Podcast
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.
- Episodes
- 128
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 51 min
- On air since
- 2017
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
128 episodes, newest first
-
54 min
Where the Rules Go
Episode 123
Show notes
Game design isn’t just about making good rules—it’s about making them in the right place. In our latest dungeon-delving RPG, we’ve tried to keep the fighting simple and instead focus on the game’s main themes: envy, greed, and madness. To do that, the rules had to move.
Episode mentions:
Cairn TTRPG - Yochai Gal
MÖRK BORG TTRPG - Pelle Nilsson and Johan Nohr
Indiana Jones (1981 - Steven Spielberg)
The Mummy (1999 - Stephen Sommers)
The Witch / The VVitch (2015 - Robert Eggers)
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
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39 min
A Cozy Little Game Design Retreat
Show notes
Hannah and Evan talk about balancing work and play during a creative retreat. Three days surrounded by trees and friends yielded a heap of proofreading, some reluctant game design, and, triumphantly, reading an actual book!
Episode mentions:
Martha Moody (novel, Susan Stinson)
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
-
57 min
Imperfect Inspiration (Re-Air)
Episode 121
Show notes
It would seem like creative inspiration should come from favorite films, classic works of art, and the world’s best novels. But sometimes, it can be hard to draw inspiration from perfect, untouchable things. In this episode, we take on the imperfect—bad movies from favorite directors, books that over-indulged in nostalgia, and video games with terrible final acts. Maybe the best inspiration comes from the things you most want to fix.
This episode is a re-air of a fan favorite: Imperfect Inspiration, first aired in July 2022.
Episode mentions:
Hannibal (2013 TV show)
The Princess Bride (1987 film)
His Dark Materials (Book Trilogy by Philip Pullman)
Ready Player One (Novel by Ernest Cline)
First Kill (2022 TV show) (Also Euphoria, also Twilight)
Neil Breen (Filmmaker)
NuTrek (Star Trek: Discovery, Strange New Worlds)
Flight (2012 film)
Indigo Prophecy (2005 video game)
The Prisoner (1967 TV show)
Dead Petz (2015 album, Miley Cyrus in collaboration with The Flaming Lips)
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006 film)
Crimes of the Future (2022 film)
Honorable mention: Morbius
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
-
56 min
The Tyranny of Dice
Show notes
What do the sequences (3-4-5-6), (5-2-5-2), and (1-1-1-1) have in common? They’re all random dice rolls! Sometimes randomness seems random, but more often than you’d expect, it looks like an obvious pattern. When relying on dice or cards as randomizers, how do you account for the edge cases and anomalies that can lead to repetition, unfair player imbalances, or long waits to get the results you need?
Episode Mentions:
It Follows (2014 film by David Robert Mitchell)
Design Doc ep. 112: Queuing for Canoeing
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
-
48 min
How to Not Make a Sequel
Episode 119
Show notes
Hannah and Evan tackle the question of reprinting versus redesigning an older game, Noirlandia. It’s a game that still sells well after all these years, but there are many tempting improvements to make. Where’s the line between editing a word here and there and getting drawn in by the siren song of a new edition?
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
41 min
How to Beat a Beta
Episode 118
Show notes
Hannah and Evan talk about the next steps involved in releasing a new draft of the Escape from Wonderland beta. The sprint to publish a public version of the rules involved a ton of time and effort, but the work isn’t done yet! The newest release includes incorporating changes based on playtester feedback, fancying up flavor text, and releasing online play tools for the first time.
Good news—that version is out now! Find Escape from Wonderland 0.6 here.
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Design Doc is hosted by the One Shot Podcast Network. Find and support other network shows here: https://oneshotpodcast.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
4 min
Announcement: Escape from Wonderland Public Beta Bonus
Show notes
A quick announcement episode to let everyone know that the Escape from Wonderland beta rules are live. This is a draft of the game rules, publicly available for anyone to read and play. To share your thoughts, join us on Discord. Links below:
Turtlebun discord: https://discord.gg/h6JsahwgH
Link to the beta rules doc here: https://turtlebun.com/products/escape-from-wonderland
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Turtlebun links:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
1 hr 16 min
Planning a Public Playtest (with Josh Yearsley)
Show notes
Hannah sits down with rules editor and game designer Josh Yearsley (Root, Arcs) for a conversation about public playtesting. After more than a decade of editing rulebooks, Josh has developed a keen eye and intuition for playtest feedback. Josh talks about playtesting as a fluid conversation, incorporating feedback on a community scale, and staying true to your own voice when it starts to get lost in the shuffle.
Links to episode mentions:
Episode credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Turtlebun links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/h6JsahwgH (this link expires after 30 days—if you click and it's expired, email us!)
Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website:https://turtlebun.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram:instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
8 min
Short Break Announcement Bonus
Show notes
We're taking a short break to focus on finishing a game. See you back soon!
