Google “roll dice”

(HT/@emmalarkins)

A thread second-guessing the common wisdom that “lose a turn” mechanics should always be avoided:

https://twitter.com/tomandmary/status/1238220877935804428

Some ways of speeding up auctions:

https://subsurfacegames.ca/2020/03/12/avoiding-the-count-up-auctions/

A look at the psychological and self-fulfillment needs that games satisfy:

https://www.cameronartgames.com/post/maslow1

In-depth discussion of several mechanics (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/2973043

How to enter a BoardGameGeek print-and-play game design contest (video)

Advice one designer wishes he had when working on his first game:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/advice-i-wish-i-had-when-i-was-working-on-my-first-game/

Tips for putting together a better “elevator pitch” for your game:

https://www.alderac.com/2020/03/06/alderac-design-center-elevator-pitch-contest-lessons-and-thoughts/

Ways families can get started in board game design (video)

“If your game has rounds, sometimes you can move some of the game setup procedure to round preparation procedures instead. This often prevents exceptions where a given rule applies to all rounds *except the first.*”

— Dustin Schwartz

One way of letting players ramp up their abilities without it feeling like an illusion:

https://subsurfacegames.ca/2020/02/25/the-caverna-effect/

An overview of how to collect, interpret, and use playtesters’ feedback:

https://www.universityxp.com/blog/2020/2/26/applying-feedback

A look at one small publisher’s creative process, from concept through release:

http://rockmanorgames.com/2020/02/24/games-are-ready-when-theyre-ready/

How to solo test more designs than you ever thought possible:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/99518/how-solo-playtest

Board game designers share what part of playtesting they do differently from everyone else:

https://design100.org/54-playtesting/

Smithsonian Open Access contains millions of high-res public-domain images that are free to use:

https://www.si.edu/openaccess

A thread about playtesting videogames that also applies to tabletop games:

https://twitter.com/kchironis/status/1232720225700732928

Thoughts on what makes a game “playful”—deep and expressive but also low-stress:

http://keithburgun.net/achieving-playfulness-in-strategy-game-design/

“You want people to have a moment so exciting that they can’t wait to share it with their buddies.”

— Devin Low

What should be on your Kickstarter launch-day checklist:

https://medium.com/@fantastic.factories/what-should-be-on-your-kickstarter-launch-day-checklist-and-why-you-should-have-one-b95d15cc6e45