Designer Notes

Designer Notes 63: Josh Sawyer - Part 2

Jan 10, 2022

02:19:02

Creator website

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Is There a Conflict Between Attributes and Class Systems?

05:09

Do You Feel Like You're in a Dungeon?

02:45

Are RPGs Just Problematic?

03:12

Introduction

2min

I Was Really Frustrated by the Rules in Galdersgate

6min

I'm Like, I'm Ifer. And I'll Write a Story Outline Within Four Months

2min

The Infinity Engine Game

2min

I Think It's Old, Ok?

2min

Andas Is Complicated, Solivi Got Canceled

2min

Fall 3 Religon

2min

The Pirates of Three Tweo Ans

2min

Then, You Know, It Shouldn't Be a Market Bas System

2min

10.

Fallout 3 - The Demo Leaked

1min

11.

Is the Demo From a Cancel Project Leak?

2min

12.

Is There a Context Sensitive Interaction?

2min

13.

You Shoulde Refugees?

2min

14.

Iso, I Can't Work This Gyret Now?

4min

15.

Isk Analysis

3min

16.

Midway Gauntlet - I'm Not Staying Around for That.

2min

17.

How to Make a Game Fast and Tet, Sir?

4min

18.

Never Winter 2 - A Game Review

3min

19.

I Yuas I Ge, Right?

2min

20.

X-Men - What's It Came After?

1min

21.

Aliens Plus Argutu

3min

22.

Fallout 3 - A First Person Game?

2min

23.

New Vagas

3min

24.

Are You Willing to Accept the Good With Them?

3min

25.

The Obscure - Ii, and That's the Thing That Makes It Work

1min

26.

The Romans Made a Desert and Called It Oeses

2min

27.

Nevegus

2min

28.

The Art of Justin Cherry

3min

29.

The Story of Theti Oleager

2min

30.

Crowdfunding a Crowdfunded Game

2min

31.

The Story of the Nightie Game

2min

32.

I've Never Had the Opportunity to Work on a Turnbay Stand

2min

33.

The Yellowis This Process, Like, Were Shot Bido?

2min

34.

How Did Asylo Develop?

2min

35.

Is There Anything You Think of That Would Have Affected the Game?

2min

36.

Is There a Moment When, Like, You're Silent, I Don't Think So

2min

37.

Do You Want to Change Something?

3min

38.

The Single Player Balance Is Important in a Single Player

2min

39.

The Final Battle Gam

2min

40.

Awakening - Is There a Heart Counter?

2min

41.

Nijigaden - The Ax Bock - A Game That's Free of Exploration

4min

42.

Deadfire

3min

43.

Are RPGs Just Problematic?

3min

44.

Do You Feel Like You're in a Dungeon?

3min

45.

How Do You Feel About Level Scaling in Pillars?

4min

46.

Is There a Difference Between Hard and Hard?

4min

47.

Is There a Conflict Between Attributes and Class Systems?

5min

48.

Ike, I Like the Basics of the System of Magic, You Know?

2min

49.

Did You Write the Story for Deadfire?

6min

50.

Assassin's Creed 2

3min

51.

Turnbas in Termas Arp Ve

2min

52.

Darkest Dungeon

3min

53.

The Assassin's Creed: The Last of Us

2min

54.

Ike, You Can't Not Work on It, You Know?

4min

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran RPG designer Josh Sawyer, best known for his work on Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. They discuss the purpose of grinding, the difference between viable and optimal characters, and why RPG players don’t welcome rebalancing their games. This episode was recorded December 1, 2021.

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