Timothy Staton-Davis, Lead Encounter Designer at Brass Lion Entertainment and Creative Director of Melanated Game Kitchen, dives into the art of combat design. He explores the importance of player agency and skill development, likening it to rock, paper, scissors. The conversation highlights how 'juice' enhances gameplay through visual effects and animations. Staton-Davis stresses the iterative process of balancing mechanics with player experience, using examples from beloved titles like 'Monster Hunter' and 'Hades' to illustrate his points.