Rule of Carnage - Designing Better Miniatures Games

In Episode 127, the guys wrote a book, which they've mentioned once or twice, about how to design miniatures games. Since its just lauched, they're going to talk a bit about it. If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 126, the guys finally actually have the conversation about hidden movement that they've been constantly implying but never having. Its really hard to do hidden movement in minis games, but there are ways and means of representing it to some degree. Pick up Hobgoblin here: https://www.electi-studio.com/store/p/hobgoblin-standard-harcover If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 125, the guys have returned to thinking about mechanics that are common in boardgames but rarer in minis games, this time its Push Your Luck mechanics. What are they, how do they work, and where do they fit into your game? If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 124, we've been thinking a little about the sheer length of rulebooks for minis games. Partly because of the one box wargames challenge, and partly because of our own designs. Why are they so long? Why are boardgame rulebooks so short? Let's chat. If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 123 Mike and Glenn recently played the boxed non-violent minis game Redwood. They filmed themselves doing it and you can see the playthrough on YouTube. Sadly, their discussion of the game was lost due to technical issues, so they're discussing it again, here. Redwood playthrough video: https://youtu.be/3RS07WwdtJs Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 122 its been a while since we last caught up with what the guys are currently working on, so this seems as good a time as any to do it. Mike has been contemplating a Gaslands RPG and a Gaslands Board game while Glenn is putting the finishing touches on Boarders and Black Flags. Follow the Boarders and Black Flags Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manokentgames/boarders-and-black-flags Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames Or Glenn's here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 121 the One Box Wargames Challenge has been going great guns on our Discord with over 100 entrants. We've tried to take a look at some of them, this week, Mike has cast his eyes over Hakkiyoi, Circo Tartarus and Adventure Quest and Glenn has been checking out Gatling Camel Riders, Crazykoala Rampage and Scurrmish. They have a bit of a chat about them, if you like the sound of them or any other games, drop by the discord and check them out. Follow the Boarders and Black Flags Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manokentgames/boarders-and-black-flags Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames or Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 120 thanks to our Discord member Malev, an amazing challenge has been running in the Rule of Carnage Discord server. The challenge is to select a single box of minis and base a game around it. Mike decided to base his game around the Black Seas Frigates and Brigs Flotilla set so he and Glenn started having a discussion on how that might look. Check out Wargames Atlantic to vote for Rad Pirates and many other designs in the One Box Wargames Contest! Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames Or Glenn's here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 119 Part 2 our weird little niche channel has recently hit 2000 subscribers. In celebration of this occurring we have asked our discord channel to come up with some intelligent questions. They did this in fine style and now we have enough of them for several videos. Well, three. This is the first one. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 119 Part 1 our weird little niche channel has recently hit 2000 subscribers. In celebration of this occurring we have asked our discord channel to come up with some intelligent questions. They did this in fine style and now we have enough of them for several videos. Well, three. This is the first one. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 118 Mike has been thinking about how some games hand out pre-set and created narratives in their lists and scenarios. He chats with Glenn about whether or not this is a good idea. Glenn has doubts. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 117 Mike has been thinking about games that use multiple different forms of movement, combining and contrasting them and considering their strengths and weaknesses. Probably some other c words too. Glenn was also there. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 116 the guys has been contemplating using a range of mechanics that are common to boardgames but unusual in minis games. Specifically this time, Mike has put a whole bunch of dexterity mechanics into his new game, Space Gits, about drunk ass orcs Shootin', Scootin' and putting the Boot in on each other, but also, balancing and sliding dice all over the place without their towers falling over. So they thought it would be a good time to talk dexterity mechanics in miniatures games. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 115 Mike has been trying out some new games and in so doing has encountered a bag pull initiative system that he found interesting. Glenn is unsure about bag pull systems, and voices some of his concerns. Then they talk about it. This is what we do here. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 114 the guys have been out and about selling Hobgoblin, Gaslands and other games at gaming conventions in the UK for the past few weeks, and they've been thinking about how exactly to do that well. Also, about when sometimes they've seen it done badly. Here they lay out a few of the points behind getting it right. And for once it actually is three steps. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 113 the guys has been contemplating using a range of mechanics that are common to boardgames but unusual in minis games. They thought other people would like to contemplate it also, so they decided to record them doing so as part of what will hopefully be a series of conversations beginning with Deck Building. Hearts of Plastic: https://www.heartsofplastic.com/ Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 112 Mike has been getting some feedback on his recent game Flagstone, specifically some interesting feedback on the length of the game. It has been mentioned that the game is lots of fun, but too short, which has led Mike to wonder, what exactly is the perfect length for a game? Can it be too short? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 111 Glenn has been considering what we mean by the social contract in tabletop games. Quite a lot actually. When we play games we need to understand and agree to what degree we expect the game to offer us different social relationships and perspectives, but they very rarely actually tell us. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 110 Mike has been playtesting Pacific Command, and he's been doing it solo mode, as much playtesting is, and has developed a set of rules for doing that. So he's been wondering, is a solo mode that you use for playtesting the same as one you should present to your players? And if not, why not? So the guys chat about that. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 109 Mike has been working on his latest game, Pacific Command, and there have been some last minute developments. He and Glenn talk about them. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 108 the guys have been thinking about a range of ways to focus the attention of your game, Simulation VS Emulation, Abstraction VS Detail and Diegetic VS Non-Diegetic. All of these are ways of focusing your players to they pay attention to the parts of your game you want them to, and all are well worth thinking about. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh

