Games: Expert Guides and Resources

You have lots of information to keep track of when designing a tabletop role playing game (TTRPG). One helpful way to do this is to prepare lists of the important people, places, actions, and equipment you need to include in your game. To help you get started, I’ve prepared two examples: a list of basic TTRPG actions that the player characters (PCs) in your game might take and a list of key village locations — essential buildings and businesses normally found in settlements.

Mahjong is not one single game but a family of games with a shared ancestry. When someone says, “I know how to play mahjong,” you always have to ask: which kind?With that in mind, this For Dummies cheat sheet is a bit different from other cheat sheets in our series. Rather than offering just a single cheat sheet, I provide you with 6 — count 'em six!

Texas hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas hold 'em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status.During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette.

Rummy is a card game in which you try to improve the hand that you’re originally dealt. You can do this whenever it’s your turn to play, either by drawing cards from a pile (or stock) or by picking up the card thrown away by your opponent and then discarding a card from your hand.You can play rummy with two or more players (for six or more players, you need a second deck of cards).

Euchre is an excellent social card game, simple in concept but with a high degree of subtlety in the play. To play Euchre, you need the following:Four players: Two teams, two players to a team.A standard deck of 52 cards: Take out the ace through the 9 in each suit, making a deck of 24 cards for the game.Each player receives five cards, and you play one card at a time; the player who lays the highest card in the suit of the first card played — unless someone contributes a trump, in which case it is whoever lays the highest trump card — collects all four cards together and stacks the cards in front of them, thus taking the trick.

Creating a video game can feel as challenging as mastering a final boss fight. Whether you’re just curious about how video games are built or dreaming of designing your own, the process is full of moving parts, creative choices, and technical steps. This cheat sheet outlines the game design skills, tips, and resources you'll need to bring your video game vision to life.