“Diversify your influences. I promise you that it’s immediately obvious if your only source of game design education comes from one book or one writer’s articles.”

— Eric Lang

“Ever playtest a game where it becomes clear the designer doesn’t really want critical feedback but just a pat on the back? Don’t be that person.”

— Jesse Catron

Pointers for designing a light game:

https://twitter.com/peterchayward/status/1192128620434776064

“Be part of a community of designers. You’ll learn just by talking through issues with other experienced people.”

— John Brieger

Reasons to use print on demand companies (audio):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2019/11/03/episode-388-when-paul-bunyan-built-the-pnp-arcade/

“Play everything you can… The more you widen your knowledge of styles and mechanics, the easier you’ll come to see how to improve your developing game.”

— Andrew Harman

Things board game designers can learn from Root:

http://makethemplay.com/index.php/2019/11/06/learning-board-game-design-from-root/

How to make the most of players’ time:

http://www.phantasiogames.net/2019/11/time-is-precious.html

The importance of diversity in game design (audio):

https://media.wizards.com/2019/podcasts/magic/drivetowork680_diversityingamedesign_KmD2eeUT.mp3

How and why you should create a minimum viable prototype:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/step-1-create-a-prototype-quickly/

“The better your rulebook, the less people will need it. (And vice-versa) ”

— Peter C. Hayward

“If you have trouble writing a rule, it may be best to remove it from your game.”

— Jesse Catron

Three kinds of questions to ask at a playtest:

https://twitter.com/DasBrieger/status/1189889514715729922

Tips for standing out and doing well in a game design contest:

https://buttonshygames.com/blogs/news-1/18-card-challenge-like-x-but-y

“There’s one tip for rules writing I want to impart on every designer, young and old:

🔥 Stop interrupting yourself. 🔥

Parenthesis? Make it the next sentence.

Clauses and commas? Break them into separate sentences.

Forward page-ref? Move that content earlier.”

— Daniel Solis

Rules are bad: Why you should generally try to have fewer rules in your game:

http://www.phantasiogames.net/2019/10/rules-are-bad.html

Four lessons from Everdell for aspiring board game designers:

https://brandonthegamedev.com/4-lessons-from-everdell-for-aspiring-board-game-designers/

Tips for starting a playtest event (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/starting-a-playtest-event-with-the-game-crafter-episode-209

Tips for novice and advanced social media users to help you gain a following (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/using-social-media-with-the-game-crafter-episode-213

If a game isn’t “groundbreaking,” is it worth working on? A Twitter board game design discussion:

https://twitter.com/senorbaub/status/1186080140092153858