In this episode of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix sits down with prolific designer Matthew Dunstan, co-designer of Battle for Boulders, to talk about the art of building and maintaining relationships with publishers. They explore why nurturing these connections is so valuable, strategies for starting relationships without prior contacts, and …

In this RPG interlude, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron return to the table to revisit some of the big conversations from recent episodes. From the debate over whether RPGs are best enjoyed for combat or storytelling, to how “serious games” balance education and fun, they unpack listener feedback and expand on earlier ideas. The discussion also …

In this episode of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix chats with game designer April Mitchell about the power of sizzle reels in pitching and promoting games. April breaks down what makes a great sizzle reel, from highlighting the right features to keeping things visually engaging. They discuss the do’s and don’ts of showcasing your game on video…

In this episode of the RPG series, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Justin Alexander , a renowned game designer and thought leader in tabletop RPGs. Known for his influential essays and innovative GM techniques, Justin shares insights into the role of the Game Master as designer. They dive into how GMs can connect narrative ideas t…

In this episode of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix talks with game designer Fertessa Allyse, known for Wicked & Wise and Cascadia Junior. They dive into the world of sell sheets—why they matter, what to include, and how to craft one that grabs attention. Fertessa shares tips on outlining your game effectively, finding its unique hook, and blen…

David and Dirk go over David’s newest project, Willow Bank. Revolving around DnD, (for all of you DnD enthusiasts), they have a captivating conversation on the flaws of DnD and create a vein of discussion for these topics.

Today, Dirk and David come together to answer some listener questions from the Discord. Most of these questions surround RPG’s, although the discussions branch out into deeper waters, as the two of them dissect some of the themes brought up by various listeners.

In this special edition of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix sits down with legendary game designer and publisher Dominic Crapuchettes, the creative mind behind Say Anything, Wits and Wagers, and Evolution. They explore how Dominic captures a game’s intended experience, the role of playtesting when publishing, and the creative tension between de…

Host Kathryn Hymes (@katehymes, thornygames.com) is joined by renowned designers Jason Morningstar (bullypulpitgames.com) and Randy Lubin (@randylubin, randylubin.com) to explore the world of "serious games"—games designed for education, training, and social impact. They share unique game experiences, discuss the challenges of designing beyond ente…

Host Kathryn Hymes (@katehymes, thornygames.com) is joined by renowned designers Jason Morningstar (bullypulpitgames.com) and Randy Lubin (@randylubin, randylubin.com) to explore the world of "serious games"—games designed for education, training, and social impact. They share unique game experiences, discuss the challenges of designing beyond ente…

Ellie Dix sits down with Sydney Engelstein to unpack what makes a game pitch succeed — and fail. Sydney shares some of the worst pitches she’s witnessed, what separates a great pitch from a weak one (regardless of the game itself), and how designers can present themselves with confidence. They also explore whether physical prototypes are always nec…

Host Ellie Dix sits down with Danielle Reynolds to dive deep into the art of pitching tabletop games. Danielle shares what draws her to the process, the essential skills designers need, and how to approach pitch decks (and their alternatives). They also discuss common prep mistakes and get to know Danielle beyond the pitch. Whether you’re new to pi…

In this episode, we are joined by Randy Lubin, a well known game designer who has had experience in RPGs, Tabletop gaming, and Mega games. We will dive into the complexities of Mega games as well as what it means to develop games with big world thinking, such as political themes - bringing real world problems to the world of gaming.…

Today, Ellie Dix and Dave Neale dive into the complexity of forming publisher relationships, as well as choosing the correct publisher. Taking a perspective from both experienced designers and beginner designers, creating a roadmap for finding and establishing these relationships based on many of the past experiences they both have encountered.…

Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron look back on TGRT’s most recent topics, along with taking time to dive into many of the conversations brought up by Ellie Dix in BtC. Sharing thoughts about co-design and comparing the communities in tabletop and digital design, which Ellie has brought up with past guests. The two also look back on some of the bigger i…

Today, Ellie Dix and Isaac Vega take a deep dive into what it means to self publish, both the struggles and the benefits. Touching on collaborating with others on projects, along with devoting your time and energy into being a publisher.

An in depth dive into the makings of Burden of Command, along with the strategies and tools used to create the realistic nature of the game. Conversations about using the right assets and tailoring your game in a way that it resembles the time period that it’s trying to convey. Luke Hughes, along with Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron, dissect the thin…