We've had seven years to think of a good pitch for our game. Now, we're Kickstarting Questlandia again, and we're finally figuring out the pitch that feels right. In this episode we talk about the approaching Kickstarter for a new edition of Questlandia, and just how hard it is to find a genuine voice when speaking to an online void.The Questlandia updated and expanded edition Kickstarter launches October 20th. Sign up to be notified when the campaign goes live here.

Design Doc

The Episode Before the Kickstarter

We haven't had a deadlined project in a minute. But now it's time for a deadlined project again... How do we incorporate that work without letting un-deadlined projects slide? How does anyone not just fill the negative space? Zencastr did us dirty in this one, but we pulled through it!Intro/outro music: Pat KingJoin the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/9umUykHVAQOur Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun  

Resist the Urge to Fill Negative Space

We just finished a year-long project, and have a little time to plan our next steps! The work of what happens in-between is just as important as the work of making a new game. We brainstorm about future projects, how to sell the books we've already made, and making a new company and new website.Design Doc Intro/Outro theme: Pat KingTurtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

The Work of Games Is Not Just Making Games

Hannah and Evan shoot the shoot about games, being in the weird middle space of a project almost being done, and launching lucrative YouTube careers.

Shootin the shoot

Hannah and Evan talk about the quest to thrive in the shadows of the world's most popular RPGs. An episode about how to compare every roleplaying game to the big ones, for the good.https://www.patreon.com/turtlebunIntro/Outro theme by Pat KingAddtl music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears

How to Compare Roleplaying Games

Hannah and Evan discuss the trials and tribulations of offering a "deluxe" version of a game on Kickstarter. How do you balance the quality, the complexity, and the pressure to compete with mass-produced games?Theme song by Pat KingEditing  by Jeff Stormer of Party of One Podcast

Deluxe Edition

We sold out of Questlandias, and have decided to revamp it for the next print run! We talk about returning to our first game with both appreciation for what it is, and an intention to improve it.Theme song by Pat KingEditing by Jeff Stormer of Party of One Podcast

Everything Old Is New Again

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  

Scopeful Optimism

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

Designing a Game Design Workday

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 KingNew Ages I by Little Dog Big Ears 

The Games You Want to Make, The Life You Want to Live

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

Burnout

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.

The Ski Bike

Character creation in Questlandia 1 lasted two hours. Character creation in Questlandia 2 is five minutes. What changed?Intro/Outro music: by Pat King

Breaking up with Character Creation

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 KingIntermission music: New Ages 1  by Little Dog Big EarsDesign Doc on twitter: @designdocpod

When to Add Ghosts to Your Game

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.

When No One Is the GM, Everyone Is

Welcome to Design Doc, a podcast documenting the process of analog game design. Game designers guide you through their process from concept to product.

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Design Doc

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