Colin Brandt 🔜 PAX Unplugged
@cbgames.bsky.social
🎲✂️ Game Designer in the PNW
🎨🖥️ Product Designer at Microsoft
https://boardgamegeek.com/user/colinbrandt
🎨🖥️ Product Designer at Microsoft
https://boardgamegeek.com/user/colinbrandt
🎲✂️ I’ll be handing out some business cards at PAX Unplugged, featuring a roll-and-write game where you’re a game designer racing against the clock. Let me know if you want one (or just want to meet up and play games)! #PAXU
November 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🎲✂️ I’ll be handing out some business cards at PAX Unplugged, featuring a roll-and-write game where you’re a game designer racing against the clock. Let me know if you want one (or just want to meet up and play games)! #PAXU
Reposted by Colin Brandt 🔜 PAX Unplugged
How the art is created for 52 Duels. Follow the game now on Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/pos...
November 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
How the art is created for 52 Duels. Follow the game now on Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/pos...
First time playing the physical version of Root last night! I was the Keepers in Iron (badgers). I found the relic retrieval mechanism pretty fun, although I struggled to expand too much beyond my initial starting area. The crows had a runaway victory as their plot tokens were unchecked for too long
June 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
First time playing the physical version of Root last night! I was the Keepers in Iron (badgers). I found the relic retrieval mechanism pretty fun, although I struggled to expand too much beyond my initial starting area. The crows had a runaway victory as their plot tokens were unchecked for too long
Thank you @colewehrle.bsky.social for your talk about the game design process on the Zenobia YouTube channel!
I was wondering, when you mention allowing for around 4 actions in a mid-weight game, are you referring to total actions in a turn or action types to choose from?
I was wondering, when you mention allowing for around 4 actions in a mid-weight game, are you referring to total actions in a turn or action types to choose from?
June 7, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Thank you @colewehrle.bsky.social for your talk about the game design process on the Zenobia YouTube channel!
I was wondering, when you mention allowing for around 4 actions in a mid-weight game, are you referring to total actions in a turn or action types to choose from?
I was wondering, when you mention allowing for around 4 actions in a mid-weight game, are you referring to total actions in a turn or action types to choose from?
Q for published tabletop game designers—how do you spend your time at game conventions? I've never been to one and I'm curious how much time you spend:
a. Meeting with publishers (pre-planned)
b. Ad-hoc pitching to publishers
c. Playtesting
d. Playing games / meeting other gamers
🎲✂️
a. Meeting with publishers (pre-planned)
b. Ad-hoc pitching to publishers
c. Playtesting
d. Playing games / meeting other gamers
🎲✂️
June 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Q for published tabletop game designers—how do you spend your time at game conventions? I've never been to one and I'm curious how much time you spend:
a. Meeting with publishers (pre-planned)
b. Ad-hoc pitching to publishers
c. Playtesting
d. Playing games / meeting other gamers
🎲✂️
a. Meeting with publishers (pre-planned)
b. Ad-hoc pitching to publishers
c. Playtesting
d. Playing games / meeting other gamers
🎲✂️
Pretty excited about these 3D-printed pika pawns for my prototype! 🎲✂️
June 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Pretty excited about these 3D-printed pika pawns for my prototype! 🎲✂️
Glad I got to try out Isle of Cats, which has an interesting game flow with its card drafting and polyomino tile placement. I like the variety of goals you accrue throughout the game, which keeps the strategies pretty fresh all the way to the end.
May 14, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Glad I got to try out Isle of Cats, which has an interesting game flow with its card drafting and polyomino tile placement. I like the variety of goals you accrue throughout the game, which keeps the strategies pretty fresh all the way to the end.
Played Clank!: Catacombs last night for the first time, which I enjoyed even more than the original. I love the addition of portals, which provides some interesting escape routes out of the depths. And the exploration aspect with modular tiles is a perfect fit for the theme.
