Around the Table Q2 2021 by Fahy-Williams Publishing

AROUND THE TABLE A PUBLICATION BY THE GAME MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

Q2 2021 Launching a Successful Shipping Program Building Executive Functions through Board Game Play GAMA’s Diversity Committee Progress Update from Chair Mark Diaz Truman

2021 Tabletop Game Industry Recruitment

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AROUND THE

Q2 2021

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GAMA STAFF

PRESIDENT Stephan Brissaud IELLO VICE-PRESIDENT Chris Spivey Darker Hue Studios John Stacy Chris Materni TREASURER Gary Alaka EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR Gap Closer Games john.stacy@gama.org chris.materni@gama.org SECRETARY Jeff Tidball Atlas Games

Melissa Jacobs

Paul McGraw

EDUCATION & DEI MANAGER

paul.mcgraw@gama.org

melissa.jacobs@gama.org

EVENTS MANAGER

DISTRIBUTOR CHAIR Sito Sanchez Peachstate Hobby Distribution RETAIL CHAIR Jennifer M. Ward Crazy Squirrel Games & Toys DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Julie Ahern Greenbrier Games DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Andrew Chesney Chip Theory Games DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Nicole Lindroos Green Ronin Publishing DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Jeff Pinsker Amigo Games EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER Will Niebling KOPLOW Games

The Game Manufacturers Association

258 East Campus View Blvd Columbus, OH 43235 Phone: 614-255-4500 Fax: 614-255-4499 www.gama.org • media@gama.org

Kelly Mignogna COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER kelly.mignogna@gama.org

Gregoire Boisbelaud SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR greg.boisbelaud@gama.org

Adam Ziegler

Bee Zelda

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

LIVESTREAM VIDEO HOST - ANIME & TABLETOP GAME PROGRAMMING

adam.ziegler@gama.org

New Livestream Programming GAMA, in partnership with Wasabi Anime, will launch a new live stream program on the Wasabi Anime Twitch Channel in June. Tabletop Otaku will be a way to connect tabletop gamers and fans of Japanese pop culture. We’ll be highlighting games that have crossover appeal as we invite anime fans to be a bigger part of the tabletop community. The show will feature demos and interviews with designers, publishers, and more. One of GAMA’s primary goals is to expand the gamer community and Tabletop Otaku is the first of several streaming initiatives to further that goal. To assist with the launch of Tabletop Otaku, we’re proud to welcome Bee Zelda to our team as our Livestream Video Host. Bee (they/ them) is best known for The Broadswords, a DnD podcast, but is most frequently seen on Roll20 streaming a variety of indie games. Bee is a nonbinary queer tabletop professional and anime enthusiast.

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AROUND THE

Q2 2021

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association Features

Adverstories Launching a Successful Shipping Program Think big but start small

30 40 54

Tips and tricks to help retail stores sell games, written by the following companies Arcane Tinmen ApS

Arcane Wonders

Building Executive Functions

AWEbase 24

through Board Game Play

Bezier Games

Bloomsbury Publishing

Capstone Games

32, 66

Devir Games

Elf Creek Games

Floodgate Games

2021 Tabletop Game Industry Recruitment

Hachette Boardgames US

Hiring is at an increase

Indie Game Studios

KTBG/Burnt Island Games

Lucky Duck Games

Magpie Games

GAMA’s Diversity Committee Progress Update

Departments

IELLO 71

MyHealthily 44 3 GAMA Board and Staff

Contributors

7 Letter from the Executive Director 46-49

New Products

60-61

GAMA News

Index of Advertisers

Origami Whale

Pegasus Spiele GmbH

Rio Grande Games

Rock Manor Games

Skybound Games

Steve Jackson Games

Upper Deck

To advertise, contact Amy Colburn at 315-789-6431 or email amy@fwpi.com. Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 5

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Redefining Hybrid Board Games with

By Az Drummond, Director of Marketing for Lucky Duck Games

The prophets speak of the Angel of Death and his descent upon the Earth to bring forth the End of Days. The chosen few will be given the power to shape these ordeals and bring onto others both punishment and salvation.

estinies is a competitive, story-driven, app-supported, RPGlike board game experience, that works without the need for a game master.

to their actions. For example, choosing to throw a flaming torch into a mystical grove or applying medicinal herbs to a wounded druid could have very impactful opposing effects on the entire game world.

Enter A Sandbox Fantasy World

Alongside traditional RPG mechanics such as Intelligence and Dexterity tests, the Destinies app will track the “Virtue” of the player’s actions. Caught stealing food? Characters may refuse to speak with you. Paying the debt of someone down on their luck? They’ll remember and may support you in the future. Ignore the increasingly ravenous rats on the farm? Be prepared for swarms to overrun the town!

Every scenario in Destinies depicts part of a vivid world, full of dark stories, epic characters, and mysteries to solve. Players take on the role of everyday people with epic destinies to fulfill, and if they do so before the other players, they will win the game. On their journey to reach their destiny, players will uncover mythical locations, interact with intriguing characters, and encounter foul demons and beasts which will present challenges to be overcome. Each scenario in Destinies features three unique playable characters written specifically for each story. Each character has two possible destinies and all the possible destinies are intertwined with one another. Every action you take or piece of information you reveal to the other players can have a significant impact on the gameplay and the choices that will be made.

An RPG-Like Experience Without a Game Master

“Player agency” is truly rewarded in Destinies as players are able to freely explore, interact with characters, make impactful decisions and truly feel the consequences of their actions in the world. Scanning item cards into the app will present players with contextual outcomes

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An Epic and Versatile Tabletop Experience

Aesthetically, Destinies is an absolute knockout with 150 item cards, 30 individual character miniatures, a huge Abaddon boss miniature, customized dice, quality duallayered player boards, and over 100 different tokens and markers. The game comes with over 65 double-sided map titles that take the players on journeys from misty hills to ruined palaces and from forgotten shrines to ancient battlefields. Destinies also comes with two ways to enjoy the game in solo play with an open relaxed “Explorer mode” or time-pressured eventful “Challenger mode”. Destinies is for 1-3 players and comes with five unique scenarios, each offering a 2-2.5 hour tabletop experience. It will appeal to fans of roleplaying, narratively driven, or exploration games and it can be taught in just a few minutes. luckyduckgames.com

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FROM THE executive director

CONTRIBUTORS Thank you to the following industry professionals for contributing their time and expertise to Around the Table! Please enjoy their articles throughout this issue. If you would like to contribute to future issues of Around the Table by suggesting a topic or writing your own article, please email media@gama.org.

Dear friends, Over the past year, we have faced countless challenges that often overwhelm us both professionally and personally. The global pandemic has forced many businesses to close for months on end with some never to reopen. Schools have moved to remote learning which adds to the stress of parents trying to balance childcare with the need to work. A much-needed call for racial and social justice has led to important discussions and reevaluation of long-established practices and structures. And more recently the rising violence against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, and domestic violence against women has contributed to a feeling of sadness and disillusionment for many. Many churches, community organizations and events have suspended in person programs to help reduce the spread of the virus. The suspension of these vital support networks has left many feeling isolated and alone. As we slowly emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, GAMA wants to support member companies and their employees by providing resources to help them deal with the life stressors that can easily engulf and overwhelm us. As such, we will be introducing several new initiatives in the coming weeks including: • Implementation of an industry-wide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers fast and confidential help 24/7 around life, health, financial and work stress issues. • A database of community resources that offer free or low-cost education or counseling services. • Webinars and on-demand recordings on mental wellbeing, stress reduction, financial planning and money management, suicide prevention, etc. • Peer-to-Peer mentorship program that pairs newer industry members with more seasoned mentors to provide advice or act as a sounding board for issues or questions. Together we can work to address these issues and support each other for a stronger industry and community. Regards, John Stacy, Executive Director

Kendall Newton is a former teacher and current task juggler as co-owner of Cape Fear Games with husband Heath Newton and mom of two active boys. She enjoys traveling, hiking and any activity that involves spending time with close family and friends. With a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and a M.Ed in Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision she enjoys using her background in education and life experience to help other families navigate the world of learning challenges. John Coviello is the owner of the Little Shop of Magic in Las Vegas, Nevada - they opened their brick-and-mortar doors in 1994 and launched their internet division in 1996. John started his first business at the age of 16, importing video games for the budding personal computer market in Italy. Today, John draws on his experiences in the Marines and his background in public relations and computer science to handle his primary roles in the business. He stays sane thanks to the help of his team of fifteen wizards and goblins. Together, they ensure that all aspects of the operation (B&M/online sales, organized play, community outreach and marketing/planning/promotion) work in unison. He also serves the industry as a Member at Large for GAMA’s Retail Division. His spare time is usually taken up by enjoying the great outdoors with his wingman, Archimedes, reading, and playing board and miniature games with his friends. You can reach him at customercare@shopofmagic.com Kim Shatzer is Managing Director and Founder of Onward Play, division of Onward Search. Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. The segments they cover include PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, MR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop. Visit www.OnwardPlay to learn more about their recruitment services. Mark Diaz Truman is the chairman of the GAMA Diversity committee, the ENnie awardwinning co-founder of Magpie Games, a co-founder of the Indie Game Development Network, the designer of Cartel, and Our Last Best Hope, and the co-designer of Urban Shadows, Wizard Kittens, Zombie World and Root: The Roleplaying Game. Since 2011, Mark has led tabletop game projects that raised over 2.5 million dollars on Kickstarter, and he has served as the developmental editor of many awardwinning roleplaying games, including Firefly, 7th Sea: 2nd Ed, Masks: A New Generation, and Bluebeard’s Bride. Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 7

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Imperium Welcome to

ormidable adversaries are arrayed against you. Your people stand ready. History beckons. In your hands lies the destiny of one of history’s great civilizations. Under constant threat of attack, you must conquer new lands, oversee dramatic scientific and cultural advances, and lead your people into the era of empire. Expand too rapidly and unrest will bring your civilization to its knees; build up too slowly, however, and you might find yourself a mere footnote of history. As one of eight radically asymmetrical civilizations, you will compete to become the most dominant empire the world has ever seen. Welcome to Imperium. In Imperium, you are going to take the reins of a nascent civilization and attempt to lead it to greatness, expanding its dominion, developing its technology, and propagating its culture. Each civilization has its own unique set of strengths and challenges, and mastering the game requires you to manage these amidst ever-changing circumstances. The game captures the flow of history through the mechanic of deckbuilding. On your turns, you’ll be playing cards to gather resources, acquire new cards from a shared supply, and expand your tableau in front of you. Many cards are played and discarded, only to return to your deck and played again later. Other cards are placed in front of you, as technologies and cultural practices

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granting persistent benefits or as resourceproducing regions. Others yet are placed in your history and removed your deck, as your Boudiccas and Julius Caesars make their mark upon history, before fading into it. Over the course of the game, you will cycle through your deck many times, and each time you do, your deck will grow. At first you will be adding cards at random from your nation deck, as your fledgling civilization expands in spurts—sometimes leading to great innovation, and other times inviting unrest and disorder. The final card of the nation deck is your accession card, and by taking it you solidify your status as empire. As an empire, every deck cycle is now accompanied by a chance to purchase a development card. While costly, being able to

choose which of these unique advancements to add to your deck gives you more control of your civilization as the game moves towards its final act. The game comes to a close after one of several decks are depleted, and players score for the cards they’ve accumulated, whether the glorious deeds deep in their history, the great monuments on display in their tableau, or the conquered peoples in their deck that still swear fealty. The civilizations who triumphs has solidified their place in the annals of history. Imperium: Classics and Imperium: Legends are coming out in May 2021. Each box gives you 8 civilizations to lead to glory, and can be combined with one another for a total of 16 civilizations. Imperium: Classics is a standalone game that contains the Carthaginian, Celt, Greek, Macedonian, Persian, Roman, Scythian, and Viking civilizations, each of which makes for a unique and challenging opponent in a solo game. It is fully compatible with Imperium: Legends for players wanting to expand their pool of civilizations even further.

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a g n i h Launc

l u f s s Succe

m a r g o r P ing

p p i h S oviello by John C

ffering shipping services for your retail customers can be a daunting task. With so many couriers, services, and rates, it’s easy to make mistakes that can lead to financial loss and irate customers. The secret to launching a successful shipping program lies in thinking big but starting small. Careful planning and stairstep implementation ensure that any pitfalls encountered are surmountable, and prepare you to scale up your

operation when you are ready for it. Here are a few steps to help guide the launch of your shipping services. The subject is too vast to be completely covered in a single article, but this should give you a good start. Step 1: Evaluate your abilities and establish your limits It can be tempting to offer worldwide delivery and dozens of courier options right from the get-go. However, there is a good chance you are not ready for that.

