Randy Lubin, a well known game designer who has had experience in RPGs, Tabletop gaming, and Mega games. We will dive into the complexities of Mega games as well as what it means to develop games with big world thinking, such as political themes - bringing real world problems to the world of gaming.

Today, Ellie Dix and Dave Neale dive into the complexity of forming publisher relationships, as well as choosing the correct publisher. Taking a perspective from both experienced designers and beginner designers, creating a roadmap for finding and establishing these relationships based on many of the past experiences they both have encountered.

Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron look back on TGRT's most recent topics, along with taking time to dive into many of the conversations brought up by Ellie Dix in BtC. Sharing thoughts about co-design and comparing the communities in tabletop and digital design, which Ellie has brought up with past guests. The two also look back on some of the bigger ideas brought up by conversations in their RPG season.

In this conversation, Isaac Vega, co-founder of Rose Gauntlet Entertainment and designer of hits like Dead of Winter, shares his insights on self-publishing board games. He discusses the stark differences between self-publishing and working with traditional publishers, emphasizing the commitment required for marketing and distribution. Isaac also highlights the importance of honest feedback and knowing your audience to ensure your game resonates. Along the way, he reveals the joys of player connections and the challenges of perfecting designs.

An in depth dive into the makings of Burden of Command, along with the strategies and tools used to create the realistic nature of the game. Conversations about using the right assets and tailoring your game in a way that it resembles the time period that it's trying to convey. Luke Hughes, along with Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron, dissect the things that make Burden of Command so unique.

Ellie Dix is joined by Richard Heayes, former design director for Hasbro and current co-founder of 7pips. They discuss the ins and outs of trademarking, idea infringement, and the benefits of freely sharing your ideas. Topics include trademark law, game submission portals, when and how to share your designs, and why it's important the game design community remains free.

Dirk and David are joined by Ben Robbins, designer of Microscope and many other narrative games. They discuss the play culture of Microscope, the differences between it and trad TTRPGs, and the ways games of Microscope can flourish or break down. Topics include expected participation, growing pains in trying new TTRPGs, and what even is an RPG?

Ellie Dix is joined by Mandela Grandon, designer of Glasgow, Overstocked, and The Shakespeare Game. They talk about the benefits and process of co-design, the difficulties in working with another person, and how to even get a co-designer. They also discuss the finer points, like how to address experience gaps, outline goals and partnership structure, and when it doesn't work out.