Dirk and David convene once more to discuss the release of Ara: History Untold by Oxide Games. They analyze the game’s strengths and weaknesses, how it feels to play, and how it compares to the actual Civilization series of games. Topics include managing expectations, the clunkiness of the crafting and relationship systems, performance and technica…

David is at the helm this week, joined by Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, Mariposas) and Mark Wooton (Legend of the Five Rings, Mariposas). The trio discuss Elizabeth and Mark’s new game Undergrove, a resource management and tile placement game about building a mycelial and arboreal network. Topics include how Undergrove was developed, designing for …

Dirk is joined by Daniel Hand, therapeutic counselor and author of “Role-playing Games in Psychotherapy: A Practitioners Guide”. Together, the pair discusses Daniel’s journey into TTRPGs and his process of introducing them into his practice, and eventually designing his own game for therapeutic purposes. Topics include adjusting crunch, the benefit…

Enjoy episode #325 of The Game Design Round Table. In this episode, we discuss the new Civ 7 game with Jon Shafer, the co-founder of the show and a digital games designer. This will be our seventh episode in the Civ games series.Dirk Knemeyer

Civilization 7 has just been revealed! Dirk and David discuss their first impressions from the reveal stream, from the exciting new mechanics to what should have been left behind. They also talk about what they would like the Civilization Series to eventually be. Topics include the potential inclusion of RPG mechanics, focus on population centers, …

Dirk is joined this week by Andrew Shouldice, creator of isometric action-exploration game Tunic. They discuss the journey of developing Tunic, and the lessons learned from a lengthy production. Topics include Andrew’s attitude toward storytelling, how to manage a project long-term, how to focus on what’s important, and knowing when you need help.…

In this episode, Dirk and David welcome Rob Daviau, known for creating legacy board games. They discuss what Rob has been working on, the process of designing legacy games, staying true to the original, and the future of the company's vision.Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

Welcome back to the Civilization Series! In this episode, Dirk welcomes Will Thompson, the creator of the upcoming game Winter Rabbit. Here, they discuss Will's vision for Civilization and the integration of Indigenous technologies into the game. They also talk about the differences between warfare and how the 4cs fit into history.…

Dirk and David come together once more to discuss the civilization series! This week, topics include David’s thoughts on Civilization 6, the value in how the world map is created, what the games choose to simulate, and what can be improved in the technology and religion systems.Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

Join us for another round of listener questions! David and Dirk discuss topics such as whether and how to avoid game-breaking synergies, what impact finances has on the love of design, and balancing strategy and role play mechanics.Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

Dirk and David are joined by Pam Punzalan, known for her work on personal projects such as Navthem’s End and A Rising Tide, as well as commissioned pieces for Dungeons and Dragons, Blades in the Dark, and Starfinder. Together, the trio discusses the differences between producing hired work and indie projects, as well as the importance of RPGSEA. To…

Dirk and David are joined by Andrew Navaro, creator of open-world board game Earthborne Rangers. They discuss how Earthborne Rangers was developed, and the lessons learned from the project. Topics include the making of an open-world board game, diverging story paths, expansions, and when to stop supporting an ongoing game.…

Dirk and David meet with Gareth Damian Martin, creator of In Other Waters and Citizen Sleeper. They discuss Gareth’s design journey, as well as the process of creating Citizen Sleeper. Topics include the use of tabletop mechanics in video games, when to obscure probabilities, using literary prose effectively, and how a game of Citizen Sleeper devel…

Welcome back to the Civilization Series. In the third installment, David and Dirk break down their experiences with Millennia, the latest 4X offering from C Prompt Games and Paradox Interactive. They discuss what aspects of the game worked for them, as well as what they would like to see develop as patches and updates are to come. Topics include ho…

Dirk and David interview prolific designer and leader Xalavier Nelson Jr. They discuss Xalavier’s illustrious and busy career, focusing on his philosophy of how to ship a game as well as knowing your own capabilities. Topics include his work and inspiration for El Paso, Everywhere, how he manages to produce so many games, treating staff fairly and …

Welcome to the second episode of the series on the “Civilization” games, as well as other 4X titles. Continuing from episode one, the pair talk about the phenomenon of “One More Turn”, using overlapping progression paths, and quality life improvements for the genre. They also share their insights on the game “Humankind”, as well as how their attitu…

This episode marks the beginning of a new series focused on the Civilization series of games. Dirk and David are joined by Soren Johnson to discuss their background with the Civilization games, and how they got introduced to the series. They discuss the development of the earlier games, as well as the broader strokes of Civilization, including the …