Know Direction Network

Alex and James demystify Starfinder 2e’s premier divine, occult, and primal caster.

In episode 147 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with the designer of Lava Run, Louie Loops, whom listeners may also recognize as the professional crocheter and content creator behind the YouTube channel “Louie’s Loops” and Club Crochet.

Louie shares how childhood game-making and a creative challenge called “New Game” sparked his interest in design, and how he eventually merged his love of crochet with game design to create “craftable games.”

We discuss turning frustration into creative inspiration, balancing strategy and randomness, comeback mechanics, expansions, and what happens after a game is published. Louie also shares what it’s like to launch a game with an existing audience, market to non-gamers, and enter a new industry as a beginner after being an expert in his craft.

Louie Loops – Guest

Danielle Reynolds – Host

In episode 146 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with Ionah Nguyen, a Seattle-based board game designer and founder of the board game studio Brainy Hearty.

Ionah is also the co-founder and CEO of Everjoy Global, a company dedicated to bringing Vietnamese tabletop games to international publishers and distributors by creating opportunities for Vietnamese designers to gain visibility and connections in the industry.

In this episode, we discuss how games can be used to preserve tradition and bridge cultures through play, accessibility feedback from playtesters, colorblind adjustments, the unique production challenges of manufacturing handcrafted game components, and some of the barriers to entry encountered by international designers.

Ionah Nguyen – Guest

Danielle Reynolds – Host

When two Inner Sea superpowers go to war, the ripples are felt throughout the region. A group of intrepid heroes…or should we say intrepid rebels…. join a league of righteous freedom fighters to unshackle their people from the binds of infernal tyranny. Nefarious forces from without—and within—will do anything to stop these Hellbreakers.

In this episode GM Jason Keely gives some insights into Chapter 1 of the Hellbreakers AP, having just run it in addition to being the author.

Cast:

Pathfinder Hellbreakers Adventure Path Actual Play Podcast

Pathfinder casters will never be the same, and neither will Rob and Ryan as they take in the full mystical force of Impossible Magic.

Paizo designer Joshua Birdsong has hinted at the greatness of the new spellcasting options in this book. Now he can reveal every arcane, divine, occult, and divine secret locked within.

Recorded live on Tuesday, July 21st on Twitch.tv/Knowdirection.

When two Inner Sea superpowers go to war, the ripples are felt throughout the region. A group of intrepid heroes…or should we say intrepid rebels…. join a league of righteous freedom fighters to unshackle their people from the binds of infernal tyranny. Nefarious forces from without—and within—will do anything to stop these Hellbreakers.

Our heroes face a difficult decision with the Captain of a Hellknight Ship!

Cast:

Pathfinder Hellbreakers Adventure Path Actual Play Podcast

For his first episode, new Know Direction host Rob Pontious gets to cover the Paizo-Diamond situation as well as Paizo ending their license agreement with Archives Of Nethys. Recorded live on Twitch.tv/Knowdirection.

A few months ago we released a couple of segments on YouTube intended for Know Direction 309 and 310. Unfortunately, we struggled to secure the guests intended for the other segments of the episode, delaying the release of those episodes. Now that Rob Pontious is joining Ryan as cohost of KD, we’re releasing the two segments as episode 309 and releasing the first Rob episode as 310.

In episode 145 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with game designer and owner of Ludoliminal, Sabrina Culyba, about the story behind her completely accurate, family-friendly dinosaur game Uh Oh, Dino!

Sabrina shares how after spending 13 years in the video game industry, she found her way into tabletop game design through a game design contest that challenged participants to create a game from a random bag of components. We talk about how playing games with her young daughter inspired her passion for designing family games, and why cooperative games have become such a meaningful way to bring players of different ages together.

The episode also covers the impact of tactile components when designing and games for children, balancing cooperative games, self-publishing, how everyone has a “dino era,” and the differences between playtesting with children and adults.

Sabrina Culyba – Guest

Danielle Reynolds – Host

Alex and James look at the backbone of every combat focused Starfinder party, the 2e Solder.

Recorded live on Twitch.