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Explore every episode of the podcast Design Doc
Dive into the complete episode list for Design Doc. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperfect Inspiration (Re-Air) | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:56:50 | |
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
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| The Tyranny of Dice | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:56:12 | |
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
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| How to Not Make a Sequel | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:48:02 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| How to Beat a Beta | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:41:11 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Announcement: Escape from Wonderland Public Beta | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:04:02 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Planning a Public Playtest (with Josh Yearsley) | 15 Jul 2026 | 01:15:46 | |
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:
Buried Giant Studios
Double Fine PsychOdyssey
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Short Break Announcement | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:08:12 | |
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
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Dying on the First Turn | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:51:00 | |
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
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Rapid Design: Snowhere Special | 20 May 2026 | 00:31:14 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| No Wrong Way to Eat a Pear | 06 May 2026 | 00:27:40 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| How to Do Two Things at Once | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:47:23 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Queuing for Canoeing | 08 Apr 2026 | 01:04:35 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Trapped in the Liminal Zone | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:54:44 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Fatigue | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:48:18 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| The Path to a Question | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:55:39 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Who Designs the Game? | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:56:04 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| A Year of Movies | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:48:15 | |
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:
https://www.kanopy.com/
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Epiphanies | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:50:01 | |
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Resolutions New and Old | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:53:20 | |
As the year draws to a close we talk about New Year's resolutions. Hannah makes them every year, Evan does not. Hannah shares her elaborate system for setting goals of masteries, experiences, and skills. And together, we consider Turtlebun's upcoming year.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Convention Dids and Didn’ts | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:44:53 | |
Conventions are an opportunity for us to get our games in front of a bigger audience, and PAX Unplugged is our biggest show. The stakes feel high, and we have to balance our ambitious goals with practical preparations. In this episode, we talk about what we were proud of, what we wish we’d done differently, and how every year we get a little better.
Episode mentions:
Thoughtcrime Games - https://thoughtcrimegames.itch.io/
Elliot Davis - https://www.moreblueberries.com/
World Champ Game Co. - https://www.worldchamp.io/
Links:
Public Guest 5: https://turtlebun.com/products/public-guest-5-notebook
Worldbuilding Art Print: https://turtlebun.com/products/worldbuilding-art-print
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support Design Doc on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Short Break Announcement | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:02:06 | |
Just a quick announcement that we'll be skipping a release cycle for the Thanksgiving holiday. See you back in two weeks with a new episode!
In the meantime you might consider:
Joining the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Supporting Design Doc on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Picking up one of our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Design Doc 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Making Game Hacks That Stay Small | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:55:23 | |
It's hard for us to make a hack that doesn't grow into a game of its own. In this episode, we talk about two playtests—one for a game variant, another for a new hack—and say what went well, what needs work, and how to keep small things small.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support Design Doc 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| You Can’t End the Game Until You Know What It Means | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:50:02 | |
Endings are hard. The ending of a roleplaying game isn’t just the culmination of the story; it’s also when the themes and purpose of the game become clear. In this episode we talk about designing a conclusion that comes at the right time, conveys the right message, and still leaves room for all the improvisation of roleplaying.
Episode mentions:
Ready Player One—but just a brief mention this time, promise!
Mother! (2017 film written & directed by Darren Aronofsky)
Other Design Doc episodes mentioned:
Epilogues in Games (May 2025)
Finding the Game's Emotional Core (March 2019)
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Design Doc 101 | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:43:14 | |
Is Design Doc a game design podcast? A saga about the challenges of making art for a living? A never-ending field trip? In episode 101 we talk about how Design Doc began, what it became, and what we hope it could become. Plus, dinosaurs!
Episode mentions:
Internet Shaquille video about short-form content - “I Posted a Short EVERY Day and THIS Happened!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvu3SDigoMA
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Bonus: Ernest Cline's Stinker (Part 2—the Movie!) | 01 Oct 2025 | 01:10:45 | |
We conclude our discussion of Ready Player One with an updated review of the movie. In pondering this mid movie, we leave no stone unturned... and no critically-acclaimed director forgiven. Come for the movie critique, stay for the poetry!
Find part 1 of the discussion, Ernest Cline's Stinker (Part 1), here.
Find our original review of the movie on Patreon here.
Episode Mentions:
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013 directed by Tommy Wirkola)
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Bonus: Ernest Cline's Stinker (Part 1) | 17 Sep 2025 | 01:31:59 | |
We’re pulling an unaired episode from the archives this week! We talk about Ready Player One, the dystopian virtual-world novel that took the world by storm over a decade ago. We each completed the book independently, then came together in this conversation to share our thoughts with each other (and the world). In part 1 we discuss the novel, in part 2 we watch the movie and read an illuminating poem.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| The Realest Place on Earth | 03 Sep 2025 | 01:57:59 | |
Happy Design Doc episode 100! In this special episode, we take a field trip with our game Escape from Wonderland. Trapped in an amusement park with a half-finished game, we explore liminal spaces, shuttered VIP lounges, and mind-bendingly long queues. To escape Six Flags New England, we must first fix our broken larp.
