Design Doc

Hannah and Evan talk about how to transform a beloved movie, book, or show into a game, using their latest project as an example: An adaptation of a 1779 book of cosmetic chemistry, The Toilet of Flora. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ Toilet of Flora: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44276 OUR GAMES: Website: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun GET IN TOUCH: Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

In a perfect world, we'd make a living just making roleplaying games. But sometimes, duty calls, and you've got to work around another job. In this episode, we talk about rolling with the punches in a moment when the creative work is competing with a new and time-consuming reality—that of a day job. FOLLOW/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

What’s the difference between a “theme” and an “obsession?” Inspired by a classic writing book from the ‘80s, we share our respective obsessions and talk about how they show up in our work, intentionally or otherwise. EPISODE MENTIONS: Learn how to play Go: https://online-go.com/learn-to-play-go  Learn how to smell things (Introduction to Perfumery Kit or Perfumery Notes Kit from Perfumer’s Apprentice): https://shop.perfumersapprentice.com/c-58-educational-kits.aspx Writing Down the Bones (book by Natalie Goldberg) Synecdoche, New York (film) The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (book by Graeber and Wengrow) A Pattern Language (architecture and urban design book by Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein) Eating Raoul (film) The Clock Crew (Newgrounds wiki link) FOLLOW/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.c

Kickstarter stretch goals are notorious for getting project creators into trouble. Sometimes, they over promise content. Other times, they create financial strain. Often, it's all of the above. In this episode, we talk about Top Tracks, a stretch goal project we just completed that's so overdue... nobody even remembered it. CW: This episode contains a discussion of sexual harassment. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Top Tracks! https://turtlebun.itch.io/damntheman (under Download Demo) Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

In this episode, Hannah talks about the art of doing creative work alone. As part of a game design duo that normally does all creative work together, what does it look like to self-motivate on game design solo? From setting small, manageable goals and little rewards in advance to finding companionship in the work itself. MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Scavengers Reign (animated mini series) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21056886/ Health Minds App (available for free on the Apple app store and Google Play) - https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

We love making solo RPGs, but we don't always love playing them. In this episode we brainstorm ideas for a possible one-player version of Questlandia, and what would make us excited to play it. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

This month marks the sixth anniversary of Design Doc, a podcast that started as a "year-long" project documenting our progress redesigning our first roleplaying game. Six years later, we talk about the different directions we've taken, and what Questlandia 2 means to us today. EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

Hannah and Evan talk about the strange designs and abandoned places of Six Flags New England, the latest of a series of research trips. Join them on a jeep ride in the Jurassic, through the ghost town of Crackaxle, and into secret corners filled with claw machines. SUPPORT OUR VISIT BACK TO SIX FLAGS HERE: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

Former historical interpreter Enzo joins us to talk about interpreting history! A few months ago we visited Old Sturbridge Village, an 1830s rural New England recreation village. We went as naive visitors, only able to guess at how it was run. Our guest today was kind enough to share his memories of working at the museum! We discuss what it was like interacting with pass-holder guests, being the groom in a historic wedding, and sneaking off to take smoke breaks away from the prying eyes of modernity. Thanks again to Enzo for sharing his time and knowledge with us! Episode links: To learn more about Old Sturbridge Village, visit their website here: www.osv.org Turtlebun links: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Join our Discord! discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

In this episode Hannah and Evan describe their recent trip to Sturbridge Village, an 1800s recreation historical town. They talk about the value of on-the-ground research for creative projects, the peculiarity of animal habitats in fantasy places, and some dredged-up financial controversies paving the ye olde village streets. Episode mentions: Sturbridge Village: https://www.osv.org/ Jenny Nicholson video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9OhTB5eBqQ The Maze Runner (film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maze_Runner_(film) Turtlebun links: Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun We have a Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod

We talk about bringing confidence to our own work, including our recent scent-inspired game ideas. We're working on bringing that founder hustle without a toxic founder morality. Plus, we've got two new projects in the works inspired by olfactive poetry! 1:25 - Founder energy 13:58 - Project Gutenberg 32:32 - Pie Girl Episode Links and Credits Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Mentioned in this episode Outsider Comics in Seattle - https://outsidercomics.com/ Project Gutenberg - https://www.gutenberg.org/ The Art of Perfumery by G. W. Septimus Piesse (1857) - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16378/16378-h/16378-h.htm Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

In a much-requested episode topic, Hannah and Evan talk about WORLDBUILDING. We narrow in on three worldbuilding faux pas we're trying to be aware of in our own work: Word swapping, "Fish People," and the dreaded authorial insert. Episode Mentions: Lincoln in the Bardo: novel by George Saunders Upload: comedy-drama series Episode Links and Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan discuss their personal experiences and struggles with focus. A new kind of work requires long stretches of sustained focus, disrupting old routines and demanding new strategies. They delve into the challenges and rewards of dodging distractions and shepherding wandering thoughts. Timestamps: 00:55 - Introduction. The need to transition from sprint focus to something more sustained. 10:10 - Our different styles of focus and how we work together: Switching off the role of cheerleader, having a plan and holding to routines; setting boundaries with friends, family, ourselves. 18:17 - Switching to long-form work. Ramping up, getting into a flow, building a slower momentum. 23:51 - External and internal distractions. When the work becomes its own distraction. 32:26 - The dynamic tension, the ongoing battle; eliminating distractions vs the resolve to ignore and power through. Self-esteem. 35:25 - How the switch to long-form focus has helped our work in games. 38:04 - Closing thoughts. What we’ve lear

Hannah and Evan talk about what it's like to tackle a very different type of creative work—writing a novel! We discuss the fun parts and the challenges of being two people trying to hone in on a single narrative voice. Mentioned in this episode: 3-Act Structure: Abbie Emmons on YouTube Passing mentions: Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert A. Heinlein, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Over the Garden Wall (Episode 5: Mad Love) Episode Links and Credits: Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan discuss the trials and tribulations of packing a "deluxe" edition of Questlandia and the ridiculous mishaps that ensued. They chat fancy boxes, missing fonts, and making creative use of a limited budget. Episode Links and Credits: Our Kickstarter for a poster print run of our one-page single-player RPG Public Guest 5 ends tonight, February 16th at 8pm EST. You can support the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/turtlebun/public-guest-five Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun Links Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan talk about the increasingly complicated logistics of packing and shipping games as small creators. In this episode, we talk all about packing and shipping. Where do you get bubble wrap when you need more than a roll, but less than a warehouse's-worth? What happens when a printer you've worked with for years really messes up, with no chance to fix it? All this and more in part 1, with part 2 to come. Episode Links and Credits The sticker makers we work with: https://stickerninja.com/ Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Questlandia 2nd Edition: turtlebun.com/products/questlandia Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

We made the games, now we have to sell them. Hannah and Evan talk about something they're good at: making new games. And something they're bad at: confidently sharing those games with an audience that might like them. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Questlandia 2nd Edition: turtlebun.com/products/questlandia Our other games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan discuss how to repair their relationship with a game they've spent a year struggling to complete. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Mentioned in this episode: Microscope RPG by Ben Robbins. Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan talk about the fiddly little end things that make a project go on, and on, and on much longer than you expected. Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King Design Doc on twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod Turtlebun links Our games: turtlebun.com Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz

Hannah and Evan salvage an episode about being on time with an upcoming game, and publish it in a world where they were not on time. Intro/outro theme by Pat King.