https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/etchings-of-the-eons-with-andrea-koroveshi monthly 0.5 2026-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/2d223940-30eb-4664-b753-871afccb1799/AK+Fav+Hex.png Articles - Etchings of the Eons with Andrea Koroveshi - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/f80a3dd5-0010-4c72-9a35-599dc51ea22a/AK+Fav+Illus.png Articles - Etchings of the Eons with Andrea Koroveshi - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/firelight-musings monthly 0.5 2026-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/5030f563-0d9b-4693-b9b1-8d2af3122d15/Max%27s+Amazing+Neoprene+Playmat+Concept.png Articles - Firelight Musings with Brendan McCaskell - Make it stand out This was on my hard drive entitled “Max’s Amazing Neoprene Playmat Concept.” I have only the vaguest recollection of making it, but I feel it captures the energy of the early creative process well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/295b6062-35f1-4a3f-9b76-ca4b8fe4702f/Blog+Post+2.9.2026+Img+2.png Articles - Firelight Musings with Brendan McCaskell - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/c7577518-e6d8-49ac-a9c0-6257e963e12e/Hex+Demo+OG.png Articles - Firelight Musings with Brendan McCaskell - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/in-defense-of-doing-things-badly monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/2a4a9dd2-9bb5-4da2-877b-8d2dfbae8330/Moonblood+Example.png Articles - In Defense of Doing Things Badly - Make it stand out Early drafts of the moonblood material’s icons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b3a675e9-786a-4f56-bdce-a36967e71490/Jumpscare+Art.png Articles - In Defense of Doing Things Badly - Make it stand out Early draft of a Delving card depicting an encounter with an underground beast! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/16d53acb-f6eb-404c-9787-7da8aff1ccbe/Village+Cards+Sample.png Articles - In Defense of Doing Things Badly - Make it stand out A concept sketch for village cards. It did not progress much further than this sketch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/562895be-f3df-4261-ab92-2a190e5227af/Frame+Sample.png Articles - In Defense of Doing Things Badly - Make it stand out Foreshadowing? https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/2025-in-game-design monthly 0.5 2025-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/5f2b8484-f8f8-451b-b331-9547861dccca/Image+1.png Articles - 2025 in Game Design - Make it stand out Oh foolish, foolish Early 2025 Max. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/4140db66-d405-46ec-93a5-33841a7403bb/Vernet%2C+Morning.png Articles - 2025 in Game Design - Make it stand out Selection from Morning, Claude Joseph Vernet, 1760. Courtesy Art Institute of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1ab62af0-e7c4-410a-bb91-7580d6419347/Medieval+Bakery.png Articles - 2025 in Game Design - Make it stand out A Medieval Bakery, courtesy the Met Museum. No clever caption, I just like medieval inset images and marginalia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/201b09fe-170d-43d5-8971-ca26c340558d/Beef.png Articles - 2025 in Game Design - Make it stand out A beef shoulder from the Egyptian New Kingdom, courtesy the Met Collection. The oldest open-source image of food I could find. Unrelated to the topic, presumably. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/eca7dc78-09f1-4d3c-aa57-02e42babee85/The+Serpent%27s+Teeth.png Articles - 2025 in Game Design - Make it stand out Don’t worry, I’ve hired artists who can draw competently and even beautifully. But sometimes I can’t help but opening up TinkerCAD and PaintNET to spin out another Dubious Max Brooke Original. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/a-year-in-games-2024 monthly 0.5 2025-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b1074385-6870-4d76-8b6a-eee1713aa5b3/STITU-FullBox-Resized-600x600.png Articles - 2024 in Game Design - Make it stand out “Engage!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b4e5da4d-364c-4f09-8d37-05581aba94b0/Image_Stonesaga+Minis.png Articles - 2024 in Game Design - Make it stand out Core set and expansion miniature proofs for Stonesaga. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/103ee03f-c309-46d0-b787-b5170ea32424/Image_Energy.png Articles - 2024 in Game Design - Make it stand out Image unrelated, probably. