Welcome To Here!

This site has two purposes:

First, to serve as a personal Designer Resources hub for new board game designers.

Second, to showcase a selection of my available designs.

Designer Resources

Rotating StarLearning Games

I've heard some designers say that they only play their own games, but continuing to make the time to play new board games has been invaluable to me. It's one of the best ways to get exposed to different mechanics and design ideas. I recommend finding games to try, whether through local cafes, stores, or even online platforms when you can't get out.

  • Watch It Played - Quickly and clearly learning the rules to games in through learn-to-play video.
  • Board Game Arena - Play a vast library of digitized board games, most of which include tutorials.

Rotating StarLearning Jargon

Games are full of terminology that can be confusing at first but can also serve as a great shorthand for communicating more complex concepts, mechanisms, systems, and ideas.

  • ABCs of Board Game Terms - A comprehensive list of board game terminology.
  • Board Game Geek - Mechanics List - A list of board game mechanics.
  • Entro Games - Board Game Glossary - A glossary of board game vocabulary definitions.

Rotating StarLooking to Learn

Reading about game design has been one of my favorite ways to reflect on my process. There are so many great articles and books out there that offer new perspectives and challenge the way I think about design.

  • Kobold's Guide to Game Design - A collection of essays from some of the best game designers in the industry. It covers a wide range of topics, from game mechanics to storytelling.
  • Daniel Piechnick Articles - Piechnick's thoughts on how to design board games that people will love, or that a publisher would want to publish.
  • Characteristics of Games - A book that explores the nature of games and what makes them fun.
  • Games: Agency As Art - An article and book by philosopher C. Thi Nguyen that explores the concept of agency in games.

Rotating StarLearning by Listening

Podcasts are a great way for me to keep learning while doing other things. They let me hear from experienced designers and catch little insights that shape how I approach my own projects.

  • Fun Problems - A podcast about game design and the challenges that come with it. Super accessible, straightforward, insightful, and fun.
  • Five Games For Doomsday - A podcast where designers and games industry folks are interviewed and talk about personally meaningful games.
  • Ludology - A podcast about game design and the theory behind it.

Rotating StarGathering Components

Thrift stores have been a goldmine for me when sourcing components for prototypes. Secondhand games are cheap and provide tons of useful pieces. It’s an easy way to get started with prototyping without breaking the bank. That being said, some of my sources for key supplies might seem pretty straightforward but worth mentioning.

  • Michaels - A craft store that has a wide range of materials for prototyping; honestly I get inspired seeing all the potential components and remembering that games are a tactile medium.
  • Office Depot - Has a wide range of materials useful for prototyping. Don't sleep on lamination and expo markers.
  • Ultra Pro - Not the cheapest, but I just like the quality of their sleeves. I use them for my prototypes and they have a wide range of sizes.
  • Dice Emporium - An easy site to get dice for your prototypes. They have a wide range of colors and sizes.

Rotating StarMaking Prototypes

Getting a prototype on the table quickly is key, and graphic design tools have made that process so much easier. These resources help me turn rough ideas into something tangible that I can test and refine.

  • Canva Pro - A graphic design tool that allows you to create professional-looking designs quickly and easily. I use it for all my prototypes, it also offers a huge assortment of graphics, photos, fonts, and backgrounds.
  • Game Icons - A site that offers a wide range of icons that are perfect for prototype usage.
  • Component Studio - Sort of a cross between a cloud-drive of spreadsheets and a design tool. I use it to iterate rapidly and create print and play files containing my component designs.

Rotating StarMaking Documentation

When I’m working on rules or component docs, templates save me a lot of time. They help me stay organized and get my thoughts down more clearly, which is crucial when you’re iterating on a game.

  • Template Rulebook - A sparse and useful Google Doc template for a rulebook.
  • Template To Do List - A simple Google Doc template for a board game to-do list.
  • Template Research Sheet - A simple Google Doc template for a board game research sheet.
  • Template Playtest Tracking Sheet - A simple Google Doc template for a board game playtest tracking sheet.
  • Template Playtest Feedback Google Form - A simple template for a board game playtest feedback form.
  • Template Design Tracking Sheet - Once you have many designs up and running simultaneously, it's useful to have a way to track the status of each and where all of their other documentation is stored. I use something like this to keep track of my designs and ideas.
  • Sell Sheets - When getting ready to pitch a game to publishers, you need a sell sheet. But what the heck is a sell sheet anyway? This will clarify.

Rotating StarStructuring Playtests

Playtesting is an ongoing part of my process. Every test gives me new insights into how my game functions in practice. I always try to have a clear goal for each test, and being open to feedback has made a huge difference.

  • The Games People - Graphical Playtest Feedback Form - A template that allows you to collect feedback from playtesters in a structured way.
  • Ludology Podcast - Game Design Checklist - A checklist of questions to ask yourself before and after playtesting.

Rotating StarFinding Playtesters

For me, attending local playtesting events like First Play LA has been invaluable. Getting real-time feedback from other designers and playtesters is crucial for improving and iterating on designs.

