What constitutes a “meaningful decision”? A BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/999482/what-constitutes-a-meaningful-decision-for-you-bey

Examples of well-written and -designed rulebooks:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/999192/best-rulebook

How to write an elevator pitch:

http://exampleofplay.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/how-to-write-an-elevator-pitch/

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - June 2013

This month’s roundup of useful links for board game designers includes games you should play, free icons for prototyping, a surprising connection between drafting and worker placement, and more:

#theory:

• Games to play to become a better designer
• The Dice Tower has a new podcast for board game designers
• A guide to area-control games
• A look at drafting as a gaming mechanism
• How to avoid runaway leaders in engine-building games

#prototyping:

• 1,078 free icons for prototyping

#publishing:

• Lessons learned from the Euphoria Kickstarter
• Albino Dragon’s top 12 lessons about making a Kickstarter campaign successful
• What can we learn from the Kickstarter campaigns that fell furthest short of their goals?

#process:

• Grant Rodiek joins the Happy Mitten podcast to discuss making players feel clever, stewing on ideas, getting published and more

A guide to worker placement games:

http://www.islaythedragon.com/2013/06/take-this-job-and-place-it-guide-to.html

Days of Wonder’s Mark Kaufmann joins the Board Game University podcast to discuss how the company works with designers:

http://boardgameuniversity.libsyn.com/board-game-university-episode-6-mark-kaufmann

Lessons learned from the Euphoria Kickstarter:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/5-kickstarter-mistakes-we-made-on-euphoria-that-you-can-avoid-and-1-regret/

How to avoid runaway leaders in engine-building games:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2013/06/engine-building-and-power-curves.html

Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis) joins the Happy Mitten podcast (@HappyMitten) to discuss life as an independent designer:

http://www.happymittengames.com/5/

The Funding the Dream podcast (@FundtheDream) identifies some tactics to deploy in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign:

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/99707-funding-the-dream-on-kickstarter-ep-146-doug-morse-adventures-tabletop-part-2

How to ship to international Kickstarter backers for a relatively low cost:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/how-to-provide-free-shipping-worldwide-on-kickstarter-a-comprehensive-guide/

Games to play to become a better designer:

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/157500/games-to-play-to-become-a-better-game-designer

The Reddit tabletop design forum discusses deck-building:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/1growf/design_discussion_deck_building_mechanics/

Eric Lang (@eric_lang) joins Board Game University to discuss collaboration, getting feedback, working with playtesters and more:

http://boardgameuniversity.libsyn.com/board-game-university-episode-5-eric-lang

A dozen Kickstarter campaign tips from a marketing perspective:

http://www.boardgamequest.com/tips-for-running-kickstarter-campaign/

A look at drafting as a gaming mechanism–and a surprising connection to worker placement:

http://nothingsacredgames.com/?p=1016

The Three Moves Ahead podcast (@3MA) goes in-depth to discuss the aspects and history of train games:

http://threemovesahead.libsyn.com/episode-221-binding-with-iron

Some board game publishers that are–and some that aren’t–accepting submissions:

http://www.bgdf.com/node/621

A guide to cooperative games:

http://www.islaythedragon.com/2013/06/so-happy-together-guide-on-cooperative.html

Two perspectives on self-publishing through a print-on-demand service:

Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis): http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/koi-pond-early-thoughts-on-publishing.html

Dave Chalker (@DaveTheGame): http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2013/06/12/criminals-an-experiment-in-card-game-publishing/