Building Blocks is an encyclopedia of hundreds of different mechanisms, organized by category. Each mechanism includes a description of how it works, a discussion of its pros and cons, how it can be used, and examples of specific games that use it. Excellent for new designs, inspiration, or when trying to solve a problem in the midst of a design. If games were lands to be explored, they would be far too large for one explorer to master. Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design?is a much-needed atlas for the explorer - giving a framework of what to look for in a game, and a focus for game play that will be useful for understanding the whole. The game scholar will find this invaluable.?? - Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering? ? People talk about the art of game design or the craft of game design. Engelstein and Shalev hone in on the?science?of game design with a razor-sharp scalpel. This book will be within arm's reach as I work on games and I expect it to be consulted often. - Rob Daviau: creator of Risk: Legacy and Chief Restoration Officer of Restoration Games The most comprehensive and well-researched encyclopedia of game mechanisms that I've seen to date.?? - Matt Leacock, creator of Pandemic