  • Break My Game - Discord driven community that primarilly organizes digital playtests.
  • Cardboard Edison - Calendar - Tracks ongoing digital playtesting events and local playtesting events by region.

Rotating StarFinding Communities

Connecting with other designers has accelerated my learning. Whether through in-person events or online communities, it’s been a game-changer to talk shop and swap ideas. I recommend checking out the LA Playtest Exchange Discord if you’re in LA.

  • Tabletop Game Designer Association - The TTGDA - An organization dedicated to supporting and promoting tabletop game designers. They offer resources and events. It is a paid membership, but worth it down the line - for instance they aided me in contract review as a member.
  • Tabletop Game Designer Guild - Facebook group dedicated to questions related specifically to designing the tabletop game prototypes and initial game concepts.
  • Tabletop Game Design Subreddit - Reddit community dedicated to tabletop game design.
  • Board Game Design Subreddit - It's not a typo, both this Reddit community and the one above exist. This one is a bit smaller (25k members compared to the 80k plus above).

Rotating StarDigitizing Your Prototype

For digital playtesting or to send your game to remote testers, platforms like Cardboard Edison provide solid options. These platforms help you expand your reach without being in the same room as your testers.

  • Screentop - A free and open-source virtual tabletop platform that allows you to digitize and playtest your game online with others. It has a user-friendly interface and supports a wide range of games. It doesn't have physics however.
  • Tabletop Simulator - Not going to sugarcoat it, I have a lot of gripes with this paid virtual tabletop platform that allows you to create and playtest your game online with others. It does have a physics engine so it's got that going for it, but most importantly, it's the industry standard for digital playtesting so best get accustomed to it.

Rotating StarMaking a Game of It

There are a number of competitions that you can submit to that can help you get your game in front of publishers and other designers. They also often have fun prompts if you're looking for that extra motivation to get your idea juices going.

  • Board Game Geek Contests - A list of ongoing and past contests on BGG.
  • Cardboard Edison Contests - A list of ongoing and past contests that Cardboard Edison tracks.

Rotating StarGoing To Conventions

If you want to get your game in front of publishers, conventions are a great way to do it. There are a lot of conventions out there, but there are a couple of important ones in the US worth mentioning. I should say, in addition to these I've been told to try out NY Toy Fair & Chicago Toy Fair, but I have yet to attend.

  • Gen Con - The largest tabletop gaming convention in the US, held annually in Indianapolis. It can be overwhelming, but it's a good place to meet publishers and playtest your game.
  • PAX Unplugged - Held annually in Philadelphia, this convention is focused on tabletop gaming and is a great place to meet publishers and playtest your game. This is my personal favorite and the one I have had the most success at.
  • Origins Game Fair - Held annually in Columbus. I have yet to attend, conventions are an expensive endeavor, choosing your spots and being strategic is part of the process.
  • Unpub Events - A series of events held throughout the year (at all of the conventions above and more) where designers can playtest their games with the public. These events are a great way to get feedback on your game and meet other designers.
  • Protospiel Events - I hear great things about this series of events held throughout the year where designers can playtest their games with other designers, have yet to attend though.

Rotating StarFinding Publishers

These directories have been helpful for me in getting my foot in the door and understanding who to reach out to when I'm ready to pitch a game.

  • The Compendium - A directory of publishers in the tabletop industry put together by the Cardboard Edison team. Pay to use, but worth it.
  • The Dossier - A directory of publishers in the tabletop industry put together by Chris Backe in the UK. Also pay to use, but worth it.

Rotating StarMissing something?

Thanks for checking out my list! This is just a snapshot of the resources I’ve used on my own journey. There are many more out there, and I’d be happy to point you in the right direction if you’re looking for even more.

  • Cardboard Edison - An educational resource hub offering industry news and the annual Cardboard Edison Award for unpublished game prototypes. Run by the tireless married, blogging, designing, duo Chris and Suzanne Zinsli.
  • Entro Games - Provides extensive and detailed free resources to onboard new and veteran game designers alike from the designer perspective of Chris Backe.
  • Stonemaier Games - Guide to designing a game from the perrspective of highly respected independent publishing company, Stonemaier Games.
  • Adam In Wales - Designer & vlogger, Adam Porter, walks you through many many many aspects of game design through his youtube channel.
  • Board Game Design Lab - This is really a community, exploring the site you'll find a resource-forward blog and podcast run by designer Gabe Barrett, as well as a welcoming facebook group dedicated to board game design.
  • The Steps - A comprehensive list of steps to take when designing a board game with the intention of reaching publication written by the design duo of Sen Foong Lim & Jay Cormier.
  • Break My Game - A Discord community dedicated to playtesting (mostly digitally) with a great starter guide for incoming designers.
  • Board Game Geek - I really don't know how you could have gotten here without knowing BGG, but if you don't know it is the central site of all things board games. It's forums are slightly tricky to navigate but there's valuable info at every corner.