Around the Table Q4 2021 by Fahy-Williams Publishing

Q4 2021

“The lantern may fade, but the coin still shines.” Brought to you by

Attending GAMA EXPO A Retailer’s Perspective

Visual Merchandising How to Grab Their Attention

A New Pathway in the Tabletop Games Industry

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AROUND THE

Q4 2021

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GAMA STAFF

PRESIDENT Stephan Brissaud IELLO VICE-PRESIDENT Andrew Chesney Chip Theory Games TREASURER Gary Alaka Gap Closer Games

John Stacy

Chris Materni

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR john.stacy@gama.org

Paul McGraw

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

EVENTS MANAGER

chris.materni@gama.org

paul.mcgraw@gama.org

SECRETARY Julie Ahern Greenbrier Games DIRECTOR - DISTRIBUTOR Sito Sanchez Peachstate Hobby Distribution DIRECTOR - DISTRBIRUTOR Beau Heath Southern Hobby Distribution DIRECTOR – CREATIVES Grace Collins Snowbright Studio

Cynthia Tuck

Adam Ziegler

EVENTS COORDINATOR

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

cynthia.tuck@gama.org

adam.ziegler@gama.org

Gregoire Boisbelaud

Bee Zelda

DIRECTOR – RETAIL Jennifer M. Ward Crazy Squirrel Games & Toys DIRECTOR - RETAIL Kylie Prymus Games Unlimited DIRECTOR – MEDIA & EVENT Monica Rasso Meeples At Sea DIRECTOR – PRODUCTION Eric Price Meijia Games Factory DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Jeff Pinsker Mondo Games EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER Will Niebling KOPLOW Games

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR greg.boisbelaud@gama.org

LIVESTREAM VIDEO HOST - ANIME & TABLETOP GAME PROGRAMMING

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 Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 3

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Film star murder! Dating show candidate found dead!

New web shop for retailers with shipping from the US and dedicated customer service.

Order now at pegasusna.com!

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AROUND THE

Q4 2021

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association Features

Adverstories

Attending GAMA EXPO A Retailer’s Perspective

Tips and tricks to help retail stores sell games, written by the following companies Andrews McMeel Universal

Visual Merchandising

Arcane Tinmen ApS

How to Grab Their Attention

Bezier Games

A New Pathway in the Tabletop Games Industry

Departments

GAMA Board and Staff

7 Letter from the Executive Director 48-51

New Products

58-61

GAMA News

Index of Advertisers

Elf Creek Games

Floodgate Games

Indie Game Studios

Japanime Games

KTBG/Burnt Island Games

Lucky Duck Games

Magpie Games

Metal Weave Games

MyHealthily 54 62

Pegasus North America

Rio Grande Games

Skybound LLC

Steve Jackson Games

The Army Painter

Upper Deck

Wise Wizard Games

Wyrd Games

To advertise, contact Amy Colburn at 315-789-6431 or email amy@fwpi.com. Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 5

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In this Cold Kingdom Merchants Become Heroes

By Caleb Wilson, Resident Storyteller

erchants of the Dark Road, designed by Brian Suhre and illustrated by Andrew Bosley (Everdell, Tapestry), is the latest from Elf Creek Games. “Merchants” – like Elf Creek’s previous titles Atlantis Rising and Honey Buzz – is a premium tabletop game built both to draw you in with its gorgeous board and components, and to keep you playing with its compelling puzzle-solving gameplay. On the icy world of Umbral, the cycle of night and day lasts for an entire year. Even in the freezing, winter-long darkness, goods and travelers must be delivered from the capital, Highreach, to its outlying towns. That’s where brave merchants like you come in! Using a unique rondel-style action system, you’ll travel around Highreach trading goods and picking up adventurers, and when you’re ready, venturing along the perilous dark road to make deliveries. Can you become the wealthiest and most celebrated merchant in Lumi? Your final score is either your money or your 6 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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prestige, whichever is the lesser, so you’ll want to keep money and prestige in balance. Each space on the rondel borders two districts in Highreach, only one of which you can pick on your turn for the action it represents. Unless, oh, are you carrying a rare illuminated die? Then both actions are available to you! And, you can also use that illuminated die to use a special bonus action represented by the building at the end of the street. Whatever actions you choose to take, it will require careful planning to keep your operation efficient and to stay one step ahead of your competitors. Making deliveries is the core of the game, and good timing is everything. Whenever a player decides they are ready to brave the dark to deliver, they become the leader of a caravan. The leader must decide which outlying town the caravan will visit, and whether to travel by road or to take a potentially quicker, yet also more dangerous, shortcut instead. Other players may then choose to join this caravan,

