Rule of Carnage - Designing Better Miniatures Games
By Glenn Ford
Rule of Carnage - Designing Better Miniatures GamesJul 25, 2022
Ep 107: Miniatures Game Design - What we're working on, including an exciting announcement!
In Episode 107 the guys have decided its a good time to tell you all about some of the things they're working on, including a very special announcement of a project they're very proud of. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 106.2: Miniatures Game Design - Why to make miniatures games: Part two.
In Episode 106 Part 2 the guys have been considering the fact that sometimes they need to decide whether a game should be a minis game, or a card game or something else. Well, Glenn does, Mike just makes it into a minis game anyway. But if you're making the same considerations Mike has some reasons for why you might go one way rather than another. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 106: Miniatures Game Design - Why to make miniatures games: Part one.
In Episode 106 Part 1 the guys have been considering the fact that sometimes they need to decide whether a game should be a minis game, or a card game or something else. Well, Glenn does, Mike just makes it into a minis game anyway. But if you're making the same considerations Glenn has some reasons for why you might go one way rather than another. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 105: Miniatures Game Design - Consuming prototypes.
In Episode 105 part of Mike's process is to create small games and prototypes with the purpose of breaking them down into other games like some sort of Cronus of game design. Glenn doesn't really do this, but they chat about it here. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 104: Miniatures Game Design - Getting Published or Self-Publishing? Our stories.
In Episode 104, Mike is now working towards self-publishing some games, having previously worked with a publisher. Glenn is just finishing off a book with a publisher having previously self-published some games. Why did they each make those choices, and can their reasons help you make your own choices? Well, hopefully. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 103: Miniatures Game Design - How to decide what to work on next.
In Episode 103, Mike is pondering what to work on next, and wants to know how Glenn chooses what to work on next, and for that matter, maybe what all of you choose to work on next. Okay? Okay. What's next? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 102: Miniatures Game Design - I just want Closure.
In Episode 102, Glenn has been thinking about the fact that games often offer, as things that life sometimes doesn't, freedom and closure. These two elements, however, seem almost directly contradictory. Also, minis games feel like they almost inevitably give closure, but hardly ever give true freedom. So, can we make a wide and free sandbox minis game? Should we try? All these questions and more remain entirely un-answered in the following conversation. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 101: Miniatures Game Design - Is horror a cursed problem?
In Episode 101, Glenn has been pondering the idea of horror as an experience in tabletop games. Horror as genre is extremely popular from Universal movie style monsters to Lovecraftian entities, but very rarely as an experience. It is often based on surprise, but games require pre-knowledge, so how can it be achieved? If it can? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 100: Miniatures Game Design - Is there space for independent game designers?
In Episode 100, since Mike's Hobgoblin, a mass battle rank and flank game, is about to reach its final release date and Warhammer: The Old World, a mass battle rank and flank game, has just hit the market, he's been thinking about the relationship between the two. Obviously, Games Workshop is a far bigger company with far more resources than a small independent developer, so how do you exist in the shadow of a giant? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 99: Miniatures Game Design - Should I tell you how to hobby?
In Episode 99, since the guys are both in the middle of putting together their own rulebooks, Mike has been thinking about what he does, would like to, and maybe should include in his. Specifically, he's been thinking about hobby sections, how to kitbash, build and paint minis for his games. Should you include a hobby section in your book? Is it the modern thing to do? Should it be something we do more? Or less? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 98: Miniatures Game Design - You don't have to have anything in your game.
