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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 12, 2021 • 56min
Scopeful Optimism
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
Sep 28, 2020 • 57min
Designing a Game Design Workday
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 KingOur Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Jul 31, 2020 • 33min
The Games You Want to Make, The Life You Want to Live
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
May 7, 2020 • 40min
Burnout
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
Mar 31, 2020 • 10min
The Ski Bike
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.
Dec 17, 2019 • 1h 1min
Breaking up with Character Creation
Character creation in Questlandia 1 lasted two hours. Character creation in Questlandia 2 is five minutes. What changed?Intro/Outro music: by Pat King
Oct 22, 2019 • 47min
When to Add Ghosts to Your Game
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
Aug 23, 2019 • 45min
When No One Is the GM, Everyone Is
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.
Jul 24, 2019 • 37min
The UltraLux Bait-and-Switch
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
Jun 18, 2019 • 1h 19min
Your Kickstarter Questions (Mostly) Answered
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