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/090a7f21-50bd-45cd-ae19-8bf68713e471/Image_KS+Page.png Articles - 2024 in Game Design - Make it stand out This isn’t an embedded video, I just wanted a picture of that funding number. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/three-personal-lessons-from-x-wing monthly 0.5 2024-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/6d311ee5-f8bf-4d3a-9a4a-6549d412c418/Fragment+%28Depicting+Airplanes%29+%28Dress+or+Furnishing+Fabric%29%2C+Russia.jpg Articles - Three Personal Lessons from X-Wing - Make it stand out Fragment (Depicting Airplanes) (Dress or Furnishing Fabric), 1920-39, Unknown Also a pretty accurate depiction of my first game of X-Wing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/25601db3-49d5-4c50-84c5-a8b0cd402add/Boat+Jousting.jpg Articles - Three Personal Lessons from X-Wing - Make it stand out Boat Joust, Jean Rigaud, 18th century This was honestly the best public domain jousting image I could find. It both was and was not what I expected when I clicked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/0b0c64a1-9d41-49f2-9ed6-bb8dfb8187ca/The+Flying+Philosopher+Unknown.jpg Articles - Three Personal Lessons from X-Wing - Make it stand out The Flying Philosopher, Unknown, estimated 19th Century This probably isn’t an efficient way to fly, but he does look like he’s having fun. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/a-farewell-to-s-foils monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/edbfb08a-9336-4b2d-9ddd-ac1411a6a5b7/2015+Gen+Con.jpg Articles - A Farewell to S-Foils - Make it stand out Photograph of Sam Gregor-Stewart, Andrew Fischer, and myself playing some Commander at GenCon 2015 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/58cc2d87-ce0d-4b72-bf7f-b38277675adc/2017+SW+Celebration.jpg Articles - A Farewell to S-Foils - Make it stand out Star Wars Celebration 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/740feff2-f071-46a3-b500-6aea973b3fdd/Peacekeepers.jpg Articles - A Farewell to S-Foils - Make it stand out The latest batch of forces painted and ready to scrap with some Cylons or Rebels. Now to print up that Rygel card… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/38c64b3f-11b9-4d22-a6fc-3d26bb3346e0/IMG_20190307_190247_Original.jpg Articles - A Farewell to S-Foils - Make it stand out Hot-Wings, TMG, photo courtesy Gavin Duffy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b9d80b1c-5553-4338-9725-e95908cb5744/IMAG15002_Original.jpg Articles - A Farewell to S-Foils - Make it stand out Arc-Dodging Hazards on the Green, courtesy Gavin Duffy https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/on-acorns monthly 0.5 2023-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/5884a5b5-2483-461e-989e-4c8c3ec2fc0b/AdobeStock_536517112.jpeg Articles - On Acorns - Make it stand out This is a stock image because a surprise snowstorm covered up the acorns I was going to photograph today. Minnesota, what a state! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/63e628a8-310f-465e-9fec-b18da4a67cdc/IMG_20231030_113237002.jpg Articles - On Acorns - Make it stand out This represents about 3/4ths of the total yield of course-ground flour (minus what ended up in the first batch of crepes) from a ~2 gallon bucket of acorns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/5dfbd98d-9abd-4be1-abfb-03b379649f79/IMG_20231029_184546068.jpg Articles - On Acorns - Make it stand out The texture is firm and a bit chewy, but not tough. The flavor is pleasant but very mild. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/87328933-8322-43f6-94ba-aa59e10d3fae/IMG_20231029_185000329.jpg Articles - On Acorns - Make it stand out Very tasty with eggs, tempeh bacon, oyster mushrooms, and cheese! https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/world-gardening-building-a-home-for-growing-stories monthly 0.5 2024-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1efaa93a-2d2c-410a-9857-08b50b2fb4fc/Core+Themes.jpg Articles - World-Gardening: Building a Home for Growing Stories - Make it stand out Keeping to the path should be easy and intuitive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/3a1b20a5-1a45-499e-b95b-8bc26a05584e/Tools.jpg Articles - World-Gardening: Building a Home for Growing Stories - Make it stand out Leave them the right tools, and people will build whole worlds around two characters who once exchanged a longing glance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/ae44c8d2-d382-4e68-99ec-a6e314bb6b69/Room+to+Grow.jpg Articles - World-Gardening: