Story endings are hard! The epilogue of a game not only has to logically wrap up the story and tie up any loose ends—it’s also the moment to reflect on how your character has grown over many sessions, and a moment for you as the player to feel like the time spent playing was worthwhile. In this episode, we talk about what makes roleplaying game epi…

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…

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…

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/joshua…

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 Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Website: turtlebun.com Credits: …

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…

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: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Website: turtlebun.com Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghos…

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: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Website: turtlebun.com D…

When people decide what art is worth looking at, they look for the very best. In a world that demands creative endeavors be perfect, how do we find the confidence to make and share our own art? Episode mentions: Olga Smirnova / Dutch National Ballet: https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dancers/olga-smirnova Toki Pona: https://tokipona.org/ A Mathematicia…

Is playtesting more of a science, or more art? How prepared should you be for a playtest if you're testing rules that might change on the fly, never to be seen again? In this episode we talk about playtesting our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, and how that went! Links/Credits: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Website: turtlebun.com Design Doc i…

Our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, began as a hack of Questlandia. But what happens when the mechanics of an old game don't work with the story you want to tell? In this episode we talk about hacking games to do what we want them to do. Links: Support Design Doc on Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Find our games at: turtlebun.com Credits: Desig…

We often ask ourselves, "Do we need a mechanic for that?" In our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, we want to encourage players to travel across a haunted amusement park. How can the rules create meaningful choices about the places they should and shouldn't go? And when is it better to lose that choice, and end up somewhere randomized or predete…

We're taking a week off to recharge! We'll see you back in two weeks with a new episode of Design Doc. Rest easy. Sincerely, Hannah and Evan Links/Credits: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/ Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/ Support Design …

We recently realized that we’ve drifted apart not just from our games community, but from our community at large. Now, in a world where the future feels uncertain and dire, we're asking ourselves: how do we reconnect? Escape from Wonderland has just one week left on Kickstarter. You can read more and back the project here. Links/Credits: Website: t…

The Kickstarter for Escape from Wonderland is LIVE! Support the game here! How do you know when a game is ready for Kickstarter? How far along should it be before bringing it to the world? In this episode, we talk about the delicate balance of presentation—slick, but not *too* slick; done, but not *too* done. We explored how crowdfunding has change…

The first conversation we've had about cover design in games! We discuss how book covers are often the first thing people see of our games, how a well-designed cover can stick in someone's memory, and how a great cover isn't just about first impressions—it can make you want to pick up a book again and again. And a special thanks to our editor, Rob,…

Send us a text Joining me this week is John to help give insight into some of the adaptations of the classic gothic horror The Haunting of Hill House. It's been out a while but we still tried not to spoil it too much.By Analicia, Rachael, & Hannah

One of the hardest lessons in game design is coming to terms with the fact that many of our favorite ideas will remain unrealized. In this episode, we explore the games we may never complete, our lingering dream of bringing them to life, and how accepting their incompleteness might help us face the reality of death. Links/Credits: Website: turtlebu…

Send us a text A 16-year old trans-boy, Benji, is on the run from the gul that raised him. They also infect him with something which could wipe out the remaining portion of civilization, if they are able to harness it for their own use. However, Benji does not want to be used... he wants to survive. This is a moving and hard hitting book about tran…

Evan and Hannah try playing their new game with a very rough draft of the rules, in a cross between a playtest and design session. New ideas and new questions abound as they explore uncharted territory. To follow along with the design, Questlandia character sheets and reference rules can be downloaded for free here: https://turtlebun.com/pages/down…

We're joined by public historian and musical improviser Alanna Shaffer to discuss real-world amusement park horror and Dippin' Dots scams at Dorney Park. Alanna shares thoughts about story vs plot, new character drives, and everyone's personal breaking point after a day with no water. To see Alanna and Thank You, Places in person, check out their m…

We continue our design of a creepy amusement park game, starting with the question, "What does bad behavior look like in an amusement park?" In this episode, we begin with a lot of questions, and end with a roadmap to a first playtest that includes character weaknesses, theme park-related goals, and an unreliable park map filled with skulls and cro…

How can you use simple rules to create a complex setting? In the second part of this live design series, Hannah and Evan take a swing at world and character mechanics. To create a spooky, surreal environment, they’re forced to come up with new ways to approach worldbuilding and character design. Links/Credits: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreo…

Send us a text Soak up the last weeks of summer with this addictive new release from Kieran Scott! Rachael and Hannah chat with Kieran about the twists and turns of People Will Talk, book festivals, caring too much about grammar, and more.By Rachael & Hannah

What makes a game hack manageable in scope and size? Hannah and Evan delve back into game design to create a creepy amusement park Questlandia hack on the fly. They begin by brainstorming moods, moments, mechanics, and materials for a spoooooky game. From doppelgangers to malevolent crowds to corn dogs, they end with a wealth of ideas for the next …

Send us a text We're calling it - this book is going to be the summer blockbuster of 2024! Our interview with Meg Shaffer, author of The Lost Story, reveals the heart, research, and worldbuilding that went into this novel and make it absolutely worthy the hype.

