Design Talk - Buried Giant with Cole Werhle
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In this episode of The Game Design Roundtable, host Dirk Niemeyer welcomes back game designer Cole Werhle to discuss his journey from working at Leader Games to co-founding Buried Giant Studios, a new tabletop game studio focused on long-term, community-driven design. Werhle reflects on his evolution from rapid game development cycles to a philosophy of 'fewer games, slower'—a model built on deep community engagement, sustainable creative infrastructure, and iterative design. He details how projects like Oath and ARCs were shaped by player feedback and digital testing, especially during the pandemic, which transformed how playtesting and community interaction occurred. The conversation explores the strategic and emotional challenges of maintaining creative integrity while serving a passionate audience, the importance of transparency, and the risks of chasing trends in a saturated market. Werhle also shares insights on the future of game design, emphasizing process over product, and the value of long-term investment in both people and projects. The episode closes with an exciting preview of upcoming projects, including expansions for Oath and ARCs, and a new heist-themed negotiation game in development.
Prioritize sustainable, long-term game design over rapid release cycles to build deeper community engagement.
Use digital tools and community feedback to iterate on designs, especially during remote development.
Treat your audience as co-creators—your game evolves through their stories and play experiences.
Build creative infrastructure (full-time staff, processes, transparency) to support ambitious, long-form games.
Be willing to pivot your vision based on real player data, even if it contradicts your original premise.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome Back & Patreon Call
Host Dirk Niemeyer welcomes listeners and introduces the episode with a brief call to support the podcast via Patreon, setting the stage for the conversation with Cole Werhle.
Cole Werhle’s Journey & Career Evolution
Werhle reflects on his time at Leader Games, the impact of Root and Oath, and the personal and professional growth that led to his decision to leave and form Buried Giant Studios.
The Philosophy of 'Fewer Games, Slower'
“I'm really just trying to figure out ways to build a sustainable business around the idea that we should be making fewer games more slowly.”
Oath: Designing for Emergent Narrative & Memory
“What if the game could remember how it was played? What if every end state of a game was also a valid start state?”
Pandemic-Driven Shifts in Playtesting & Community
“We actually saw testers engage in games more deeply over the course of the design so that by the end of development, we had the most number of testers playing the most number of games.”
“What if the game could remember how it was played? What if every end state of a game was also a valid start state?”
“I'm looking for the moment when you say something that is resonating with a doubt that I have. And so I'm looking for those resonances and where you find them, they're usually worth exploring.”
“I'm really just trying to figure out ways to build a sustainable business around the idea that we should be making fewer games more slowly.”
Hosts
Guest
Cole Werhle
person
Oath
media
Buried Giant Studios
organization
ARCs
media
Dirk Niemeyer
person
Root
media
Leader Games
organization
David Heron
person
Twilight Imperium
media
Pandemic Legacy
media
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