Circle DC 2026 will be held on April 10-12, 2026 here in lovely Washington, DC. The convention will be capped at 250 attendees and we have opened up badge registration this morning. tabletop.events/conventions/...
Tabletop game designer - mostly historical but not always.
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Circle DC 2026 will be held on April 10-12, 2026 here in lovely Washington, DC. The convention will be capped at 250 attendees and we have opened up badge registration this morning. tabletop.events/conventions/...
In my long ramble last night I had this thread in mind - so many great projects in the works that are pushing gaming boundaries in interesting ways, and asking different things of players than what currently dominates the market. I’m excited to see these emerge over time!
Sure but those don’t suffer from the “can they be art” conversation in the same way, largely because they are thought of as art forms that have become commodified while games are commonly considered (wrongly in my opinion) in the reverse.
I don’t have a grand point. Just these rambles about games and where we are as an industry. I hope for more weird, niche, interesting things to play. I hope to be challenged and pushed and confronted. I look forward to it.
Isn’t that wonderful? Every time a group sits down to play a game, a new meaning will be created, just for that one fleeting instance of play. Play. Something else to remember. This is all play. We are exercising the most childlike of muscles, exploring the world through play.
I like to think of games as wholistic experiences that bring players into temporary social contracts that allow for the suspension of reality and the adoption of special rules. The meaning of a game is created in concert between the designer and all the players who will ever play it.
The standards are obvious: mechanisms, art, theme, player personas. But everything else matters too. The physical components and how players interact with them. The rules and how they speak to the reader. The end game conditions shape how players think about the game’s outcomes. All of it matters.
To achieve this we have to stop thinking of games as their component parts, as a collection of mechanisms or a thematic experience or a narrative adventure. Games are more than the sum of their parts. Everything about a game shapes how players approach and experience it. And I mean everything.
What would it look like if people could see how games can open people up and spill them out into a table? How would your game-hating friend react if they got to see games can be so much more than they think?
Board games pull people into a shared social experience. They ask interesting questions and elicit string emotional reactions, even when they’re pushing capitalist engines down our throats. Maybe that’s why they aren’t more broadly appealing - because most people think of Monopoly or Catan as game.
What is the appetite for board games as artistic experiences? Can they rival movies or music or video games? In volume likely not, the medium is too clumsy and time-consuming and space-eating. But in quality of artistry or depth of argument? Most definitely. Games are arguably more powerful.
His efforts, through both Leder and Wehrlegig, prove that it’s possible to do both things - to be commercially successful and make art. Unfortunately, his work is an anomaly. There are others as well - City of Six Moons, for example - that prove this can be done. But it’s much too rare.
This is why Cole Wehrle is so often mentioned in these conversations, in my opinion. Not only does he make thoughtful and innovative games with strong perspectives, but he also moves units. His games (and the games he backs) sell.
Underpinning all of this, on my opinion is the tension between games as craft/art and games as product. Games are both, but unfortunately (and to the hobby’s detriment) the productization of games usually wins out. That which sells gains attention because it has the money to shape public opinion.
On top of this is the fascinating conversation about board game criticism and analysis. So much of the “thought” around games is surface level and the true critics are overlooked: Dan Thurot, Senet Magazine, Matt Thrower, and others. These folks see games for what they are and can be.
However, the perception of board games as efficiency puzzles is a valid critique. We see a ton of those. The market is bloated with them. To casual players they are omnipresent and representative of the hobby. It takes some work to look beyond those to find the other treasures.
A lot of folks smarter and more accomplished than I am have already mentioned the other options: the work of Amabel Holland, Xoe Allred, Cole Wehrle, and many others speaks for itself. Games as struggle and relational and argument. Games as deeply personal experiences or explorations of trauma.
I obviously disagree with that assessment. Board games offer so much more than optimization or efficiency puzzles. Those exist and have to some extent dominated the industry for a long time, but they are far from the only experience games offer.
Lots of interesting board game and TTRPG discourse this week! I’ve really enjoyed seeing various voices chime in from all over the place to weigh in. It all kicked off (from what I saw) with an exchange about the perception of board games as optimization engines. I have thoughts. 🧵
I’d say it’s something like the importance of complex ecological systems and biodiversity. But it’s also kind of up to the designer to frame the theme, I think. What would you say it is?