Depending on where you are with your e-commerce solution, you may have to start with good old-fashioned personto-person services. If you just added some items to your new Facebook shop or if you are using a Pointy device to create a simple directory of the items you carry, the easiest solution may be to simply ask your customers to call to arrange for shipping. This allows you to offer a personal and hand-tailored experience, something larger merchants can’t provide. Collect your customer’s information, then offer to contact them with shipping options. This allows you time to weigh the item,

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figure out its dimensions, select the ideal packaging, and provide your customer with service options available from your store. On the other hand, if you are using a more advanced platform such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or a third-party marketplace, you will want to set up your shipping options to fit your comfort level and capabilities. You could start by shipping only within your state to make sales tax collection and remittance as simple as possible. Or maybe only offer domestic shipping to avoid customs forms. You can avoid the complexity involved in dealing with multiple couriers and shipping options by only offering Priority Mail by USPS. Whatever your starting point is, start small and expand it as you grow. Don’t be afraid to pull back - we temporarily shut down our international shipments in the fourth quarter of 2020 to avoid getting caught in customs delays. In the end, it’s better to miss a few sales than to upset a customer. Step 2: Choose your service providers wisely Depending on the type of merchandise you ship the most, there may be one courier better suited than others. USPS Priority Mail tends to work well for packages between one and four pounds and is accessible by simply visiting their website. Lighter packages (15 ounces or less) are best served by First Class mail, while heavier ones (four pounds or more) usually see better rates with UPS or FedEx. Depending on your volume, you may wish to use a provider such as Stamps.com or Pitney Bowes. They offer discounted rates, equipment, and software that make life a little easier. If you do, make sure you review your fees and costs regularly. The business of delivering packages changes frequently - be prepared to change with it.

Step 3: Prep your resources Before you start shipping, make sure you have a good supply of essentials, such as dunnage (packing material), shipping boxes, labels and packing tape. Nothing is more frustrating than making a great sale, then realizing you can’t protect the item on its way to the client. Most couriers provide you with branded packaging at no cost. You can order these directly from the company but remember to plan ahead - popular sizes often run out in advance of the holidays, and you may not see your order until after the need has passed. Be mindful of the fact that these branded supplies are offered in exchange for using them properly. It’s not acceptable, for example, to use USPS padded flat rate envelopes as dunnage to ship items in a USPS Priority Mailbox. Your package may be returned to you if it is selected by inspection and found to be out of compliance. Your distributor and publishing partners are also good sources of packing materials - recycling these will help you save money while also saving the environment. When re-using boxes, remember to cut or blot out any addresses or barcodes along with any ORM-D identifiers if not shipping hazardous materials. Consider the space needed to store these items as they can quickly tie up space. If profit levels justify it, consider setting up a dedicated room for prepping shipments and storing supplies. Lastly, do not forget your most precious resources: time, training, and staff. Shipping ties up all these resources, and it’s easy to lose track of them when figuring out if shipping is a worthy endeavor for your business. Not only does it take time to prep and ship items, but it also takes time to train your staff and yourself to be efficient. This is often subtracted from spending time on your in-person shoppers consider what is important to you and to your business and plan accordingly.

Step 4: Know your shipping restrictions, prohibitions, and regulations There are several restrictions and guidelines you need to follow. In general, our industry does not deal with hazardous materials, but take the time to research the rules of your chosen freight delivery providers. Liquids (such as paint or glue) need to be bagged to prevent leaking. Aerosols (such as spray primers) need to have ORM-D labels on the package. Publishers may restrict your ability to distribute products outside of geographical areas and jurisdictions may prohibit the import of some items. If a line proves to be too great of a nuisance to ship, exclude it from your shipping services. Make no mistake - shipping is work, and hard work at that. It can be a detriment to your existing business if the return on investment does not warrant the resources; however, if implemented gradually and correctly, it can provide you with new revenue streams and customer acquisition opportunities. John Coviello is the owner of the Little Shop of Magic in Las Vegas, Nevada - they opened their brick-andmortar doors in 1994 and launched their internet division in 1996. John started his first business at the age of 16, importing video games for the budding personal computer market in Italy. Today, John draws on his experiences in the Marines and his background in public relations and computer science to handle his primary roles in the business. He stays sane thanks to the help of his team of fifteen wizards and goblins. Together, they ensure that all aspects of the operation (B&M/online sales, organized play, community outreach and marketing/planning/promotion) work in unison. He also serves the industry as a Member at Large for GAMA’s Retail Division. His spare time is usually taken up by enjoying the great outdoors with his wingman, Archimedes, reading, and playing board and miniature games with his friends. You can reach him at customercare@shopofmagic.com Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 11

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Conventions, Baking, and a Whole Lot of Magic By Brianna Nivinski, Skybound Tabletop Skybound Tabletop is a division of Skybound Entertainment focused on developing games that feature immersive stories, innovative gameplay, and exceptional artistry. s the return of conventions and the release of Kim-Joy’s Magic Bakery both approach, we look forward to more magical convention moments like the one that led to our latest game.

gamer herself, Kim-Joy was excited to talk with us, and after SDCC, the team scheduled a follow-up meeting with KimJoy in London on their way to Essen 2019. There, we got to discuss the similarities between baking and gaming, and the magic of how both can bring people closer as friends. When designer Ben Kepner pitched his concept for a new game based on Kim-Joy’s delightful brand of nerdy positivity mixed with baking, Kim-Joy was on board!

THE MAGIC OF CONVENTIONS One of our favorite things as a team is going out to conventions and being a part of the community. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people who love tabletop like we do, reconnect with friends from across the industry, and discover new and exciting games while sharing our own. And sometimes that convention magic hits and the stars align just right, and a brand-new idea is born. That couldn’t be truer than with Skybound Tabletop’s experience at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. When we learned Kim-Joy of The Great British Bake Off fame was also running a booth at SDCC, our designers swung by to introduce themselves as fans. A tabletop

COLLABORATING WITH KIM-JOY Kim-Joy was super excited for the game, and she has been a pleasure to work with at every step of the process. On the creative side, she provided all the recipes that are in the game! So, for people that are paying attention, the recipes should all be accurate to how you would bake each treat in real life. This was super helpful since no one on our team has nearly the baking expertise that she does! For the game’s illustrations, we are working with Linda van den Berg. Linda is a Dutch artist that has worked with Kim-Joy previously on the art for all of her cookbooks. Her hand-drawn pencil art style really gives the game an adorable and homey feel that reflects Kim-Joy

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and her personality. Linda was also wonderful to work with and did quite a bit of original character design. Typically, we would give her a list of bakes and what kind of animals we wanted to see as characters, and she would come back with adorable art that was perfect and brought the magical bakery to life, no adjustments necessary. KIM-JOY’S MAGIC BAKERY We had originally planned to launch the game in 2020, but like so many other things, the pandemic had us reshuffle our schedule. On the upside, this delay allowed us to buckle down and really focus on fine-tuning the game’s development. Looking forward, we’re so excited to work with Kim-Joy to promote the game. As Bake Off fans ourselves, it’s exciting to be reaching out to that audience and building a bridge to that world through hobby gaming. As Ben and Kim-Joy discussed, food and games can both bring people closer together, and isn’t that magical? You can follow Kim-Joy across social media @KimJoysKitchen and keep up with the latest news on Kim-Joy’s Magic Bakery on the Skybound Tabletop social channels. skybound.com

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A c G

Y m n to a sm

•

KIM-JOY’S MAGIC BAKERY UPC 811949032522 Suggested Age: 8+

a cooperative baking card game

Number of Players: 2-5 Playing time: 15-30 minutes

CONTENTS • 25 Customer cards • 24 Layer cards • 667 Ingredient cards • 12 Scenario cards • 1 standee with base • 3 Player Reference cards • Rulebook

DESIGNER Ben Kepner

ILLUSTRATOR Linda van den Berg

PUBLISHER: Skybound Tabletop

A sweet co-op card game we’ve been cooking up with Kim-Joy from the Great British Bakeoff! Your favorite British Baker, Kim-Joy, has moved to a magical forest and opened up a small bakery. Now she needs your help to keep customers happy. From sly foxes to needy cats, gossipy ducks to clumsy dinosaurs, you’re about to have your hands full keeping this bakery running smoothly! • Kim-Joy’s Magic Bakery is a light cooperative card game for 2 to 5 players that tells an adorable story over 10 unique scenarios. No baking experience required!

Available Fall 2021 2021_AroundTheTable_Q2_Spring_5.21.indd 13

MSRP: $20 Box Size: 8.5 x 5.5 x 2 UPC: 811949032522 SKU: 4310 Case size: 6 Made In China

Inquiries: Matt Faulisi Q1 mfaulisi@skybound.com 2021 • AROUND THE table 13 Email:

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Indie Game Studios adverstory

Lie to Your Friends in Good Fun I

t’s been a while since we’ve gotten to sit around the table and lie to each other. While lots of gaming groups were lucky enough to pivot to playing online, party games have taken a backseat until we can all safely gather again. With Gen Con looming in September, we’re going to break out some social games so we can lie to our friends in good fun once again. Just before lockdown, Indie Boards and Cards released the party game Finger Guns at High Noon which applies rules to absurd finger gestures. Each player is an outlaw in the Old West and the game is played in only two parts. The first part is conversation where each player discusses what they want to do - there are no rules and you’re not committed to what you say. Then as soon as someone yells “3, 2, 1 shoot!” each player must throw up a finger gesture - each tied to a specific action in the game. This could be shooting a fellow player, blowing up some dynamite, getting special actions from a helper, or stoppin’ into the saloon for a drink. But before that, Indie Boards and Cards blazed the trail for social deduction games with classics like The Resistance and Coup. Both games have been iterated on over the last few years, including the upcoming Quest. Quest is an evolution of the same gameplay found in The Resistance and Avalon that streamlines the decisions a little

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more, allowing for similar deceptive plays at slightly smaller player counts. Quest will be available in distribution very soon. While we wait the short time for Quest to be available, we’ll be getting the classics to the table. The Resistance and Avalon are similar games with different skins. The Resistance is one of the oldest Indie Boards and Cards games that was released in 2009. It depicts a dystopian future where mega corporations have taken over constantly interfering and controlling our lives. You can learn more about the world in this game, as well as in the roleplaying game rulebook Uprising: The Dystopian Universe created by our friends Evil Hat Games. In The Resistance players are secretly divided into teams that are meant to pass and fail missions that could lead to bringing down the evil mega corporations. Also in this dystopian world is the game Coup. Similarly to social deduction games, this game hides each player’s role, and the actions they can take. Any player can claim any role and perform the associated action, but the other players can accuse them of lying. Whenever a player is caught in a lie, they lose an influence represented by one of their two cards. When a player loses both of their cards, they’re out of the game. The goal is to find your opponent’s tells to catch them in lies, or gather enough coins to coup your opponents -

forcing them to lose an influence. Like The Resistance, in Avalon you will take turns forming teams to secretly pass or fail missions. The trick is that players only know their own allegiance. If too many missions fail - the bad guys win. When three missions succeed - the good guys have won the day! Of course, players can veto teams based on what they know of the people around the table. This gives the game several decision points and allows players to analyse their best chances for success. This is where the new version, Quest, comes in. It eliminates this step to keep the game moving at a much faster pace - you’re always seeing new teams, even though there’s less information each round. Like any good social or party game, these games thrive at higher player counts. These games still have a wide variance of their top player counts to fit any table. While The Resistance and Avalon top out at 10 players, Coup stops at six and Finger Guns at High Noon at eight. You can find all Indie Boards and Cards products at your local hobby and game store. Will Sobel is a designer, and developer for many tabletop RPGs and board games, a writer of science fiction and fantasy, and the Director of Marketing for Indie Game Studios. When he’s not catching Pokemon with his daughter he’s either reading or playing games.

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A world in chaos is a world of opportunity.

THE DYSTOPIAN UNIVERSE

THE RESISTANCE IBCRES • $19.99

COUP IBCCOU1 • $19.99

COUP: REBELLION G54 IBCG541 • $29.99

EXODUS IBCEXD1 • $19.99

GRIFTERS: NEXUS IBCNEX1 • $19.99

AMONG THIEVES IBCDIS01 • $19.99

Deceive. Cheat. Grift. How will you come out on top?