In Episode 98, Glenn has been thinking about Boarders and Black Flags, his game of high seas piratical action, and about how he hasn't allow players to stab or shoot each other in it, to make it more fun. Which seems counter intuitive for a game about pirates with cutlasses and muskets and all that, but the lesson he thinks he's learnt is, nothing has to be in your game, no matter how obvious it seems. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 97: Miniatures Game Design - Prototyping vs Production
In Episode 97, Mike recently watched this video: https://youtu.be/NsMHicoZTzQ?si=AZi0m-apY51LEmwv And was rather excited about the way in which it suggested a methodology for thinking about his creative process. Glenn watched it too and didn't really get it. So Mike's going to explain why it excited him. Then Glenn will probably explain why it didn't excite him. So that should be fun. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 96: Miniatures Game Design - How to structure your Rulebook
In Episode 96, its time to talk about structuring a rulebook. It needs to be done, we put it off for long enough, so here it is. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 95: Miniatures Game Design - Your resolution system doesn't matter
In Episode 95, Mike has been considering resolution systems, many designers of miniatures wargames do, we find it quite comforting. In his consideration Mike has come to the conclusion that they don't really matter. Or rather, which one you use doesn't really matter. Glenn thinks sometimes they do, but yes, mostly they probably don't. Which is probably freeing or something. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 94: Miniatures Game Design - The way of May
In Episode 94 there are many words, we have all the words, good ones and slippery little buggers alike. Must, May, Can, Should, Within, Without, Into, all are fine and splendid and rarely ever cause problems for anyone in day to day life. But the writing of rules is not day to day life, and in that these blighters cause all manner of problems. The guys disagree over the best use and meaning of May Not, specifically. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 93: Miniatures Game Design - Miniature Photography & Illustrations
In Episode 93 when you create a game you create a world, which is great, but how should you visually represent it? Should you go with evocative drawings, expensive and lengthy to commission, but offering players freedom and inspiration, maybe too much freedom? Or should you go for photographs of inspiring, even intimidating tabletops, allowing people to see exactly what a game in play really looks like, for good or ill? These questions and more go totally unanswered in this chat. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Xmas Special!
The guys take a break from their usual rules discussion and analysis to take a little look back over 2023 at what they've played, what they've worked on, what has inspired them and what they intend to work on in the coming year. Thanks to all of you for following the channel, and a happy festive season to you all.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
Ep 92: Miniatures Game Design - How Specific Should I Make My Setting?
In Episode 92 when you create a game you create a world, which is great, but how specific should you be about that world? How much creativity should you leave players to build their own version of it, and what exactly does specificity look like in terms of games? These questions and more go totally unanswered in this chat. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 91: Miniatures Game Design - Should you change your game halfway through?
It can happen that halfway through a design that you realize it isn't what you thought it was, that an important mechanic doesn't really matter, or that the setting isn't fitting the game. You may well wonder if you should change whatever's working, if its central to the game. You should.
Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 90: Miniatures Game Design - Narrative VS Competitive, the LIE!.
Many games choose to present themselves as being part of a dichotomy where on one side there is narrative and the other is competitive, as though a game can only be one or the other. We think that's pretty much utter bunk. The two just are not connected, a game can be neither, or both. So let's all agree to stop pretending otherwise shall we? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 89: Miniatures Game Design - Downtime, and how to understand unbeing.
Games are what your players spend most of their time doing. In most minis games, what players have to spend their time doing is experiencing downtime. Your game's downtime defines the nature of your game and its player's experience of it.
So its worth thinking very hard about it.
Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 88: Miniatures Game Design - How to find your audience.
Every game needs to find its audience, however good it is, if a game doesn't get to the right people it'll never get played, or at least, not more than once. How do you find the right people, or at least, how do you let them find you, or at least work out who they are? Goodness knows really, but here are a few guesses. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 87: Miniatures Game Design - Does the world need your game?
Why are we even doing any of this? Not in a downer way, but does the world need the game you're working on? Does it need any games, yours or ours. Yes, obviously, but why? Let's figure that out. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 86: Miniatures Game Design - Avoiding disengagement.
In this episode, the guys have been playing a range of new games, or at least new to them, recently. Some have been great, some have had issues, one of the worst issues with any game and with some of these has been disengagement. Sometimes its disengagement from the game engine, sometimes from the scenario, sometimes the game as a whole but its always a problem. They consider some of the reasons and even a few possible solutions. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 85: Miniatures Game Design - How to make miniatures agnostic games happen.
