Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources - November 2013

Our monthly roundup of great tips and resources for board game designers includes thoughts about hidden scoring and power cards, a comprehensive list of manufacturers, and a reminder about fun (not for players–for you, the designer):

#featured:

• Games as Kids–Why Designers Need to Listen to Others

#theory:

• Dirk Knemeyer joins the On Board Games podcast to discuss theme in games
• Alternatives to hidden scoring
• Considerations when designing and balancing “power” cards

#playtesting:

• When to playtest your game with “guys who have many ideas”

#process:

• “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
• “If you are a game designer – then surround yourself with other game designers!! You learn so much – even if you just playtest their games all the time.”–Jay Cormier
• What to do when you become sick of your own game–a Reddit tabletop game design forum discussion

#publishing:

• A look at more than 20 board game manufacturers, with pros and cons for each
• Why you should focus on people instead of numbers when you run a Kickstarter campaign