Sean Fletcher, Maker of Games
@gamemakerfletch.bsky.social
Senior game designer. Husband, dad, full-time nerd.
One for the crowd not currently slamming back shots of turkey gravy:
How do I playtest the games I’m working on? Here’s some advice about the two most impactful structures for gathering feedback on your new game.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/27/t...
How do I playtest the games I’m working on? Here’s some advice about the two most impactful structures for gathering feedback on your new game.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/27/t...
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
One for the crowd not currently slamming back shots of turkey gravy:
How do I playtest the games I’m working on? Here’s some advice about the two most impactful structures for gathering feedback on your new game.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/27/t...
How do I playtest the games I’m working on? Here’s some advice about the two most impactful structures for gathering feedback on your new game.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/27/t...
Got a series of notifications here that someone gave a bunch of my recent posts about my blog “likes”.
I looked them up, and found it was someone (likely a bot) that was posting a whole ton of pro-AI art articles and Midj0urn3y tips.
Blocked that shit post-haste.
AI propagandists need not follow…
I looked them up, and found it was someone (likely a bot) that was posting a whole ton of pro-AI art articles and Midj0urn3y tips.
Blocked that shit post-haste.
AI propagandists need not follow…
November 27, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Got a series of notifications here that someone gave a bunch of my recent posts about my blog “likes”.
I looked them up, and found it was someone (likely a bot) that was posting a whole ton of pro-AI art articles and Midj0urn3y tips.
Blocked that shit post-haste.
AI propagandists need not follow…
I looked them up, and found it was someone (likely a bot) that was posting a whole ton of pro-AI art articles and Midj0urn3y tips.
Blocked that shit post-haste.
AI propagandists need not follow…
Learned about a theory yesterday that Radiohead “hid” a “mirror album” in plain sight: the tracks on OK Computer can be meshed in (almost) sequential order with those on In Rainbows to create one mega-album.
I must say, it flows and sounds awesome.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4QG...
I must say, it flows and sounds awesome.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4QG...
November 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Learned about a theory yesterday that Radiohead “hid” a “mirror album” in plain sight: the tracks on OK Computer can be meshed in (almost) sequential order with those on In Rainbows to create one mega-album.
I must say, it flows and sounds awesome.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4QG...
I must say, it flows and sounds awesome.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4QG...
Reposted by Sean Fletcher, Maker of Games
This should not be controversial. You did the work, list the experience.
My controversial take is that if you didn't get credited on a game you have proof you've worked on, just list it on your CV.
I do with one. Never had any issues.
Not being credited still sucks but you don't need to be polite when they're not.
I do with one. Never had any issues.
Not being credited still sucks but you don't need to be polite when they're not.
November 26, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This should not be controversial. You did the work, list the experience.
Well, I’ve learned how to piss off reddit… and that some subreddits have very different rules of etiquette than others.
Genuine educational moment there.
Genuine educational moment there.
November 25, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Well, I’ve learned how to piss off reddit… and that some subreddits have very different rules of etiquette than others.
Genuine educational moment there.
Genuine educational moment there.
Many people ask me, “where do I start if I want to design a game?”
I nearly always start at the end. What does that mean? Check out today’s post on my blog/site.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/24/q...
I nearly always start at the end. What does that mean? Check out today’s post on my blog/site.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/24/q...
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Many people ask me, “where do I start if I want to design a game?”
I nearly always start at the end. What does that mean? Check out today’s post on my blog/site.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/24/q...
I nearly always start at the end. What does that mean? Check out today’s post on my blog/site.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/24/q...
In today’s blog post, why I prefer designing board games and TCGs with a partner, and some light behind-the-scenes of what I’ve been working on.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/23/t...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/23/t...
November 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
In today’s blog post, why I prefer designing board games and TCGs with a partner, and some light behind-the-scenes of what I’ve been working on.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/23/t...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/23/t...
Apart from the prerelease event I went to, I’ve bought a total of 5 packs of Lorcana since January. All have been Whispers in the Well, the set I led design on.
Last night I cracked a pack and found Goliath, one of the specific cards I had a big part of designing.
Hard to see here, but he’s foil.
Last night I cracked a pack and found Goliath, one of the specific cards I had a big part of designing.
Hard to see here, but he’s foil.
November 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Apart from the prerelease event I went to, I’ve bought a total of 5 packs of Lorcana since January. All have been Whispers in the Well, the set I led design on.
Last night I cracked a pack and found Goliath, one of the specific cards I had a big part of designing.
Hard to see here, but he’s foil.
Last night I cracked a pack and found Goliath, one of the specific cards I had a big part of designing.
Hard to see here, but he’s foil.
I got a question this morning in response to a blog post from earlier this week. Today I give a little more insight into my thoughts on resource variance in trading card games, and ways to improve on old models.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/20/q...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/20/q...
November 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I got a question this morning in response to a blog post from earlier this week. Today I give a little more insight into my thoughts on resource variance in trading card games, and ways to improve on old models.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/20/q...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/20/q...
With multiple new Trading Card Game projects on my desk, I learned of a new prototyping tool. How does it stack up against the systems I’ve been using for years?
discocandybar.com/2025/11/19/a...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/19/a...
November 20, 2025 at 1:36 AM
With multiple new Trading Card Game projects on my desk, I learned of a new prototyping tool. How does it stack up against the systems I’ve been using for years?
discocandybar.com/2025/11/19/a...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/19/a...
As someone who’s designed for Magic: the Gathering, Lorcana, and now two original trading card games, what have I learned about designing TCGs? Here’s four key lessons I’ve picked up in the last 30 years….
discocandybar.com/2025/11/18/t...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/18/t...
