Did you know that Nocturne designer, David Iezzi, was on the development team for Calico? It’s true. In 2018, Emma Larkins and Flatout Games’ Shawn Stankewich decided that Seattle area game designers needed more opportunities to meet and playtest. The weekly Wednesday nights at Via6 brought the community together. David got involved in the CoLab with Calico and was also part of the Cascadia team. His original Nocturne design, then called Cabinet of Curiosities, won the LUCI award in 2019 and we signed it almost immediately. Since then David has been working at Wizards of the Coast, Funko Games, and the Uzzle.
What are some of your favorite games? And why?
Some of my favorite games are: Imhotep, Santorini, 7 Wonders Duel, Skull, and Capital Lux. I like games that are simple to learn and have a short playtime, but the decisions are still rich and interesting.
Do you have a favorite mechanic?
I don't know if I have a favorite mechanic. Maybe drafting. But a thing I've noticed is that I love grids in games.
What games got you into game design?
I learned about modern boardgaming because of my interest in game design (sparked by video games). So, I kind of got into the hobby backwards. But I definitely gravitate to games with novel mechanics or systems.
Do you start with theme or mechanics?
My natural inclination is to start with an unique mechanic. I really only start with theme first when that is the prompt or constraint I am given to work with.
What is something unusual/cool about you that people might not know?
A lot of people might not know that I was a singer and guitar player in a pop punk band for most of my youth.
Nocturne designer, David Iezzi, showing off Nocturne at PAX Unplugged in 2023.