Design Doc

Convention Dids and Didn’ts

Conventions are an opportunity for us to get our games in front of a bigger audience, and PAX Unplugged is our biggest show. The stakes feel high, and we have to balance our ambitious goals with practical preparations. In this episode, we talk about what we were proud of, what we wish we’d done differently, and how every year we get a little better. Episode mentions: Thoughtcrime Games - https://thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/ [https://thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/] Elliot Davis - https://www.moreblueberries.com/ [https://www.moreblueberries.com/] World Champ Game Co. - https://www.worldchamp.io/ [https://www.worldchamp.io/] Links: Public Guest 5: https://turtlebun.com/products/public-guest-5-notebook [https://turtlebun.com/products/public-guest-5-notebook] Worldbuilding Art Print: https://turtlebun.com/products/worldbuilding-art-print [https://turtlebun.com/products/worldbuilding-art-print] Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz] Support Design Doc on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun]  Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ipaghost.com/] Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://robabrazado.com/] Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/turtleandbun⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/turtleandbun/] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com]

Short Break Announcement

Just a quick announcement that we'll be skipping a release cycle for the Thanksgiving holiday. See you back in two weeks with a new episode! In the meantime you might consider: Joining the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz] Supporting Design Doc on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun]  Picking up one of our games: https://turtlebun.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://turtlebun.com/]  Design Doc Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ipaghost.com/] Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://robabrazado.com/] Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/turtleandbun⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/turtleandbun/] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com]

Making Game Hacks That Stay Small

It's hard for us to make a hack that doesn't grow into a game of its own. In this episode, we talk about two playtests—one for a game variant, another for a new hack—and say what went well, what needs work, and how to keep small things small. Links: Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz] Support Design Doc Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun]  Check out our games: https://turtlebun.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://turtlebun.com/]  Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ipaghost.com/] Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://robabrazado.com/] Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/turtleandbun⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/turtleandbun/] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com]

You Can’t End the Game Until You Know What It Means

Endings are hard. The ending of a roleplaying game isn’t just the culmination of the story; it’s also when the themes and purpose of the game become clear. In this episode we talk about designing a conclusion that comes at the right time, conveys the right message, and still leaves room for all the improvisation of roleplaying. Episode mentions: Ready Player One [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Player_One]—but just a brief mention this time, promise! Mother! [https://letterboxd.com/film/mother-2017/] (2017 film written & directed by Darren Aronofsky) Other Design Doc episodes mentioned: Epilogues in Games [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NIij865vz5KkUJrFPxFbf?si=ShT2N7e8T-WWoy_t-iq2ZQ] (May 2025) Finding the Game's Emotional Core [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6J5PUy9UKldene9I11bOzp?si=UVvcjR-_SPGejBSyASenpA] (March 2019) Links: Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz] Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun]  Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://turtlebun.com/]  Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ipaghost.com/] Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://robabrazado.com/] Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/turtleandbun⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/turtleandbun/] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com]

Design Doc 101

Is Design Doc a game design podcast? A saga about the challenges of making art for a living? A never-ending field trip? In episode 101 we talk about how Design Doc began, what it became, and what we hope it could become. Plus, dinosaurs! Episode mentions: Internet Shaquille video about short-form content - “I Posted a Short EVERY Day and THIS Happened!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvu3SDigoMA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvu3SDigoMA] Links: Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz] Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun]  Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://turtlebun.com/]  Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ipaghost.com/] Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://robabrazado.com/] Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/turtleandbun⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/turtleandbun/] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com]