November 19, 2025 at 2:29 AM
As someone who’s designed for Magic: the Gathering, Lorcana, and now two original trading card games, what have I learned about designing TCGs? Here’s four key lessons I’ve picked up in the last 30 years….
discocandybar.com/2025/11/18/t...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/18/t...
Game designers: you know that feeling where you’re super-energized by the direction a project is moving, but you know you have to pace yourself?
This guy here right now.
This guy here right now.
November 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Game designers: you know that feeling where you’re super-energized by the direction a project is moving, but you know you have to pace yourself?
This guy here right now.
This guy here right now.
I’m back to some blogging! Highs, Lows, and a Buffalo for the las seven-odd weeks, including some thoughts on the fan reception to Lorcana: Whispers in the Well.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/14/o...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/14/o...
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I’m back to some blogging! Highs, Lows, and a Buffalo for the las seven-odd weeks, including some thoughts on the fan reception to Lorcana: Whispers in the Well.
discocandybar.com/2025/11/14/o...
discocandybar.com/2025/11/14/o...
Had a really positive playtest of a new project today.
Now riding that fine line between embracing validation and staying humble.
Now riding that fine line between embracing validation and staying humble.
November 14, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Had a really positive playtest of a new project today.
Now riding that fine line between embracing validation and staying humble.
Now riding that fine line between embracing validation and staying humble.
So, say we see Trump go down in a figurative catastrophic blaze because he knew a ton of details of a child sex-trafficking ring, and that a bunch of people in Washington — knew Trump knew those things, and conspired to cover it all up for him. Do Vance, Johnson, and others go to jail?
Please?
Please?
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
So, say we see Trump go down in a figurative catastrophic blaze because he knew a ton of details of a child sex-trafficking ring, and that a bunch of people in Washington — knew Trump knew those things, and conspired to cover it all up for him. Do Vance, Johnson, and others go to jail?
Please?
Please?
Did you play in a Whispers in the Well prerelease event this weekend? What were your highlights? Overall thoughts on the set and mechanical themes?
November 8, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Did you play in a Whispers in the Well prerelease event this weekend? What were your highlights? Overall thoughts on the set and mechanical themes?
Had a mini-reunion tonight with some of the team behind the latest Lorcana set, Whispers in the Well. It was awesome to get to play with the cards I’d worked on, and to see the reactions to new mechanics and themes. A ton of fun, and 2-1 record.
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Had a mini-reunion tonight with some of the team behind the latest Lorcana set, Whispers in the Well. It was awesome to get to play with the cards I’d worked on, and to see the reactions to new mechanics and themes. A ton of fun, and 2-1 record.
Whispers in the Well prerelease events are today, and while I no longer have any ties to Lorcana, I’m still planning to hit my Friendly Local Game Store to play with the cards from the first TCG set I led the design of. Very excited to see people cracking packs, and hoping for some cool card pulls!
November 7, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Whispers in the Well prerelease events are today, and while I no longer have any ties to Lorcana, I’m still planning to hit my Friendly Local Game Store to play with the cards from the first TCG set I led the design of. Very excited to see people cracking packs, and hoping for some cool card pulls!
Our three jack-‘o-lanterns: uprising, upbeat, upchuck.
November 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Our three jack-‘o-lanterns: uprising, upbeat, upchuck.
LONG LIVE THE REBELLION.
F*€& / FIGHT THE EMPIRE.
F*€& / FIGHT THE EMPIRE.
October 30, 2025 at 11:58 PM
LONG LIVE THE REBELLION.
F*€& / FIGHT THE EMPIRE.
F*€& / FIGHT THE EMPIRE.
Cutting away the skin of the pumpkin very carefully with an X-Acto blade. The yellow parts will glow, without showing the bright white of the light inside.
October 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Cutting away the skin of the pumpkin very carefully with an X-Acto blade. The yellow parts will glow, without showing the bright white of the light inside.
The pumpkin passes the interior scrape test; a flashlight inside the (eventual) jack-’o-lantern shows through the parts I’ve removed the skin from.
No complete cuts through the shell for a while…
No complete cuts through the shell for a while…
October 30, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The pumpkin passes the interior scrape test; a flashlight inside the (eventual) jack-’o-lantern shows through the parts I’ve removed the skin from.
No complete cuts through the shell for a while…
No complete cuts through the shell for a while…
This is the part where I start transferring the template onto the pumpkin. I draw it on in negative, so that I can cut away the dark parts, leaving the skin as the black once it’s lit from inside.
October 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This is the part where I start transferring the template onto the pumpkin. I draw it on in negative, so that I can cut away the dark parts, leaving the skin as the black once it’s lit from inside.
You know the shell of the pumpkin is getting thin enough to carve when you can see a flashlight through the outer skin.
October 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
You know the shell of the pumpkin is getting thin enough to carve when you can see a flashlight through the outer skin.
The pumpkin carving begins!
I start by cutting out the BACK of the pumpkin, not the top. It makes it a lot easier to get an even scrape on the front from the interior. Consistency of the scrape is key to getting the front thin enough for the eventual mid-tones.
I start by cutting out the BACK of the pumpkin, not the top. It makes it a lot easier to get an even scrape on the front from the interior. Consistency of the scrape is key to getting the front thin enough for the eventual mid-tones.
October 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The pumpkin carving begins!
I start by cutting out the BACK of the pumpkin, not the top. It makes it a lot easier to get an even scrape on the front from the interior. Consistency of the scrape is key to getting the front thin enough for the eventual mid-tones.
I start by cutting out the BACK of the pumpkin, not the top. It makes it a lot easier to get an even scrape on the front from the interior. Consistency of the scrape is key to getting the front thin enough for the eventual mid-tones.