Rule of Carnage - Designing Better Miniatures Games

In Episode 158 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, next up... and frankly with some trepidation... Warhammer 40,000. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 === Check out Man O'...

In Episode 158 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, next up, Mordheim. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 === Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com...

In Episode 157 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, next up, Blood Bowl. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalted Funeral here:http...

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game works great for a certain kind of Lord of the Rings inspired miniatures gaming. In Episode 156 the guys take a deep look at why, and how it achieves it. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exal...

In Episode 155 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, next up, Lord of the Rings based games. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalte...

In Episode 154 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, next up, Mech games such as Adeptus Titanicus. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from...

In Episode 153 The guys have been wondering about how they might redesign some popular games based on the imagined brief they might be based on, first up: Weird WW1... Trench Crusade, Last War and A War Transformed. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord....

In Episode 152 Glenn has been comment munging for chat subjects, and someone asked about archetypes and factions, what sorts are they and what are they good for? So they guys are going to chat about just that. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up P...

In Episode 151 Mike has been listening to game design podcasts, which is always dangerous, and has formulated some thoughts on at least one of them. Glenn also formulated some thoughts, very quickly, just now. Here they are. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 Yo...

In part 2 of Episode 149 Mike and Glenn have both been making books for their games, which has been a bit of a learning curve, so they share their experiences. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalted Funeral here:https://ww...

In part 1 of Episode 149 Mike and Glenn are both making minis for their games this year, which has been a bit of a learning curve, so they share their experiences here. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalted Funeral here:h...

In Episode 148 Mike and Glenn have both been considering model removal in minis games. It seems like an unexamined assumption that we have to take our toys off, and we don't like unexamined assumption, so the guys talk about it. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server:...

In Episode 147 Glenn has been thinking about player affordances, what you allow your players to do and why while designing his new game, Boarders and Black Flags. He talks to Mike about it here. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you...

In Episode 146 Part 2, rulebooks can be in many voices, formal, fun, narrative, which is right for you. The guys talk about it. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Pat...

In Episode 146, rulebooks can be in many voices, formal, fun, narrative, which is right for you. The guys talk about it. === Here Come The Bastards, the first expansion book for SPACE GITS, is on Kickstarter during March-April 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/planetsmashergames/space-gits-here-come-the-bastards?ref=4680n3 === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it a...

In Episode 145, Draws happen. Sometimes they're not much fun, which is a shame, so its worth making them fun. Let's figure out how we do that! === Here Come The Bastards, the first expansion book for SPACE GITS, is on Kickstarter during March-April 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/planetsmashergames/space-gits-here-come-the-bastards?ref=4680n3 === If you enjoy hearing our game de...

In Episode 144, Mike has been thinking about the vibes of a game, the special something that makes it more than just the mechanics. The guys talk about it. === Here Come The Bastards, the first expansion book for SPACE GITS, is on Kickstarter during March-April 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/planetsmashergames/space-gits-here-come-the-bastards?ref=4680n3 === If you enjoy hearing our ga...

In Episode 143, Mike has been thinking a lot about the onboarding process for games, how to get people playing and keep them coming back. The guys talk about it. === If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012 You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalted Funeral here:https://...

Back in June 2025, Mike was in the final development stages of SPACE GITS, buffing edges and polishing out any last blemishes. The guys got together to record what was going to be a full video playtesting session but ended up talking through various problems instead and never turned the cameras on. So while we never got to play a full game, you get a conversation that peeks behind the development...

In Episode 141, the guys have been thinking about "cursed problems", and when they think about such things, they talk about them. Next up, politics. This can cover many things, quarterbacking and kingmaking are two they chat about here. ===Here Come The Bastards, the first expansion book for SPACE GITS, is on Kickstarter during March-April 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/plane...

In Episode 140, the guys have been thinking about "cursed problems", and when they think about such things, they talk about them. Next up, teams often break down during play for various reasons. How can you lessen break downs and strive for unity? ===Here Come The Bastards, the first expansion book for SPACE GITS, is on Kickstarter during March-April 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/pro...

In Episode 139, the guys have been thinking about "cursed problems", and when they think about such things, they talk about them. Next up, with three or more players you can end up with a "piggy in middle". How can you fix that? === What happened to episodes 137 and 138 you ask? Best you do not. === The Boarders and Black Flags Landing Page:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manokentgames/boarde...

In Episode 136, the guys have been thinking about "cursed problems", and when they think about such things, they talk about them. Next up, we want minis to have a purpose in our games, but we don't want to allow modelling for advantage, while we want to give people freedom to use the minis they want. What to do about that? Late Pledge Boarders and Black Flags on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarte...

In Episode 135, Glenn has fulfilled several Kickstarters, Mike is just fulfilling his first, they talk about some of the tips and pitfalls for that process. Late Pledge Boarders and Black Flags on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manokentgames/boarders-and-black-flags If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our book about designing miniatures games, av...

In Episode 134, the guys have been at Salute pitching their games to strangers one and all and so they've been thinking about doing that, how hard it is, and how important. Late Pledge Boarders and Black Flags on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manokentgames/boarders-and-black-flags If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our book about designing...