April 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Played Clank!: Catacombs last night for the first time, which I enjoyed even more than the original. I love the addition of portals, which provides some interesting escape routes out of the depths. And the exploration aspect with modular tiles is a perfect fit for the theme.
Reposted by Colin Brandt 🔜 PAX Unplugged
What will high U.S. tariffs on China mean for the tabletop industry? What are publishers doing in response? And what will it all mean for board game designers? We reached out to U.S. publishers, and we've compiled their responses into a new industry report: cardboardedison.com/tariffs
April 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
What will high U.S. tariffs on China mean for the tabletop industry? What are publishers doing in response? And what will it all mean for board game designers? We reached out to U.S. publishers, and we've compiled their responses into a new industry report: cardboardedison.com/tariffs
How much do you all factor in game setup time when making design decisions? I'm weighing the possibility of replacing a die-rolling mechanic with a deck of cards—I believe this would improve the overall gameplay, but increases setup time (and potentially overall cost).
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
April 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
How much do you all factor in game setup time when making design decisions? I'm weighing the possibility of replacing a die-rolling mechanic with a deck of cards—I believe this would improve the overall gameplay, but increases setup time (and potentially overall cost).
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
For those interested, here's the original sell sheet I sent to publishers for Search for a Giant Squid, which just shipped via MindWare.
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
April 12, 2025 at 4:58 AM
For those interested, here's the original sell sheet I sent to publishers for Search for a Giant Squid, which just shipped via MindWare.
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
Just got 5 copies of my first published board game! Super excited to check out the finishee product.
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
April 11, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Just got 5 copies of my first published board game! Super excited to check out the finishee product.
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
I've discovered a new quantum phsyics phenomenon—the Partner Observer Effect. Steps to reproduce with 100% consistency:
1. Look for object in your home
2. Confirm object does not exist
3. Ask partner where object is
4. Look in exact same spot with partner
5. Object appears
1. Look for object in your home
2. Confirm object does not exist
3. Ask partner where object is
4. Look in exact same spot with partner
5. Object appears
April 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I've discovered a new quantum phsyics phenomenon—the Partner Observer Effect. Steps to reproduce with 100% consistency:
1. Look for object in your home
2. Confirm object does not exist
3. Ask partner where object is
4. Look in exact same spot with partner
5. Object appears
1. Look for object in your home
2. Confirm object does not exist
3. Ask partner where object is
4. Look in exact same spot with partner
5. Object appears
The hype is real—finally played Arcs, and it did not disappoint! The gameplay feels very unique, while still being fairly easy to grasp on a first playthrough. I particularly love the constraints within which you need to strategize each turn.
April 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The hype is real—finally played Arcs, and it did not disappoint! The gameplay feels very unique, while still being fairly easy to grasp on a first playthrough. I particularly love the constraints within which you need to strategize each turn.
Solo 4-player playtest of my prototype Pika Peak. Trying to iron out some details before my next playtest with others, and I think it’s getting close! 🎲✂️
March 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Solo 4-player playtest of my prototype Pika Peak. Trying to iron out some details before my next playtest with others, and I think it’s getting close! 🎲✂️
Does anyone have suggestions on ways to track round progression for a board game? I currently have a starting player who is supposed to advance a token at the beginning of their turn (marking a new round), but they often forget to do it.
🎲✂️ (1/2)
🎲✂️ (1/2)
March 28, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Does anyone have suggestions on ways to track round progression for a board game? I currently have a starting player who is supposed to advance a token at the beginning of their turn (marking a new round), but they often forget to do it.
🎲✂️ (1/2)
🎲✂️ (1/2)
Played some Thunder Road last night—amazing components and presentation, but I did find it a bit unforgiving. Vehicles were blowing up left and right, which is very on-theme and fitting, but I felt like the experience would have been better w a few less lethal hazards.
March 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Played some Thunder Road last night—amazing components and presentation, but I did find it a bit unforgiving. Vehicles were blowing up left and right, which is very on-theme and fitting, but I felt like the experience would have been better w a few less lethal hazards.