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Munchkin Mini-Expansions I by Phil Reed, Steve Jackson Games

n 2009, we released two Munchkin 15-card expansions, Fairy Dust and Waiting for Santa. These Munchkin mini-expansions were packed in the classic foil packaging often used for collectible cards and, ultimately, the sets sold incredibly well. Over the following years, we published several mini-expansions in this format, providing Munchkin players with bite-sized snacks between our larger expansions and full game releases. In the mid-2010s, retailer feedback directed a change in format from the foil packs to blister cards that could be easily pegged with the numbered Munchkin tuckbox expansions. That switch gave us more flexibility when it came to determining which new expansions to create, as well as when choosing outof-print card sets to bring back from the dead. It looked like the perfect package for the smaller 15-card and 30-card packs . . . for the first few years. As often happens, we slowly collected feedback once the blister packs fell into more and more hands. Over a few years of use, we received the same two basic comments: • Gamers: The packaging is tough to open. • Retailers: The blister cards

look a little out-of-place next to the other Munchkin expansion packs on our pegs. On top of that, we noticed the manufacturing price on the blister packs climbing each year. After a close review of the numbers – and comparing the costs vs. the manufacturing cost of the traditional tuckbox expansions, we put two and two together and realized that it was time for another change. Starting this summer and continuing through the fall, we're bringing back eleven out-of-print Munchkin mini-expansions in the ever-popular tuckbox

format. These reprints go a long way toward putting some of the harder-to-find sets back in stores, making it possible for Munchkin players to buy them without paying unreasonable after-market prices for the cards. The eleven sets and estimated release dates are: • Munchkin Unicorns - May 2021 • Munchkin Kittens - May 2021 • Munchkin Puppies - June 2021 • Munchkin Cheats - July 2021 • Munchkin Princesses - July 2021 • Munchkin Clowns - August 2021 • Munchkin Side Quests - August 2021 • Munchkin Curses September 2021 • Munchkin Fowl Play September 2021 • Munchkin Dragons October 2021 • Munchkin Knights November 2021. In several instances, we've also updated the retail price to reflect today's world better. (Some of these have been unavailable for a few years now and our costs – manufacturing and especially freight – are significantly higher today than when these sets were first published.)

Which Ones Sell Best? With so many Munchkin titles in our catalog, we understand that not every store has space for the entire line and must focus on the absolute top-sellers. When it comes to these reprints, we recommend that, at the very least, you bring in Munchkin Kittens, Munchkin Puppies, and Munchkin Unicorns. Illustrated by Katie Cook, these sets stand out as some of the cutest, most lovable of the many Munchkin mini-expansions we’ve published over the years. If you want to broaden your selection of mini-expansions, the second tier is dominated by Munchkin Princesses, Munchkin Dragons, and Munchkin Knights. All three of these shuffle perfectly into the Munchkin Deluxe set – without adding any other packs – and inject fresh humor and gameplay into the experience. If you’re guiding a new player this holiday season, pairing Munchkin Deluxe with any of these mini-expansions makes for a great gift + stocking stuffer one-two punch. Regardless of which mini-expansions you choose to add to your store’s inventory, the upgraded packaging makes these reprints far more attractive when displayed alongside the top-selling Munchkin tuckbox expansions. If you have any questions about these reprints or would like more information on the entire Munchkin line, please email retailers@sjgames.com, and we’ll help as best we can. 16 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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sjgames.com

6/1/21 2:59 PM

Mini-Expansions! Level Up Your Munchkin Game!

Spring 2021!

Summer 2021

Fall 2021! #PlayMunchkin

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Munchkin mini-expansions are not stand-alone games.

6/1/21 3:00 PM

Building A Mystical Pagoda to Please the Gods By: Robert Geistlinger, Director of Sales & Marketing, Arcane Wonders

our Gardens continues the trend of games in the Dice Tower Essentials line being accessible, beautiful and a must-have for any gamer’s collection. At the center of this game is the magnificent rotating tower that really amps up the table presence and invites gamers to want to see “what this game is all about”. The core of the game is a familiar hand management and set collection engine that is sure to engage both long-time gamers as well as casual or first-time gamers equally. Long ago, in a beautiful Eastern Kingdom, a queen and her people please their Gods by building a mystical pagoda. As time passed the queen fell ill and she summoned her people to compete for her crown, but the heir would be chosen by the four Gods themselves. The goal of Four Gardens is to accumulate the most points by completing Landscape cards and finishing sets. The finished panoramas each being ever so slightly unique each time thanks to subtle differences in the cards throughout the game. The panorama cards serve as both the actions a player can 18 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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take on their turn and the path to victory. On a turn a player has only four actions that could be available to them depending on the cards they have in hand. Laying Groundwork allows a player to place a card in their garden to begin building a new panorama. Take A Wild lets the player collect one of any resource and place it in their cart or card they are currently building. Reallocate Resources gives the player a chance to move resources from their cart and garden cards. Finally, Rotate & Collect lets the player rotate floors of the pagoda and collect resources from the floor-up or top-down in order. These collected resources must go directly

to the player’s cart, which can only hold 4 resources, so careful planning is needed. When a panorama card is completed by having the resources needed on it, the card is flipped over and scores a point for the player on the Gods Track according to the color shown. But the scoring does not stop there! As a panorama is completed it also scores for any previously scored cards in the set! Get to end of a God’s track and you can begin to push your competition backwards (even off!) on the track. When you are done playing the game everything goes back into the insert to make your next game that much easier to take out and start playing! Four Gardens is one of those games that blends the familiar with the fresh. It truly is a game that is easy to teach to players of all skill levels. With bright colors and beautiful landscapes popping and three-dimensional pagoda, it is sure to delight gamers of all types. This was game that we knew we had to have here at Arcane Wonders in our Dice Tower Essentials line, and we hope that you will find a treasured new addition to your collection. arcanewonders.com

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6/21/21 12:13 PM

Elf Creek Teams up with Brian Suhre Again! By Ryan Schoon

rian Suhre is a designer that may have escaped your notice: one who has designed several hit games, bringing in over half a million dollars on Kickstarter, but who avoids the spotlight, preferring to be recognized for his work instead of his name. Brian reached a new level of public exposure and recognition with his design of the game Coldwater Crown in 2017. The game, which put a unique Euro spin on the sparsely used theme of fishing, appeared on many Best Game of the Year lists, received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and was followed up by the equally positive Freshwater Fly. His most recent venture, Merchants of the Dark Road raised almost $500,000 on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter. The game, which is being published by Elf Creek Games (known for Honey Buzz and Atlantis Rising, among others), comes out later this year and is already hotly anticipated. With the great success that Brian has had in recent years, it's easy to forget about his early games; the games that made his path to success possible. Among these is the game Paradox, which gained a cult following due to its interesting mix of mechanics and puzzle elements, along with its sci-fi, time-travel theme. Elf Creek Games and Brian Suhre have decided to team up once again to revise this classic game, republishing it in a new edition called The Paradox Initiative. Brian and the development team at Elf Creek have spent a lot of time updating this game, finding the elements that worked best with the original and bringing them up to speed with modern board gaming in 2021. Some of the biggest changes are designed to improve the flow of the game, making the entire experience from setup to game end run smoother and eliminating some of the sticking points that players had with the 20 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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original release. In addition, some of the more popular scenarios and variants, such as Parallel Universes, Alliances, and Research Goals have been integrated fully into the core experience. In addition to this, Brian designed new content such as player decks featuring upgradeable technologies that allow for an asymmetrical experience and research projects that give players new goals to achieve. While doing this, the team has managed to preserve the interesting mix of mechanics the game offers: card drafting, set collection, resource management, and spatial puzzle solving in the form of “the matrix,” a tile-matching grid mini-game that generates the resources needed to save worlds. The worlds that The Paradox Initiative takes place in are unabashedly sci-fi, bringing you to rich new planets that must be saved to

score points and win the game. Each of these worlds is represented by past, present, and future cards, all featuring stunning artwork in a variety of styles, some riffing off of famous genre flicks. Knowing that these planets will be the centerpiece of The Paradox Initiative, Elf Creek pulled out the stops when it came to illustrations, commissioning some of the industry’s top talent to bring their own style to the game. This list includes Andrew Bosley, Anne Heidseik, Vincent Dutrait, Naïade, Piérô, Mr. Cuddington, The Mico, Beth Sobel, Manny Trembley, Michael Menzel, Ryan Laukat, Klemens Franz, Jacqui Davis, David Cochard, Marie Cardouat, Ian O'Toole, Kwanchai Moriya, Weberson Santiago, and many more. Look for The Paradox Initiative, coming soon from Elf Creek games.

elfcreekgames.com

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GOOD HELP isn’t so hard to find By Darrell Hardy, AWEbase

WEbase is an online software platform that helps creative companies work with artists, writers, and other creative contributors. With AWEbase, game publishers can manage their projects’ budgets, contracts, and payments, while exchanging feedback with creators on the work being done. As a game publisher, it’s often a challenge to find the creative help you need. You have a vision—whether it’s artwork, writing, 3D modeling, or something else—and you need someone to execute that vision. But explaining what you need, and then finding someone to supply it, can be frustratingly time-consuming.

Here are four steps for using AWEbase to help: First, define what you’re looking for as one or more deliverables. Add descrip-

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tions, reference, and any other details necessary to properly convey your vision. AWEbase will keep it all organized and centralized.

Next, choose any number of freelancers from your AWEbase database. Combine that list of freelancers with your deliverables to create a JobOpp Inquiry, which is exactly what it sounds like: a message for a contractor offering them a possible job opportunity. Send that inquiry to every freelancer on your list. With one click, you can notify every freelancer of a possible job opportunity. (This is especially useful if you need multiple freelancers—for a large set of illustrations, for example, or a series of articles.)

Finally, it’s possible the help you need

is already on your team. If that’s the case, simply select someone on your staff from within AWEbase, and internally assign them the deliverables without any extra steps. (This works great for assigning simple tasks as well!) Of course, finding the right person to help is just the beginning. With AWEbase, you can also have them sign a contract, upload their work, and exchange feedback on the deliverables—all from within a single online platform.

AWEbase is free to use for organizations with limited contracting needs, and charges a per-user fee for companies with more substantial volumes. Third party contributors have access to AWEbase at no cost. Try it today by visiting at awebase.com.

CMY

awebase.com

6/1/21 3:00 PM

AWEbaseGAMAad.pdf

10/25/20

1:14 PM

AWEbase

CMY

CREATIVE ENTERPRISE TOOLS BY ENTERPRISING CREATIVES Start your free account today at www.AWEbase.com

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6/1/21 3:00 PM

The Set a Watch Universe is Expanding with Merchants of Magick Written by Clarence Simpson

rom the moment I pitched my game about managing a magic item shop in a fantasy world to Rock Manor Games, it was a perfect fit for Set a Watch. Now, the Set a Watch universe is expanding, and calling you to become one of the land’s Merchants of Magick. Supplying the Adventurers of the Watch In Merchants of Magick, you are the owner of a magic item shoppe. You’ll craft accessories, weapons, and armor from leather, wood, and steel. You’ll also channel elemental, arcane, and wild magical energy to research spells that can enchant your items or make your work easier. To create magic items, you’ll need to combine items with Enchantment spells. That’s how you turn a plain old Spear into a Fiery Spear of the Dragons! Each customer in your shoppe is seeking a very specific magic item for their quest against the Unhallowed. If you can create the right magic item, you’ll make the sale and earn some coins! But 26 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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you don’t have forever to close the deal. Can you earn the most coins by creating what your customers want before they get impatient and wander over to another player’s shoppe? How It Works In each of Merchants of Magick’s 10 rounds, four polyhedral (d6, d8, d10, d12) dice are rolled, representing the materials and magical energy available that round for crafting and spell research. High values are better for crafting, while low values are better for spell research. Everyone simultaneously chooses to spend two of the four dice to mark circles on their sheet. You also have the option to use Potions and other abilities to modify die values and puzzle out satisfying combo plays. When all circles in a row are marked, you complete an item or spell and gain coins. If you complete the right combination of item and spell that match an Order card in front of you, you claim that Order and gain even more coins! At the end of each round, the Order cards rotate around the table from player to player. You’ll want to pay attention to

Orders both exiting and entering your shoppe. This unique rotating goal system creates tension and player interaction not usually found in Roll-and-Write games. A Different Kind of Roll-and-Write Roll-and-Write games have a reputation as light and simple dice games with virtually no player interaction. But with polyhedral dice, a crunchy decision space, and an innovative goal system that encourages interaction, Merchants of Magick stretches the boundary of what a Roll-and-Write can be. Merchants of Magick comes in a compact package with stunning cover art that’s sure to attract attention. Inside are four polyhedral dice, a pad of 100 player sheets, and 56 beautifully illustrated Order cards, each representing a unique magic item. Also included are 30 custom screen-printed wooden Potion tokens, and eight Sponsored Adventurer cards featuring familiar heroes from the Set a Watch series. Merchants of Magick is designed for 1-8 players aged 10+ and plays in 45-60 minutes. Available Fall 2021.

rockmanorgames.com

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6/1/21 3:00 PM

Summon Your Card Protection!