In Episode 107 the guys have decided its a good time to tell you all about some of the things they're working on, including a very special announcement of a project they're very proud of. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh

In Episode 106 Part 2 the guys have been considering the fact that sometimes they need to decide whether a game should be a minis game, or a card game or something else. Well, Glenn does, Mike just makes it into a minis game anyway. But if you're making the same considerations Mike has some reasons for why you might go one way rather than another. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 106 Part 1 the guys have been considering the fact that sometimes they need to decide whether a game should be a minis game, or a card game or something else. Well, Glenn does, Mike just makes it into a minis game anyway. But if you're making the same considerations Glenn has some reasons for why you might go one way rather than another. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 105 part of Mike's process is to create small games and prototypes with the purpose of breaking them down into other games like some sort of Cronus of game design. Glenn doesn't really do this, but they chat about it here. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 104, Mike is now working towards self-publishing some games, having previously worked with a publisher. Glenn is just finishing off a book with a publisher having previously self-published some games. Why did they each make those choices, and can their reasons help you make your own choices? Well, hopefully. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 103, Mike is pondering what to work on next, and wants to know how Glenn chooses what to work on next, and for that matter, maybe what all of you choose to work on next. Okay? Okay. What's next? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 102, Glenn has been thinking about the fact that games often offer, as things that life sometimes doesn't, freedom and closure. These two elements, however, seem almost directly contradictory. Also, minis games feel like they almost inevitably give closure, but hardly ever give true freedom. So, can we make a wide and free sandbox minis game? Should we try? All these questions and more remain entirely un-answered in the following conversation. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 101, Glenn has been pondering the idea of horror as an experience in tabletop games. Horror as genre is extremely popular from Universal movie style monsters to Lovecraftian entities, but very rarely as an experience. It is often based on surprise, but games require pre-knowledge, so how can it be achieved? If it can? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 100, since Mike's Hobgoblin, a mass battle rank and flank game, is about to reach its final release date and Warhammer: The Old World, a mass battle rank and flank game, has just hit the market, he's been thinking about the relationship between the two. Obviously, Games Workshop is a far bigger company with far more resources than a small independent developer, so how do you exist in the shadow of a giant? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 99, since the guys are both in the middle of putting together their own rulebooks, Mike has been thinking about what he does, would like to, and maybe should include in his. Specifically, he's been thinking about hobby sections, how to kitbash, build and paint minis for his games. Should you include a hobby section in your book? Is it the modern thing to do? Should it be something we do more? Or less? Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 98, Glenn has been thinking about Boarders and Black Flags, his game of high seas piratical action, and about how he hasn't allow players to stab or shoot each other in it, to make it more fun. Which seems counter intuitive for a game about pirates with cutlasses and muskets and all that, but the lesson he thinks he's learnt is, nothing has to be in your game, no matter how obvious it seems. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 97, Mike recently watched this video: https://youtu.be/NsMHicoZTzQ?si=AZi0m-apY51LEmwv And was rather excited about the way in which it suggested a methodology for thinking about his creative process. Glenn watched it too and didn't really get it. So Mike's going to explain why it excited him. Then Glenn will probably explain why it didn't excite him. So that should be fun. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 96, its time to talk about structuring a rulebook. It needs to be done, we put it off for long enough, so here it is. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 95, Mike has been considering resolution systems, many designers of miniatures wargames do, we find it quite comforting. In his consideration Mike has come to the conclusion that they don't really matter. Or rather, which one you use doesn't really matter. Glenn thinks sometimes they do, but yes, mostly they probably don't. Which is probably freeing or something. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 94 there are many words, we have all the words, good ones and slippery little buggers alike. Must, May, Can, Should, Within, Without, Into, all are fine and splendid and rarely ever cause problems for anyone in day to day life. But the writing of rules is not day to day life, and in that these blighters cause all manner of problems. The guys disagree over the best use and meaning of May Not, specifically. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 92 Part 02 when you create a game you create a world, which is great, but how should you visually represent it? Should you go with evocative drawings, expensive and lengthy to commission, but offering players freedom and inspiration, maybe too much freedom? Or should you go for photographs of inspiring, even intimidating tabletops, allowing people to see exactly what a game in play really looks like, for good or ill? These questions and more go totally unanswered in this chat. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

