Design Doc

Bluesky:⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com

Balancing the Pendulum May 07, 2025

Show notes

This week, we talk about the unpredictable mechanical swings that can happen between different versions of a game. Small tweaks to mechanics can trigger a cascade of unintended effects, causing the game design pendulum to swing from too many choices to too few and back again. We talk through examples of how we've managed these swings in Escape from Wonderland, and discuss our ongoing efforts to find the right balance.

Links:

Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/

Credits:

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun

Now You're the Bad Guy Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

We’re introducing a new dynamic to our latest roleplaying game! You all came to this amusement park as friends, but one of you started serving the park’s demonic forces. And things are about to get mean.

How can characters become enemies while players remain friends? When the rules ask you to clash with you peers, care and consideration needs to be given to keeping the antagonism fun.

Links:

Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Support Design Doc monthly on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

Where to buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/

Credits:

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun

https://www.patreon.com/joshua

Don’t Stop Making Art! (Feat. Joshua A.C. Newman) Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Hannah had to get a full time office job. Since then, finding the time and energy for creative work has been an uphill battle. In this episode, Hannah sits down with close friend and fellow game designer Joshua A.C. Newman to talk about life, art, and staying true to your values in trying times.

Support Joshua’s work!

https://www.patreon.com/PunkPedagogy

Links:

Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun

Website: https://turtlebun.com/

Credits:

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun

It’s My Playtest and I’ll Cry If I Want To Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Hannah and Evan discuss Wonderland's first four-player playtest. When a playtest goes wrong, it can be tricky to diagnose the cause. How much is due to the rules, and what's connected to the more subtle influence of mood and flow?

Links:

Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Website: turtlebun.com

Credits:

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Pacing Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Slow and steady wins the race... but does it work in a one-session RPG? From what we've seen in Escape from Wonderland, not quite. In this episode, we discuss pacing in roleplaying games: from the moment players arrive at the table to leaving everyone feeling satisfied with the story's twists and turns. We dig into the challenge of building uncanny horror—where a slow burn creates the best dread—and whether it's possible to communicate that in a single sitting.

Mentioned in this episode:

Visioneers (2008 film)

Links/Credits:

Website: turtlebun.com

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Insights and Secrets Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes a secret is worth more than gold. But how do you make concrete rules for something intangible? Hannah and Evan talk about the secrets of Wonderland and what to do when the rules are out of step with the story.

Links/Credits:

Website: turtlebun.com

Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/

Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/

Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc

Get in touch:

Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com

Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

We're now on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com

Rewards and Prizes Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Even when things are going wrong for your characters, you as a player might feel rewarded by narrative twists and turns. In this episode, Hannah and Evan discuss the ways that games can reward both players and characters, and do some live game design about claw machine prizes...

Links/Credits: