Bastionland Podcast - Tabletop Roleplaying Game Design · Chris McDowall

Mike Hutchinson's Rule of Three

April 29, 2024·1 hr·5 clips
Mike Hutchinson secretly worked with a Mattel techie to create a car generator for Gaslands Legacy.
Mike Hutchinson discusses three influential games—Manowar, Malifaux, and Arkham Horror card game—that shaped his design philosophy, revealing how childhood nostalgia, innovative mechanics, and narrative elements inspire his work on games like Gaslands and Billionsons. He also shares insights into his upcoming historical game, Pacific Command, and his full-time journey as a game designer.

As heard by us

A clear look at how rules, objectives, and story shape the feel of play.

Mike Hutchinson keeps the focus on design at the table level, where rules turn into real choices. The discussion circles back to card decisions, tempting but risky lines, and the idea that a game can still feel rewarding even when one side is taking hits, because objectives…

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Why you'd press play

You want a sharp tour of what makes tactical choices matter.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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