with Dragon Shield Japanese Size Sleeves

By Ian Spiegel-Blum

ragon Shield, one of the most trusted brands in card gaming accessories, is excited to present an expanded line of products aimed toward Japanese card gamers! For those that might not know, some card games that originate in Japan, like Yu-Gi-Oh! And Cardfight Vanguard, use cards that are smaller than the standard card size most American gamers know. A typical Magic: the Gathering or Pokémon card, for example, is the standard 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the same as a Poker card. Japanese cards have a quarter inch off all the way around making for a more compact experience. In November 2020, Konami, the parent company of Yu-Gi-Oh!, announced a rule change allowing for decks to be double sleeved. Double sleeving is the practice of taking a regularly sleeved Yu-Gi-Oh! card and placing it inside another sleeve for additional protection. In tournament play, the outer sleeve needs to be clear. We have heard from many Japanese-size card gamers that their outer sleeve of choice is the Dragon Shield Standard Size Classic 28 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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Clear sleeve. For that, we want to thank you! And that is one of the reasons why we are redoubling our efforts to offer an expanded line of Japanese-size products. Dragon Shield has seven Classic colors with glossy backs available and a whopping twenty-three colors in Matte. That’s a lot of decks if you want to experience them all. But the real innovation comes with our latest release: Dragon Shield Matte Art Sleeves, designed specifically for smaller cards. Dragon Shield Art Sleeves are different from many other brands in that the image is not pasted on top of another sleeve. In the past, art sleeves were made by pasting a thin image on a layer over the sleeve. This led to those sleeves cracking and the image peeling off over time. Dragon Shield Art Sleeves, on the other hand, are designed with the art in mind. The sleeve itself has the art infused in the plastic, meaning there will never be peeling, scratching, or breaking. Our art sleeves are one hundred percent tournament legal and feature incredible artwork

by a variety of artists. Use standard size classic clear or matte clear Dragon Shield to protect the art even further. At the time of writing, Dragon Shield offers two Matte Art Sleeves and several Classic Art Sleeves (although the classics are quite rare nowadays). The two sleeves both feature artwork by Ina Wong, depicting a dragon fruit-inspired dragon and a futuristic mecha-like dragonoid. As with all of Dragon Shield’s products, the packaging features a piece of micro fiction to tell you a little more about the characters shown in the art. In the future, we have plans to continue to expand our line of Japanese card size sleeve products. While we can’t talk about specifics just yet, we can safely say that if you see an innovation in our standard size sleeves, we are working on a way to bring it to our Japanese size sleeves, too. See the selection of Dragon Shield Japanese size sleeves at www.dragonshield.com/japanese-sleeves. All sleeves and additional Dragon Shield products are available now from GTS Distribution.

arcanetinmen.com

6/1/21 3:00 PM

MINI CARDS

MAX DEF SUMMON YOUR CARD PROTECTION NOW! WITH DRAGON SHIELD JAPANESE SIZE SLEEVES.

PERFECT FOR YU-GI-OH!™, CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD™, AND OTHERS

Available from GTS Distribution

“YU-GI-OH!™” IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF KONAMI. “CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD™” IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BUSHIROAD, INC.

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6/1/21 3:00 PM

FEATURE 2 - Building Executive Functions Throu

Building Executive Functions through Board Game Play by Kendall Newton, Co-Owner of Cape Fear Games

hen we opened Cape Fear Games in 2009, my husband and I didn’t know our children would be diagnosed with ADHD. We didn’t know that board games would help our family forge powerful and meaningful connections, or that game night would teach so many learning skills. And we certainly didn’t anticipate a pandemic that would make family time more plentiful and pivotal than ever. We simply knew that board games could bring loads of laughter. Having two boys, we get the draw of video games. We

also know that the right board game can unlock hours of imagination, brain power, and fun! Finding new games — beyond Memory and Battleship — can be quite intimidating. And we hoped that we could help facilitate family connections and build a community in our hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. Today we have a treasured collection of favorite board games that help to build skills like working memory, recall, focus, and strategic planning. We have found that exercising these executive functions in game play is an added bonus for a child

with ADHD. We hope that sharing our list helps your family build skills — and treasured memories!

The Magic Labyrinth

Playing The Magic Labyrinth, you are transported inside the master’s maze as you attempt to collect lost magical objects more quickly than your competitors. This game builds memory and recall skills as each player works to avoid the labyrinth walls. This game remains a favorite for us because my son with ADHD and dyslexia mastered it easily and happily. There are pictures, not words, guiding game play and a game is usually completed in around 20 minutes.

Ice Cool

How can you possibly go wrong flicking penguins around a 3-D game board? This fast-paced game of dexterity and tactical thinking challenges your ‘penguin’ to move all over the board chasing down fish while the hall monitor works to stop the action. Gathering all of your fish first requires focus, concentration, and planning, but this game will draw in even

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ons Through Board Game Play - Kendall Newton

the most reluctant player with its unique style of play and eye-catching set up.

Catan Junior

This is an excellent introductory game for children aged 6 to 10 that trains early tactical and strategic-thinking skills. With more simplified rules than the popular adult version, Catan Junior incorporates pirates, hideouts, and gold to create a crowd pleaser we all enjoy.

Pitch Car

An engaging game for all ages, Pitch Car challenges your nimble fingers as you flick race cars around a track. Using safety railings and 16 wooden boards, this game encourages your little engineer to creatively customize a track and apply basic laws of physics in planning their race car trajectory to the finish line. This game has been a huge hit during local elementary school game nights due to the simplicity of its rules and its active play.

No Thank You, Evil!

A great introduction to role-playing games, No Thank You, Evil! encourages

adventurous escapades as players create their own characters and set off on quests limited only by their own imaginations. With rules that adapt to players’ individual abilities, this game is flexible enough to earn the love of a wide range of kids and parents. The added bonus is seeing your kids use reasoning, criticalthinking, and problem-solving skills to work cooperatively!

Can’t Stop

Can’t Stop is a classic “press your luck” dice game that is so sneaky your kids won’t even realize they are honing mental math skills! Who will be the first to conquer three of the eleven number columns as quickly as possible? While the rules are simple, this game is tough to put away — you just can’t stop playing!

Unlock! Escape Games

ADHD minds often exhibit excellent out-of-the-box thinking skills, which come in handy while solving these fun, cooperative games. Players work through a deck of cards, carefully combing through details to solve the puzzle at hand. There are multiple versions — from Star Wars themed cards to a mystery treasure hunt — allowing your tween or teen to tap into a specific passion or set a goal to solve them all!

Splendor

Splendor is a strategic card game in which players acquire precious gem tokens to trade for development cards. Using critical thinking and simple tactical maneuvers, you work to be the first to

reach the goal of 15 points. With game play lasting about 30 minutes, it’s easy to find the time for a quick game during a busy evening.

The Resistance

Is your child a fan of the wildly popular computer game Among Us? Then they will love The Resistance! Players use deductive reasoning and cooperation to root out the spy among you.

Magic: The Gathering

A collectible, fantasy-themed card game filled with dragons, wizards, goblins, and other fantastical creatures, MTG is very appealing to those who enjoy collecting and building decks. For competitive playing, check out your local game store for tournaments where you can meet other players. Since its introduction in 1993, MTG has gathered quite a following and can be an excellent social outlet for teens looking for connection.

Parent Tip: On YouTube, you can

find videos visually explaining how to play tons of games! Trying to navigate the written instructions amid questions and confusion can often shut down a game down before it begins, so do yourself a favor and watch a short tutorial before you call everyone to game night. www.capefeargamesilm.com https://www.instagram.com/ capefeargamesnc/ https://www.facebook.com/ CapeFearGames Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 31

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6/1/21 3:00 PM

All New Family Brand by Capstone Games

oard games have always been there for us to bring people together; to unplug, unwind, and simply have a good time. Our mission at Capstone Games has always been to bring people together through rich, evolving gameplay, and we have been widely recognized as a premium publisher of complex strategy games. With our experience of many large, complex games such as Pipeline, Maracaibo, and Cooper Island, we had the desire to create a line of games that accommodates a wider audience, but still retains a familiar hint of where we started. The overall market for board games has experienced phenomenal growth, even during a pandemic. With an influx of new gamers each year, we are excited to provide everyone with accessible board games through the introduction of our new Family Brand! Our Family Brand caters to games made for everyone in the family. The idea for the Family Brand logo stemmed from inverting the original Capstone Games logo upside down, so it becomes a house with the word Family as the foundation. In this way, the Family Brand logo becomes a visual representation of itself. Additionally, the shapes of the original Capstone Games logo and Family logos are also opposites, signifying the idea of lower and higher complexity between the two brands. Juicy Fruits is a game designed by Christian Stöhr, who is the co-designer of last year’s Spiel des Jahres winner Pictures. Each of you has a small island paradise, where you make a living growing delicious fruit. Your goal is to gain the most points by fulfilling ships’ orders and by adding businesses to your island. Juicy Fruits incorporates a fun sliding mechanic to gain various types of fruit. However, your island starts off small. As you fulfill orders, your island grows, allowing you to collect more fruit in a shorter amount of time. Clever planning is essential, as fulfilling orders frees 32 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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By Jillian Ross

valuable space on your island, but you also don’t want to let your opponents take all of the available businesses either! With each play, Juicy Fruits poses new exciting puzzles of how to move your tokens most efficiently and how to balance clearing your island, claiming businesses, and finding the right time to thwart your opponents’ plans. Rorschach is a fun team game that has the perfect fusion of aesthetics, theme, and gameplay. It can play four to ten players in about twenty minutes, ages ten and up! This game, named after the Swiss psychiatrist Herman Rorschach, uses some of his famous inkblot images to put two teams to the test. The teams earn points by correctly guessing how their members paired randomly selected words with these inkblot images. A player then secretly pairs three words with three inkblot images. That player’s teammates choose one of the images and guess the words. Before the word is revealed, the other team gets a shot at guessing and stealing points! Savannah Park is a tile laying game that plays 1-4 in about 30 minutes, ages 8 and up! You run a park home to some of the most fascinating wild animals in the world, and you have a lot to do. You must gather each type of animal into large herds, lead them to watering holes, and protect them from brush fires. A tricky task – especially as each animal can only move once, and your opponents have a say in when! Savannah Park’s simple rules offer great variety and countless replays. An engaging gaming experience for both families and advanced play groups. Compete to have the best park! Each game in our new Family Brand is a great addition to any gamer’s collection because each game offers accessible rules and amazing depth through fun mechanisms and strategy! From us at Capstone to you, we hope you enjoy our new Family Brand! capstone-games.com

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Devir Games adverstory

Mazescape

A solo-mode puzzle-game perfect for 2021 By Matt Hyland, Devir Games

t will come as no surprise to many retailers in the specialty game industry to read that puzzle sales in times of COVID-19 have exploded, as people are forced to spend more time indoors and are looking for activities to do at home with friends and family. Some manufacturers have reported month-over-month and year-over-year increases in sales north of 300%, resulting in supply shortages and the need to ramp up production. It will also come as no surprise to many retailers that, for the same reasons as stated above, there is a marked increase in demand for solo-gaming experiences. In fact, that trend pre-dated COVID-19 and continued to grow stronger through 2020 and 2021 - neither trend appears to be subsiding either. Market Watch, for example, projects that the puzzle market will continue to grow through 2026. The increased demand for puzzles and solo-gaming is serendipitous for Devir Games, since a long-running project hits the shelves and tables in June of 2021, Mazescape. Mazescape is a unique blend of puzzles and gaming, where players guide

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themselves through a series of foldable mazes searching for not just a way out, but a way to collect all of the prizes hidden within. Imagine an old-school foldable road map that does not unfold linearly, but sometimes horizontally, sometimes vertically, and sometimes back on itself, as the player traces their way through, using a wooden stylus that cannot leave the page. Because of the way the map folds, the player can’t see what lies ahead. The prime objective is to exit the maze and advance to the next map, but each map also contains secondary objectives of collecting objects that are found throughout the maze. The game contains a score sheet to keep track of the objects that have been collected, and since the progress is recorded with a wooden stylus (or your finger!), the mazes can be navigated many times. Furthermore, there are two unique sets in the first wave of Mazescape, Labyrinthos and Ariadne. Labyrinthos consists of three well-defined territories: the dock, the graveyard, and the mountain. The first map introduces the concept of the game and upon completion you are rewarded with…another map! In fact, there

are seven maps in each set that become increasingly more difficult. The Ariadne set is based on the mythical labyrinth on the island of Crete, created by Daedalus. As in the other sets, Ariadne contains seven maps that will rack your brain as the challenges become tougher with each map. And how could it not include a Minotaur in the most difficult map? Future sets are currently under development, incorporating different themes. There’s long-term potential for this product line, as the ability to create new mazes using various themes is nearly limitless. Each set contains seven maps, a wooden stylus, score trackers, basic rules, and comes in a hard case with a magnetic clasp. Completing each maze can take up to 90 minutes, so with the number of maps, the re-playability, increasing difficulty, and the different objectives, Mazescape offers hours of solo-mode puzzle time for a retail price of just $10. Look out for Mazescape in June of 2021 and offer your customers a unique, challenging activity that provides hours of play at a great value. Are you a Mazescaper?

devirgames.com

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Building Upon A Classic By Ian Birdsall Marketing & Brand Management, Off Duty Ninja

onstruction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882. Over its 150 years of continued construction, it has become one of the most well-known pieces of architecture in the world. While the main cathedral was opened to the public years ago, the final work on the three great facades continues. Likewise, the three Great Facades expansions to Sagrada the board game aim to expand on the core gameplay of Sagrada with additional flourishes. Passion, Life, and Glory, set to be released in early 2022. These will complete the set of the Sagrada: Great Facades expansions, well ahead of the real-life cathedral’s timeline. Passion was released in 2019 as the first of the Great Facades expansions to Sagrada. Like each of the others, Passion includes three modules that can be added individually or all together depending on the type of game you’re in the mood for. The most striking addition of this expansion is the addition of the Rare Glass Dice. These silver-colored dice coincide with new scoring options and are coupled with additional window and symmetry objective cards. Inspiration cards offer

