This week on the Tabletop SportCast, James sits down with Ian Brooke, designer of On Deck Baseball, for a conversation about creating a baseball game that captures more than just stats on a card. Ian shares the game’s origins, the importance of fictional leagues, player artwork, fatigue, confrontation rolls, and the design choices that help each game tell its own story. Along the way, they discuss how On Deck Baseball balances flow, strategy, realism, and pace while giving players the feeling that baseball is unfolding one pitch, one roll, and one decision at a time.On-Deck Baseball Website: https://www.on-deckbaseballgame.com/#/On-Deck Baseball on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/On-Deck-Baseball-113393317125269Email Ian Brooke: [email protected]

This episode explores how to categorize tabletop sports projects into five tiers based on size and commitment, helping gamers plan and execute their projects more effectively. The host shares personal insights and frameworks to tailor project scope to individual preferences.

On this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James explores the art of managing baseball teams in tabletop sports games. He discusses the balance between historical accuracy and personal strategy, from replaying seasons with realistic usage patterns to creating your own managerial style within historical guardrails. In Around the Table, he shares updates from around the hobby, and highlights from his ongoing baseball projects. He closes by introducing the idea of “manager cards” as a future enhancement for tabletop baseball gaming.

In Episode 254 of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast recaps his experience at Digital to DiceCon 2026 and explores what happens after the convention ends. From new games and community connections to project ideas and post-convention motivation, this episode focuses on how tabletop gamers can turn convention energy into meaningful action at the home table. James also shares thoughts on avoiding the “convention hangover,” reconnecting with forgotten projects, and finding the one idea worth bringing back to your table.

In this episode, S.T. Patrick shares insights on game design, the hobby's golden age, and the impact of AI on game creation. The host, James Cast, along with S.T., explore the evolution of sports simulation games, the importance of quality over quantity, and the future of the hobby. In this in-depth interview, S.T. shares insights into designing sports simulation games, focusing on basketball and football mechanics, season calibration, and future projects. Discover how he creates realistic gameplay, manages historical seasons, and plans innovative game features.

In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James takes a closer look at playtesting and why “just play it and tell me what you think” usually is not enough. Using the DMAIC process — Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control — he breaks down how playtesting can serve a different purpose at each stage of game design.The episode focuses on how designers can ask better questions before, during, and after a playtest. In the Define phase, playtesting helps clarify what the game is supposed to be. In the Measure phase, it turns table experience into useful evidence. In the Analyze phase, it helps separate symptoms from root causes. In the Improve phase, it tests whether specific changes actually solve the problem. And in the Control phase, it helps make sure the game remains clear, stable, and repeatable.James also discusses core responsibilities of playtesters and designers. At its heart, this episode is about giving playtesting a purpose — and recognizing that good playtesting does more than find mistakes. It helps a game become what it was meant to be.

In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast takes a look at The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. by Robert Coover — a novel that may be one of the most fascinating books ever written for tabletop sports gamers. He summarizes the story of Henry Waugh and his deeply immersive fictional baseball universe, then explores the UBA from a gamer’s perspective, including its three-dice engine, player classifications, rare-event structure, and the extraordinary occurrences that make the league feel alive. Along the way, James discusses why so much of Henry’s project feels familiar to anyone who has ever built a replay, run a fictional league, or watched a tabletop moment start to carry real emotional weight.But this episode also goes beyond the mechanics. James digs into the darker turn of the novel and the moral questions at its center: what happens when a gamer stops trusting chance, starts forcing outcomes, and crosses the line from commissioner to creator to judge? This is a conversation about simulation, story, emotion, and the responsibility that comes with caring deeply about the worlds built on our tables.

On this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast recaps IndiCon 2026, explores the milestone 250th episode, and reflects on the community of tabletop sports gaming. Keywordstabletop sports gaming, IndieCon 2026, podcast milestone, community, game design, project planning, interviews, hobby eventsChapters00:00 Celebrating 250 Episodes: A Milestone Reflection01:17 IndieCon Recap: Conversations Beyond the Microphone21:43 The Journey to 250: Insights and Future Directions31:35 NEWCHAPTER

In this episode, James discusses his preparations for IndiCon, shares insights on planning gaming projects, and highlights what makes a great gaming event. He emphasizes the importance of good games, access to designers, and the power of community in enhancing the hobby experience. keywordsboard games, IndieCon, gaming events, game design, community, project planning, sports board games, game development, gaming industry, event tipsChapters00:00 Packing for IndieCon: Essential Gear and Games01:09 Selecting Games for Short Events and Travel02:29 Packing Light vs. Packing Too Much04:32 Introduction to the Episode and IndieCon04:54 Recap of Last Week's Episode and Project Adjustments06:08 Using ChatGPT for Project Brainstorming08:39 Developing a Wrestling Federation Project09:51 Storytelling and Building Rivalries in Projects11:59 Pivoting Plans and Flexibility in Projects12:20 News from Stone Mountain Press and New Releases13:42 Upcoming Baseball Games and New Releases15:01 Print vs. PDF Models and Industry Trends16:47 New Baseball and Sports Games on the Horizon17:57 Exciting Developments in Horse Racing and Tennis Games19:21 Updates from 49 Sports Games and New Seasons20:00 Struggling to Get Games to the Table20:57 Running a Baseball Tournament with Payoff Pitch23:26 Highlights from the Tournament and 1986 Baseball23:38 Getting Ready for IndieCon and Milestone Episode24:30 Live Show Plans from IndieCon25:52 Top 5 Elements of a Great Gaming Event28:23 The Importance of Designer Access and Conversations31:05 Creating Space for Conversations at Events32:04 Choosing Signature Sites for Gaming Events34:17 Signature Sites: Hotels, Museums, and Unique Locations36:05 The Power of Community and Like-Minded People37:46 Anticipating a Great IndieCon Experience39:33 Upcoming Milestones and Future Plans41:00 The Value of Live Events and Community Engagement

In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James reflects on the winter season of tabletop gaming, shares insights on project management, and previews the spring season's plans, including upcoming events and new projects. keywordstabletop gaming, winter recap, spring plans, game projects, in-person events, hobby seasonality key topicsWinter gaming recap and metricsProject management and in-flight projectsSpring season planning and new projectsUpcoming events: IndieCon, Digital to DiceSeasonal changes in gaming habits and game selectionChapters00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Finishing Projects02:18 Spring Energy and Seasonal Changes in Hobby04:45 Recap of Winter Gaming Season and Metrics07:07 Winter Projects and In-Flight Initiatives14:23 New Games and First Impressions26:06 Audience Feedback and Project Updates29:21 Spring Projects and New Initiatives35:01 Historical Events and Special Projects38:59 Upcoming Events and Conventions39:50 Seasonal Transition and Hobby Outlook