“Note which rule or mechanic players always get wrong the same way. Try to make it actually work that way.”

— Darrell Hardy (@HardyTales)

““Perfect” is the enemy of improvement. Stop searching for the perfect mechanism and focus on making your design better.”

— Matt Wolfe (@mattwolfe)

“Playtest playtest playtest - when you think you’re done, do it more. Blind tests are even better.”

— JR Honeycutt (@JayAhre)

“Get a prototype on the table ASAP. One minute of table time is worth an hour of solitary noodling.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

“Determine your target audience early, and tailor your design choices with them in mind.”

— Seth Jaffee (@sedjtroll)

“Consider removing rules that take too long to explain for what they add to your game.”

— Meeple Syrup (@MeepleSyrup)

David Somerville (@thisistrove) joins The Game Design Round Table (@TGDRT) to discuss using the gaming community, pitching your game, handing things over to a publisher, and more:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2015/08/21/episode-131-david-somerville-and-trove/

Tips for playtesting late-stage design tweaks

10 recommended books on game design:

http://meeplemechanic.com/specials/chip-beauvais-10-favorite-game-design-books/

Different playstyles you can mimic during solo testing:

http://www.3dtotalgames.com/playstyle-profiles/

The Meeple Syrup Show (@MeepleSyrup) on working with–and as–a publisher

Using print-on-demand services to publish games:

http://legalmovespodcast.com/2015/08/12/episode-08-print-on-demand-part-1/

http://legalmovespodcast.com/2015/08/19/episode-09-print-on-demand-part-2/

“Find fulfillment in the design process, and seek out others who are engaged in game design in order to avoid traveling down that path alone.”

— Yves Tourigny (@yvestourigny)

Yves Tourigny (@yvestourigny) on two kinds of designer’s block, not taking feedback personally, dealing with rejection and lots more:

http://theinquisitivemeeple.com/2015/08/19/designing-meeples-with-yves-tourigny/

On whether to make a good game for a broad audience or a great game for a narrow group:

http://gil.hova.net/2015/08/18/the-larger-good-versus-the-smaller-great/

Some thematic uses for randomness:

http://designingcardboard.com/thematic-mechanics-randomness/

Examples of well-done player reference cards:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/3hdkaf/reference_cards/

Crunching data on what contributes to Kickstarter success or failure:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/successorfailure/

10 things to keep in mind when designing a main Kickstarter project image:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-160-the-main-project-image/

Breaking down games into common elements:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/breaking-down-games/