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The Game Design Round Table

Dirk Knemeyer & David V. Heron
Wildermyth
Game Design
Game Development
Indie Games
RPG
Darkest Dungeon 2
Tactical Combat
Magic System
Character Development
Procedural Narrative
Thirsty Suitors
Undergrove
Civ Games
Worldwalker Games
Community Feedback
Tunic
Civilization VII
Dungeons and Dragons
A Highland Song
Mobile Games

Covering the full breadth of digital, tabletop, and role playing games, The Game Design Round Table inspires and educates aspiring and experienced game designers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes384Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignArts

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Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Civ Series, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron sit down with Reed Erlandson, designer of Rogue Hex. Reed shares the inspiration behind the game and how its hex-based system creates strategic depth and emergent gameplay. The di... more

In this Design Talk episode, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Rikki Tahta, designer of the hit bluffing game Coup. Rikki shares the origins of Coup, how competition and hidden information shape its tension, and the technical challeng... more

Today, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron sit down today to have a discussion about RPGs stemming from a comment left by a user from the Discord channel. They dive into the importance of cards in combat mechanics, as well as David's connection to Dn... more

Today, Rob Daviau joins us again after a year to contribute to a conversation about RPGs. Dirk, David, and Rob talk about some of the practicalities of RPG's and GMing, as well as some of the problems that have arisen through both the tariffs and the... more

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Recent Guests

Reed Erlandson
Designer of Rogue Hex
Top Stitch Games / Rogue Hex
Episode: Civ Series 13 - Rogue Hex with Reed Erlandson
Rikki Tahta
Designer of Coo and a pillar of the game design community
Episode: Design Talk - Designing large group games with Rikki Tahta
Mike Mearls
Game designer known for his work on Dungeons & Dragons.
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: Season: RPG - D&D with Mike Mearls
Brett Gilbert
A game designer known for titles like Mandala and Guild of Merchant Explorers.
Episode: BtC- Brett Gilbert on Abandonment and Rejection
Keith Baker
Creator of the Eberron campaign setting for Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Episode: Season: RPG - Constructing Eberron with Keith Baker
Marcus Ross
Game designer from Omaha, Nebraska
Episode: BtC- Marcus Ross on conventions
Chris Backe
Experienced game designer living in Birmingham, UK, known for titles such as Gunpowder, Treason and Plot and Dino, Dino Boom.
No Box Games
Episode: BtC- Chris Backe on Digital Tools
Chrissy Fagerholt
Game designer from Denver, Colorado known for her humorous and competitive games.
EAP Toys & Games
Episode: BtC- Chrissy Fagerholt on social media
Jeff Perkins
Designer of Tribe Net, originally Tribe Vibes
Episode: Season: RPG - Play-by-email with Jeff Perkins

Hosts

Dirk Niemeyer
Co-host with extensive experience in game design and education, contributing valuable insights related to both tabletop and digital gaming.
David Heron
Co-host known for his engaging discussions on game design and the gaming industry, providing perspectives on various game topics.
Ellie Dix
Host with a strong emphasis on community engagement and the personal aspects of game design, often facilitating discussions with a range of industry guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 301 ratings
  • Love this show

    I believe I’ve listened to every episode. I’m not a designer but design certainly interests me.

    Glad the show has stepped into discussion of RPGs in recent years, as that was the one facet that was missing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    deedoublejay
    Canada6 months ago
  • These guys are super annoying!

    Just listened to the slay the spire episode and I am impressed at how bad of interviewers these hosts are. They clearly want to seem smarter than the guest at all costs and it’s awful to listen to

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Njsjisisisndjd
    United States2 years ago
  • Your advertising plays again but the 2nd time over the top of your guests introduction. Might want to double check this episode.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Atrak
    2 years ago
  • A must-listen!

    I recently discovered Game Design Round Table and have been consistently impressed by the wealth of knowledge and insights share in each episode. No matter the topic - you’re guaranteed to learn something new every time you tune in. Go ahead and give it a “follow,” this podcast will quickly become a favorite in your feed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mvelasco07
    United States3 years ago
  • Serves its niche well

    Probably not as interesting if you’re not a designer, but I am and it’s always something worthwhile. They have a wide range of guests, and the combination of tabletop and digital expertise works nicely.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    David Dunham
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

While many find the content indispensable, some critiques target the delivery and format changes that may have affected listener engagement over time.
Feedback highlights the engaging discussions and interviews with diverse guests, showcasing the realities of both tabletop and digital game design.
Listeners praise the wealth of knowledge and insights provided throughout each episode, making it a go-to resource for aspiring and experienced game designers alike.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#231
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#84
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#164
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#113
France/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#153
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#238
Germany/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season: RPG - Exploring RPGs with Rob Daviau
Q: Are you running a different system, or if there was something different about what you were running, would that have made the change?
I'm running the barest whisper of Worlds Without Number, and this felt like something I could run without many rules.
Season: RPG - Exploring RPGs with Rob Daviau
Q: What has the pandemic changed about how you run your games?
I've had to learn smaller chapters; I don't think you can do three or four hours on a computer without losing attention.
Season: RPG - Exploring RPGs with Rob Daviau
Q: What game do you think encapsulates legacy from your perspective?
Pandemic Legacy Season One is the most successful; Season Zero did the best job with the right amount of time and the right instructions.
BtC- Marcus Ross on conventions
Q: What about a convention like Geekway to the West, what categorizes it as a success?
For Marcus, success at Geekway is playing 20 new games that are all published.
BtC- Marcus Ross on conventions
Q: What do you find as a designer is beneficial for you to go to these events?
Marcus focuses on the public interactions, trends in games, and networking with industry friends.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Game Design Round Table

What is The Game Design Round Table about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Recent episodes cover a wide array of topics in game design, focusing on both tabletop and digital formats. Significant discussions include narrative mechanics in role-playing games, design challenges faced by game creators, and the emotional landscape of game development, encompassing themes of abandonment and innovation. Notably, the show features diverse guests from the game design community, providing practical insights and personal anecdotes that enrich the dialogue. This podcast notably emphasizes the intersection of storytelling and mechanics, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of creating engaging gaming experiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Game Design Round Table?

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How many listeners does The Game Design Round Table get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Game Design Round Table has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Game Design Round Table?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Game Design Round Table:

1. Think Like A Game Designer
2. Ludology
3. Fun Problems
4. Building the Game
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Game Design Round Table are there?

The Game Design Round Table launched 13 years ago and published 384 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Game Design Round Table?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Game Design Round Table?

Recent guests on The Game Design Round Table include:

1. Reed Erlandson
2. Rikki Tahta
3. Mike Mearls
4. Brett Gilbert
5. Keith Baker
6. Marcus Ross
7. Chris Backe
8. Chrissy Fagerholt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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