
Ludology
Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the how’s and why’s of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, and discusses game history, game design and game players.
Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.
Latest episodes

Dec 22, 2024 • 12min
TTRPGKids Ep 19
In this episode of TTRPGKids, Steph Campbell differentiates between an RPG that could be used in an educational setting and an one that is classroom-ready! Steph provides a list of all the things you need to move from A to B in about an hour!

Dec 18, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ludology 334 Let's Call a Spade a Spade
Sen and Erica welcome Jay Cormier of Off the Page Games to the podcast to talk about his penchant for making puzzley games that make players feel clever while giving them a sense of exploration and adventure, Jay discusses his first time at PAXU as well as his newest releases, Corps of Discovery and Design Your Destiny.

Dec 10, 2024 • 6min
Thinking Beyond Mechanisms Ep 14
In this installment of Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, Erica and Sen welcome host Sarah Shipp to talk about failure and how loss can drive gameplay.

Dec 1, 2024 • 54min
Ludology 333 Bigger Than A Breadbox
Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep a FLGS afloat in this age of online retailers and Amazon Prime? Sen and Erica welcome Caleb Wunderlich, Assistant Manager at Millennium Games in Rochester, NY - the biggest game store in the USA - to talk about building community, running events, and catering to customers' needs.

Nov 24, 2024 • 8min
TTRPGKids Ep 18
Erica and Sen welcome guest host Steph Campbell to talk about Arithmagine (https://luckoflegends.itch.io/arithmagine), a setting-agnositic TTRPG focused on teaching mathematics, on this episode of TTRPGKids.

Nov 20, 2024 • 50min
Ludology 332 The Oldest Trick in the Book
Sen and Erica welcome former host Scott Rogers back to the show to dive into his latest book, "Your Turn: The Guide to Great Tabletop Game Design" and tell us what he's been up to as of late.

Nov 10, 2024 • 7min
Thinking Beyond Mechanisms Ep 13
In this discussion, Sarah Shipp, a game designer and author of Thematic Integration in Board Game Design, dives into the fascinating world of game theory and academic perspectives on board game creation. She emphasizes the crucial balance between theme and mechanics, urging designers to deepen their understanding of thematic elements. Sarah also draws intriguing parallels between theater and board games, advocating for immersive gameplay experiences that resonate with players. Tune in for insights that could transform how you think about game design!

Nov 3, 2024 • 1h 1min
Ludology 331Pixelate Those Pieces
Erica and Sen welcome Theresa Duringer to talk about her role as a tabletop game app developer at Temple Gates Games. They discuss what it takes to make an app translation of a tabletop hit, what some differences might be between the physical and digital versions, how the AI opponents are trained, and more!

Oct 27, 2024 • 48min
Ludology 330 Phantom Tax
Sen and Erica welcome Dr. Mary Flanagan and Max Seidman from Resonym Games to talk about their latest game, Phantom Ink, that has generated a lot of buzz around the industry as it made the SdJ short list for 2024. They discuss design, international licensing, and even the afterlife!

Oct 23, 2024 • 8min
TTRPG Kids Ep 17
Sen and Erica welcome special guest host Steph Campbell who brings you their latest segment, TTRPGKids. This week, Steph talks about how to incorporate math into games in the classroom and at the dinner table.