The top 10 things aspiring board game designers need to know

A taxonomy of game scoring methods:

http://paulowengames.blogspot.com/2014/10/point-tracking-methods.html

The State of Games podcast discusses some important decisions that face designers, publishers and players:

http://dicehateme.buzzsprout.com/3256/211145-the-one-about-making-good-decisions

How to give and receive feedback on a Kickstarter campaign:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-123-how-to-give-and-take-tough-love-feedback/

How to make your rulebook flow smoothly:

http://gfbrobot.com/2014/10/09/variant-rulebook-errors/

The benefits of prototyping early in the process:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/34718/how-build-game-8-build-your-prototypes-early

“If you have a favorite idea that you think would make the best boardgame ever, save it for later. Your first attempt is bound to be terrible (everyone’s is), so don’t waste your favorite idea on that.”

— Seth Jaffee (@sedjtroll)

What data to collect from playtesters–a Reddit tabletop designers discussion:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/2ikxau/the_best_way_to_collect_feedback_from_play_testers/

Different ways you can make Kickstarter backers feel valued:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-122-the-5-love-languages-of-crowdfunding/

“Every theme has elements in it that appeal to different people. It’s your job as a designer to find these elements.”

— Nat Levan (@OakleafGames)

Getting players invested in your game’s theme:

http://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/choosing-a-game-idea

Why marketing your game should begin as you design it:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/34663/how-build-game-7-want-kickstart-your-game-marketin

Thoughts on designing dexterity games:

http://www.3dtotalgames.com/dexterity-games/

How to go about cutting from your design:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/34638/how-build-game-11-cut-cut-cutfind-base-game

Australian playtesting events for October 2014:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/2ii18e/australian_playtest_events_october/

The theme for the October 2014 24-hour game design contest is “pumpkin”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1248370/24-hour-contest-october-2014

How designers can approach difficult themes in board games:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepodcastepisode/129773/long-view-difficult-themes-and-battle-five-armies

Creating tension through the decision-resolution cycle:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/34527/creating-tension-through-decision-resolution-cycle

Ignacy Trzewiczek (@trzewik) joins Something From Nothing to discuss thematic games, publishing mistakes, starting out as a designer, taking advice and feedback, and more

“Enter every discussion knowing what works with your game and what isn’t currently working. Design is an art, but development can be more scientific.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGrant)