We now know that Leder Games has the ability to take an epic theme (SPQF: leading an animal-based civilization to greatness), make it way more modest (Fort: backyard children making, well, forts), and somehow, come out with a better game in the end.

That's the power of a good developer partnered with a good designer. Nick Brachmann Fort's developer and graphic designer) gave Grant Rodiek's deckbuilding game SPQF a kid-ified makeover without kid-ifying the gameplay. We had a lot of questions about how this all works behind the scenes, so Nick was kind enough to join our show this week to give his insight.

Joining him is guest #2, John de Campos, owner of Terrible Games and co-designer of Token Terrors Battlegrounds (which just funded on Kickstarter and is about to enter the pledge manager stage). Together, we discuss these four new topics:

1. Mike (podcast editor): Besides Fort, what other unique deckbuilding games do we like? (5:29)
2. Christina (host): What are the differences between "design" and "development"? (21:48)
3. Nick Brachmann (guest): What are our other hobbies that we'd like to see brought to life in the tabletop space? (32:50)
4. John de Campos (guest): Publishing, the artist(s) behind the company, and establishing a visual identity (45:13)

Or listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, or RSS Feed.

Here's a full list of games discussed on the show:

Intro

• Fort
• SPQF
• Root
• Vast
• Oath
• Token Terrors: Battlegrounds

Mike's topic: Unique deckbuilding games

• Dominion
• Clank!
• Promenade
• Art Decko
• Magic the Gathering
• Inis
• Thunderstone
• Thunderstone Quest
• Thunderstone Advance
• Hardback
• Paperback
• Spell Smashers
• Quiddler
• Composition
• Tyrants of the Underdark
• Puzzle Strike
• Nowhere Prophet
• Ascension
• Shards of Infinity
• Fort
• SPQF

Christina's topic: Design vs. development

• SPQF
• Fort
• Yu-Gi-Oh!

Nick's topic: Hobbies we'd like to see brought to life in tabletop

• Compounded
• Photosynthesis
• Formula D
• Flamme Rouge
• King of the Roll
• Combo Fighter
• Shakespeare
• Distilled
• The Pursuit of Happiness

John's topic: Publishers and visual identity

• The Castles of Burgundy
• Magic the Gathering
• Escape the Dark Sector
• Terraforming Mars
• Inis
• Root

Final thoughts

• Scout!
• Big 2
• Luxor
• Kingswood
• Fort
• Oath
• Nowhere Prophet
• Calico

• Podcast