I received a visit today from Agent Taupe of the FBI (Fictitious Bureau of Investigations). It seemed that a game designer, who went by the handle “Buttersleeves”, had been murdered and they suspected the perpetrator was another game designer since the weapon was, wait for it…, a MEEPLE! Agent Taupe wanted a quick psych profile on designers to help in the investigation. I was more than happy to oblige.
I would have to say that most designers share many common traits. Most designers have a fairly good grasp of mathematics. Reiner Knizia and Richard Garfield both have PhD’s in mathematics, and I and several of my colleagues here in Seattle have mastered both addition and subtraction. Of course, I would obviously rule out Richard as the “Meepler” since the use of meeples as the weapon of choice would typically indicate a Eurogame designer, unless Richard is being clever because he knows that everyone would assume that a killer that used a meeple was a Eurogame designer.