Design Doc
Come along with Hannah and Evan in a living documentation of the game design process, from the first spark of an idea, to every disastrous surprise. It’s not an instruction manual, but a travel guide, with lots of unexpected stops along the way.
Wed, April 23, 2025
Now You're the Bad Guy
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 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Wed, April 09, 2025
Don’t Stop Making Art! (Feat. Joshua A.C. Newman)
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 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 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Wed, March 26, 2025
It’s My Playtest and I’ll Cry If I Want To
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: 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 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Wed, March 12, 2025
Pacing
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: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun 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 Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Wed, February 26, 2025
Insights and Secrets
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.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 Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun We're now on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com
Wed, February 12, 2025
Rewards and Prizes
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 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, January 29, 2025
The Art of Perfect Art
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 Mathematician's Lament by Paul Lockhart (essay): https://worrydream.com/refs/Lockhart_2002_-_A_Mathematician's_Lament.pdf The Jewish Wedding by Jovan Obican (lithograph): https://rogallery.com/artists/jovan-obican/jewish-wedding-2/ Links/Credits: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, January 15, 2025
What Makes a Good Playtest?
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 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, December 25, 2024
When Mechanics Don't Match
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: 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Wed, December 11, 2024
Going Places! (or, Navigation Mechanics in Games)
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 predetermined? Join us as we navigate these questions and arrive in unexpected places! 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 Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, November 27, 2024
A Moment of Rest
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 Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, November 13, 2024
Finding Community Again
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: turtlebun.com Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/ Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/ Support Design Doc on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Tue, October 29, 2024
Levels of Doneness
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 changed for small creators now that big, well-resourced companies are bringing their games to Kickstarter too. When faced with a rising standard of "doneness," should we try to match them, or pave our own scrappy way? Mentioned in this episode: Yes, L'Oreal did do a Kickstarter (we're not linking to it). Double Fine's adventure game Kickstarter (for the game that would eventually be called Broken Age). Czech Dream documentary . 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 on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, October 16, 2024
Judging a Book by Its Cover
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, for letting us know that yes, Scholastic Book Fairs do still exist. Link here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com Covers mentioned: The Martian Chronicles ( Link to cover , art by Michael Whelan) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ( Link ) The Golden Compass ( Link to cover , art by Eric Rohmann) Our covers mentioned, all by Evan Rowland: Questlandia original edition Questlandia second edition Noirlandia Mud: A Golem Memoir 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 Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, October 02, 2024
The Ideas You'll Be Buried With
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: 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 Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, September 18, 2024
Designing a Spooky Game (Part 4): Finally, the Playtest
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/downloads Questlandia can be purchased here: https://turtlebun.itch.io/questlandia-second-edition https://turtlebun.com/products/questlandia 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 Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, September 04, 2024
The Pizza or the Basket? (Amusement Park Horror w/ Alanna Shaffer)
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 monthly improvised musical every last Thursday of the month at Tavern on Camac ! 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 Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord (we chat about Design Doc here!): https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, August 21, 2024
Designing a Spooky Game (Part 3): Mr. Bones' Wild Ride
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 crossbones. To follow along with the design, Questlandia character sheets and reference rules can be downloaded for free here: https://turtlebun.com/pages/downloads Questlandia can be purchased here: https://turtlebun.itch.io/questlandia-second-edition https://turtlebun.com/products/questlandia 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 Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Wed, August 07, 2024
