Ben Brock | Game Designer
Level-Focused Game Designer | Puzzle Flow • Gating • Narrative Pacing
I design player-readable puzzle experiences built on clear rules, strong pacing, and reliable “if/then” interactions.
My strength is turning ideas into a structured progression, mapping dependencies, state changes, and affordances, then documenting it cleanly so teams can implement and iterate quickly.
Level Flow: readability, pacing, difficulty ramp, encounter sequencing
Puzzle Logic: gating, dependencies, triggers, state changes, fail-states, hinting
Documentation: flowcharts, diagrams, specs, checklists, clear handoff notes
State Design: triggers, checkpoints, conditionals, and objective progression (clear cause/effect)
Available for remote contract work • US Central (GMT-6) • Can overlap with GMT+3 hours
Case Study
Designing Player-Readable Progression (Arena / Roll Your Adventure)
Core Principles:
Goal: Make complex rules feel simple for first-time players.
Approach: Break mechanics into teachable beats + clear affordances.
System Logic: Gating + dependencies + “if/then” interactions.
Outcome: A shipped product with strong onboarding assets (quick reference + teach sheets + structured rules).
Tools & Implementation Mindset
Tools: Project Spark, Tabletop Simulator, Google Docs/Drive, InDesign, Photoshop
Implementation mindset: trigger-based logic, state changes, dependency mapping, rapid iteration
About Ben Brock
Ben Brock is a game designer, author, and storyteller focused on creating experiences that anyone can sit down and play. He developed the Gateway Dice System and the broader Gateway Games philosophy after years of designing for kids, new players, and mixed-experience tables who were often intimidated by traditional rule-heavy systems.
His work includes Arena: Fight for Freedom, a fast-paced combat card game, and Roll Your Adventure, a narrative book series for families and first-time role-players. Ben’s mission is to remove the barriers that keep people out of tabletop gaming and to build products that invite them into imaginative, collaborative play.
Contact: Ben@ourworldourrules.com
INSPIRE + CREATE + PLAY
Confidential design vision – not for redistribution without permission.