Building a Home for Growing Stories - Make it stand out Ask yourself “If it weren’t my garden, what spaces would seem best for planting?” https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/6bp2g7w1fw8e8srw5ockm25v8z0zmt monthly 0.5 2022-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/84d655be-5995-4e23-a933-e22483b45397/Competing+Needs.png Articles - Stonesaga: Going with the Flow - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/04e67387-c4c2-4a3d-9db1-efcd0f54f690/Cycle.png Articles - Stonesaga: Going with the Flow - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b053fb61-d1fd-44ed-88e7-57e1b51ce583/Positioning.png Articles - Stonesaga: Going with the Flow - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/62qrrhst0ncuxknelyhgaau5gejvqa monthly 0.5 2022-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/e2f1fdf7-0c07-4d29-ae78-8b695f76f808/Hex+Demo+1.19.2022.png Articles - User Questions - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/2021-a-year-in-review monthly 0.5 2022-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/a40b8658-3065-45eb-a687-79a55ff1eae5/img-news-edge-rokugan_02.jpg Articles - 2021: A Year in Review - Make it stand out Adventure! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/b86b7c0e-1c5a-4fde-9c1b-e73f9c484a96/IMG_20210809_204046970.jpg Articles - 2021: A Year in Review - Make it stand out It’s amazing what getting actual artists and graphic designers about does for a game! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/671ce99a-5c69-4447-992f-3db891e67c9d/Punch+Punch+Punch.png Articles - 2021: A Year in Review - Make it stand out Any excuse to raid the Getty Open Access Collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/f13b3c1a-7c8f-4efd-9bb8-8ebe33c4cbcb/BSG-wing.jpg Articles - 2021: A Year in Review - Make it stand out The battle did not proceed well for the Cylon Empire. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/minimum-viability monthly 0.5 2021-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/3ae13a92-9e05-4140-b714-f1a74aeac3c2/Mixed+Bag.jpg Articles - Minimum Viability - Make it stand out Pictured: Everything but the kitchen sink, which is behind me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/04f41202-889b-4a26-8ac6-9296e5937ecb/The+Extra+Mile.jpg Articles - Minimum Viability - Make it stand out The numbers are because there is a 0% chance I’d have glued the fronts/backs together correctly without them. Know your strengths and weaknesses! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/7dbb12fb-cd85-42eb-9ca6-a3d6b48f4087/Whoops.jpg Articles - Minimum Viability - Make it stand out So you screwed up creating a regular hexagon… https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/wilderness-of-the-unwritten monthly 0.5 2021-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1631993226376-3QBH10UVGE3SMXOEEZP5/Design+as+Discovery.png Articles - Wilderness of the Unwritten - Make it stand out Left: Too many ideas to explore thoroughly. Right: A manageable number of ideas to explore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1632099060839-QE38L431YJI38DH7NBJC/Vision+Document.PNG Articles - Wilderness of the Unwritten - Make it stand out Remember how I said not to get attached to the working title last week? Yeah, don’t get attached to any other details, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1631993302985-JNAGXVDSKZZL2LND532R/Design+as+Discovery2.png Articles - Wilderness of the Unwritten - Make it stand out The cone isn’t meant to be a hard line, but rather a tool for self-guidance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1632101588495-AGJM78OXLK3XI6TKBM1I/Vision+Document+3.png Articles - Wilderness of the Unwritten - Make it stand out I’ve got some updating to do! https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/design-series-introduction monthly 0.5 2021-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1631026827371-RHVG4791WW6DGMTZB0ZV/Vision+Document.PNG Articles - Design Series: Introduction - Make it stand out Don’t get too attached to that working title https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1631026859297-NBTWSBHDF4K98OVAI4NH/Glacier+National+Park.jpg Articles - Design Series: Introduction - Make it stand out Glacier National Park, from the US Park Service https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1631026824357-163R9EVJ10Q26K5JVXI1/Prototype+Hexes.jpg Articles - Design Series: Introduction - Make it stand out A world in progress