Creepy circus music is Creepy Circus Music from Derek Fiechter & Brandon Fiechter on Soundcloud
Roller coaster screams captured by Carrie, who can be found here
Find Jill Bernard's Small Cute Book of Improv here
Find Thank You, Places in Philadelhpia
Experience Houdini's Great Escape
The circular piano keyboard patent
The Brock360 Circular Keyboard
Previous Six Flags episode include Roleplaying in the Park and The Liminal Spaces of Six Flags
And more links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by (and spooky laugh by) Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Game Design Grab Bag | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:58:46 | |
In an impromptu recording, we decided to take turns setting a 6-minute timer and sharing whatever topics came to mind. The result was a series of compressed design conversations and a snapshot of our current ambitions and troubles.
1 - Sandbox exploration (chicken)
2 - Questlandia audio drama (cow)
3 - Traits & Conditions accounting (duck)
4 - Making the bed (whale)
5 - Null result (seagull)
6 - Mud gallery (horse)
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy our games: https://turtlebun.com/
Credits:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
This episode edited by Hannah Shaffer. Episode editing usually by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Roleplaying in the Park | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
We're going back to the park and taking Wonderland with us! To get the game off the table and into the real world, there are a number of changes we'll have to make. We talk fanny packs, waterproof paper, coordinated outfits, and ditching friends.
You can listen to our previous episode about Six Flags here.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Creative Disagreements | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:40:28 | |
Even after years of working together, there are times where we just can’t agree. The work grinds to a halt, and we end up frustrated and confused. When there’s a breakdown in collaboration, how do you diagnose what went wrong, repair the rift, and move forward together?
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| The Game Takes Shape | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:44:26 | |
In the early stages of a game's design, it's hard to even know what questions to answer. We've hit a turning point with Escape from Wonderland where we can see the shape of the game taking form. Big, abstract questions are getting small and specific. Now that the game has real structure, what comes next?
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| The Rules Tell a Story | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:40:31 | |
After you’ve made the rules, you need to decide how you’re going to tell them. The right rule in the wrong order can make all the difference!
In this unscripted episode, we share our initial thoughts about how we want our next rulebook to start, how to include immersive writing without sacrificing clarity, and (for some reason) reminisce about spooky VHS covers we encountered as children.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Epilogues in Games | 21 May 2025 | 00:47:27 | |
Story endings are hard! The epilogue of a game not only has to logically wrap up the story and tie up any loose ends—it’s also the moment to reflect on how your character has grown over many sessions, and a moment for you as the player to feel like the time spent playing was worthwhile.
In this episode, we talk about what makes roleplaying game epilogues special, and how we're approaching epilogue design in Escape from Wonderland.
Episode Mentions:
Return to Oz (1985 film)
Fortunately (1964 illustrated book, Remy Charlip)
Something Wicked this Way Comes (1962 novel, Ray Bradbury)
Tuiti and R2D2 at Dakin Animal Shelter
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Balancing the Pendulum | 07 May 2025 | 00:52:27 | |
This week, we talk about the unpredictable mechanical swings that can happen between different versions of a game. Small tweaks to mechanics can trigger a cascade of unintended effects, causing the game design pendulum to swing from too many choices to too few and back again. We talk through examples of how we've managed these swings in Escape from Wonderland, and discuss our ongoing efforts to find the right balance.
Links:
Join the Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Buy 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Now You're the Bad Guy | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:38:13 | |
We’re introducing a new dynamic to our latest roleplaying game! You all came to this amusement park as friends, but one of you started serving the park’s demonic forces. And things are about to get mean.
How can characters become enemies while players remain friends? When the rules ask you to clash with you peers, care and consideration needs to be given to keeping the antagonism fun.
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Support Design Doc monthly on 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/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Don’t Stop Making Art! (Feat. Joshua A.C. Newman) | 09 Apr 2025 | 01:00:10 | |
Hannah had to get a full time office job. Since then, finding the time and energy for creative work has been an uphill battle. In this episode, Hannah sits down with close friend and fellow game designer Joshua A.C. Newman to talk about life, art, and staying true to your values in trying times.
Support Joshua’s work!
https://www.patreon.com/joshua
https://www.patreon.com/PunkPedagogy
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| It’s My Playtest and I’ll Cry If I Want To | 26 Mar 2025 | 00:45:39 | |
Hannah and Evan discuss Wonderland's first four-player playtest. When a playtest goes wrong, it can be tricky to diagnose the cause. How much is due to the rules, and what's connected to the more subtle influence of mood and flow?
Links:
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: 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
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Pacing | 12 Mar 2025 | 00:55:51 | |
Slow and steady wins the race... but does it work in a one-session RPG? From what we've seen in Escape from Wonderland, not quite. In this episode, we discuss pacing in roleplaying games: from the moment players arrive at the table to leaving everyone feeling satisfied with the story's twists and turns. We dig into the challenge of building uncanny horror—where a slow burn creates the best dread—and whether it's possible to communicate that in a single sitting.