How do you learn more about these games, get involved in their development, or sign one? Follow @lunarpunk.games. Join the @breakmygame.com Discord. Attend a @protospielo.bsky.social event. Talk to designers who hang out in those places. You're missing the games because you're in the wrong place!
Ah! Don't know if I can make it this year, but is this an annual thing?
I agree! Lots of opportunities. Let’s chat about it at the con in November!
Thanks for the rec! I’ll see what I can find about this.
Maybe! It’s just a brainstorm at the moment. I think these things can be approached in a number of different ways. The commonality could be thematic or methodological rather than being rooted in a single event, for instance.
I think you could go either way but I’m more interested in seeing wildly different perspectives, models, and arguments made through different designs. Systems are wonderful in many ways but can limit the ability to push boundaries.
Interesting! I was wondering if someone else had done it - I assumed but wasn’t aware. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve got my own ideas about where to start. This may be something I work toward over the next several years.
You see this to some extent in game series or with different perspectives on similar topics. But what would it look like to let each person pursue their own system/model around a unifying theme, with the purpose of creating discourse? I think it could be fascinating, if daunting for a publisher.
🎲✂️ Historical board game idea: a collection of games published as an anthology or edited volume, similar to what you see in academic treatments of complex topics. Like 5-6 designers take on a beefy historical topic or era and each make their own game about one part of it.
Yep that’s the solution in the video Geoff posted! The key is the cards have to be paired when shuffled, then separated before shifting them. A tricky component challenge but not unsolvable.
Part of the trick is not redoing it
Okay, but what happens if the last player is left with only their shape?
one directional. Could be bi-directional but not necessarily.
Love it. Really leaning into the analog nature of the thing.
Correct - it's more like secret santa (per Geoff's video rec above)
Except here it’s not in pairs. Ally is probably the wrong word.
No, it’s not in pairs. Ally may be the wrong word, just the one the original poster used. You know who you care about. No one else does. Everyone’s should be different and can’t be themselves.
No
How do you assign these allies without: an app, redealing/drawing, using some crazy complex components? The math here is interesting, but so are the social dynamics.
@gengelstein.bsky.social - friends and I are discussing a game design problem that I think you might find interesting. Or maybe you've dealt with it in a GameTek at some point. 4+ players. Each player secretly assigned an "ally". Cannot be assigned yourself. 1/2
I also came here to tag her. LOL
How do you like phantom ink? I’ve had some good times with that one with @danbullock.bsky.social and @meeplelady.bsky.social among others!
We’ve already begun to see the development of theoretical treatments of games and their critique. I’m curious to see how that field develops as that’s historically where literature developed its own language and frameworks of understanding
It seems like a lot of these distinctions and definitions are tied closely to the field of literary criticism. As games criticism continues to develop, I wonder if we’ll get similar treatment. We’ll have to use existing terms to some extent, but we’ll also likely need to develop new ones for games.
Thought you were talking about my cat
Loving this journey!
Banana
So does AAR stand for Anticipated Action Report?
I am a huge proponent of digital prototyping and playtesting. Protospiel online is an incredibly useful event, for rapid playtesting and iteration, for exposure to a global design community unlike any other, and for an inclusive and welcoming community. Go get a badge!
Sykes-Picot was the game of the week on the Breakup Gaming Society podcast - if you like games, drinks, and hip hope, have a listen! Thanks to @natewarren.bsky.social for spotlighting it! www.breakupgamingsociety.com/episodes/syk...
I couldn’t agree more! Our greatest living storyteller.
Oh man I need to see this live sometime. One day…
They try to do this in Texas and it’s awful because of the heat.
Join the boycott! CGE needs to be held accountable. We need more action on things like this in the board game community.
Very pleased to be working with this new publisher (and less new friend) on one of my first designs! This game has gone through a lot of iterations, and I'm happy with how it landed. Couldn't be more excited to get it into people's hands next year! 🎲✂️
It’s not just for Flip 7 - several games on that site have similarly (if not as egregiously) incorrect summaries. Check out the one for the lord of the rings trick taking game, which apparently now is won on points? www.asmodee.co.uk/products/odl...
