Building your Game Mechanics – Tips from The League of Gamemakers
Mechanics

Building your Game Mechanics – Tips from The League of Gamemakers

The combined knowledge of the League of Gamemakers is a force to be reckoned with. Some of our most popular pieces are on game mechanics….

Theme is More Important than Mechanics
Mechanics

Theme is More Important than Mechanics

Does your latest design resemble flavorless tofu cubes, ready to mix with a flavor? Are the mechanics straight from a can, with a generic label?…

Exploring Drafting
Mechanics

Exploring Drafting

Teale Fristoe is the founder and head designer of Nothing Sacred Games. His games include Corporate America and Shadow Throne, which is currently on Kickstarter….

Mechanics are More Important than Theme
Mechanics

Mechanics are More Important than Theme

When talking non-RPG tabletop games, mechanics make the game. Mechanics ARE the game. Themes and components can enhance games and create more immersive experiences, but…

Refining Your Game
Mechanics

Refining Your Game

This is Part 3 of my series, “How to Design a Worker Placement Game.” Most of this piece is applicable to any type of game…

How to Design a Worker Placement Game Part 2
Mechanics

How to Design a Worker Placement Game Part 2

Are you ready to start building? In Part 1 we covered the first two steps of building a worker placement game: Research and Innovate. In…

How to Design a Worker Placement Game Part 1
Mechanics

How to Design a Worker Placement Game Part 1

Do you want to design a worker placement game? Are you working on a design, but want to make it better? Would you like to…

Transmogrify Your Mechanics
Mechanics

Transmogrify Your Mechanics

Sometimes when designing a game the mechanic that seems like an obvious fit is actually constraining you, preventing you from exploring interesting paths and alternatives….

The World of the Play
Mechanics

The World of the Play

I am an actor as well as a game-designer. And so, when designing games, I often think of the world being created around and within…

Adding Opportunity Costs: Army Building in Ars Victor
Mechanics

Adding Opportunity Costs: Army Building in Ars Victor

The opportunity cost of grinding your opponent into hamburger is that you will not make OSHA happy. This is the second article I’ve written that…