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each player an ability to use during play that mirrors the public tools, adding even more flexibility to the dice placement. The first, but not the last, Passion is a great addition to Sagrada. Next in the series, Life added something completely unique to Sagrada. For the first time, players could draft dice that had no numerical value! These Masterwork Dice offer players additional scoring opportunities if they take on the added challenge of satisfying the die’s restrictions. Toil public objectives can be added to throw a twist on end game scoring objectives, but the Apprentice Cards may be the quiet heroes of the Life expansion. Apprentice Cards can be obtained directly from fulfilling specific window spaces on an all-new set of Sagrada Windows that players can select at the beginning of the game. Offering bold new abilities, the Apprentice cards can be single or multi-use, making their abilities highly prized. Completing the Great Facades expansions to Sagrada is no easy feat. Like the fabled cathedral, the final piece must be impressive indeed. The Glory expansion

is scheduled to release in early 2022. Like the two previous expansions, Glory will include three new modules to mix and match for each game. Still putting the finishing touches on this final expansion, Floodgate Games is planning on including more player interaction options in Glory. If it’s anything like the first two, this final installment to the Great Facades expansions will be as highly prized as it is anticipated by Sagrada fans everywhere. To help retailers introduce new customers to the Sagrada family of games, Floodgate Games has created an eye-catching point of purchase display for stores to showcase these titles. With room for Sagrada, the 5 & 6 Player expansion, Passion, Life, and soon Glory, game stores and retailers will have an easy go-to when customers ask for their next family-friendly game. Sagrada fans are a loyal bunch - when introduced to new content for their favorite game, they’re excited to try it! Simply ask your distributor about this display wherever you acquire Floodgate Games products.

floodgategames.com

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The hit game of dice drafting and window crafting. VIDEOS, REVIEWS & MORE AT

FLOODGATE.GAMES/SAGRADA

1-4

30-45

Players

Minutes

Ages 13+

MSRP: $39.95 Case Quantity: 6

Box Weight: .96 kg / 34 oz. Box Size: 295 x 225 x 75mm / 11.61 x 8.86 x 2.95 in.

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SKU: FGG-SA01 UPC: 728028379730

6/1/21 3:00 PM

Progress Update from

GAMA’s Diversity Committee By Mark Diaz Truman, Magpie Games & Chair of GAMA’s Diversity Committee

ast year, our industry faced what seemed to be an endless cascade of challenges: a global pandemic cancelled our conventions and shut down most retailers, while a muchneeded call for racial justice prompted many in our industry to reexamine how little had been done to make the hobby games industry a diverse and inclusive community. Sometimes it felt like a decade of history was being slammed into a single, challenging year. While GAMA tried to meet those challenges and support GAMA’s membership, it was clear in June of 2020 that on issues of diversity and inclusion— especially regarding racial justice—GAMA was still falling short. Specifically, GAMA appeared to waffle on supporting the Black Lives Matter protests, alienating many partners and allies, and then ultimately cancelled Origins Online in the wake of the backlash. As a Latinx designer and publisher, I was deeply hurt and frustrated to watch GAMA’s staff and board make these mistakes on these important issues. I know our industry can do better, and I was shocked to see the cascade of failures that led to Origins Online’s cancellation. There are times in which I doubt that I am truly welcome as a professional in our industry, and I had hoped GAMA would never give

me reason to question my inclusion. Even still, I was unwilling to give up on GAMA’s potential to be a positive force for change. I attended the town halls GAMA held in response to the Origins cancellation, and I was surprised and encouraged by both the number of members who showed up, and by the staff and board’s willingness to listen to criticism. It felt to me that the failures of the past might just light the spark the organization needed to make changes for the future. One of those changes, of course, is the establishment of the official Diversity Committee, an effort pioneered by board members such as Nicole Lindroos and others who believe that diversity programs are a real opportunity for positive change. I was proud to join the Diversity Committee last year, and I’m equally proud to report to the membership on our progress so far.

Our Work

At our first meeting in January 2021, I agreed to take on the role of Chairperson of the committee; we have since had monthly and bi-monthly meetings over the last four months to establish a community-led strategy to expand diversity and inclusion within GAMA and the broader industry. After recruiting a diverse group of leaders— retailers, publishers, and professionals from

many different communities within our industry—we’re now working on three distinct pathways: Nurturing New Voices: We believe that one of the main obstacles to success for new industry professionals from underrepresented and marginalized communities is a lack of support and mentorship for their work, and a lack of awareness that GAMA exists. We have begun working to connect new retailers and publishers to coaches—successful industry leaders—and peer mentors, hoping to see GAMA’s membership expand to include new companies and designers who would not otherwise find successful careers. Educating GAMA Members: In concert with the Education Advisory Committee, the Diversity Committee is excited to help design educational modules for GAMA members to help them understand diversity and inclusion practices that will strengthen their businesses and secure opportunities for marginalized people across our industry. We hope to see GAMA become a wellspring of resources for members as we all work to transform existing institutions to seize

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y the opportunities diversity makes possible. GAMA Accountability: GAMA itself—as both an institution and a collection of member organizations—must change to both meet the needs of the current membership and to create an inclusive environment that represents our collective values. It is this committee’s role and responsibility to hold GAMA’s leadership and staff accountable to handle issues of diversity and inclusion with more forward-thinking activity, and we are dedicating time and resources toward pushing GAMA on its communication, activities, and commitments moving forward. GAMA is not sitting idly by while we do the work on these issues. In addition to the two staff members to support our work—Melissa Jacobs (Education & Diversity Manager) and Paul McGraw (Events Manager)—GAMA has committed $20,000 to the above initiatives. We hope to do additional fundraising within the industry to expand these programs, but GAMA’s commitment to us and our work is precisely why I feel like this is a place from which we can make real change.

How You Can Help

If this work is appealing to you and you believe that you have energy, expertise, and experience to offer the committee, please reach out to our staff liaison at melissa.jacobs@gama.org and let us know that you’d like to be a part of our work. The most beautiful part of community work is that there is no contribution too small to matter, and many of our best ideas will come from those

who bring fresh eyes—and a great deal of passion! —to old problems. The structure of our committee has already taken shape, but we are eager to talk to new folks because there is still so much left to decide and act upon. We have put a focus on prioritizing leaders from underrepresented groups so far, but this work is something all of us must do together. If you care about expanding diversity in our industry and GAMA’s role within that expansion, please reach out to us and let us know you want to help. I have no illusions about the difficulty and challenges of the work ahead of us; diversity and inclusion are easy buzzwords to throw into a mission statement without really making any serious change. But I also know that the second-best time to plant a tree is today! We cannot hope that the work of diversity is done for us.

We have to do it ourselves.

GAMA is a member-driven organization that has the potential to shape our industry for decades to come; I hope you join us in seizing upon the opportunity to shape GAMA and its diversity and inclusion efforts alongside us. mark@magpiegames.com Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 41

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Keepers of the Questar “A

t the heart of any adventure is a quest. There is a magic in pursuing a goal. The energy generated by the interplay of choice and circumstance is transformative. A quest is the thread that weaves events and scenes into a tale, and it is a tale that shapes a hero. Whatever the objective, a quest always leads to a sense of meaning.” – Gordon LeVasseur, Designer of Keepers of the Questar Upper Deck introduces a brand new original 1 vs. 1 dungeon crawler, Keepers of the Questar. Explore a world, called Arbandy, where you can be both the leader of adventurers and a cunning Quest Master. In this game filled with magic and mayhem, you can design a quest full of dangerous monsters and

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clever traps, set out to navigate your rival’s quest and take your place among the elite adventures who have been honored with the mantle. The enigmatic Quest Masters brings excitement and mystery as you discover unrivaled treasure known as the Questar. The tale goes that not even mortal artistry can compare to the beauty of the Questar. Now, competing parties of adventurers have made it their life’s mission to take on the quest and become the Keepers of the Questar. You can embark on this journey to Arbandy and collect the Questar for yourself! As the Quest Master you will fully customize 1 of 8 maps where your

opponent will navigate through monsters and traps, search for treasure and complete the goal you set out for them! Make your quests completely unique each game and outsmart your opponent by navigating their map and completing your quest before they complete theirs. But watch out for hidden dangers that lurk within dungeons, filled with traps and monsters that are ready to destroy the adventurer! The traps and monsters will be exposed, but can you avoid them all? Will you be the next Keeper of the Questar? Now available at local game shops and UpperDeckStore.com

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Ways to Save on

Healthcare

ealthcare coverage can be confusing! There are thousands of plan options, codes and laws that seem to change every year. To help you through the confusion, here are some simple ways to save on your healthcare expenses outside your monthly premium. (Fun Fact: one of these tips could even help your premium go down at renewal.) 1. Understand your coverage: Your healthcare plan is full of documents; the summary plan description (SPD) is the one to focus on. The SPD is a detailed guide to the benefits provided and explains exactly how your plan works. It is required to be given to you for free as an enrollee in healthcare coverage. Another option is to speak with a health advocate. A health advocate will help you process all your healthcare coverage related needs. This includes going over the plan, explaining benefits, and helping find a provider if needed. Some plans include a healthcare advocate. A healthcare advocate can sometimes even help in finding child or elder care services! 2. Reduce Claims: This is a simple idea in theory, the fewer claims you incur throughout the plan year, the less you are spending out of pocket on co-pays, coinsurance, and toward your deductible. Reducing your number of claims can also reduce the increase of premiums year over year, helping you and your employer save more in the long term. To reduce your claims means you visit the doctor less, but

what if you need to see a provider? This is where telehealth benefits are helpful. Most insurance plans include telehealth service but using it still requires a co-pay and can incur a claim! If you need to speak with a medical provider, there are some telehealth plans like those that are part of Prosper Benefits that have $0 copay and do not show up as a claim. Prosper Benefits help reduce claims which can help reduce premiums year over year - this means more savings in your pocket! 3. Prescription Savings: Most plans offer prescription coverage, but what if you were able to save more through a third-party app than with your insurance? Well, often that is the case when you utilize Clever Rx. It may not always be less than with insurance, but it doesn’t hurt anyone to find out, so be sure to check out the Clever Rx app to see potential savings! Clever Rx is also available for every GAMA member no matter your health insurance status, and is as simple as visiting a link, entering your mobile number, and downloading an app. Scan the QR code in the image and download the app now! 4. Negotiate medical bills: Did you know that you can negotiate a medical bill?! Once a final bill from a provider is received you can call and discuss the expenses, set-up a payment plan, and many times with enough effort receive a discount. The key is knowing where to negotiate. Prosper Benefits includes Medical Bill Consultants that negotiate lower cost bills frequently. These consultants do all the heavy lifting by handling of the negotiations for you, giving you time back to enjoy your life! 5. Plan with an HSA: If you have a high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP) you can start a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is a tax-advantaged account, owned by an individual, with contributions made to the account by the individual or their employer, sometimes both. Contributions are limited to a yearly maximum. An HSA can help you prepare for those unforeseen healthcare expenses. Knowing these five tips will help you save on your healthcare coverage in the short term by lowering claim dollars spent (out of pocket costs) and in the long term by possibly affecting your renewal costs. As a GAMA member, if you have any questions about your options GameManufacturersHealthcare.com is here to assist. GameManufacturersHealthcare.com includes options like Prosper Benefits which empower you to make responsible decisions, giving you control of your healthcare. Use the QR code in the image to download Clever Rx and start saving on your prescription cost – this can even help save on your pet medications!