In this episode the guys have been thinking about miniatures agnosticism again. In particular they've been thinking about it in relation to interestingly narrative faction building. Once you say a faction is a certain type of thing, you're saying that people can't use anything to represent them, so your game isn't minis agnostic, but people like factions with story and definition. How do you reconcile those two things? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 84: Miniatures Game Design - Utils.
In this episode, Glenn has been considering list building and option balancing. He's tried a few times to formalize the idea of pricing things for "piloting" skill, and recently he's been thinking about an idea of "utils", units of utility, and how they might relate to balancing a game. So he talks about that for a bit. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 83: Miniatures Game Design - Repetition VS Definition.
In this episode the guys have been thinking about rules, in particular, Glenn has been thinking about how they're presented. Particularly about the difference between repeating rules multiple times and placing them once in a reference and then referring to it. Both options have strengths and weaknesses so they examine those for a while. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 82: Miniatures Game Design - Rules you're meant to learn.
In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations.
Specifically this time, they've been thinking about rules, or at least the presentation of rules, the ones you're meant to learn, to internalize and have in your head versus the ones that you're meant to refer to the rulebook for. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 81: Miniatures Game Design - Measureless Movement.
In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations. Currently they're considering the idea of measureless movement, which seems to be a bit in the zeitgeist at the moment, how does it work, how can it work, is it a good idea and how can it be made good idea if its not one yet. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 80: Miniatures Game Design - AI targetting and pathfinding.
In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations. The first thing to occur is that they previously talked about AI, without fully engaging on the subject of target priority for AI opponents or their pathfinding systems. The time for that engagement is now! As such, they chat about these issues, and a bit about some of the solutions. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
Ep 79: Miniatures Game Design - Holding yourself to a higher standard.
In this episode Mike has been going through the final stages of developing Hobgoblin before it goes out to meet its adoring public, and as such he's deep into the self doubt and worry parts of the process. Any designer worthy of the name worries about the quality and worth of their work, if you find yourself often in a similar position, or ever, here are some things to consider to get your head right. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 78: Miniatures Game Design - How to design miniatures agnostic games.
In this episode the guys chat about exactly how to design miniatures agnostic games. It might sound easy, but its actually not, and just saying that a game is minis agnostic because you don't have a range of minis to supply doesn't really cut it. Here Mike and Glenn talk through some of the specific problems, and even one or two solutions for them. Mostly just problems though. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 77: Miniatures Game Design - Hobby personality types.
In this episode the guys chat about what drives hobbyists. Minis games are almost unique in the level of physical preparation they presume from their players before play can begin, this hobby engagement can attract players to your game and inspire them into a virtuous hobby cycle, or drive them away. Considering their needs and drives can make it more likely to be the first thing and not the second. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 76: Miniatures Game Design - Player personality types.
In this episode the guys chat about players, specifically player personality types, beginning with the Magic the Gathering player types and then discussing classic Bartle's player types. While everyone is an individual, players are often attracted to the same broad things in games and catering to these drives can lead to you game being played more and more often, so its worth thinking about them. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 75: Miniatures Game Design - Scenarios, again.
In this episode the guys chat about how bad scenarios can ruin good games, and more to the point, how to make good scenarios. They've had a few chats about scenarios, but still keep messing them up, so one more can't hurt. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 74: Miniatures Game Design - Hobgoblin Kickstarter Post Partum.
In this episode Glenn asks Mike a few piercing questions about the highly successful Kickstarter for Mike Hutchinson's Hobgoblin, what lessons might be learned and what other people might get from it. Listen as Mike wilts under Glenn's journalistic integrity. Its basically Frost/Nixon. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 73: Miniatures Game Design - Physical prototyping.
In this episode the guys go through some tips and tricks about physically creating the bits for testing your game. At some point actual people will need to play your game, understanding the process you put them through to do that will help you understand how likely they are to do it and how to make it more attractive to them. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 72: Miniatures Game Design - User Interface.
