When should you use variable player powers? A BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1067691/character-powers

Dice Hate Me (@dicehateme) is running a 54-card game design challenge, with the winner receiving publication (details at 2:04):

http://www.buzzsprout.com/3256/128220-the-one-about-your-right-to-party

Advice for attending the Spiel gaming convention in Germany as a Kickstarter board game publisher:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/4-great-reasons-for-kickstarter-game-creators-to-attend-essen-spiel/

“Have fun! If you’re not enjoying it, then what the hell is the point?”

— Alan Gerding, co-creator of Two Rooms and a Boom

Thoughts on mapping theme to mechanics for a well-integrated theme:

https://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2013/10/19/game-theory-isomorphism/

Exceptions in games: When are they appropriate?

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2013/11/investigating-exceptions.html

Thoughts on using carrots or sticks in a design:

http://3dtotalgames.com/carrot-vs-stick/

“I don’t recommend building a medium or large game for your first design. Start simple. Design time scales exponentially with complexity.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)

Jamey Stegmaier (@jameystegmaier) discusses how to get low-cost international shipping on the Funding the Dream podcast (@FundtheDream):

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/128546-free-international-shipping-on-kickstarter-ep-170-w-co-host-jamey-stegmaier

Matt Worden (@MattWordenGames) discusses fitting game design into real life on the Happy Mitten Games podcast (@HappyMitten):

http://www.happymittengames.com/16/

January 2014 is 4P Month–playtest your games four times in one month:

http://gil.hova.net/2013/11/05/january-2014-will-be-4p-month/

“Don’t dismiss your idea as tough or not important, but work on it and support it.”

— Babis Giannios, designer of Shadows Over the Empire

The theme for the November 2013 BoardGameGeek 24-Hour Contest is “map”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1064485/24-hour-contest-november-2013

What you should definitely include in your rulebook:

http://boardgameben.com/writing-rules-part-ii-whats-in-whats-out/

Ways to design a game with asymmetric difficulty, and why you might want to:

http://3dtotalgames.com/accepting-asymmetric-difficulty/

Considerations when designing and balancing “power” cards:

http://jtreat.tumblr.com/post/66115254018/a-very-brief-intro-to-designing-power-cards

A high-level look at writing rulebooks:

http://boardgameben.com/writing-rules-part-i-time-traps-and-peanut-butter/

Catch-up mechanics: When are they appropriate and how can they be done correctly?

http://hyperbolegames.com/2013/11/04/catch-up-now/

The Cardboard Jungle podcast (@CBJPodcast) offers advice for first-time Kickstarter project creators (starting at 1:29):

http://www.mevio.com/episode/334714/episode-26-ain-t-that-a-kick

A look at different approaches to implementing victory points:

http://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/game-theory-victory-points/