delivering out of turn to the same town or to a neighboring one. Keep an eye on your fellow merchants’ plans and hopefully, you can make your money and fame grow even on their turn! But beware, the winter-long night is never entirely safe. Each caravan will have an encounter on the dark road or the shortcut its leader chose, representing the perils of the route. Merchants who joined the caravan share the danger, as well as any possible rewards, so you’ll want to weigh the odds carefully to see if you should tag along. Come, brave merchants of Lumi, and venture out along the dark road in search of fame and fortune! Explore the interconnected game systems of Highreach, the outlying towns, and your merchant wagon’s cargo hold. Balance individual efficiency with player interaction, as well as variable player powers and special action spaces. Come and see the rich, beautiful, and strategic kingdom of Lumi for yourself! elfcreekgames.com

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FROM THE executive director

Dear friends, Welcome to the Fall 2021 issue of Around the Table. It’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner. For many this is the busiest quarter of the year and is the culmination of all your efforts this year to have a positive holiday season for your games and stores. In this issue, Dawn Studebaker offers suggestions for low cost ways to put your store on its best footing to impact the effects of buying decisions with visual cues has been a technique that takes your store to the next level with her “Visual Merchandising” article. In addition, GRD Chair Jennifer Ward offers “A Retailers Perspective on Attending GAMA EXPO” looking at how you can calculate the ROI of attending one of the biggest B2B events in our industry. GAMA recently rolled out the Horizons Fellowship program to support unrepresented communities in our industry. We would like to take a moment to introduce you to the first class of Fellows and learn a little more about their story and how this new six-month accelerator program seeks to help them with “A New Pathway in the Tabletop Games Industry”. We hope you find these articles useful. As the magazine of the tabletop games industry, we want the publication to be

interesting and have actionable information for you. As such we welcome submissions for articles for the magazine. If you have an idea for a story or something you would like to share, please send an email to us at media@gama.org. Last, I would like to personally invite you to attend the upcoming GAMA EXPO, March 14-18 in Reno, Nevada. We are super excited to be back to in person shows having just completed our Trade Day Program @ Origins Game Fair which was very successful. For GAMA EXPO 2022 we are expecting a full exhibitor hall with more than 150 game publishers and distributors, two days of peer-to-peer education programs, and hours of networking and learning from your fellow industry professionals. For more information on the trade show, please visit our website at: https://www.gama.org/page/gama-expo. See you in Reno! Regards, John Stacy, Executive Director

Thank you to all the industry professionals who contribute their time and expertise to Around the Table! 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.

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Taking the hit franchise to the distant future with

