Description
Book SynopsisBuilding Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms, Second Edition compiles hundreds of game mechanisms, organized by category. The book can be read cover to cover and used as a reference to solve a specific design problem or for inspiration and research on new designs. This second edition collects even more mechanisms, expands on and updates existing entries, and includes color images. Building Blocks is a great starting point for new designers, a handy guidebook for the experienced, and an ideal classroom reference.
Each Game Mechanisms Entry Contains:
- The definition of the mechanism
- An explanatory diagram of the mechanism
- Discussion of how the mechanism is used in successful games
- Considerations for implementing the mechanism in new designs
Trade Review"If games were lands to be explored, they would be far too large for one explorer to master. Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design is a much-needed atlas for the explorer—giving a framework of what to look for in a game, and a focus for game play that will be useful for understanding the whole. The game scholar will find this invaluable."
—Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering
"People talk about the art of game design or the craft of game design. Engelstein and Shalev hone in on the science of game design with a razor-sharp scalpel. This book will be within arm’s reach as I work on games and I expect it to be consulted often."
—Rob Daviau, creator of Risk: Legacy and Chief Restoration Officer of Restoration Games
"The most comprehensive and well-researched encyclopedia of game mechanisms that I’ve seen to date."
—Matt Leacock, creator of Pandemic
"The value of this work lies not only in the thoughtful descriptions and discussions of the building blocks themselves, but in the cataloging of example games for each section. So many design problems have been solved before, and this book gives designers a handy overview of those solutions."
- Elizabeth Hargrave (designer of Wingspan):
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Game Structure
Chapter 2 Turn Order and Structure
Chapter 3 Actions
Chapter 4Resolution
Chapter 5 Game End and Victory
Chapter 6 Uncertainty
Chapter 7 Economics
Chapter 8 Auctions
Chapter 9 Worker Placement
Chapter 10 Movement
Chapter 11 Area Control
Chapter 12 Set Collection
Chapter 13 Card Mechanisms