Links
Turtlebun Discord:https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
-
51 min
Dying on the First Turn
Show notes
Evan and Hannah talk about two separate playtests—Evan’s playtest of the near-complete Escape from Wonderland, and Hannah’s playtest of the just-begun Seekers of the Thrice-Lost Crown. Both games went well, but surprises lurk around every corner, and sometimes someone has to die on the first turn.
Episode mentions
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2018)
Links
Discord: https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
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31 min
Rapid Design: Snowhere Special
Show notes
Hannah and Evan sit down for a rapid design session for Escape from Wonderland. In 30 minutes, they design an entirely new snow-themed park zone, complete with a gun-wielding Santa.
Turtlebun Links
Discord: https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
28 min
No Wrong Way to Eat a Pear
Show notes
While Evan's away, Hannah reflects on the announcement that Hampshire College, an unconventional school founded in the 1970s, is closing its doors. It was flawed, idealistic, and not always what was promised. But it was a special place that encouraged weirdos to be weird, and paved our own winding path to game design.
Hampshire College Workers' Emergency Relief Fund
Help Hampshire workers faced with sudden job loss:
https://www.helphampshireworkers.com/
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/hampshire-college-workers-emergency-relief-fund
Turtlebun Links
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Turtlebun on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Turtlebun webstore: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
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47 min
How to Do Two Things at Once
Show notes
We've always struggled to juggle multiple projects at a time. Right now, finishing the design on Escape from Wonderland is the top priority. But we don't want to set aside every other game and dream. What would it take to do two things at once?
Links & Credits:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Turtlebun on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Our website, for games/art/zines: https://turtlebun.com/
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
1 hr 5 min
Queuing for Canoeing
Show notes
How many generations does it take to get into a canoe-making class? In this episode we go on a quest to redesign a queue system for a local craft school and quickly find that you cannot make a perfect queue without systemic social change.
Episode Mentions:
Hill Institute (With their mission right there on the front page)
What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets by Michael J. Sandel, 2013 (This link takes you to bookshop.org supporting one of our local bookstores—you can set your own!)
Happy Rex Manning Day!
We are having a game sale! Visit turtlebun.com for 20% off TTRPGs and turtlebun.itch.io for 35% off PDFs.
Links & Credits:
Turtlebun Discord:https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Turtlebun on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Where to buy our games:https://turtlebun.com/
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost:https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado:https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram:instagram.com/turtleandbun
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55 min
Trapped in the Liminal Zone
Show notes
A discussion about how to design a liminal zone in a TTRPG leaves us trapped in an in-between place.
Episode mentions:
r/backrooms
House of Leaves (2000 - Horror novel by Mark Z. Danielewski)
The Last Unicorn (1982 - Animated movie based on 1968 book by Peter S. Beagle)
Ultimate Haunted House (1994 - Point-and-click video game with art by Gahan Wilson) Play it on archive.org here.
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/ajP36nzPb2
Our 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/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
48 min
Fatigue
Show notes
In this episode, we talk fatigue. Is fatigue something to conquer, or is it a warning sign on the way to a physical and emotional crash? Evan is tired, but we’ve got strategies! After years of learning what the burnout cycle looks like while working on a game, we’re eager to intervene before exhaustion gets the best of us.
Episode mentions:
Ever so briefly, The Witness (2016 video game, Jonathan Blow)
Snowpiercer(2013 movie, Bong Joon Ho)
Links:
Join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games online: 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
-
56 min
The Path to a Question
Show notes
Game design questions can be longer and more complex than their answers. In this episode, we initially set out to do a live-design session tackling an issue from our latest playtest, but discovered that describing the question required revisiting nearly every other part of the game. Join us for a chat about Twilight rules, open-eyed investigations, and escaping a cursed amusement park.
Links:
We have a Discord! Come talk about Design Doc and Star Trek. https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Turtlebun on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
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
-
56 min
Who Designs the Game?
Show notes
Who designs the game? Is it the players, who make decisions in real time at the table? The GM, who’s at the ready to suggest ideas or dole out consequences? Or the designers, who… well… make the game? In this episode, we talk about when and how to distribute control of the experience between the players, the GM, ourselves as designers, and random rolls of the dice.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/ApNfNvUk
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Check out 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
-
48 min
A Year of Movies
Show notes
Hannah watched 51 movies in 2025. Not all of them were helpful for game design, but there was inspiration to be found everywhere—in the form of left-behind robots, edgy existential planets, sci-fi noir, and Mother. Mother? Mother!
Follow along and find every movie mentioned in the episode here:
https://letterboxd.com/hanbandit/diary/films/for/2025/by/added-earliest/
Watch movies through your library on Kanopy:
More Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episodes edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
-
50 min
Epiphanies
Show notes
Sometimes a design problem can't be solved in any straightforward way. You need an epiphany! That can't be forced, but it can be encouraged. Hannah and Evan talk about the epiphanies that shaped their previous games and how to attract those mysterious flashes of insight.
Links:
We have a Discord! Come talk about Design Doc and Star Trek. https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Turtlebun on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
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
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