https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/on-player-frameworks monthly 0.5 2021-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1629219796143-KM4T5UOI3A9ZNDP6S107/Lick+Observatory+Telescope.jfif Articles - On Player Frameworks - Make it stand out The Wonderful Universe Explorer, refracting telescope at Lick Observatory, 1902 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1629220060822-05O8WJSJ4WJD4H5B1X79/Eclipse+of+the+Sun+Langenheim.png Articles - On Player Frameworks - Make it stand out Eclipses of the Sun, W. & F. Langenheim, 1845 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1629228715959-Q91P3M4F0M3BQ9YDKCYF/W.A+Bentley%2C+1885.jpg Articles - On Player Frameworks - Make it stand out Wilson Bentley Photomicrograph of Stellar Snowflake No. 332 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1629228443120-Z56BIHKO0RH47TQNNVFG/Prototype.jpg Articles - On Player Frameworks - Make it stand out Some high-fidelity visuals right here. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/new-ways-to-motivate-them-three-design-techniques-for-getting-players-to-pursue-the-fun monthly 0.5 2021-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1621351897565-KXPT9RHA5YMBSPP90G0H/Why+Cant+I+Hold+All+These+Charges.png Articles - New Ways to Motivate Them: Three Design Techniques for Getting Players to Pursue the Fun - Make it stand out I wanted to use a cornucopia, but do you have any idea how hard it is to find a public domain image of a cornucopia? Anyway, enjoy the dated meme. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1621351685488-37DANJKKGJ99BTH9P3F0/Fortnite+Water+Wall.png Articles - New Ways to Motivate Them: Three Design Techniques for Getting Players to Pursue the Fun - Make it stand out Image courtesy of the Fortnite Wiki, because I am far too much of a geriatric millennial to actually be hip to what the kids are up to. Are they still really into dental hygene? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1621352164034-AV8YLZPW9G7F6966K3S8/AdobeStock_163386500.jpeg Articles - New Ways to Motivate Them: Three Design Techniques for Getting Players to Pursue the Fun - Make it stand out If it lands on 35, everyone gets a free drink. Does it cover the cost of your bet? Of course not. But hey, free drink! https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/the-role-of-community-in-games monthly 0.5 2021-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1619547736207-Z619DUKRMND80PBMCOBP/HG+Wells+Exploitable.png Articles - Reflections on the Role of Community in Games 1913 illustration of HG Wells playing Little Wars, courtesy the BBC. Read about it here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1619546548227-9Y54712QI5DFCWX46601/Enduring.jpeg Articles - Reflections on the Role of Community in Games Notice how it’s still standing because there are a bunch of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1619546222350-Z91H3QZO6CZ4CQMHA1GD/Djerik+Meta.png Articles - Reflections on the Role of Community in Games Nobody wanted to admit it, but after day three of training, the Dagobah dejarik meta was already getting stale, and not just because Yoda was cheating. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/how-to-give-great-feedback-on-your-friends-new-game monthly 0.5 2021-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1617826186271-3IKKV435DL33VNPZDA6D/Dead+Dove+Do+Not+Eat.png Articles - How to Give Great Feedback on Your Friend’s New Game J. Walter Weatherman didn’t die for you to forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1617826326334-B0UHGPN3ADHVZ4UPESKA/Level+of+Useful+Commentary.png Articles - How to Give Great Feedback on Your Friend’s New Game It’s a delicate balance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1617829483120-H5INXIWTZT78Y5OWKOFF/Moons+by+Alfredo+Helsby+%26+Sakai+Hoitsu.png Articles - How to Give Great Feedback on Your Friend’s New Game There are a lot of ways to depict the moon, all true. Left: Full Moon, Limache, Chile, by Alfredo Helsby Right: Moon and Autumn Plants, by Sakai Hoitsu https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/complexity-pitfalls-the-weight-of-learning monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1617154545785-7LQXP267M9TKI84AIQCM/AdobeStock_337204029.jpeg Articles - Complexity Pitfalls: The Weight of Learning Mavis Beacon’s lessons did not prepare me for the eventual realization that QWERTY is optimized for non-optimization. The betrayal still stings… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1617154862427-6ES2U5JLV6GLW8G1X71S/airplane-cockpit.jpg Articles - Complexity Pitfalls: The Weight of Learning For a professional pilot, this level of information is probably necessary to do the job. Trying to model all these factors wouldn’t be a good fit for a lighter game like X-Wing, though. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/agency-and-futility-three-more-studies-in-board-game-existentialism monthly 0.5 2021-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1616462015678-WN5DF7MPXFIQ813S8Y64/Bad+Choices.jpg Articles - Agency and Futility: Three More Studies in Board Game Existentialism Although if video games have taught me anything, maybe I shouldn’t trust the offers of free cake… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1616469374317-JA82PRKZZRLL260WDGM3/Free+Cake+Full+of+So+Many+Hornets.png Articles - Agency and Futility: Three More Studies in Board Game Existentialism Yeah, technically it’s what you were promised, but it doesn’t really feel like it’s in the spirit of the options presented. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1616470006713-A6R70GJXPIG5PJI5LRL6/Unusual+Railroading.png Articles - Agency and Futility: Three More Studies in Board Game Existentialism This isn’t quite what I was thinking of when I said “railroading”! https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/keeping-sisyphus-happy-agency-and-imagination monthly 0.5 2021-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1615841016621-7AA4A04FTP8VXX4QOJS4/Greenstone+Polyhedron.jfif Articles - Keeping Sisyphus Happy: Agency and Imagination I can’t prove the ancient Greeks weren’t playing D&D. Courtesy the Met Open Access Collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1615840734977-EZQHR5XO3KTX5M8POBTJ/Rowlandson.jfif Articles - Keeping Sisyphus Happy: Agency and Imagination Fortunately, these days, this sort of “kick up” usually happens on the internet. Kick Up at the Hazard Table (Thomas Rowlandson, 1787). Courtesy the Met Open Access Collection. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/the-lethality-trick monthly 0.5 2021-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1614654902709-QUWZARJNUS6VBE4VYTMV/IMG_20210301_200048257.jpg Articles - The Lethality Trick Much like its digital predecessor, the card game adaptation hands out death randomly and without recourse, like some twisted Candyland with dysentery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1614655698203-B8YA83RIU9IZ8JXET6PE/Sekiro_Death.jpg Articles - The Lethality Trick Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice telegraphs particularly dangerous attacks with a clear warning sign, so that you know an attack could have killed you without having to go through the trouble of running back from the last sculptor’s idol. Courtesy my friend Kory, who is actually good at video games. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/designing-wide-viewing-card-viability-across-the-long-term monthly 0.5 2021-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1614108997527-K9E4FFC35VR7OGRFOCTR/Duck-Rabbit_illusion+%281%29.jpg Articles - Designing Wide: Viewing Card Viability across the Long Term What’s in this image? Only what you take with you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1614109307744-FIQLLZPPZ0UP6RAWTF88/Gaiola_pombalina.jpg Articles - Designing Wide: Viewing Card Viability across the Long Term A pombaline cage model, of the design used in the rebuilding of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. Courtesy wikipedia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1614111004930-0YFEUUTVCB0IEETZKOSW/VALUE.jpg Articles - Designing Wide: Viewing Card Viability across the Long Term Don’t get me started on games with speculation… https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/regrets-and-retrospectives monthly 0.5 2021-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1613441350088-SM5WNLMRQO7190WGWDK9/Honor%C3%A9+Daumier.png Articles - Regrets and Retrospectives A Literary Discussion in the Second Tier, Honoré Daumier (published in Le Charivari, February 27, 1864). Courtesy the Met Open Access collection. Ruined by me (February 15, 2021). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1613443633551-JBUV2MDLCPZQI9XYR52G/Pictured%2C+another+unsuccessful+launch.png Articles - Regrets and Retrospectives Pictured: Another Troubled Takeoff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1613443836966-XVWLITL6964CTYHRIDD1/Maybe+Too+High+Concept.png Articles - Regrets and Retrospectives Yes, I know that the World Between Worlds creates a stable time loop and also this event would be in Ezra’s future, but until WandaVision makes the Time Stone canon in all Disney properties, this is the best visual Star Wars time travel joke I’ve got. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1613441745852-UCFG6GXGJG494RK0DRP8/Wiiiiiiider.jpg Articles - Regrets and Retrospectives Will people get the gag, or just assume their phone has screwed up the aspect ratio somehow? https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/life-in-the-margins-three-stories-of-rpg-characters-and-x-wing monthly 0.5 2021-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612822956303-9ZGW1JNC9T7HTDO945KH/Swx55-old-teroch.png Articles - Life in the Margins: Three Stories of RPG Characters and X-Wing Speaking of “old,” this frame sure takes me back… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612823016400-6NHT81HUB1TNYEFZQ80W/Viktor_Hel.png Articles - Life in the Margins: Three Stories of RPG Characters and X-Wing Man, Pilot Skill went up to 9? Wild. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612823110818-OMHX2OVVKVTNI0VNGZLP/JumpMaster_Nom_Lumb.png Articles - Life in the Margins: Three Stories of RPG Characters and X-Wing Sure looks like he’s in that Kimogila’s bullseye… Not a great place to be, Nom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612823177401-0U6KEDHAHLF109T53Q3V/Swz26_a1_scorch.png Articles - Life in the Margins: Three Stories of RPG Characters and X-Wing Who knew it was Jad Bean behind the stick? https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/exploring-bad-at-games monthly 0.5 2021-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612252262801-4RGD5AQ0L1EFJZ28TA2Q/My+Hated+Enemy_.jpg Articles - Exploring “Bad at Games” Photograph of my hated enemy provided under Creative Commons Share-Alike Unported 3.0, courtesy Wikipedia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612253158997-YDJ5RLE1AHWIWWVYNG7C/1200px-KnightsTemplarPlayingChess1283.jpg Articles - Exploring “Bad at Games” Knights Templar Playing Chess, Alphonse le Sage, 1283 Left Knight’s facial expression says a lot, really. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1612252496398-UCTG9G7A8TPVN725CP63/pexels-photo-208450.jpeg Articles - Exploring “Bad at Games” So, wait, does this go on pizza or not? That’s definitely going to start a fistfight. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/playtest-design-lessons-part-two-five-more-lessons monthly 0.5 2021-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611616463537-KIGYNB84KMP1WVB9X7RO/What+You+Like.jpeg Articles - Playtest Design Lessons Part Two: Five More Lessons The microscope is a metaphor for, uh… your own sense of introspection? Listen, this was a hard one to find an image for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611616554167-GCYOAH9MQG7LV93YZ1IC/Tableflip.png Articles - Playtest Design Lessons Part Two: Five More Lessons The most tempting, forbidden button in all of Tabletop Simulator… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611628002524-95RVXP7WAI3DOBFJ2KUF/horse-with-cart.jpg Articles - Playtest Design Lessons Part Two: Five More Lessons No, no, you just teach the horse to walk backwards, and then… https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/playtest-design-lessons-for-playtesters-and-designers monthly 0.5 2021-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611025055410-Q1VT2N5PVKMVP7ZNXHK7/AdobeStock_298504896.jpeg Articles - Playtest Design Lessons, Part One: Scoping it Out Pictured: Those things that used to fall over and deprive us of telephone service. You know. Bird seats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611017157193-T3WPB7E4N91Y4246SXBD/cooked-spaghetti-noodles.jpg Articles - Playtest Design Lessons, Part One: Scoping it Out Cooked and ready to be thrown at a wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611017195859-IEOTSIAJY252RL3ZQRS1/balance-stones.jpg Articles - Playtest Design Lessons, Part One: Scoping it Out Just try stacking yet another Millennium Falcon on top of that pile… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1611017263917-JDXLODQ94FCKL89XKU82/Good+Enough+for+NASA.png Articles - Playtest Design Lessons, Part One: Scoping it Out Hey, they got it working again, didn’t they? https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/whose-fun-is-it-anyway-part-two-design-a-healthy-pond