Know Direction Network

Latest Episodes:

Know Direction 314 -Dead God– Fantasy Food Fight Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

In episode 152 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with game designer and inventor of Dodecadonuts, Andrew Davis, about his self-published title, Fantasy Food Fight. We talk about the origin story of Dodecadonuts, Andrew’s handmade, wooden donut-shaped dice holders inspired by his longtime woodworking experience, and how this episode’s featured game began as a family project with his kids that evolved from characters to theme to mechanics. We discuss how his background in accessories, creative direction, and marketing gave him an industry foothold and shaped his approach to game design and self-publishing. We tackle current industry trends, including what games people are choosing to buy and the move towards smaller boxes and lighter games; why game cost needs to match the experience; the value of honest feedback from fellow designers and strangers; and how learning time, playtime, and shifting player habits influence game design. Andrew also shares his insights into the convention vendor experience and what it means to show up as both a publisher and a peer.

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Featuring:

Andrew Davis – Guest
Danielle Reynolds – Host

Know Direction 314 -Dead God– Fantasy Food Fight Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Some adventures take longer than others. Was the legendary Dead God’s Hand worth the wait?

Adam Smith of the Order of the Amber Die joins Rob and Ryan to talk about GMing Paizo’s latest hardover adventure for Pathfinder 2e.

Recorded live on Tuesday, October 6th on Twitch.tv/Knowdirection.

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Know Direction Beyond 112 – Tech Core Review Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Alex and James are locked and loaded for their review of the latest Starfinder 2e sourcebook, Tech Core.

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Intrepid Heroes 195 – My Book Nook Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

When two Inner Sea superpowers go to war, the ripples are felt throughout the region. A group of intrepid heroes…or should we say intrepid rebels…. join a league of righteous freedom fighters to unshackle their people from the binds of infernal tyranny. Nefarious forces from without—and within—will do anything to stop these Hellbreakers.

Our heroes battle some gobline-like snakes!

Cast:
Jason Keeley – GM
Rue Dickey – Nolastri
Isis Wozniakowska – Misera
John Godek – Thadeus (Tad)
Ron Lundeen – Augustus
Mark Woolcott – Flak

Pathfinder Hellbreakers Adventure Path Actual Play Podcast

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Intrepid Heroes 195 – My Book NookNook Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

In episode 151 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with game design duo Doug Hettrick and Carl Van Ostrand.

We talk about creating a cozy card game and how My Book Nook was inspired by wanting to make something they and their families could all enjoy together. Doug and Carl talk about their co-designing process and how they discovered they made a balanced team, bringing different ideas and skill sets to the table while having a lot of fun along the way.

They share what co-designing looks like in practice, from coworking and digital prototyping to finding a design partner who complements your strengths. We also dig into the lessons they learned from self-publishing, building a game into a product, finding the right publisher fit, and what innovation really means in tabletop games.

Plus, we get into the art of simplicity, designing for different audiences, challenging yourself with unfamiliar mechanics, sneaking personal Easter eggs into games, and the surprisingly tricky question every designer has to answer: how do you end the game?

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Featuring:

Doug Hettrick and Carl Van Ostrand – Guests

Danielle Reynolds – Host

Intrepid Heroes 194 – The Goblins (Hellbreakers Session 12) Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Our heroes investigate a goblin camp, and discover a goblin-like secret.

Cast:
Jason Keeley – GM
Rue Dickey – Nolastri
Isis Wozniakowska – Misera
John Godek – Thadeus (Tad)
Ron Lundeen – Augustus
Mark Woolcott – Flak

Pathfinder Hellbreakers Adventure Path Actual Play Podcast

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Know Direction 313 – The The Game Makers Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

In episode 150 of Game Design Unboxed, we celebrate 150 episodes of GDU with Ben Rosset, freelance game designer and founder of Bamboo Design Studio, by focusing on his game about manufacturing board games – The Game Makers – a love letter to the hobby and the people who make it!

Ben shares how the idea for a game about making games grew from his 10 years of experience in game manufacturing at Panda, and how working as a freelance designer differs from working through his design studio. We talk a lot about the game’s development process, from matching themes and mechanics to the extensive back-and-forth of playtesting and iteration, and how simultaneous play helped reduce downtime and support a larger player count.

We explore the challenges of featuring real-life games, including the long process of securing image rights from other publishers and the fun reactions players have when deciding whether they react to the games represented. Ben also discusses the journey of turning The Game Makers into a super-premium experience, the possibility of a retail version, and the uncertainty of getting a game’s rights back after signing with a publisher.

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Featuring:

Ben Rosset – Guest

Danielle Reynolds – Host

Know Direction 313 – The The Game M Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Ryan and Rob share how the campaigns they’re playing in—and not just Pathfinder 2e games—are going in this banter-based episode of Know Direction.

Recorded live on Tuesday, September 8th on Twitch.tv/Knowdirection.

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Intrepid Heroes 193 – The “Cat” (Hellbreakers Session 11) Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Our heroes battle a demonic cat-like creature.

Cast:
Jason Keeley – GM
Rue Dickey – Nolastri
Isis Wozniakowska – Misera
John Godek – Thadeus (Tad)
Ron Lundeen – Augustus
Mark Woolcott – Flak

Pathfinder Hellbreakers Adventure Path Actual Play Podcast

Listen Now!(mp3)

Watch Now!(mp4)

13 Omens – The Bequeathed Actual Play: Part 0X Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

The dust has settled, the adventure is over, and now Thurston Hillman, Associate Publisher at Paizo Inc, takes time to compare how these Salazars did to other players of The Bequeathed, and field questions from the room.

Recorded live at KeyCon 42 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 16, 2026.