Foundations of Rome has some incredibly satisfying components. It’s an intimidating-looking game that is actually very streamlined and easy to learn—can’t wait to play it again!
March 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Foundations of Rome has some incredibly satisfying components. It’s an intimidating-looking game that is actually very streamlined and easy to learn—can’t wait to play it again!
🎲✂️ Does anyone know of a board game with action points, where some of the actions you take actually affect how much AP you have?
I’m curious if there’s a good approach to that—like maybe there’s a final phase of your turn where you adjust overall AP.
I’m curious if there’s a good approach to that—like maybe there’s a final phase of your turn where you adjust overall AP.
March 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🎲✂️ Does anyone know of a board game with action points, where some of the actions you take actually affect how much AP you have?
I’m curious if there’s a good approach to that—like maybe there’s a final phase of your turn where you adjust overall AP.
I’m curious if there’s a good approach to that—like maybe there’s a final phase of your turn where you adjust overall AP.
For the past few months, I've had something I never had before in my life: a consistent board game group! And I'm very grateful. A few things I appreciate as a 🎲✂️ game designer:
-Exposure to a wide variety of games and mechanics
-Willing playtesters with thoughtful feedback
-Games always top-of-mind
-Exposure to a wide variety of games and mechanics
-Willing playtesters with thoughtful feedback
-Games always top-of-mind
March 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
For the past few months, I've had something I never had before in my life: a consistent board game group! And I'm very grateful. A few things I appreciate as a 🎲✂️ game designer:
-Exposure to a wide variety of games and mechanics
-Willing playtesters with thoughtful feedback
-Games always top-of-mind
-Exposure to a wide variety of games and mechanics
-Willing playtesters with thoughtful feedback
-Games always top-of-mind
🎲✂️ Had an in-person playtest last night, went pretty great overall! But the feedback was pretty constant and hard to track (even when asking structured questions after the game).
Any tips on how to structure questions, and the best way of recording the feedback?
Any tips on how to structure questions, and the best way of recording the feedback?
March 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
🎲✂️ Had an in-person playtest last night, went pretty great overall! But the feedback was pretty constant and hard to track (even when asking structured questions after the game).
Any tips on how to structure questions, and the best way of recording the feedback?
Any tips on how to structure questions, and the best way of recording the feedback?
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate last night—happy to report that we defeated the traitor! It was interesting how long it took us to start the haunt. I’d say 70% of the game was pre-haunt, exploring and increasing stats.
March 11, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate last night—happy to report that we defeated the traitor! It was interesting how long it took us to start the haunt. I’d say 70% of the game was pre-haunt, exploring and increasing stats.
First game of Everdell last night - I enjoyed it, but we weren’t able to finish the game. Excited to play again with a better grasp of the card combos.
March 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
First game of Everdell last night - I enjoyed it, but we weren’t able to finish the game. Excited to play again with a better grasp of the card combos.
Scored 30☀️ in my first solo playthrough of @zakeidsvoog.bsky.social’s Confusing Lands—which I really enjoyed. Each turn is a meaty decision that feels very rewarding, the artwork is amazing, the rules are clear and concise, and the solo variant is great. What more could you want? Thanks, Zak!
March 2, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Scored 30☀️ in my first solo playthrough of @zakeidsvoog.bsky.social’s Confusing Lands—which I really enjoyed. Each turn is a meaty decision that feels very rewarding, the artwork is amazing, the rules are clear and concise, and the solo variant is great. What more could you want? Thanks, Zak!
Lost by just 3 points in Junk Orbit! First time playing - I really enjoyed the game. It felt so satisfying to jettison junk in one direction, achieve a remote delivery, then travel in the opposite direction to make a different delivery.
February 11, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Lost by just 3 points in Junk Orbit! First time playing - I really enjoyed the game. It felt so satisfying to jettison junk in one direction, achieve a remote delivery, then travel in the opposite direction to make a different delivery.