Mentioned in this episode:
Visioneers (2008 film)
Links/Credits:
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: turtlebun.com
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
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Insights and Secrets | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:52:45 | |
Sometimes a secret is worth more than gold. But how do you make concrete rules for something intangible? Hannah and Evan talk about the secrets of Wonderland and what to do when the rules are out of step with the story.
Links/Credits:
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
We're now on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/turtlebun.com | |||
| Rewards and Prizes | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:44:33 | |
Even when things are going wrong for your characters, you as a player might feel rewarded by narrative twists and turns. In this episode, Hannah and Evan discuss the ways that games can reward both players and characters, and do some live game design about claw machine prizes...
Links/Credits:
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| The Art of Perfect Art | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:55:03 | |
When people decide what art is worth looking at, they look for the very best. In a world that demands creative endeavors be perfect, how do we find the confidence to make and share our own art?
Episode mentions:
Olga Smirnova / Dutch National Ballet:
https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dancers/olga-smirnova
Toki Pona:
https://tokipona.org/
A Mathematician's Lament by Paul Lockhart (essay):
https://worrydream.com/refs/Lockhart_2002_-_A_Mathematician's_Lament.pdf
The Jewish Wedding by Jovan Obican (lithograph):
https://rogallery.com/artists/jovan-obican/jewish-wedding-2/
Links/Credits:
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| What Makes a Good Playtest? | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:53:28 | |
Is playtesting more of a science, or more art? How prepared should you be for a playtest if you're testing rules that might change on the fly, never to be seen again? In this episode we talk about playtesting our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, and how that went!
Links/Credits:
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| When Mechanics Don't Match | 25 Dec 2024 | 00:44:44 | |
Our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, began as a hack of Questlandia. But what happens when the mechanics of an old game don't work with the story you want to tell? In this episode we talk about hacking games to do what we want them to do.
Links:
Support Design Doc on Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Find our games at: 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
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc | |||
| Going Places! (or, Navigation Mechanics in Games) | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:42:49 | |
We often ask ourselves, "Do we need a mechanic for that?" In our newest game, Escape from Wonderland, we want to encourage players to travel across a haunted amusement park. How can the rules create meaningful choices about the places they should and shouldn't go? And when is it better to lose that choice, and end up somewhere randomized or predetermined? Join us as we navigate these questions and arrive in unexpected places!
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| A Moment of Rest | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:02:29 | |
We're taking a week off to recharge! We'll see you back in two weeks with a new episode of Design Doc. Rest easy.
Sincerely,
Hannah and Evan
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| Finding Community Again | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:39:57 | |
We recently realized that we’ve drifted apart not just from our games community, but from our community at large. Now, in a world where the future feels uncertain and dire, we're asking ourselves: how do we reconnect?
Escape from Wonderland has just one week left on Kickstarter. You can read more and back the project here.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| Levels of Doneness | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:44:23 | |
The Kickstarter for Escape from Wonderland is LIVE! Support the game here!
How do you know when a game is ready for Kickstarter? How far along should it be before bringing it to the world? In this episode, we talk about the delicate balance of presentation—slick, but not *too* slick; done, but not *too* done. We explored how crowdfunding has changed for small creators now that big, well-resourced companies are bringing their games to Kickstarter too. When faced with a rising standard of "doneness," should we try to match them, or pave our own scrappy way?
Mentioned in this episode:
Yes, L'Oreal did do a Kickstarter (we're not linking to it).
Double Fine's adventure game Kickstarter (for the game that would eventually be called Broken Age).
Czech Dream documentary.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| Judging a Book by Its Cover | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:54:21 | |
The first conversation we've had about cover design in games! We discuss how book covers are often the first thing people see of our games, how a well-designed cover can stick in someone's memory, and how a great cover isn't just about first impressions—it can make you want to pick up a book again and again.
And a special thanks to our editor, Rob, for letting us know that yes, Scholastic Book Fairs do still exist. Link here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com
Covers mentioned:
The Martian Chronicles (Link to cover, art by Michael Whelan)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Link)
The Golden Compass (Link to cover, art by Eric Rohmann)
Our covers mentioned, all by Evan Rowland:
Questlandia original edition
Questlandia second edition
Noirlandia
Mud: A Golem Memoir
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| The Ideas You'll Be Buried With | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:40:31 | |
One of the hardest lessons in game design is coming to terms with the fact that many of our favorite ideas will remain unrealized. In this episode, we explore the games we may never complete, our lingering dream of bringing them to life, and how accepting their incompleteness might help us face the reality of death.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
| Designing a Spooky Game (Part 4): Finally, the Playtest | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:58:57 | |
Evan and Hannah try playing their new game with a very rough draft of the rules, in a cross between a playtest and design session. New ideas and new questions abound as they explore uncharted territory.
To follow along with the design, Questlandia character sheets and reference rules can be downloaded for free here:
https://turtlebun.com/pages/downloads
Questlandia can be purchased here:
https://turtlebun.itch.io/questlandia-second-edition
https://turtlebun.com/products/questlandia
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
instagram.com/turtleandbun | |||
© My Podcast Data · Independent project · Data from Apple & Spotify