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Summon your card protection! Dragon Shield Japanese-size sleeves offer Max DEF for Mini Cards. Available in Classic Glossy, Matte, and Matte Art, the Dragon Shield range of Japanese sleeves include more than 25 colors and two brand new art motifs. Turn to our article on page 28 to learn more about all we have to offer. dragonshield.com/japanese-sleeves

After half a year of daylight, we must now prepare for the dark season. The roads will be treacherous, but they will still need to be braved by a select few in order to keep our cities thriving. In Merchants of the Dark Road, 1-4 players assume the roles of these brave few merchants who travel the dangerous paths between cities. While the job is perilous, fame and fortune await! elfcreekgames.com

In Imperium Legends and Imperium Classics, formidable adversaries are arrayed against you. Your people stand ready. History beckons. Compete to become the most dominant empire the world has ever seen. ospreypublishing.com Iberian Gauge, the third title in the Iron Rail Series by Capstone Games, is a cube rail game where players manage both the building of railroad tracks via their ownership of railroad companies, and the careful management of stock in companies. capstone-games.com

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Munchkin Apocalypse: Kaiju, a brand new 30-card mini-expansion from Steve Jackson Games, brings nuclear-powered battles, city-stomping showdowns, and off-planet altercations to your next game of Munchkin Apocalypse. Get barbecued by Hamera, take a sledgehammer to Rocky Road Dan, and win the day with the help of a Rousing Theme Song and a Small Child in Shorts! retailers@sjgames.com

Fall of the Mountain King from KTBG/ Burnt Island Games launched in Kickstarter June 1. The standalone prequel to In the Hall of The Mountain King is set during the war that drove the trolls from their kingdom. Players build an ancestry, battle other troll leaders for positional control, recruit champions and influence clans. burntislandgames.com info@burntislandgames.com

In Savannah Park, a new family tile-laying game from Capstone Games, players compete to have the best park. Herd animals in your park towards watering holes, and try to avoid bushfires by grouping animals by trees. capstone-games.com

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Pebble Rock Delivery Service from Skybound is a 2-4 player “Pickup and Delivery” game. Players race to make deliveries to friendly critters on the islands. Catch a ride with Maisy the Whale or dig treasure for the Dread Pirate Roberto, but make sure you watch out for Larry the Shark! mfaulisi@skybound.com skybound.com/tabletop

Mazescape from Devir is a perfect puzzle/solo-gaming activity. Unlike traditional mazes, Mazescapes fold and unfold so you can’t see where you’re going. Each set contains 7 maps of increasing difficulty, offering hours of brainbreaking fun! mazescape.devir. games/us/

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Overboss from Brotherwise Games features the retro villains of Boss Monster, but with all new game play! Emerge from your dungeon to conquer the overworld in this game of tile drafting, map building, and set collection. brotherwisegames.com

Do you have a larger game group? You can now enjoy more Sagrada by adding up to 2 extra players! The Sagrada 5 & 6 Player Expansion comes with all the components you’ll need to expand your game night! rich@floodgategames.com, floodgate.games/products/ sagrada-5-6-player-expansion

Merchants of Magick from Rock Manor is a crunchy roll-and-write set in the fantasy world of Set a Watch, where players are merchants of their own magic-item shoppe. Players will craft items and research spells to sell to the Adventurers of the Watch. The Merchant who earns the most coin wins. rockmanorgames.com

Indie Games “Three! Two! One! DRAW!” Finger Guns at High Noon is a fast-paced game of strategy, negotiation, and pure hilarity—battle royale style. Craft your plan, convince the crowd to join in, then count down and draw your finger guns. Eliminate players or stand to the side and lasso up an ally. Last player standing is the winner! indieboardsandcards.com

Catapult Feud from Iello is an exciting dexterity game that pits two families – the Chauforts and the Cunningfields – against each other in an epic battle to smash the opposing castle and knock over their soldiers. Build your castle, set up your troops, load your catapults and use your cunning tactics to conquer the floor! For age 7+ iellousa.com 48 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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Danger The Game from Origami Whale features disappointed fathers, depressed giant squids, dynamite on train tracks, and much more. Players use skills, tools, and imagination to devise foolproof plans and save the day. origamiwhalegames.com

Pegasus Spiele GmbH brings you My Farm Shop – a brilliant, deceptively simple game with easy to learn rules that makes running a market stall great family fun. Every dice roll gets all the players involved with deciding which fields to improve, which produce to sell, and how to make their own farm shop the best around! pegasus-web.com

Danger The Game Expansion offers a new selection of cards and a new card type to choose from to devise your best rescue plans and save the day once again! origamiwhalegames.com

Destinies from Lucky Duck Games offers a fully storydriven, app-supported, RPGlike board game experience. Players compete with each other to push the world towards one of their own two possible secret Destinies to achieve victory. Every scenario depicts a part of a vivid world, full of dark stories, epic NPCs, and mysteries to solve. luckyduckgames.com

Based on the Root: A Game of Woodland Might & Right board game and officially licensed by Leder Games, Magpie Games’ Root: The RPG brings the tales of the Woodland to your RPG table! You play vagabonds, outcasts from the normal society, fighting for money, justice, and freedom. magpiegames.com Four Gardens, the newest game in the Dice Tower Essentials line from Arcane Wonders, is available now! With a beautiful 3D rotating pagoda and amazing panoramas, this is truly an essential addition for anyone! sales@arcanewonders.com arcanewonders.com Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 49

Talisman Adventures

Roleplaying Game

By Tim Huckelbery, US Studio Editor and Talisman Brand Manager

alismans, Treasures, and Toads – Oh My!

Talisman Adventures Arrives! The Talisman board game has enchanted generations of players over the years, with every session creating thrilling tales of slaying dragons, stealing enchanted items, and overcoming impossible odds. Plus getting turned into a toad! Now players can create even grander stories with Talisman Adventures, the exciting new tabletop roleplaying game! Talisman Adventures takes the magical setting of the board game and expands it so that there are no limits to what can happen. The fast-paced and easy to learn rules allow players to quickly create their own unique characters by combining Ancestries such as troll, human, and ghoul with Classes such as thief, priest, and warrior. There’s also plenty of magic and magical items, including (of course) the infamous Toadify spell! The new 3d6 game system puts players in charge of the action. Whenever a character wants to do something challenging, like attack a monster or cast a spell, their player makes a test by rolling 3 dice – one of which is the special Kismet die. Failure could mean a miss and the enemy immediately attacks; a standard success might mean a spell worked as desired but there’s a drawback. A great success has no drawbacks, and an extraordinary success indicated 50 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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something awesome happened too, like the attack inflicted extra damage on the target. Special results on the Kismet die can trigger special abilities for a character or an NPC, and generate Fate points which can be spent to reroll dice or even add a die in a test. Rather than the GM rolling when NPCs attack, players also roll to defend themselves. This means that players do almost all the rolling and lets encounters move faster, as most of the time a single dice roll incorporates not only an action but also the target’s reaction. The book contains full support for both players and GMs, with Followers to aid the heroes, Enemies to threaten them, and exploration rules that allow everyone to play a role in wilderness adventuring.

It also includes a ready-to-use adventure complete with pre-generated characters, maps, and everything else needed to introduce new players to roleplaying and the Talisman setting. And there’s more to come! There’s a Game Master’s Kit (complete with screen and GM adventure support booklet) and an Accessory Pack of exclusive dice and Fate tokens. Tales of the Dungeon is the first setting book and covers notorious dungeons of the Realm (plus the infamous creatures lurking inside them). It’s filled with new ancestries and classes, gear, traps, expanded underground exploration rules and encounters, and a complete adventure. Talisman Adventures is a 302-page full color hardback, also available in a deluxe Limited Edition version. Both come with a foldout map of the Realm plus a punchboard sheet of Fate tokens. © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2021 pegasus-web.com

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A CLIMATE GAME FOR 3 TO 6 PLAYERS AGED 10 AND UP New web shop for retailers with shipping from the US and dedicated customer service.

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Expanding a Story

By Sean Jacquemain

oard games can take an interesting path from the first spark of an idea to the game that ultimately hits the table. Changes and edits to the gameplay, strategies, and narratives are quite common. That was certainly the case for Fall of the Mountain King (FMK). When Adam Daulton first pitched the game that would become FMK, it had a totally different theme. It was set in a real historic period and explored conflicts that actually took place. The Burnt Island Games team loved the concept and the core mechanics of the game, but they had a different vision for the narrative arch. “Right away, we saw the similarities with In the Hall of the Mountain King (HMK),” said publisher Helaina Cappel. “We could envision these same mechanics in the setting we had worked to establish in the original game.” While Daulton’s game used totally new rules, the two games shared a mechanical DNA. Fans of HMK would definitely see the connections between the gameplay of both titles, but FMK offers a totally new experience with its own challenges and strategies. HMK tells the story of exiled trolls returning home after being run out by gnomish invaders generations ago. The game focuses on rebuilding the mountain to its former glory. It always felt as if there was more story to tell in the lives of these trolls. What were their cus52 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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toms and politics? How was the mountain divided among the various clans? What did it look like before they were ousted? Finally, what took place in that dramatic battle that caused their downfall? These were questions that begged to be explored further, and with a ruleset that fit the theme, it seemed like the perfect fit. Whenever a publisher returns to an established theme, there are benefits and drawbacks. You need to adhere to the spirit of the original game enough to satisfy fans, while creating enough of a new play experience that you’re not simply rehashing old ideas. It’s a tightrope to be walked with any design within an existing world. As an additional challenge to setting FMK in the past as a prequel to HMK, the narrative had

to connect with a specific set of circumstances. At the beginning of HMK, the mountain has just collapsed scattering the remaining gnomes and providing an opportunity for the trolls to return. FMK had to end with the defeat of a once proud civilization, but needed to explain victory conditions even in the context of a greater defeat. For several months, Daulton and Burnt Island Games worked to establish the setting and refine the rules for fun strategic gameplay that makes sense in that context. As development continued, the Ancestry mechanic become more interesting and even better incorporated into the theme. Across three rounds, called Waves, the onslaught of gnomes threatens control of the mountain, and only through brave actions and clever decisions can a player prove themselves worthy of claiming a leadership role with the trolls as they bid their time in exile. Destiny is predetermined in FMK. Players will sit down to the table knowing their defence of the mountain will be in vain. They also know that in a few generations the trolls will return. Winning a game of FMK will ensure they will be the ones to lead the return to the mountain when that moment is right! Contact info@burntislandgames. com to become a retail backer for our June 1 Kickstarter.

kidstablebg.com

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BY adam daulton • ART BY FAHED ALRAJIL & XAVIER CUENCA

The hotly-anticipated prequel to the award-winning In the King; Wage the legendary doomed war Hall of the Mountain King against the avalanche of enemies devastating your mountain home, and become the one to lead the Trolls into exile!

LIVE JUNE 1 ON

KICKSTARTER RETAILER PLEDGE LEVEL AVAILABLE!

BURNTISLANDGAMES.COM

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2021 Tabletop Game Industry

RECRUITMENT by Kim Shatzer

he growth of gaming in 2020 generated a hiring surge that flowed strong into 2021… with no signs of stopping. Large toy manufacturers, game studios, and tabletop businesses roared with hiring in the pandemic. The game makers thrived while small retailers and indie studios fell short on sales and customers in the lockdown. As Americans stayed home playing more games, it reshaped groupthink, socialization and entertainment value. Tabletop and the hobby industry, a lot like technology, get better over time. The lockdown reformatted how we hire for designers, writers, producers

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and publishing professionals. Artwork, game pieces, characters, participation and printing quality are top of mind for games made this year. As a game recruitment professional, I get the privilege of seeing the industry from an outsider and insider vantage point. We analyze the game industry’s hiring patterns, but also the guts of studio projects like new board games, RPGs, marketing campaigns, sales tactics, product development, strategic partnerships and roadmap plans. Once we evaluate the scope of a job opportunity, we coach clients on hiring trends, candidate demands,

hot portfolios and how to stay competitive to scoop up quality candidates with a love for tabletop. DE&I is not only the hot topic of the year, it’s the hot topic of our lifetime. A large percentage of players and fans of tabletop games are diverse in demographic; therefore the production, branding, design and publishing teams need to represent and reflect that reality. Studios are paying attention to how DE&I play a part in the candidate application and interview process. Studios are newly committed to voicing public stances on diversity and current events. Game

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studios and publishers are even hiring DE&I Directors, Diversity Consultants, Employee Success Managers, HR Leads and HBCU partnerships. I have also seen an uptick in support for nonprofits. (Some of my favorites include Black Girls Code, Take This, Gamers Outreach, Girls Who Code, Gamers Vote, Dress For Success, and AbleGamers!) Most importantly, game leaders are focusing on diversity efforts by representing diverse characters in games, packaging, merchandise, toys, and content. Our niche Game Recruiters have an intimate understanding of candidate requests during the job search. Our finger is on the pulse of passive and active senior level job seekers. Here’s the top 3 questions we hear from tabletop candidates. First, is the job remote forever? As Covid-19 rates improve, we’ll see how the cookie crumbles on this hot button topic. Odds are, you didn’t originally get into the gaming biz to work alone in your house; historically the best ideas, products, toys, games and storylines came from onsite teamwork and testing together. Secondly, what are the stock plans, profit share bonus, 401k match and performance bonus percentages, if any? Candidates are well aware game revenue shot up 10-20% in 2020. Game stocks are on the rise as the world turns its focus to playing at home, collecting toys, completing puzzles and home entertainment. Passive and active job-hunting candidates want to know what their fair-share-slice of the sweat-equity-pie looks like. Fortunately, game studios are implement-

ing salary banding within job grades to promote pay equity, hiring flexibility and accurate budgeting. This is a service we frequently consult with clients on. Third, what are the consumer feedback practices? Tabletop companies listen to publishers and print partners yet also need to tune in to what buyers want to play with friends post-pandemic. With the rise in popularity for crowdfunding in tabletop, designers want to ensure they’re joining a tabletop company with a bright future and consumer-forward approach. The user experience and interface of a board game or TCG have dramatically improved in recent years. The design, storytelling and game actions (like rolling some dice, moving a piece or flipping a card) are getting more sophisticated. This trickles into an enhanced storyline, interaction, gameplay, escapism and fan loyalty. No matter what game industry candidates want, or what game companies need – stay focused on, “What

is my contribution to the game industry during the span of my career?” Luckily my game recruitment team has top notch talent acquisition strategies of matching great talent with great companies, yet our biggest contribution is the ability to find culture “adds,” instead of just culture “fits.” Kim Shatzer is Managing Director and Founder of Onward Play, division of Onward Search. Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. The segments they cover include PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, MR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop. Visit www. OnwardPlay to learn more about their recruitment services.