Send us a text Join me as I sit down and talk to Sarah M. Page, an amazing indie author with an up and coming slow-burn roman-tasy with a bit of spying, deception, heart, and so much more. This book comes out in e-book and in paperback on July 16th, so I hope you've go out and give it a chance.By Analicia, Rachael, & Hannah

Send us a text I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long but it was such a unique read. With humor and gothic horror intertwining; necromancers try to solve the mystery of how to become an immortal. This locked door mystery hit me in all the best ways and I was able to share the conversation with my guest cohost Emily.…

Hannah and Evan face off in a battle of inspiration and ego to outdo each other's most founder ideas. Then, they set impostor syndrome aside and dilute those ideas down to something they'd both be willing to try. Links/Credits: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Jingle news by Jay_You -- h…

Send us a text From The Honey Witch to A Marvelous Light and Gideon the Ninth, all three hosts bring their rapid recs for reads to carry on the conversation of inclusion and Pride. Please listen as we recommend some of the books we've read recently, books we have on our To Be Read list and some of the favorites we constantly go back to when we want…

Send us a text This week Analicia and Rachael dive into an interview with bestselling author Sarah A Parker on her romantasy book When the Moon Hatched. Let's explore the world of dragons and other mythical creatures while we work through some mental health issues with the characters, talk a bit about the writing process and what else may be on the…

Send us a text Welcome back to another episode and this week we are are interviewing New York Times Best Selling author Marie Lu about her sequel, Icon and Inferno. Join in as we reconnect wit characters Sydney and Winter on their new adventure and talk a little about writing and hobbies. Thank you for joining us on this journey!…

From Mood, Moments, Mechanics, Materials (MMMM) to "Be aware, be charming," our Design Doc conversations over the years have inspired some of our favorite game design ideas. We talk about the ideas that have had a lasting impact on our game design, and how we're incorporating each one into our most recent project. Show notes: Okay, Let's Redesign N…

Send us a text It's time to add some titles to your To Be Read list! To celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hannah and Rachael highlight their favorite novels written by Asian American authors, spanning genres such as fantasy, romance, YA, and more.By Rachael & Hannah

Send us a text Bones are discovered on the site of an old foster home. Whose bones are they and what do they tell us about the history at Wild Meadows? Nora, Alicia, and Jessica, girls who grew up in there, now have to revisit old memories of their traumatic childhood. Listen to Analicia and Rachael discuss this new mystery thrill. It's a bit of an…

Send us a text What more can you ask for in a romantasy? Vikings, battles, magic, fate? Yes, Please. We've seen this book everywhere and we wanted to hop on the bandwagon and share our thoughts with you. Join all three of us as we share our feelings about Freya and Bjorn and A Fate Inked in Blood.By Analicia, Rachael, & Hannah

Send us a text This might be our most "charmingly bonkers" interview yet! Hannah is joined by author Jen Comfort for a happy roller coaster ride of laughing, talking about ADHD, and sharing how love at first sight is a very real thing. Oh - and duh, we talk about Jen's amazing new book What Is Love?, set on a Jeopardy-style game show. What's not to…

Public radio icon Ira Glass has a famous quote describing the gap between taste and talent in trying to hone your creative work. When you start out, your tastes are always bigger than your skill. It's a frustrating gap, and one that causes a lot of people to give up. In this episode we talk about everything that plays a part in the taste-skill gap.…

Send us a text Laugh with us as we chat with special guest Sarah Adler about her newest romance, Happy Medium! Sarah gives us an inside look behind writing complicated characters, what it looks like to be a full-time writer, and how a pun about goats turned into the hilarious, swoon-heavy novel you can't help but love.…

Send us a text We are flashing back to one of our favorite YA writers, Tamora Pierce, and focusing on her duology for Aly, Daughter of the Lioness. This episode covers both Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen, and if you haven't read them, my guest cohost, Emily, may come try to find you to share the word of Tortall.…

Send us a text What sort of books do you read when you're stressed and overwhelmed with life? Hannah and Rachael delve into their favorite genres and authors to give you some options for your TBR. Let us know your favorites on Instagram: @booksaremagicalpod or email [email protected] Analicia, Rachael, & Hannah

Hannah and Evan talk about how to transform a beloved movie, book, or show into a game, using their latest project as an example: An adaptation of a 1779 book of cosmetic chemistry, The Toilet of Flora. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ Toilet of Flora: https://www.gutenber…

Send us a text In this week's episode, Hannah and Rachael had the incredible opportunity to talk to Courtney Deane about her new book When Happily Ever After Fails, the inspiration, mental health, and favorite genres to dive into when not writing. The book is a rom-com with heart, so give us a listen and add this book to your TBR!…

Send us a text This interview comes with a lot of laughs - as well as Ciera Burch's insightful perspectives on grief, death, and connecting with the past as we chatted about her new YA novel, Something Kindred. This book has the perfect balance of mystery and magical realism and character growth that will make you emotional in all the right ways.…

Send us a text Rachael and guest cohost Lee dive into the 1989 Sci-Fi world of Hyperion and the pilgrims each with their own reason to visit the planet. As they voyage through space, each traveler will tell their own tale as the momentum builds towards reaching their destination.By Analicia, Rachael, & Hannah

In a perfect world, we'd make a living just making roleplaying games. But sometimes, duty calls, and you've got to work around another job. In this episode, we talk about rolling with the punches in a moment when the creative work is competing with a new and time-consuming reality—that of a day job. FOLLOW/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon:…

Send us a text Laugh with us as we book club this delightfully funny novel that allows you to imagine what it would be like to work for an evil overlord.

Send us a text To celebrate Black History Month, discussing one book just isn't enough. So Rachael and Hannah span multiple genres and share their favorites written written by black authors or starring African American MC's.By Rachael & Hannah

What’s the difference between a “theme” and an “obsession?” Inspired by a classic writing book from the ‘80s, we share our respective obsessions and talk about how they show up in our work, intentionally or otherwise. EPISODE MENTIONS: Learn how to play Go: https://online-go.com/learn-to-play-go Learn how to smell things (Introduction to Perfumery …

Send us a text Analicia is back! For one episode, but we'll take it! Analicia joins Rachael to explore the newly released sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. You won't want to miss this episode (or this book, for that matter).By Analicia & Rachael