The true meaning of love bombing
You might agree with this, but I think this one is highly political!
Love this!!
Tiki drinks!!!
Wow congrats Alex! Looks great!
Hammer and Sickle is now up for pre-order from GMT! An easy-to-learn asymmetric game on the Russian Civil War. Anarchists, Bolsheviks, New Nations, and Whites compete through negotiation, bluffing, and managing their unique powers. www.gmtgames.com/p-1081-hamme...
Congrats!!
In about 2 hours, I'll be talking with Jamie, and Tanner about digital prototyping for @protospielo.bsky.social 's Panelspiel! If you've been on the fence about playtesting online, or you're not sure where to start, check it out! Join us and ask us questions in chat! www.twitch.tv/protospielo 🎲✂️
You could get to flick if you win the trick? But the flicking could be set up in such a way that if you flick wrong, you might get negative points?
Never gets old seeing the different ways this game shakes out. Thanks for playing!
In my opinion, Scavengers Reign is the best animated series in a decade or more. It does so much interesting and thoughtful stuff.
Sweet setup!
Birds of a feather! You’ll be able to find The Seahorse & The Hummingbird lightly interwoven amidst the @goosepoopgames.com booth at Dice Tower East. Come say, “Hi!” if you’re nearly. I’ll have The Book of Wandering up for sale, and I’ll be demoing… #boardgames
I did a full Arcs campaign day a couple months ago. One person had never played Arcs at all, so it was a bit of a struggle. I’d love a day with folks who know it well!
Sorry I’m gonna keep having lots of opinions. 🤠
Does your local library have Libby or something similar? Mine does and has ebooks in there.
Can’t wait to dig into this one!
LOL I was just making a funsie with my online associate
We've selected games and we're preparing to summon our first Midnight Market for November of this year! Follow along using the link below and catch them when the witching hour is upon us! www.lunarpunk.games/midnight-mar...
Spend 30 minutes sliding it over to a door veerrryyy carefully, then spill it all anyway when you can't get it over the threshold.
Terrible hands
Definitely AI
Strong @d20plusmodifier.bsky.social vibes here. This thing could be in Arcs or Oath.
I don't think I'd seen this box art yet Jeff. Looks amazing. Excited for this one!
Magnate!
I need to get to more cons!
Jealous!
This excerpt depends entirely on what is a "qualifying diagnosis". The larger thrust of the case and the ruling is that gender dysphoria would not qualify, but that other medical diagnoses would, thereby excluding trans kids from access to this care for the primary reason they need it.
Trading Places
Thanks Dan! What a wonderful treatment of the game. I appreciate your playing it and writing about it.
Don’t know what to say about this review, other than I’m appreciative of people like Dan, who engage with games deeply. He words much about my game better than I ever could have. I especially love this line: “This one is angry, polemical, slapdash, and wholly on-point.”
Some folks swear by Figma. I often use Inkscape, which is free and slightly easier than affinity in my opinion, with lots of features.
Yes precisely, but I’d also argue that the colonial narrative of inevitability that we’ve been feed is flawed at best. There are frequently many points of uncertain conflict and defeat for colonizers that preceded eventual conquest (or didn’t). Important to recognize those events
This is a tricky one - finding the agency for the oppressed is always difficult. This is why I like using history as a foundation. It helps provide real examples of anti-colonial movements. Looking for those moments where the colonial power was not total is helpful for inspiration.
I've got a couple folks volunteering for New York, am still in need of someone with a library card in Boston/Massachusetts to access a digital resource for me please reskeet, it is very much appreciated
👀
Well that’s good! I think what a lot of people miss in multivictor games is that it’s not just about changing how to win. The game has to be flexible enough to support different modes of play. There’s still tension it’s just of a different nature than single victor games. Wanna see yours!!
If it's a multivictor game, isn't part of the design allowing for this kind of play? I am having trouble understanding why thsi would be a criticism if the game is structured in such a way as to allow or encourage this?
Oooooh, congrats NB! Can't wait to get mine.
I love this so much! Definitely has some powerful party energy!
Seems legit
These are genuinely fun! Check them out.