“My trick to simplify my designs is to write the rules in an early stage. If I can’t describe a feature in a few sentences, it’s too complex.”

— Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia)

“Don’t worry too much about making your rules clever and funny. The purpose of the rules is to teach the game, hopefully quickly. Instead, put your focus on making your game clever and funny. Let your mechanics tell a story. Don’t muddy your rules. Write great rules first, then add humor.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant)

Fred Hicks (@fredhicks) reveals how Evil Hat Productions designed the pledge levels and rewards for their “Race to Adventure” Kickstarter campaign:
 
http://www.deadlyfredly.com/2012/06/in-the-red/

Designing Games With the Publisher in Mind

http://www.otb-games.com/?p=2567

Tips for how to generate interest for your board game:

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/9444941#9444941

Designer question of dread: Do we need any more games?

Put another way: What keeps you inspired?

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11335/designer-question-of-dread-do-we-need-any-more-gam

Some considerations when creating a board game’s economic system:
 
http://www.suntzugames.com/1/post/2012/06/the-money-flow-and-economy-in-board-games.html

“Games create stories. Rules imply the stories that a game can tell.”

— Darrell Hardy (@HardyTales)

“Don’t confuse depth with complexity.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant)

“One point that cannot be stressed enough: Complexity creates problems, simplicity solves problems.”

— Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia)

“Game-sense: Got a practical problem with your board game? Don’t add more stuff. First, try using what you already *have* in a new way.”

— Brett J. Gilbert (@55cards)

An essay on “different scoring approaches that designers can employ, and how those choices manifest in the game’s dynamics and the kind of decisions and tensions facing players”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11324/the-choices-we-make

“If you have an idea, do not give up on it. Fight for it. You will eventually win and I promise you, it will be an amazing victory.”

— Chevee Dodd (@cheveedodd)

“When a game has a rulebook section called “Commonly Overlooked Rules”, you have to ask yourself why are they overlooked and are they needed.”

— Grim Tree Games (@grimtreegames)

Need a single copy of a game printed, or a small print run?

Here are some recommendations:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/817156/print-on-demand-board-games

“Your game is always more difficult and complicated than you think. Always.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

How to effectively playtest and iterate your board game design:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/06/18/testing-well/

Richard Garfield discusses some ways to retain player interaction while minimizing table politics:

http://www.threedonkeys.com/blog/archives/736

“It’s never easy to shelve an idea that excites you. In fact, I’d say that it’s one of the most difficult things to do as a new designer.”

— Patrick Nickell

Things to avoid in game design. Thou shalt not…

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/816102/things-to-avoid-in-game-design-thou-shalt-not

Thou shalt not publish without a great deal of playtesting.

Thou shalt not become enamored of thine own ideas.

Thou shalt not make the prototype too elaborate.

Thou shalt not post on BGG forums during designated design time.

Thou shalt not be afraid. Once your game is good and polished, get out there and market that sucker.

Thou shalt not add to fix a problem, thou shalt remove.

Thou shalt not design games that must be played in the “spirit of the game.”

Thou shalt not give up…