Designer Notes 63: Josh Sawyer - Part 2 - Idle Thumbs

What this episode covers

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran RPG designer Josh Sawyer, best known for his work on Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. They discuss the purpose of grinding, the difference between viable and optimal characters, and why RPG players don’t welcome rebalancing their games. This episode was recorded March 24, 2018. Games discussed: Baldur’s Gate series, Icewind Dale series, Neverwinter Nights, Fallout series, Civilization series, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, Neverwinter Nights 2, Alpha Protocol, Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity series, Into the Breach, Torchbearer, Tyranny, Darkest Dungeon, Phantom Doctrine

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Stashing secateurs where the sun don't shine

Jul 4, 2026 ·51m

My oh my, what a mandarin tree

Jun 30, 2026 ·24m

Quick tips for getting great jugs

Jun 27, 2026 ·50m

Variegated Monstera Hysteria | Ep. 191

Jun 26, 2026 ·34m

What type of soil is best for your liquidambar

Jun 23, 2026 ·28m

Easy ways to make your garden bandicoot-friendly

Jun 20, 2026 ·51m

Similar Podcasts

Not lonely tonight baohaibo Adventure：The Exploits of Juve By: Marcel Allain (1885-1969)The Shaving of Shagpat By: George Meredith (1828-1909)The Invasion By: William Le Queux (1864-1927)Isobel By: James Oliver Curwood (1878-1927)The Great K and A Train Robbery By: Paul Leicester Ford (1865-1902)With Frederick The Great: A Story of the Seven Years' War By: George Alfred Henty (1832-1902)Gulliver's Travels, Told to the Children By: John Lang (1816-1864)The Art of Travel By: Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911)War By: Pierre Loti (1850-1923)The Recollections of Rifleman Harris By: Benjamin Harris (1781-1858)Red Men and White By: Owen Wister (1860-1938)The Luck Of Roaring Camp And Other Sketches By: Bret Harte (1836-1902)Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion By: Mark Twain (1835-1910)The Game By: Jack London (1876-1916)King Arthur's Knights: The Tales Retold for Boys & Girls By: Henry Gilbert (1868-1937)The Adventures of Mr. Dungeon Musings Dungeon Musings Idle thoughts on roleplaying games, and the folks what play them.See more of me on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, available at fine internets everywhere. Three Moves Ahead Idle Thumbs Three Moves Ahead is the leading strategy game themed podcast on the internet. Every week a panel of knowledgeable gamers with strong opinions meets to talk about the strategy and war games of the day, design issues and games in the wider world. Candid Contributions Candid Contributions Ever wondered what it is about open source software that makes people want to give so freely of their time? Well, this podcast for open-source contributors, future, past and present, by open-source contributors, is your one-stop shop to answering that question. We meet to discuss all things open-source; everything from the work itself to the communities we find ourselves in. Expect insight, ideas and idle chatter from four experienced developers: Lotte Pitcher, Carole Logan, Laura Weatherhead and Emma Burstow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Idle Thumbs?

This episode is 2 hours and 19 minutes long.

When was this Idle Thumbs episode published?

This episode was published on January 10, 2022.

What is this episode about?

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran RPG designer Josh Sawyer, best known for his work on Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. They discuss the purpose of grinding, the difference between viable and optimal characters, and...

Can I download this Idle Thumbs episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.