Designing a Spooky Game (Part 2): The Setting
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: patreon.com/turtlebun Support Design Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc 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 instagram.com/turtleandbun
Thu, July 25, 2024
Designing a Spooky Game (Part 1): The Brainstorm
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 design session. 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/ Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun
Thu, June 27, 2024
The Founder Olympics
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 -- https://freesound.org/s/460424/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun twitter.com/turtleandbun twitter.com/designdocpod
Mon, June 03, 2024
Our Best Design Doc Ideas
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 Noirlandia , for Mood, Moments, Mechanics, Materials Scopeful Optimism , for discussion of scope FLETs , for fiddly little end things Imperfect Inspiration Kudos Conundrum Numbers Hide Everything Founder Energy Fish People , for "Be aware, be charming" High Life (2018 film) Lincoln in the Bardo (2017 George Saunders novel) Links/Credits: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Get in touch: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz instagram.com/turtleandbun twitter.com/turtleandbun twitter.com/designdocpod
Fri, May 03, 2024
The Taste Talent Gap
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. From personal energy and health, to money, ability, mood, and your relationship to the project as a whole. We talk about how our changing tastes have made our recent work all the more challenging. EPISODE MENTIONS: Ira Glass on the taste-talent gap: https://youtu.be/91FQKciKfHI?si=2PxIFIGoOwWvM7ty Chris Ware's Building Stories: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/books/review/building-stories-by-chris-ware.html Design Doc episode 49, Imperfect Inspiration: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imperfect-inspiration/id1298080097?i=1000570727332 LINKS/CREDIT Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King GET IN TOUCH: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Thu, April 11, 2024
Adapting a Text
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.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44276 OUR GAMES: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun GET IN TOUCH: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Wed, March 20, 2024
Working around a Job
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: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Wed, February 21, 2024
Obsessions
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 Kit or Perfumery Notes Kit from Perfumer’s Apprentice): https://shop.perfumersapprentice.com/c-58-educational-kits.aspx Writing Down the Bones (book by Natalie Goldberg) Synecdoche, New York (film) The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (book by Graeber and Wengrow) A Pattern Language (architecture and urban design book by Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein) Eating Raoul (film) The Clock Crew ( Newgrounds wiki link ) FOLLOW/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Thu, January 11, 2024
Better Never Than Late?
Kickstarter stretch goals are notorious for getting project creators into trouble. Sometimes, they over promise content. Other times, they create financial strain. Often, it's all of the above. In this episode, we talk about Top Tracks, a stretch goal project we just completed that's so overdue... nobody even remembered it. CW: This episode contains a discussion of sexual harassment. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Top Tracks! https://turtlebun.itch.io/damntheman (under Download Demo) Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Mon, December 18, 2023
Designing Alone, but Not Lonely
In this episode, Hannah talks about the art of doing creative work alone. As part of a game design duo that normally does all creative work together, what does it look like to self-motivate on game design solo? From setting small, manageable goals and little rewards in advance to finding companionship in the work itself. MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Scavengers Reign (animated mini series) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21056886/ Health Minds App (available for free on the Apple app store and Google Play) - https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Wed, November 15, 2023
Design Session: What Makes a Good Solo RPG?
We love making solo RPGs, but we don't always love playing them. In this episode we brainstorm ideas for a possible one-player version of Questlandia, and what would make us excited to play it. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Tue, October 24, 2023
Will We Ever Finish Questlandia 2?
This month marks the sixth anniversary of Design Doc, a podcast that started as a "year-long" project documenting our progress redesigning our first roleplaying game. Six years later, we talk about the different directions we've taken, and what Questlandia 2 means to us today. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Tue, September 26, 2023
The Liminal Spaces of Six Flags
Hannah and Evan talk about the strange designs and abandoned places of Six Flags New England, the latest of a series of research trips. Join them on a jeep ride in the Jurassic, through the ghost town of Crackaxle, and into secret corners filled with claw machines. SUPPORT OUR VISIT BACK TO SIX FLAGS HERE: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Thu, August 24, 2023
"People Were Shorter Back Then" (Guest ep w/ historical interpreter Enzo!)
