Welcome to our show, where we take a deep look at the world of board games and how they are made. We explore the reasons behind game design and the history of play. Our focus is on understanding games from a broad perspective, looking at everything from tabletop role-playing games to video games and escape rooms.

Every other week, we release a new episode where our hosts, Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim, discuss a specific topic in game design. They often invite special guests who are well-known in the industry to share their knowledge. While we usually talk about board games and RPGs, we also bring in experts from other types of games to give a wider view of the subject.

On the weeks when we do not have a main episode, we share smaller segments to keep the content flowing. We are happy to welcome Sarah Shipp from Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell from TTRPGKids to the team. They will be providing extra content for our listeners throughout the year.

Sarah Shipp will host a segment called Thinking Beyond Mechanisms. This monthly feature looks at the parts of games that go beyond just dice and cards. It explores the deeper elements that make games special. Stephanie Campbell will host TTRPGKids. Her segment focuses on how parents and teachers can use role-playing games with children at home and in school.

We hope you enjoy these additional stories and insights. Our goal is to make most episodes feel timeless, so you can listen to our entire collection at any time. The podcast has a long history, starting in 2011 with Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm. Over the years, the hosting team has changed to keep the show fresh and interesting.

Mike Fitzgerald joined the show in 2015 to replace Ryan. Later, in 2017, Gil and Scott came on board when Mike stepped aside. Emma joined the team in 2019 when Geoff finished his time as a host. After Emma left in 2021, Erica and Sen became the new hosts. Recently, Scott stepped down in 2022, and Gil will be leaving in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to continue the show’s legacy.

Erica and Sen are working hard to bring new voices to the podcast. They have exciting plans to announce as gaming continues to grow and include more people from all walks of life. If you have thoughts on our topics, we invite you to join the conversation. You can visit our guild on Boardgamegeek to discuss these subjects with other listeners.

We are also part of The Dice Tower Network, which is a leading network for board game media. If you have questions you would like us to answer on the show, please let us know. You can fill out a form to submit your burning questions. We also accept audio questions that we can play during the episode.

The show is made possible by the support of our listeners. We offer a “First Listen” series for our patrons. This includes monthly episodes about gaming memories, tips from industry professionals, and recordings from conventions around the world. Patrons also get extra chances to win giveaways.

Now, let’s move on to our main topic. This episode was recorded live at Gen Con 2024. Sen had the opportunity to interview Sarah Dahlinger. Sarah is a creature creator who uses her knowledge of comparative anatomy to design unique monsters.

She has created art and sculptures for many popular games. Her work can be seen in games from companies like Cephalophair Games and Monte Cook Games. She is known for bringing fascinating creatures to life through her art and sculpting skills.

Sarah is also the author and artist behind a project called Astra Fauna: Expeditions. She hopes to share her world of science and adventure with others. Her goal is to bring this exciting world to life right on the tabletop for everyone to enjoy.