Coming soon · Book Profile
Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms Second Edition
An encyclopedia of tabletop game mechanisms that provides a shared vocabulary and a catalog of ingredients for game designers to create better, more innovative player experiences.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
Whether you're a new designer looking to accelerate your learning, an experienced designer seeking a reference for new ideas, or simply a gamer curious about how games work, 'Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design' is your essential guide. This comprehensive encyclopedia catalogues and explains over 200 different game mechanisms, from turn structures and actions to economics and victory conditions. By providing a shared vocabulary and detailed discussions on how different mechanics create different player experiences, the book serves not as a rigid recipe book, but as a catalog of ingredients, empowering designers to innovate, communicate more effectively, and ultimately create the next generation of great tabletop games.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- An aspiring or practicing tabletop game designer who wants to create innovative, engaging games and master their craft.
- The problem
- Lacking a structured way to learn game design principles and a common language to discuss, analyze, and develop game mechanics. Feeling overwhelmed by the vast number of existing games, intimidated by the design process, and frustrated by an inability to articulate design concepts or move their own ideas forward.
- The plan
- Gain a broad overview of the landscape of game mechanisms by reading the book's thematic chapters.
- Use the book as a reference tool to solve specific design problems or explore genres like auctions or worker placement.
- Apply the shared vocabulary to analyze games you play and to communicate your own design ideas with clarity.
- Experiment with combining different 'building blocks' to brainstorm and prototype novel game experiences.
- The payoff
- Becoming a more confident and competent game designer with a deep understanding of the craft. · Possessing a rich vocabulary to analyze games, articulate ideas, and collaborate effectively with others. · Creating innovative and successful game prototypes by combining mechanisms in new ways.
See our guide
Additional reading
- Start with Why · Simon Sinek
The book's core idea—'People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it'—is central to crafting a compelling crowdfunding narrative that connects with backers on an emotional level.
- To Sell Is Human · Daniel Pink
Provides insights into the psychology of pitching and influence, such as the importance of making the audience (backers) feel like collaborators, which is a key strategy for engagement.
- Funding the Dream Podcast · Richard Bliss
A recommended resource for creators, offering interviews and specific insights into crowdfunding tactics and strategies.
- jamesmathe.com (blog) · James Mathe
A creator's blog recommended by the author for its detailed, list-based entries full of practical information for crowdfunders.
- Ready Player One · Ernest Cline
Recommended as an enjoyable alternative read for those who decide crowdfunding isn't for them, showing the author's engagement with geek culture.
- Homo Ludens · Johan Huizinga
Referenced for its foundational concept of the 'magic circle,' which defines play as a separate, protected space outside of ordinary life. This contextualizes the author's own theory.
- Man, Play and Games · Roger Caillois
Cited for its academic definition and categorization of games, providing a counterpoint to the more practical definitions offered by game designers.
- Rules of Play · Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman
Mentioned as a key contemporary text offering a precise, systemic definition of a game, which the author uses as part of his survey of existing definitions.
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience · Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The concept of 'flow' is discussed as a state of deep immersion that is often associated with fun, but the author distinguishes his theory by focusing on learning rather than mastery.
- The Essential Difference · Simon Baron-Cohen
The theory of 'systematizing' versus 'empathizing' brains is used to explain why different types of games may appeal to different people, particularly along gender lines.