Former historical interpreter Enzo joins us to talk about interpreting history! A few months ago we visited Old Sturbridge Village, an 1830s rural New England recreation village. We went as naive visitors, only able to guess at how it was run. Our guest today was kind enough to share his memories of working at the museum! We discuss what it was like interacting with pass-holder guests, being the groom in a historic wedding, and sneaking off to take smoke breaks away from the prying eyes of modernity. Thanks again to Enzo for sharing his time and knowledge with us! Episode links: To learn more about Old Sturbridge Village, visit their website here: www.osv.org Turtlebun links: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Join our Discord! discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Fri, July 28, 2023
Old Sturbridge Village
In this episode Hannah and Evan describe their recent trip to Sturbridge Village, an 1800s recreation historical town. They talk about the value of on-the-ground research for creative projects, the peculiarity of animal habitats in fantasy places, and some dredged-up financial controversies paving the ye olde village streets. Episode mentions: Sturbridge Village: https://www.osv.org/ Jenny Nicholson video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9OhTB5eBqQ The Maze Runner (film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maze_Runner_(film) Turtlebun links: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun We have a Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Wed, July 05, 2023
Founder Energy
We talk about bringing confidence to our own work, including our recent scent-inspired game ideas. We're working on bringing that founder hustle without a toxic founder morality. Plus, we've got two new projects in the works inspired by olfactive poetry! 1:25 - Founder energy 13:58 - Project Gutenberg 32:32 - Pie Girl Episode Links and Credits Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Mentioned in this episode Outsider Comics in Seattle - https://outsidercomics.com/ Project Gutenberg - https://www.gutenberg.org/ The Art of Perfumery by G. W. Septimus Piesse (1857) - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16378/16378-h/16378-h.htm Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Tue, June 06, 2023
Fish People
In a much-requested episode topic, Hannah and Evan talk about WORLDBUILDING. We narrow in on three worldbuilding faux pas we're trying to be aware of in our own work: Word swapping, "Fish People," and the dreaded authorial insert. Episode Mentions: Lincoln in the Bardo : novel by George Saunders Upload : comedy-drama series Episode Links and Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Wed, May 10, 2023
Focusing on Focus
Hannah and Evan discuss their personal experiences and struggles with focus. A new kind of work requires long stretches of sustained focus, disrupting old routines and demanding new strategies. They delve into the challenges and rewards of dodging distractions and shepherding wandering thoughts. Timestamps: 00:55 - Introduction. The need to transition from sprint focus to something more sustained. 10:10 - Our different styles of focus and how we work together: Switching off the role of cheerleader, having a plan and holding to routines; setting boundaries with friends, family, ourselves. 18:17 - Switching to long-form work. Ramping up, getting into a flow, building a slower momentum. 23:51 - External and internal distractions. When the work becomes its own distraction. 32:26 - The dynamic tension, the ongoing battle; eliminating distractions vs the resolve to ignore and power through. Self-esteem. 35:25 - How the switch to long-form focus has helped our work in games. 38:04 - Closing thoughts. What we’ve learned, the ritual of it. Mentioned in this episode: Deep Work by Cal Newport (We feel "meh" about this one) Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (We liked this one) Links and credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Tue, March 28, 2023
We're Writing a Novel
Hannah and Evan talk about what it's like to tackle a very different type of creative work—writing a novel! We discuss the fun parts and the challenges of being two people trying to hone in on a single narrative voice. Mentioned in this episode: 3-Act Structure: Abbie Emmons on YouTube Passing mentions: Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert A. Heinlein, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Over the Garden Wall (Episode 5: Mad Love) Episode Links and Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Thu, February 16, 2023
Packed With Care (Part 2)
Hannah and Evan discuss the trials and tribulations of packing a "deluxe" edition of Questlandia and the ridiculous mishaps that ensued. They chat fancy boxes, missing fonts, and making creative use of a limited budget. Episode Links and Credits: Our Kickstarter for a poster print run of our one-page single-player RPG Public Guest 5 ends tonight, February 16th at 8pm EST. You can support the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/turtlebun/public-guest-five Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Fri, January 13, 2023
Packed With Care (Part 1)
Hannah and Evan talk about the increasingly complicated logistics of packing and shipping games as small creators. In this episode, we talk all about packing and shipping. Where do you get bubble wrap when you need more than a roll, but less than a warehouse's-worth? What happens when a printer you've worked with for years really messes up, with no chance to fix it? All this and more in part 1, with part 2 to come. Episode Links and Credits The sticker makers we work with: https://stickerninja.com/ Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Questlandia 2nd Edition: turtlebun.com/products/questlandia Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Fri, December 23, 2022
Actually selling our games
We made the games, now we have to sell them. Hannah and Evan talk about something they're good at: making new games. And something they're bad at: confidently sharing those games with an audience that might like them. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Questlandia 2nd Edition: turtlebun.com/products/questlandia Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Thu, November 10, 2022
What to do when you're sick of your game
Hannah and Evan discuss how to repair their relationship with a game they've spent a year struggling to complete. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Mentioned in this episode: Microscope RPG by Ben Robbins. Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Wed, October 05, 2022
FLETs (Fiddly Little End Things)
Hannah and Evan talk about the fiddly little end things that make a project go on, and on, and on much longer than you expected. Design Doc intro/outro theme: by Pat King
Wed, October 05, 2022
FLETs (Fiddly Little End Things)
Hannah and Evan talk about the fiddly little end things that make a project go on, and on, and on much longer than you expected. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Fri, September 09, 2022
Dispatch from an on-time timeline
Hannah and Evan salvage an episode about being on time with an upcoming game, and publish it in a world where they were not on time. Intro/outro theme by Pat King.