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RIO GRANDE GAMES

IBERIAN RAILWAYS R

io Grande Games has a long tradition of fine railroad-themed games. Many of these games have been the result of the long-standing partnership between Rio Grande and Winsome Games. The next game in the latest series of these games is due to be released in June 2021: IBERIAN RAILWAYS. IBERIAN RAILWAYS is set in the Iberian Peninsula, which is mainly comprised of Spain and Portugal. The game allows the players to take the roles of early railroad entrepreneurs as the first railways are built in the area. Players must build railway track to connect the major cities on the peninsula. The game mechanics will be familiar to anyone who has played games of this genre. Each turn, players must decide if they are going to add new railway track to the board or expand their existing track. Or, they can invest in the stock of businesses located in major cities on the game board. These investments will pay off for the player as soon as any railroad builds a track in that city. There is one way that IBERIAN RAILWAYS is fundamentally different from most other railroad games: The players start with no money and have no 56 AROUND THE table • Q2 2021

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way to build track without proper funding. In order to get the money they need to build railway track or invest in businesses, the players must take loans from the Bank of Madrid. Each loan provides $5 worth of capital that can be invested in the railroad. However, the loan costs $6 to pay back, and the players must pay interest on the loan each turn that it remains unpaid. Players must generate income in order to stay alive in the game. They do this by connecting cities with their railway tracks. As their lines connect more and more cities, their income level grows. Connecting cities in which they have already purchased business investments will further increase their income. Tracking building is very limited early in the game. This limit is slowly increased during the game. Each time a new city is connected to the railway lines, the limit is increased by one. This limit further complicates building in the early stages of the game. Players must plan their early moves with care to avoid taking additional loans, which will further hamper

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their ability to generate income. Another interesting feature of the game is that a player may not take the same action on consecutive turns. Each turn, a player must select a different action than they took the turn before. Careful planning is necessary so that a player does not find themselves without a productive action to take in a later turn. IBERIAN RAILWAYS will appeal to veteran train gamers as well as new players in the genre. The rules are fast and easy to learn. The game challenges players to seek out and make the right moves to balance their companies’ fortunes. IBERIAN RAILWAYS is coming to game stores everywhere starting in June 2021. For more information on these or other Rio Grande Games titles, please visit our website: www.riograndegames.com. Author: Ken Hill, Production/Marketing Manager, ken@riograndegames.com. riograndegames.com

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IBERIAN RAILWAYS is a fascinating railroad game for 3-5 players with a playing time of 60-75 minutes. You and your fellow players compete to build railways to connect the many important cities in Spain and Portugal. Each player starts the game with no money. The railways must be financed by taking loans from the Bank of Madrid. Loans require interest payments so the borrowed money must be invested wisely! You need to plan the routes carefully to generate the most income. Players can also invest in local businesses that will pay out handsome bonuses once a railway reaches that location. The player who best manages their railways will be victorious.

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One of Several Exciting Strategies By Nikki Pontius, Hachette Boardgames US

here are many strategies a player can take to win a game of Nidavellir. We are going to talk about one of them, “Coin Building”. It is a great place to start as “Coin Building” can be a factor in many of the other strategies a player can use. Why is Coin Building so important? This is the main mechanic used to recruit dwarfs for your army. A winning bid at a tavern allows the player to recruit first at that tavern. Each dwarf class has its own scoring mechanism: blacksmith, hunter, warrior, explorer, and miner. Careful recruitment will allow you to attract a powerful hero to your army. All players will start the game with coins valued 0,2,3,4, and 5. Coin Building will allow players to methodically trade in these coins for higher value coins increasing your ability to have a winning bid for recruitment. How Coin Building Works Coin Building is a system whereby the total of two coins will allow the player to take that value coin from the supply. For example, a 3 coin + 5 coin = an 8 coin the player can then take the 8 coin from the supply, but having done this the player must discard the highest value coin they used in the addition. In this case, the 5 coin would be discarded. The strategy of Coin Building First and foremost, you must lead the bets! The 25 coin must be yours and you will need to score between 60 and 80 points at the end with your coins to stand a chance. The zero coin is your friend and you’ll play it systematically, trying to achieve the best possible gains with each trade. Trading Coins When you trade with a 5 and a 4, you replace the 5 with a 9 and you gain 4 victory points. When you trade with a 3 and a 2, you replace the 3 with a 5 and only gain 2 victory points … Starting the game it may not seem significant, but if you earn 7 victory points by swapping a 9 and a 7, you can then afford to be the

in Nidavellir

last to take in a tavern… Transforming Coins In the same spirit, Royal Offerings should be a priority for you. Firstly, they allow you to ramp up faster on coin trades, but moreover, they’ll allow you to upgrade your smallest coin, which is never possible with the trade due to the zero coin (since you always trade the highest value.) When improving due to rewards, always favor your smallest coin (the 2 at the beginning of the game). If you apply the reward to one of the coins that you’re going to trade in, then again you should apply the bonus to the smaller coin. Example: I put a 10 and a 5 for trade and get the +5 reward. If I apply the +5 to coin 5, I will then have 2 coins of value 10 to trade and in the end, I’ll end up with a 10 and a 20. If I had applied the bonus to the 10, I would have had a 5 and a 15 in the trade, which still makes a total of 20, but I would have found myself at the end of the operation with a 5 and a 20 … The only time this becomes obsolete is when it occurs while you’re making a big gain because the coin you should get is no longer present in the Royal Treasure! If you’ve got a headache after reading this first part, then you’ve just realized something elementary: Coin building isn’t for you! To practice it, you have to be a real merchant: “a dime is a dime” must be your motto in all circumstances! Hero Cards with Coin strategy Another key element to take into account with this strategy, are the Hero cards which will reinforce it. These are fundamental for victory and without them you might still end up with a good score but ... you’ll be second! Let’s take a closer look at the Hero cards, and prioritize their recruitment order: - First, Grid the mercantile will give you the best advantage. A +7 on a coin (for example on the 2!) Will often be decisive to get you leadership on the bets. Note that sometimes the +7 will be more interesting on your best coin to get to 25 before the others or to obtain

the value of a coin absent from the treasure and thus achieve an interesting gain (especially if several successive coins are missing …) - Then, Jarika is ideal to boost all your numerous trades and coin upgrades since each time you interact with the royal treasure you’ll systematically do so with an added value of 2. And that is good! - Finally, Astrid the Wealthy will bring you a good addition of victory points since her value will be that of your strongest coin at the end of the game (which is 25 if you have followed our advice). But I would say she’s less important than Grid and Jarika and should only be considered if the opportunity to recruit a 3rd Hero card presents itself. In short, Astrid is the icing on the Coin Building cake! Distinctions do not have priority, but 2 are welcome: that of the Miners (gem 6 which can’t be taken away and is worth 3 points of Value) and that of the Hunters (coin of value 3 which replaces the zero) because you will systematically trade in each round of taverns and having a 3 instead of a 0 or always winning ties, is a nice bonus. In short, if you ensure the highest bet, and if you keep an eye on all possible capital gains during the game, you’ll surprise your opponents in terms of scoring, because yes (and this is the fun part of this strategy :o) it’s only at the end of the game that they’ll realize your score … Coin building is the bomb! Yup, we can’t repeat ourselves enough! At the same time, this kind of is the heart of this game …So no surprise there: we warned you! All joking aside, if this strategy can be extremely powerful, it is also demanding to be done right, as it involves analyzing the strategy of your opponents and reacting accordingly ... So, don’t be discouraged if you fail on your first attempts! There are other strategies one can take all of them are equally strong, but that is for another article. This game provides lots of replayability and strategies that can work for all kinds of players.

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GAMA

news

AWARDS 2021 Power Retailer Awards 2021

GAMA RETAIL DIVISION Congratulations to the following individuals on their election / re-election to the GAMA Retail Division (GRD): Rhonda Becker (The Gamers Den, Cambridge, MN) Jay Mason-Grant (Black Knight Games, Ontario, Canada) Kylie Prymus (Games Unlimited, Pittsburgh, PA) During EXPO, the GRD also elected the following to leadership positions: Chair - Jennifer Ward (Crazy Squirrel Game Store, Fresno, CA) Vice-Chair - Kylie Prymus (Games Unlimited, Pittsburgh, PA) Secretary - Dave Salisbury (Fan Boy Three, Manchester, UK) Thank you to all of the candidates who ran for the GRD Board for your wiliness to serve. Also thanks to outgoing GRD Chair Dawn Studebaker and

At-Large Member Josh Fohrman who completed their respective terms on the board. Your contribution to your fellow retailers is much appreciated.

WHOLESALE DIVISION Congratulations to Sito Sanchez with Peachstate Hobby Distribution on his re-election as the GAMA Wholesale Division Chair!

POWER RETAIL AWARDS GAMA and the GRD take great pride in honoring the best in retail innovation and creativity with the Power Retail Awards. Each year, these awards recognize the most innovative retailers in a variety of categories. Please see below for the winners. Outstanding Store Design - Hitherto Coffee & Gaming Parlour Outstanding Contribution to Games (Retail) Kathleen Donahue, Labyrinth Game Shop Innovation in Games (Retail) - Board Gaming with Education Retailer of the Year - All GAMA Retailer Members!

Tabletop Game Industry Catalog Launched May 18 As a service to the industry, TGI is free for retail stores to GAMA is very pleased to announce the creation of the Tabletop Game Industry Catalog (TGI) as an information hub to connect retailers, publishers, and distributors to help everyone sell more games. TGI is a partnership between the Game Manufacturers Association and Board Game Atlas to create an easy-to-use online resource that will benefit all segments of the hobby games industry. Retailers can use the catalog to find products to stock in their store and access important game information such as weight, dimensions, stock images, sell sheets, demo videos, organized play information, etc. In addition, there are purchase links to the distributors that stock the game and to the publisher’s website if they sell direct to retailers. Retailers can create lists of titles that they want to stock and export that information to a file that can be imported into their Shopify POS, simplifying their operations so that they can focus on selling more games.

use - basic product listings are also provided free to GAMA publisher members. While the system is preloaded with information on more than 100,000 product titles, publishers can verify and edit their publisher and product pages at no additional cost (other than being a GAMA member). And if a publisher is not currently a GAMA member, they can join on TGI in just a few minutes. For those publishers that wish to provide additional resources to help retailers sell their games, we have the PRO and Enterprise Levels for publishers to add sell sheets, custom video links, stock images, organized play info, and enhanced advertising options. TGI offers an API interface making editing and updating product listings simple and quick. Visit tabletopgameindustry.com for more information on TGI. If you have feedback or suggestions on how we can improve this member service, please email john.stacy@gama.org.

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In Memory of Brian Dalrymple For more than 20 years, Brian Dalrymple was a member of GAMA and was instrumental in making it the organization it is today. He served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors from 2003 to 2019, as well as the chair of the Bylaws Committee and the Membership Committee for many years. Likable, amicable and open-minded, Brian will be remembered as a retailer with his Adventure Game Store in Florida, publisher for Alligator Alley Entertainment, and unmistakable Panama-wearer during the many conventions he attended faithfully. He was a friend and mentor to many in the industry. GAMA offers our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Brian Dalrymple. He will be missed.

SAVE THE DATE!

GAMA EXPO 2022 MARCH 14-18, 2022 PEPPERMILL RESORT & CASINO RENO, NEVADA While GAMA EXPO 2021 may be over, it’s not too early to start planning for GAMA EXPO 2022 and our return to in person trade shows. Based on the overwhelming response from members that otherwise would not be able to attend due to distance or cost, we are planning for GAMA EXPO 2022 to be a hybrid show with both in person and online options.

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GAMA

news

ROOT

By Mark Diaz Truman, CEO and Game Designer

oot: The Tabletop Roleplaying Game is a new tabletop RPG for ages 12 and up based on Leder Games’s award-winning Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right board game about conflict and power, featuring struggles between cats, birds, mice, rabbits, foxes, and more. In Root: The RPG, three to five players all take on the role of vagabonds, denizens of the Woodland who have been cast out of “civilized” society, whether by their own volition or by exile. Together as a band of outlaws, the vagabonds venture throughout the Woodland fulfilling jobs for the other denizens, having adventures, getting into trouble, and tipping the scales in the conflict between the factions. This game focuses on fun adventurous action and escapades, and on the meaningful, lasting backdrop of the Woodland and its war. The vagabonds get into big fights and stage cunning heists, and by doing so, they earn reputations with different Woodland factions. They might even choose to help a faction take control over clearings and win the War!