monthly 0.5 2021-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609803822213-8PJEPYOMNG44Z40WSEPK/A+Little+Bit+Goes+a+Long+Way.png Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part Two: Design a Healthy Pond A little push goes a long way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609804073207-7CQFIIYORKYHGKYJRH36/Buffers.png Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part Two: Design a Healthy Pond The color pie helps keep effects from eroding into one big, colorless slurry. Kind of like the planeswalkers stopped the Eldrazi from turning the multiverse into one big colorless slurry. Actually I have no idea if that’s accurate or not. My Magic lore knowledge is mostly from Invasion. Is Gerrard still around? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609805065702-OTYH4OCOBEBLSIUYIDKR/Wait+This+May+Be+The+Wrong+Type+of+Cycling.png Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part Two: Design a Healthy Pond Not that kind of cycling! https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/whose-fun-designing-for-the-health-of-the-game monthly 0.5 2021-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609191804352-1IP45KMLUXXOOBU4QVJE/eutrophic-lake-Nara-Souza.jpg Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part One: Too Much of a “Fun” Thing (Credit: Nara Souza, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Public domain.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609192387837-LQ01KKGWUML0PYVCWEVG/AdobeStock_163504693.jpeg Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part One: Too Much of a “Fun” Thing They don’t really look like box cars to me. Some spiders have six eyes - feels like a missed opportunity for a theme match with “snake eyes.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1609193899579-6YQQYM93NU3IL3P7PIO3/1200px-L%C3%ADneas_de_Nazca%2C_Nazca%2C_Per%C3%BA%2C_2015-07-29%2C_DD_61.png Articles - Whose Fun Is It Anyway? Part One: Too Much of a “Fun” Thing The Nazca Lines (The Tree), Photographed by Diego Delso, 2015 https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/when-is-x-wing-like-skyrim-fandom-creation-and-games monthly 0.5 2020-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1608588830270-Q669BXBGVQY9CG1MA6BD/Uh+Oh2.jpg Articles - Rediscovering the Magic: Fandom, Creation, and Games Fun fact: This is also the weather forecast for Minnesota next week… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1608593465402-N5T8YHLH0LG6FHMST6VV/Cloisters+Playing+Cards.jpg Articles - Rediscovering the Magic: Fandom, Creation, and Games The Cloisters - Playing Cards ca. 1475–80, because the more things change, the more they become the same again… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1608592546828-CH8TPJFMZH56VLA8D129/Much+Scarier+from+Down+Here.jpeg Articles - Rediscovering the Magic: Fandom, Creation, and Games They’re a lot more intimidating from this angle. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/swimming-with-sharks-reflections-on-competitive-players monthly 0.5 2020-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1607971531016-WVKCPWO6X8NC0AGWSVOU/01_Flexibility+of+Perspective.jpg Articles - Swimming with Sharks: Reflections on Competitive Players The sawfish looked at teeth and said “Grabbing and tearing? How about I create a slashing meta instead!” (Also technically it is a ray, but they’re closely related so I’m leaving it) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1607973106152-27QJ7XHU3YD4PIKP4T08/02_Focus+on+Community.jpg Articles - Swimming with Sharks: Reflections on Competitive Players Not to be confused with whales, which have a slightly different - but also very significant - impact on games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1607973383358-QGWCYQEYIJDQL2E011NP/03_Desire+to+Play.jpg Articles - Swimming with Sharks: Reflections on Competitive Players Like the people I describe in this section, this picture is really just here for fun. https://www.maxbrooke.com/articles/the-heart-of-the-matter-understanding-what-makes-a-game-tick monthly 0.5 2020-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1607550212116-07RO9BUJ93M56L2JA1FL/Scrabbling+for+Answers.jpg Articles - The Heart of the Matter: Understanding What Makes the Game Tick https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fbd4f193830c15ddaf8ad6e/1607546807384-H1NR4GYHV70YHL0AG9RC/Word+Play.png Articles - 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