In this episode the guys consider the user interface of your game. Your game presents itself to people as a mental medium in its rules, a visual one in its reference sheets and cards and a tactile one via its dice, miniatures and other elements. All of these approaches have different things you can leverage to make your game easier to understand, easier to play and more fun, so its well worth considering them. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 71: Miniatures Game Design - Welcome to Pukeapocalypse.
In this episode Glenn talks through his inspirations and design goals for his new game, Pukeapocalypse. Pukeapocalypse is a fast playing narrative skirmish game set in a nasty apocalyptic world, its also in its Beta test, so you can check it out by following the links below. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Pukeapocalypse beta: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VDAW2D2F0hOXnyTK6kHZfMI_VZEcfqSD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104183437917872472969&rtpof=true&sd=true
The Pukeapocalypse TTS mod is here: Steam Workshop::Pukeapocalypse (steamcommunity.com)
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 70: Miniatures Game Design - Digital Tools.
In this episode the guys discuss some of the digital tools that they use in the process of designing and prototyping their games. From concept to first draft, the tools you use can really speed up your design process and make your inspirations get to the tabletop faster, here are a few ideas how to use them. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 69: Miniatures Game Design - Random openings.
In this episode Mike has been reading about randomized openings in games of competitive Checkers, when there was such a thing. Its led to much consideration of the ways that we mess with set-up conditions, whether with initial deployment or with early moves. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 68: Miniatures Game Design - Extrinsic and Intrinsic information.
In this episode Glenn has been thinking about the information that a miniatures game offers its players. They can see the tabletop like a god, the position of every trooper is public information. Some of that, as a general, they should have access to, and some they should not. At the same time, they are allowed to ask questions and check facts, some of which they would, again, not have access to. How, or should, you seek to control their access to information to better match their in game perspective? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 67: Miniatures Game Design - Ludonarrative dissonance.
In this episode the guys chat about ludonarrative dissonance, the tendency of games to have gameplay and mechanics that fail to match up with the story attached to them. Glenn suggests that in the case of tabletop games it has far more to do with a break between the "front end" experience of the players and the "back end" systems of running the game. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 66: Miniatures Game Design - Imagining alternative history gaming.
In this episode the guys imagine an alternative history of tabletop miniatures gaming. They previously talked about how Chess was one of the major sources of modern miniatures gaming, now they imagine how modern gaming might have been different if that source had been instead, Go, Parcheesi or Hnefatafl. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 65: Miniatures Game Design - Three great things about Saga.
In this episode Glenn talks about Saga. Saga is a dark ages set Skirmish level combat game and it does a whole bunch of very clever and interesting things with its design, here Glenn goes into a bit of a deep delve on some of them with some analysis and suggestions. Glenn is the developer of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 64: Miniatures Game Design - Campaigns and Endings.
In this episode the guys talk about campaigns. Or more properly, progression systems. Or more properly, suitable endings for progression systems, how to get out while the going is good and keep people coming back for more. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 63: Miniatures Game Design - Miniatures Agnosticism.
In this episode the guys talk about miniatures agnosticism. We all hear the term, but Glenn has recently been thinking more and more about how its used and what it means. Often it seems to be a negative term, defining what a game isn't, maybe its time to talk about what it means that they are. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 65: Miniatures Game Design - The history of miniatures gaming.
In this episode Mike takes us through the history of miniatures gaming from its origins in the 1780s through to the 1970s. Its not only fascinating as a history lesson, but many of the games and mechanics he talks about have a lot to offer today. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 62: Miniatures Game Design - Uncertainty.
In this episode the guys talk about uncertainty. It may well be that uncertainty is an absolute necessity in the design of games, but what sort form should it take? Is it possible to create uncertainty by the means of complexity in a miniatures wargame, and if possible, is it a good idea? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh
Ep 61: Miniatures Game Design - Turns and rounds.
In this episode the guys talk about turns, which players take during a game and rounds, which break up a game to allow elements to refresh and reset. They wonder if rounds are necessary, and what might replace them in your game. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews.
Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com
Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games
Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: Rule of Carnage - YouTube
The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh