🚨Programming alert: Peter McPherson's newest game LODGE is now in beta on Board Game Arena (and about to wrap up its active Kickstarter campaign)🚨

Hi friends. I’m bringing the Patreon back. I’m thinking about starting with a short weekly podcast talking about game design on previous (and in-development) games. Anything else people would be interested in hearing about? Pic of some of my loves for the algorithm.

Tried baking bagels for the first time this morning and they look pretty good! I was surprised by how easy this was and that we had all the ingredients at home.

Screentop friends: I've made a game template you can clone for your own games or just to tinker with components. It's a work in progress, so check back for updates. screentop.gg/@PeterMcPher...

It seems we will have our advance review copies of Inkwell soon. I have a list of who needs ‘em, but if you are into covering the game and I don’t know that, let me know?

Come hang and check out a live playthrough of Lodge!

@alderaceg.bsky.social asked me to create a game term style guide for a project and it is teaching me a lot about how complex my game is. I'd lie if I said I wasn't having fun. This might become my go-to first step when writing rulebooks.

This is beautiful.

I had a wonderful time being interviewed by the amazing @toitle.bsky.social for @kickstarter.com and @thecreativeindependent.com, and the pieces just went live today! Check them out here: updates.kickstarter.com/creator-spot... thecreativeindependent.com/people/game-...

Tune in to Banz's livestream of Lodge tomorrow!

Game designers, what methods do you use for physical note-taking? I am tired of writing notes in Google Keep, and my main physical notebook gets cumbersome when I can't guess how many pages a design will need. My notes don't have much structure. I'm looking into the Zettelkasten method. 🎲✂️

Lodge has passed $100,000 and 1,500 backers—thank you all so much!

Anyone want to play an async game of Lodge on BGA? Let me know what your username is and I'll send you an invite! You can join the alpha here: en.boardgamearena.com/group?id=197...

Tantrum House did a livestream playthrough of Lodge recently—check out the replay here!

Short and sweet review of Lodge from @cardboardherald.bsky.social !

“I’ve never played this game correctly but it always makes me laugh. 4/10”

Just made my calls to my representatives on “5 Calls” Let them know what you care about! This is super easy to use, download the app and make quick calls to help fight what is happening! 5calls.org

Lodge is funded and then some—over 800 people helped to create this game! I ended the day with an evening of demos at Bard & Baker Game Cafe—my 4th time launching a game at B&B, and it was a wonderful time as always. Thank you to everyone who backed this project and came out to play tonight!

So the folks at AEG are of course good friends of mine, but I still can't believe how generous their most recent newsletter is! So much Lodge! Thank you @alderaceg.bsky.social

Honeypot is the first card drafting game I've played in ages that truly feels like a breakthrough. So much tension, and such great table talk. I love seeing the evolution of the cards!

I just backed LODGE on @kickstarter.com, which is designed by my friend, @peterlmcpherson.bsky.social. Looks like another great drafting and spatial pattern building game with some cool twists. @pickpocket.games www.kickstarter.com/projects/cam...

Our good friend and designer of Tiny Towns Peter Mcpherson has a new game launching today. He made a wonderful Tiny Towns promo to go with it. Great designer and great new product. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cam...

LODGE IS LIVE! www.kickstarter.com/projects/cam...

LODGE LAUNCH DAY! I started this game over 5 years ago, and I'm so excited to bring it to you all on Kickstarter today. It's been a wonderful journey working with @pickpocket.games and Leslie Herman to create the coziest lodges we could. Thank you to everyone who's been following along!

It may be very snowy, but we are celebrating the release of Pacts!

My dad has written and drawn Close to Home for over 30 years—it's been a while since I gave him a cartoon idea, but I think this recent one came out great. Always fun when one of my ideas works out!

Just did my 5 calls for the day—took just a few minutes and it feels great. Call your reps! 5calls.org

Renee Good and Alex Pretti were executed by the state. #AbolishIce #MeltIce

Lodge is the first game I've made to get a deluxe version, and I think it's a great upgrade. The acrylic guest tokens have a satisfying feel, and the mountain room tile tray looks great on the table next to the lodge amenity tray. $69 on Kickstarter this coming Tuesday! lodge.pickpocket.games

Even when @danthurot.bsky.social doesn't love one of my games I'm delighted to get a review on Space-Biff! And despite his criticisms, he says some kind things about Lodge in his review. Thanks as always, Dan!

Our nation. Our tax dollars. Our name. Our responsibility to oppose, defend, and defeat. Our opportunity to reclaim, redefine, and fight like fucking hell for the country we deserve.

Watch @boardgamersteph.bsky.social and Michael play through a game of Lodge with the deluxe edition, plus a snappy rules teach!

Check out this round of Lodge from The Brothers Murph in just 32 minutes!

Sliding Mountain Tray  ➡️  Lodge Amenity Tray Lodge: Deluxe Edition hits Kickstarter January 27th. 🔗 https://lodge.pickpocket.games

Guess what's in alpha on BGA?! Join the PickPocket Discord to start playing before the Kickstarter launches on the 27th: discord.gg/ZC4nbu6PEq

One week until launch!

My first time doing 5 Calls but it won't be my last! Took me 9 minutes. I hope my state representative Elise Stefanik listens to my input and actually utilizes her role in congress to do something meaningful 🙃

My designer diary for Lodge just went up on BoardGameGeek. It's a journey that took over 5 years, and you can read about it here!

We are calling for an immediate stop to all purchases from Upper Deck. Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate. No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games. Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.

✏️ Some of the incredible original sketches for Lodge done by the incredible Leslie Herman!   https://lodge.pickpocket.games

Today is the official release day for Sanibel! This one has a special place in my heart because I made it for my dad, who was an insatiable shark tooth collector and who loved shells as well. He got to play a pre-production copy on Sanibel about 6 weeks before he died last year. Love you dad ♥️

Amenities, which give unique ways to score, weren't a part of Lodge when I pitched to @pickpocket.games. They were Cameron's idea, and now it's hard to imagine the game without them! So much more tension and texture.

Hey content creators, let me know if you're looking for a guest for your podcast or show! I'm looking to put myself out there more this year now that I'm more actively designing, developing, and even *gasp* playing games this past year. (Here's a photo of me in a recording studio from years ago)

@kovray.bsky.social Just posted their lovely how-to-play video for Lodge! If you're curious about the game (including its solo mode), this is a great place to start.

The trailer for Lodge is here! @timchuon.bsky.social did a phenomenal job with it—I've watched this so many times! It is so strange and wonderful to see a little idea I had turned into something as beautiful as this.

💼 I’m looking for work as a board game designer. 🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work. ⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.

Are you a GAMA member?? If you are, please consider nominating my game High Tide for Light Strategy OR Gateway Game of the Year!

Here's a look back at my game design journey in 2025. Happy new year!

AHHH! Our first game is announced! I’m so excited for y’all to play Pongo🥰

I am trying to stay organized, but sometimes it is tricky! If you are a reviewer interested in covering Pacts, let me know? Message us, email, whatever you'd like.