From Board Game to RPG

In the original board game, the Marquise de Cat’s troops try to hold the Woodland against the forces of the tumultuous Eyrie Dynasties— meanwhile a single vagabond piece adventures and the Woodland Alliance plots

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revolution. The different factions create an experience that makes players want to return to the game again and again! Root: The RPG isn’t just set in the wonderful world of the Woodland; it’s inspired at every level by Root’s delightful asymmetry and core mechanics. We’re huge fans of the board game, and we’ve spent the past few years building out a roleplaying game that allows players to step more deeply into the Woodland’s setting and politics. Want to know more about what happens as the Marquisate grows in power? Or what secrets and mysteries haunt those ruins in the forest? Root: The RPG makes time for all those questions and gives players an opportunity to spend dozens of sessions immersed in a setting that feels more real with every adventure.

For Players New and Old

Actual play podcasts and livestreams have made RPGs hotter than ever. Root:

The RPG uses a format with which many players are already familiar—a band of adventurers roams the Woodland encountering enemies and mysteries in roughly three to four hours sessions— but offers a cutting-edge rules engine featuring adorable animals. We’re so excited to see many players try out Root: The RPG as their first (or second) roleplaying game! At the same time, the game’s systems—a Powered by the Apocalypse engine similar to Masks: A New Generation and Monster of the Week— are robust. Gear, weapons, and resources matter in Root: The RPG, and the reputation mechanics mean that every adventure counts toward the broader politics of the setting. We’ve also given the gamemaster tools for creating adventures on the fly, reducing the amount of prep time needed to run a great session.

By Wing and Paw!

We’re so thrilled to release Root: The RPG later this year, and we hope it finds a space at your store right next to the board game! Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right is a game that tells stories, and we’re so excited to give players a new way to experience the Woodland... and make a lasting mark on the War as vagabonds! Root art and logo © 2017 Leder Games. All Rights Reserved.

magpiegames.com

6/1/21 3:02 PM

Suburbia gets a new look! By Ted Alspach

hen Suburbia was first published almost 10 years ago, it was an instant smash hit. Never before had the engaging city-building mechanics of Sim City or Cities: Skylines been available in boardgame form. Suburbia’s rich thematic presence and gameplay engaged both casual and strategy gamers, as they worked to create the perfect city. In Suburbia, players build a borough within a larger metropolis, with the goal of having the highest population by the end of the game. Each turn they purchase a new building; some buildings directly add to their population (like suburbs and apartments), while others, like parks, increase their reputation, which gives them additional population at the end of each turn. Still other buildings such as factories can increase their income they receive at the end of each turn, which allows them to buy better buildings on future turns. There are other things going on that players need to be aware of: common goals reward the player with the most (or least) of something, such as residential buildings. Many buildings interact with

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each other in helpful ways, such as building residential and commercial areas near a park, which boosts reputation. Still other combinations of buildings need to be avoided, such as placing an airport near housing. As their population grows, so does their overhead and population density, reducing their net income and reputation - it’s often two steps forward and one step back, with each player attempting to come up with the right combination of buildings that will allow their borough to prosper more than their competitors. It only takes a few minutes to learn the game (on your turn, you simply buy a tile and place it in your borough). It’s the wide variety of building tiles that give Suburbia its depth and replayability. In fact, you’ll use a different subset of tiles for a different experience each time you play!

The brand-new 2nd Edition of Suburbia has been totally revamped with a new design, lifelike, detailed artwork, and a much better table presence. The building tiles are 20% larger, and the scoreboard has been redesigned to take up less space. The rules have been entirely rewritten and organized to make learning the game easier, and to make referencing the different tiles faster. In addition, GameTrayz™ organizers are provided in the box to make storing and setup quick and easy. Suburbia has had multiple expansions published for it over the years, and the new Suburbia Expansions box includes all of them in a great companion box (again with GameTrayz™ organizers). The 2nd Edition and the Expansions set were created at the same time, conveniently allowing players to store everything from both boxes in the base game box, taking up less room for storage and for taking the complete game with them to game night. Suburbia and Suburbia Expansions are now available everywhere great board games are sold.

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The Iron Rail Series by Capstone Games

By Jillian Ross

he Iron Rail series from Capstone Games focuses on rail network developments in various geographic regions around the world at a time when iron and steam powered locomotives were the best means of transportation. This series is dedicated to the robust iron railways that were built during this period of history. Player interaction, route building, and stock investments are key features of the Iron Rail series. With accessibility in mind, each game in the series has one sheet of rules and plays in just one hour! The first game in the series, Irish Gauge designed by Amabel Holland, is a cube rails game where players manage ownership of railroad companies and build their own railroad tracks from city to city. On each player's turn, they can either place a share of one of five companies up for auction, build track in one of these five companies, upgrade a town to a

city, or call for dividends. The dividends are paid out to shareholders of certain railroads based on how many cities/towns they connect to and how many shares of this company have been issued. The upgrade and dividend actions also affect game length and the likelihood of further dividends for each company. The game ends when a certain condition is met at the end of a player's turn, and the player with the highest sum of money and stock value at the end of this turn wins. Irish Gauge plays 3 to 5 players in about an hour, ages 12 and up! The next game in the series, Ride the Rails from Winsome Games, is a pick-up and deliver train game where players will lay track to deliver passengers across the US. Each player will invest in railroad companies, build railway tracks across the United States, and deliver passengers to as many cities as possible. Each round, a new railroad company is introduced to the game,

and each railroad company has its own special placement rules! Deliver passengers to as many cities as possible to earn the most points. Be cautious in travels as shareholders of railroads that you use will also earn points! Ride the Rails offers an expansion map for France and Germany, and a new expansion map available in July 2021 featuring Australia and Canada! The newest addition to the Iron Rail Series is Iberian Gauge by Amabel Holland. Much like Irish Gauge, Iberian Gauge is a cube rails game where players manage ownership of railroad companies and build their own railroad tracks. Each player will invest in railroad companies during Stock Rounds. In the Operating Rounds, each share of stock allows the shareholder to build a track for that company, in the order those shares were purchased. But building in such hostile terrain is expensive! Leasing track from other companies reduces cost and keeps your railroads expanding. Failure to expand will sink your stock values, leading to ruin! Explore the world of iron and steam powered locomotives featuring beautiful artwork from Ian O’Toole in the Iron Rail Series from Capstone Games! Iberian Gauge and the new Ride the Rails: Australia and Canada Expansion Map will be available in July 2021. capstone-games.com

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SKU: IR301 - MSRP $39.95

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INDEX OF advertisers Company....................................................... website

adverstory page................ ad page

Arcane Tinmen ApS.......................................... arcanetinmen.com ....................................... 28.................................... 29 Arcane Wonders............................................. arcanewonders.com ....................................... 18.............. front cover, 19 AWEbase........................................................................ awebase.com ....................................... 24.................................... 25 Bezier Games........................................................ beziergames.com ....................................... 63.............................. 64-65 Bloomsbury Publishing............................. ospreypublishing.com.......................................... 8...................................... 9 Brotherwise Games, LLC.........................brotherwisegames.com................................................................................ 61 Capstone Games1......................................... capstone-games.com..................................32, 66..............................33, 67 Devir Games.............................................................devirgames.com........................................ 36.................................... 37 Elf Creek Games............................................... elfcreekgames.com ....................................... 20.............................. 21-23 Floodgate Games.......................................... floodgategames.com ....................................... 38.................................... 39 Hachette Boardgames US.......................................................................................................... 58.................................... 59 IELLO................................................................................. iellousa.com ....................................... 71.....................back cover Indie Game Studios.............................indieboardsandcards.com........................................ 14.................................... 15 KTBG/Burnt Island Games................................. kidstablebg.com ....................................... 52.................................... 53 Lucky Duck Games...................................... luckyduckgames.com ......................................... 6.........inside front cover Magpie Games....................................................magpiegames.com........................................ 62...................................... 4 MyHealthily.......................... gamemanufacturershealthcare.com........................................ 44.................................... 45 Origami Whale.........................................origamiwhalegames.com........................................ 68.................................... 69 Pegasus Spiele GmbH....................................... pegasus-web.com ....................................... 50.................................... 51 Rio Grande Games........................................ riograndegames.com ....................................... 56.................................... 57 Rock Manor Games.................................... rockmanorgames.com........................................ 26.................................... 27 Skybound Games...................................................... skybound.com ....................................... 12.................................... 13 Steve Jackson Games................................................ sjgames.com ....................................... 16.................................... 17 Ultra Pro International.............................................. ultrapro.com ......................................................................... 34-35 Upper Deck............................................................... upperdeck.com ....................................... 42.................................... 43

To advertise, contact Amy Colburn at 315-789-6431 or amy@fwpi.com Issue

AROUND THE

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association

Q3 Q4

Deadline

July 9 October 1

Mailing Date

August 13 November 5

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Spotlight on Kris Fosh Creator of Catapult Feud

atapult Feud is a new boulder launching, castle smashing dexterity game for the whole family. Players build castles, set up their troops, load the catapults and use cunning tactics to conquer the floor! Designed by Kristian Fosh, the game engages the imagination by immersing players in a medieval-style battle between kingdoms. Players will get to choose one of two families, either the Chauforts from France or the Cunningfields from England. They will then have to build a castle out of plastic bricks to fortify their troops. Using Action cards and their very own, fully functioning catapult, players launch rubber boulders in an attempt to destroy their opponent's castle and knock over their troops. When all the troops of one family are knocked down, the battle is over. The winning family must have at least one troop standing upright. We asked designer Kristian Fosh a few questions about his awesome game: IELLO: What motivated you to create this game? FOSH: Originally, I started making this game just for me and my boys. They love nothing more than to build… and then break what the other has built! When I needed some ideas and feedback, I started posting the very early designs on Facebook in a few of the amazing collaboration groups and the interest I got was incredible. So many people could identify with an idea and experience that had been missing since their childhoods. Since then, it’s been a combination of the support I have from my family, the incredible community support online, iellousa.com

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and the wonderful team at Vesuvius Media that have pushed me to get the game completed, boxed up, and delivered to gaming tables and living room floors around the world. IELLO: What was your inspiration? FOSH: I was inspired by the fun games I used to play with my brothers back when we were kids and wanted to bring that joy back, now that I’m a Dad of young kids. My boys are now 8 and 6 and have loved this game ever since we started working on it together. To see them playing it for hours, bringing it out for their friends to play, it inspired me to make the best possible game I could so that other families could share in the game we’d made together. IELLO: What is a fun fact about the creation of the game? FOSH: In all the years we’ve been playing it together, my kids have never once asked me what the rules are! IELLO: In your opinion what are the right ingredients for a fun game? FOSH: When I design, I always try to have three ‘pillars’ and measure everything against them. So, for Catapult Feud, it was Construction, Destruction, and Fun. Each element had to belong to at least one of these pillars, if not more. The bricks were made large and simple so it is still fun to build your castles. The Destruction should definitely be fun not only to cause but also to experience. The fun is throughout, from the art style, the crazy characters, and the weird and wonderful war machines. So, even if it’s your castle that’s under siege, it’s still fun to watch it fall. Much

more fun to get your own back though! IELLO: What would you like to tell your fans about their next Catapult Feud games? FOSH: I hope you have a great time! This game is all about having fun, never taking it too seriously, and enjoying time together as friends and family. IELLO: What is a little-known fact about you that you would like to share with your fans? FOSH: This was the first game I ever designed by myself (before the amazing team at Vesuvius picked me up) and most of the drawings were done on the train as I commuted to and from work! IELLO: Are you a dog or a cat person? FOSH: I have owned and loved both in the past, but I’d rather have a dog if given a choice. Plus, dogs seem to learn faster to stay off the battlefield or face the consequences. ;) A final note from Fosh: “I’d like to thank you for taking the time to read this article and for your interest in my game. It took a long time to get it from my sketchpad and those oh-so-basic 3D printed bricks to the hit it is today. Nothing could have prepared me for the wonder that is seeing videos of parents and their kids playing and laughing and leaping up, hands raised as they score the perfect hit and send their opponents' troops flying. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing team at Vesuvius Media for believing in me as, without them, this game may well have never become a reality. Now quit reading this and go start a War for The Floor!” Q2 2021 • AROUND THE table 71

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AROUND THE TABLE A PUBLICATION BY THE GAME MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

Q2 2021

6/21/21 12:21 PM

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Around the Table Q2 2021

Articles inside

Bezier Games

Capstone Games 32

IELLO

Hachette Boardgames US

Magpie Games

Rio Grande Games

KTBG/Burnt Island Games

Pegasus Spiele GmbH

Upper Deck

MyHealthily

New Products

Floodgate Games

Devir Games

Arcane Tinmen ApS

Rock Manor Games

AWEbase

Indie Game Studios

Steve Jackson Games

Bloomsbury Publishing

Lucky Duck Games

Arcane Wonders

Skybound Games