The guys take a break from their usual rules discussion and analysis to take a little look back over 2023 at what they've played, what they've worked on, what has inspired them and what they intend to work on in the coming year. Thanks to all of you for following the channel, and a happy festive season to you all. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

In Episode 92 when you create a game you create a world, which is great, but how specific should you be about that world? How much creativity should you leave players to build their own version of it, and what exactly does specificity look like in terms of games? These questions and more go totally unanswered in this chat. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

It can happen that halfway through a design that you realize it isn't what you thought it was, that an important mechanic doesn't really matter, or that the setting isn't fitting the game. You may well wonder if you should change whatever's working, if its central to the game. You should. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

Many games choose to present themselves as being part of a dichotomy where on one side there is narrative and the other is competitive, as though a game can only be one or the other. We think that's pretty much utter bunk. The two just are not connected, a game can be neither, or both. So let's all agree to stop pretending otherwise shall we? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

Games are what your players spend most of their time doing. In most minis games, what players have to spend their time doing is experiencing downtime. Your game's downtime defines the nature of your game and its player's experience of it. So its worth thinking very hard about it. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

Every game needs to find its audience, however good it is, if a game doesn't get to the right people it'll never get played, or at least, not more than once. How do you find the right people, or at least, how do you let them find you, or at least work out who they are? Goodness knows really, but here are a few guesses. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

Why are we even doing any of this? Not in a downer way, but does the world need the game you're working on? Does it need any games, yours or ours. Yes, obviously, but why? Let's figure that out. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode, the guys have been playing a range of new games, or at least new to them, recently. Some have been great, some have had issues, one of the worst issues with any game and with some of these has been disengagement. Sometimes its disengagement from the game engine, sometimes from the scenario, sometimes the game as a whole but its always a problem. They consider some of the reasons and even a few possible solutions. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode the guys have been thinking about miniatures agnosticism again. In particular they've been thinking about it in relation to interestingly narrative faction building. Once you say a faction is a certain type of thing, you're saying that people can't use anything to represent them, so your game isn't minis agnostic, but people like factions with story and definition. How do you reconcile those two things? Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode, Glenn has been considering list building and option balancing. He's tried a few times to formalize the idea of pricing things for "piloting" skill, and recently he's been thinking about an idea of "utils", units of utility, and how they might relate to balancing a game. So he talks about that for a bit. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode the guys have been thinking about rules, in particular, Glenn has been thinking about how they're presented. Particularly about the difference between repeating rules multiple times and placing them once in a reference and then referring to it. Both options have strengths and weaknesses so they examine those for a while. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations. Specifically this time, they've been thinking about rules, or at least the presentation of rules, the ones you're meant to learn, to internalize and have in your head versus the ones that you're meant to refer to the rulebook for. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations. Currently they're considering the idea of measureless movement, which seems to be a bit in the zeitgeist at the moment, how does it work, how can it work, is it a good idea and how can it be made good idea if its not one yet. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠

In this episode the guys have been playing a range of new, or new to them, games which have bought up some interesting (hopefully) considerations. The first thing to occur is that they previously talked about AI, without fully engaging on the subject of target priority for AI opponents or their pathfinding systems. The time for that engagement is now! As such, they chat about these issues, and a bit about some of the solutions. Glenn and Mike are the developer and designer respectively of games such as Gaslands, Gaslands: Refuelled and A Billion Suns and here they talk about how, why and sometimes if to design tabletop miniatures games with discussions, tips, reviews and interviews. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: ⁠https://www.manokentgames.com⁠ Check out Planet Smasher Games here: ⁠http://planetsmasher.games⁠ Take a look at the podcast as a video on YouTube: ⁠Rule of Carnage - YouTube⁠