Thu, July 21, 2022
Imperfect Inspiration
Perfect media is untouchable. Hannah and Evan talk about looking to flawed, goofy, broken movies and books for creative inspiration, instead of looking to our favorites. Content: Intro/outro theme: by Pat King
Sat, May 28, 2022
Bad lo-fi game ideas to study or relax to
Hannah reads you a game ideas to-do list for 30 minutes.
Wed, March 16, 2022
Underdressed and over-diced
What's the right tone for the rules of a roleplaying game? Evan and Hannah talk about casual versus formal writing, and how small word choices exploded into rewriting the mechanics of Questlandia.
Mon, January 24, 2022
Kudos Conundrum
In this episode, Hannah and Evan talk about the self-consciousness that comes when you grow up and are told you must make things for serious reasons. How does one escape that self-doubt? Enter...bad comics! Enter...fanfic! Intro/outro theme: Pat King Design Doc on twitter: https://twitter.com/designdocpod Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Mon, December 27, 2021
Rekindling the Flame
How do you reignite the passion for an old project? Hannah and Evan talk about returning to Starship UltraLux and strain to apply a spaghetti metaphor. Check out our 2021 retrospective on Patreon ! Happy New Year! :) Intro/outro music: Pat King
Thu, December 02, 2021
A Cat in the Lap and Other Good Things
It's easy to overlook the little things that are going well when there's no big exciting game or runaway success to chase. Hannah and Evan talk about appreciating small victories, daily routines, and high gravity days. Some games: https://turtlebun.com/collections/all-products Some nano games: https://turtlebun.com/collections/all-products/products/nano-game-bundle Episode intro/outro music by Pat King
Mon, November 08, 2021
Numbers Hide Everything
In this episode Hannah and Evan chat about their honest expectations and secret hopes for the latest Kickstarter campaign. What do the numbers mean and why is it so hard to talk about money? Intro/Outro theme: by Pat King The Questlandia Kickstarter campaign ends November 18th. Link here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/turtlebun/questlandia-updated-and-expanded
Tue, October 19, 2021
The Episode Before the Kickstarter
We've had seven years to think of a good pitch for our game. Now, we're Kickstarting Questlandia again, and we're finally figuring out the pitch that feels right. In this episode we talk about the approaching Kickstarter for a new edition of Questlandia, and just how hard it is to find a genuine voice when speaking to an online void. The Questlandia updated and expanded edition Kickstarter launches October 20th. Sign up to be notified when the campaign goes live here .
Fri, September 24, 2021
Resist the Urge to Fill Negative Space
We haven't had a deadlined project in a minute. But now it's time for a deadlined project again... How do we incorporate that work without letting un-deadlined projects slide? How does anyone not just fill the negative space? Intro/outro music: Pat King Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/9umUykHVAQ Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Tue, August 31, 2021
The Work of Games Is Not Just Making Games
We just finished a year-long project, and have a little time to plan our next steps! The work of what happens in-between is just as important as the work of making a new game. We brainstorm about future projects, how to sell the books we've already made, and making a new company and new website. Design Doc Intro/Outro theme: Pat King Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Thu, May 27, 2021
Shootin the shoot
Hannah and Evan shoot the shoot about games, being in the weird middle space of a project almost being done, and launching lucrative YouTube careers.
