I lost a game of Kingmaker when plague struck Calais and I've been thinking about it ever since. Exploring thematic vs. abstract and random vs. low-luck games and the idea of zero-luck TTRPGs.| Skeleton Code Machine
An interview with Steph from TTRPGkids about choose your own adventure games, playing TTRPGs with kids, non-violent obstacles, and more.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring how the design of Ghost Beacon for the One-Page RPG Jam taught me some lessons about game design. Keeping good notes, feedback on what's (not) fun, and using project management tools.| Skeleton Code Machine
Use these five fonts the next time you want to branch out from the usuals. All of them are free, versatile, and particularly readable at a range of sizes.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring the game design questions Python can (and can't) help us answer when making a new board game or TTRPG.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring the impact of game state changes on the ability of players to have a strategy and plan their turns in advance. The difference between strategic vs. tactical player experiences.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring how Dune: War for Arrakis uses input randomness to assign dice and limit player actions, creating a unique wargame mechanism... and how this might apply to TTRPGs.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring action drafting, worker placement, and worker placement with dice workers in The White Castle, and how it creates tough choices in a tight game.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring the concept of Hobson's Choice in tabletop games, how to identify them, and when they are a good (or bad) part of a game's design.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring increasing and decreasing decision spaces in tabletop games, and how they can be manipulated to create the best player experience.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring how small changes to the usual deck-building game conventions make The Tea Dragon Society Card Game a bit more accessible (and cozy) to a wider range of players| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring how Gladiator (1981) uses mechanisms to support the theme of combat and a fickle crowd in the arenas of ancient Rome.| Skeleton Code Machine
The latest issue of TUMULUS is shipping now, including creative inspiration for dungeon crawls, pub dice games, locks, keys, depth crawls, weird flora, and a bug hunt from Skeleton Code Machine.| Skeleton Code Machine
An updated list of the best articles you may have missed, including both old and new. If you are one of the 2,000+ new subscribers over the last year, here's where to start!| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring games with variable player powers and asymmetric victory conditions, including Dracula vs Van Helsing.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring the ADDIE model from the world of instructional design and how it might be used to create rulebooks that are more clear, concise, and effective.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring the idea of "garbage time" at the end of a game through the psychological lenses of cognitive closure, ambiguous loss, and the framing effect.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring the Ocean Madness tracker in Deep Regrets, an "unfortunate fishing game about pulling progressively more horrifying things out of the ocean."| Skeleton Code Machine
In which I ponder if the idea of a board game SRD or third-party license makes any sense. And if so, what would be required to create a culture of hacking and remixing in the board game industry.| Skeleton Code Machine
Exploring minimalist game design and how Compile's multi-use cards create strategic depth with just a few simple game components| Skeleton Code Machine
10 of the best questions to ask after a board game or TTRPG playtest, and 3 questions you should avoid. Lessons learned from playtesting at Unpub 2025.| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
ADVENTURE! is a new guide from Skeleton Code Machine covering everything you need to make your first (or next) TTRPG adventure. Available for pre-order now!| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring the common elements of dungeon crawl games and how to make them better| www.skeletoncodemachine.com
Exploring the many ways to make a randomly generated map for your next dungeon crawl using dice and cards| www.skeletoncodemachine.com