Design Diary Entry – 17th August 2025

(Dictated by the designer and transcribed by the AI while the designer was out picking raspberries!)

This weekend has been all about refining the card designs for Hack-a-Pad. I already had the basic card types sketched out, but I used my limited time to really nail down the actual card content: what kinds of applications, hack actions, and protective actions we’d have. The good news is that I’ve got a printable PDF ready to go, and I’m planning to start some prototype testing with my family early next week.

I did simplify the mechanics a bit. Originally, I wanted a hidden “backdoor” hack mechanic, but I realized I just don’t have enough cards in a 54-card design to make that work smoothly. So now it’s a little more straightforward: players will install and uninstall applications and then choose from different hacking or defensive actions during their turn.

Right now, I’ve got about 24 application cards covering roughly 17 different applications, and about 26 hack action cards, each with two possible actions to pick from. Some cards might give you more or fewer action points—starting at a base of four per turn, up to a max of seven. I also decided that applications can trigger effects when installed, at the start of each turn, or when uninstalled, which should add a little strategic depth.

Whats next?

I’m hoping to kick off testing next week. Since this is for a contest, I also want to make time to check out other contestants’ games and offer them feedback, even though it’s going to be a busy week at work. Plus, I need to update my Jewel eXchange rulebook for the Lautapelaamaan event in September. But we’ll see how it all goes!

And that’s where we are right now. Let’s see what the playtests reveal!

Design Diary – August 14th 2025

(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer and transcribed by ChatGPT while the designer was fixing a wall in an outbuilding.)

Today, I left my day job a bit earlier than usual—just about 45 minutes early—because I know I’ll be working late tomorrow and over the weekend. I’m a bit worried that I won’t have much time for game design during the next couple of days, since family time is my priority when I’m off work and this is just a hobby. But I still wanted to squeeze in a bit of progress today.

I’m not an artist so I use stock images

With that extra time, I managed to create the rest of the card drafts for the game. I used some stock images from Freepik with the right licenses so I could make the cards look at least decent, even though I’m no artist. I worked on the hacking cards, improved the app cards, and designed the card backs. I also did some first tests for the action point and privacy tracking cards and even put together a simple logo using those stock images, just so I have something for now.

Next, I’m going to dig up my old notes with card ideas and start adding them into a spreadsheet so I can create the first prototype cards.

Design Diary – August 13th 2025

(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer and transcribed by ChatGPT.)

Last night, I already started feeling a bit of regret about entering the contest. I feel like I might be in over my head because I have so much else going on. I really want to give my full attention to my two main designs, Cats on the Table and Jewel eXchange. I’ve planned to demo both of those in September at the Lautapelaamaan board game event in Helsinki, and I want them to be just right. Plus, I know my day job is going to be really busy this autumn.

But what’s done is done. I noticed my VIP entry for the game got a thumbs-up already, so someone’s seen it, and I’m not going to withdraw. I’m going to make this happen no matter what it takes.

Little progress everyday

This morning, I used my time to write rulebook changes for Cats on the Table, and otherwise, I’ve been busy with life. I know I need to make at least a little progress on this contest entry every day because everything has to be ready by October 1st.

So I opened up Tabletop Creator Pro and started designing the first prototype cards digitally. I know it would probably be faster and better to start designing on paper by hand, but I want to make sure I have a digital print-and-play version ready when the time comes. So this time, I’m starting from the beginning with all drafts done digitally. This might be a mistake, but its my mistake to make.

I designed my first app card—the “Facepalm” app, a parody of a social media app. Uninstalling it will give the player an extra action point for that turn, just for a thematic touch. It’s a simple start, but at least it’s something, and now I have a base to work from.

Design Diary – August 12th 2025

(Note: This entry was dictated by the designer and transcribed by ChatGPT, as the designer was multitasking hands-free.)

Today, I officially decided to jump into the BGG 54-card design contest. I hoped to do a 24-hour contest again because I had some unexpected success last time. This time the 24-hour contest had keyword “PAD” as a theme. But since my vacation ended, I didn’t have the time. So this 54-card contest felt like a more realistic option. Especially as I have a tendency to design games with more cards this seemed a good way to limit myself.

I’ve been brainstorming Hack-a-Pad for a couple of weeks and used last couple days to draft few pages of notes on cards, mechanics, and layout. The idea is a two-player game where each tries to hack the other’s tablet. For tracking health (the “privacy” bar), I was inspired by Star Realms’ use of two cards to track a player’s authority and adapted it here.

Core game play idea

The core gameplay revolves around installing and uninstalling app cards while managing action points and trying to breach the opponent’s defenses. There are two main types of cards: App Cards, which simulate various (often humorous or risky) tablet applications, and Hacking Cards, which provide different offensive or defensive actions. Each hacking card contains two different features—one on the top half and one on the bottom—so players must choose which to use, effectively doubling the variety of play options.

I figured I needed a way for players to pay action points to play hacking cards. Because of the card limit, I combined the health and action point tracking into the same set of cards. That means the same cards track privacy and action points.

Do I have enough time for this?

I have to admit I’m a bit worried about finding the time for this design because I also want to focus on two other designs and get them pitch-ready this year. I’m a little afraid I might end up regretting entering this contest because I have so much on my plate. But we’ll see how it all unfolds!