Tue, April 06, 2021
How to Compare Roleplaying Games
Hannah and Evan talk about the quest to thrive in the shadows of the world's most popular RPGs. An episode about how to compare every roleplaying game to the big ones, for the good. https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun Intro/Outro theme by Pat King Addtl music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears
Tue, March 16, 2021
Deluxe Edition
Hannah and Evan discuss the trials and tribulations of offering a "deluxe" version of a game on Kickstarter. How do you balance the quality, the complexity, and the pressure to compete with mass-produced games? Theme song by Pat King Editing by Jeff Stormer of Party of One Podcast
Tue, February 02, 2021
Everything Old Is New Again
We sold out of Questlandias, and have decided to revamp it for the next print run! We talk about returning to our first game with both appreciation for what it is, and an intention to improve it. Theme song by Pat King Editing by Jeff Stormer of Party of One Podcast
Tue, January 12, 2021
Scopeful Optimism
We talk about what makes a game's scope big or small, why Q2 has taken so long, and all the projects we've made in the meantime. Support Design Doc on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Mon, September 28, 2020
Designing a Game Design Workday
We talk about how we've redesigned the structure of our workday, because boundaries around work are important even when—and ESPECIALLY when—it's work you love. Design doc intro/outro theme: by Pat King Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Fri, July 31, 2020
The Games You Want to Make, The Life You Want to Live
We sit down for an unplanned recording of Design Doc when Evan says something sad. Note: This episode discusses the toll that work can take on physical and mental health. End of episode donation notes: The Okra Project - https://www.theokraproject.com/ Black Mental Health Alliance - https://blackmentalhealth.com/ Bail Fund List - https://bailfunds.github.io/ Music: Design Doc Intro/Outro theme by Pat King New Ages I by Little Dog Big Ears
Thu, May 07, 2020
Burnout
In this episode we talk about completing a project that made us our own worst bosses and what it's like coming back from burnout. Link to re-launched Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Tue, March 31, 2020
The Ski Bike
Its purpose, the act of creation. Its destiny, unknowable. Today's episode is about a bike on skis. Design Doc intro theme by Pat King. Intermission and outro music, New Ages I by Little Dog Big Ears.
Tue, December 17, 2019
Breaking up with Character Creation
Character creation in Questlandia 1 lasted two hours. Character creation in Questlandia 2 is five minutes. What changed? Intro/Outro music: by Pat King
Tue, October 22, 2019
When to Add Ghosts to Your Game
The junk poets are changing again. This time, maybe in a spoooooky way. We talk again about the junk poets as GMing tools and making them less corporeal, but more present than ever. Design Doc Intro/outro theme: Pat King Intermission music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears Design Doc on twitter: @designdocpod
Fri, August 23, 2019
When No One Is the GM, Everyone Is
Questlandia 2 is a campaign game with no Game Master. Without a designated person in the GM role, that responsibility must be distributed among all players. We talk about how the Junk Poets can support every player in the GM role.
Wed, July 24, 2019
The UltraLux Bait-and-Switch
Questlandia 2 has been delayed. Now, we're releasing an entirely different RPG first. We talk about—and try not to apologize for—how timelines and business have to adapt to design difficulties. Design Doc intro/outro theme: by Pat King
Tue, June 18, 2019
Your Kickstarter Questions (Mostly) Answered
We asked on Twitter what you wanted to know about running a roleplaying game Kickstarter. Now, we're answering your questions. From self-promotion to self-care, what to say when there's nothing to say, and pretending we know anything about taxes. Show notes: Design Doc Intro/Outro theme by Pat King Additional music: New Ages 1 by Little Dog Big Ears
Tue, May 21, 2019
Okay, Let's Redesign Noirlandia
We try redesigning Noirlandia, one of our other roleplaying games, in one hour!
Tue, April 16, 2019
We Still Don't Know Who the Junk Poets Are
Who are the Junk Poets and what do they add to Questlandia? We go over what we know, what's still missing, and how they could make a GMless game easier to play!
Wed, March 13, 2019
Finding the Game's Emotional Core
We've finished the first two playtests of Questlandia and something is still missing. In this episode we talk about how to hone in on the emotional core of the game. What stories does this game want to tell and how do we make sure it tells them?
Thu, February 21, 2019
Playtesting Progress Part 2: The Spinning Mountain
After playtesting Questlandia's new kingdom and character creation, it's time to test some scenes! Bartholomew the anxious city planner and Quincy the cast out justice-bringer will have to make some hard choices. Choices that begin with a cat and end with a geological anomaly. Intro/Outro theme music - by Pat King
Thu, January 31, 2019
Playtesting Progress Part 1: Knotty Business
Welcome to Kingdom Knot, where our people keep vigil over the void at the edge of the world. Something has emerged from that void—a creature for which we have no words, of which we have no memory. For now, we will call it...a "cat." Music credits: Design Doc Intro/Outro theme written by Pat King Also featuring New Ages 1 by Little Dog, Big Ears
Fri, January 11, 2019
Make-Believe History
Alanna Shaffer joins us to talk about how, even when telling made-up stories, we can be aware of biases in the way we talk about history. Whose stories get told? Whose get left behind? And what's our responsibility to our fictional worlds? Mentioned reading: Charity and Sylvia by Rachel Hope Cleves The New Map of Empire: How Britain Imagined America before Independence by Max Edelson The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller by Carlo Ginzburg Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution by Kathleen DuVal A Misplaced Massacre: Struggling over the Memory of Sand Creek by Ari Kelman
Wed, December 12, 2018
Whoops, It's a Dystopia
Why are our worlds turning out horrible? After playtesting at Metatopia, we talk about how the framing for worldbuilding can exaggerate societies to cartoonish levels. Maybe we can learn from the original Questlandia?
Mon, November 19, 2018
It's Trans Awareness Week (Mini Bonus Ep)
It's Trans Awareness Week. A short bonus episode about trans allyship, education, and creating better gaming spaces. Trans Awareness Week: https://www.glaad.org/transweek The Trans Language Primer : https://www.translanguageprimer.com/
Tue, November 06, 2018
Games Are Political
We talk about acknowledging—and embracing—the inherent politics of game design. Intro music credit. New Ages 1 from Little Big Dog Ears. http://opsound.org/artist/littledogbigears/ http://opsound.org/info/license/
Thu, October 04, 2018
Retreat Forward
In September we met for a mini Questlandia retreat. We talked about how our intentions for the game have shifted in the current political landscape and introduced an unfolding guidebook that will sit at the center of play.
Fri, August 17, 2018
Making Things in Hard Times
How do you keep making things when life throws the unexpected your way? We're learning what that looks like now.
Fri, July 13, 2018
Social Dynamics at the Table
A good GM can step up to manage social dynamics at the table. But in Questlandia 2, there is no GM, so the rules we write need to do that work. How can we keep the excitement and ideas flowing without leaving quieter players out of the fun?
Mon, June 18, 2018
You Can Kill a King, but You Can't Make a Marinara
What happens if a player achieves their big character goal in the very first scene of the game? We found out.
Fri, May 18, 2018
Romancing the Wall
With no GM, players in Questlandia 2 are responsible for framing their own scene types. As a result they animate objects, make holy voyages, and befriend a sentient wall.
Mon, April 23, 2018
The Worst Ideas We've Had so Far
Good games are often built on an avalanche of bad ideas. We talk about the worst ideas we've had so far, and how to turn them into something useful.
Fri, March 23, 2018
Deadline Motivated
We talk about deadlines, and the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
Sun, March 04, 2018
Mosslickers
The first playtest that takes us all the way through character creation. Meet beasts of burden, puppeteers, and the queens who inhabit Mosslicker Alley.
Fri, February 16, 2018
The Symbol Reader
We experiment with a customized alethiometer to explore stories and build new worlds.
Thu, January 25, 2018
Collaboration
The Make Big Things team talks about making games as a cooperative.
Thu, December 28, 2017
The First Playtest
With one playtest down, we talk about what went right, what went wrong, and what we'd like to change.
Sat, December 16, 2017
Preparing the Playtest
We attempt to put theory into practice as we prep for Questlandia's first playtest.
Wed, November 29, 2017
Plumb Bobs
What makes for a good RPG toolkit? We explore dice, cards, dactylomancy, and some of the weirder tactile tools you can bring to the table.
Tue, November 14, 2017
Worldbuilding
How we built worlds in the original Questlandia, and what's to come.
Tue, October 31, 2017
Metaplot
A discussion of worlds within worlds within worlds.
Tue, October 17, 2017
Welcome To Questlandia!
Hannah and Evan embark on a journey to redesign their first roleplaying game. Welcome to Design Doc, our year-long experiment in transparent design! Social media https://twitter.com/designdocpod designdocpod@gmail.com
loading...