by Az Drummond, Crowdfunding & Community Manager, Lucky Duck Games

ou are Kalia Lavel and you’ve always wanted to fight crime like your famous ancestors, so you joined the elite BelCor forces. BelCor made you into a highly trained cyber-agent, but it didn’t take you long to figure out that your bosses didn’t care about justice for ordinary folk. So you handed in your badge and were stripped of your cybernetic implants. It doesn’t matter though, as you can finally do what a Lavel is meant to do: solve crimes. Chronicles of Crime is the smash-hit franchise that has sold more than 500,000 units across three standalone games and two expansions. The fourth standalone game, 2400, takes Chronicles of Crime into the future for the first time and introduces a cyberpunk setting that is hotly desired by gamers of all generations. Each of the four scenarios in the game offers a unique criminal investigation with an expansive narrative (averaging over 65,000 words per scenario!). The game is fully cooperative and all players work together to solve the mystery. Like all other Chronicles of Crime games, 2400 is a digital hybrid, meaning that it is supported by a sophisticated digital app. The Chronicles of Crime app allows players to scan locations, evidence cards, and characters in order to interact with the setting. Scanning characters will trigger an interrogation allowing further scans of evidence or other characters to ask targeted questions. The app also presents players with virtual reality crime scenes. Players can look around 8 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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beautifully-realized visuals to uncover evidence and key pieces of information. Chronicles of Crime 2400 introduces exciting new mechanics that draw players into the world of high-tech devices and digital environments. Kalia’s body is fitted to use Cyber-Implants allowing her to augment her body and get access to unique abilities. Players can use Cyber-Implants to get the upper hand over the suspects. However, using these enhancements requires Energy and players will need to manage the battery life of the implants. Kalia may plug into Cyberspace to travel to virtual locations and meet avatars surfing virtual reality. There are places to have fun, places to find love, and exabytes of information to acquire. However, as with the physical world, Cyberspace has its own dark secrets. When talking to Avatars in Cyberspace, you can never be sure who the person you’re talking to is in reality. Connecting the Avatars with the characters and real-world evidence can be key to solving a case! Chronicles of Crime: 2400 comes with four scenarios and also a guided tutorial mini-case with its own unique short case to solve. This tutorial acts as a perfect introduction to the game and as a fantastic in-store or convention demo. The three standalone games in the Chronicles of Crime Millennium Series offer players a chance to solves crimes in medieval 1400, industrial 1900, or cyberpunk 2400 – meaning that there’s a world to enjoy for everyone. luckyduckgames.com

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A Retailer’s Perspective on Attending

GAMA EXPO

by Jennifer Ward, Crazy Squirrel Games

s retailers, we’re often focused on managing two of our most important resources: time and money. Then once a year GAMA’s Expo trade show rolls around and we’re asked to give up a little of both. Sure, our dues pay for our ticket to Expo, but we also have travel and entertainment costs and, for most of us, it requires four or five days away from our stores. To some, it can feel like an unneeded sacrifice. So, let’s dive in and figure out the Return on Investment for those four days in March. Education and Training Expo starts off strong with a couple of days of both peer-led educational seminars and Premier Publisher Presentations. The Retailer-to-Retailer sessions provide real-world sessions for all levels of retail experience on a gamut of topics. These sessions come from your retailer suggestions and are organized by the Retail Voting Membership Group GRD leadership team. Presenters are chosen for their knowledge in the topic area, their presentation skills, and their willingness to help make the entire retailer tier better by sharing their experience and knowledge. Recent topics have included improving your accounting skills, taking a look at managing a team, finding new ways to diversify your product offerings, developing your brand, and breaking into e-commerce. A new push by your GRD includes adding more in-depth, hands-on sessions by both retailers and other industry professionals. Two such classes were offered at Origins: grading CCG cards and identifying fakes, and improving your photography skills specifically for social media. These sessions also present a chance to get to know your fellow retailers and develop some industry relationships that can go a long way to improving your business. Please feel free to introduce yourself to the presenters and perhaps exchange business cards. Then when the day isn’t as full, you can reach out; perhaps making a new ally in the industry. Education pro-tip: bring a way to take notes. At the end of the week, go through your notes and pick three-to-five things you’d like to change or implement at your store. Highlight one or two to pursue immediately, and keep the others in mind to work after you get the first one or two done. The Premier Publisher Presentations are a great way to find out what publishers – both big and small – have planned for the upcoming year. It’s a great way to find out what the larger publishers have in the works but also to discover what publishers you may not be familiar with have to offer. It’s not unusual to find something new either in these presentations or in the vendor hall later that week that will become a top seller in your store upon release. In addition, if you’ve ever heard of “The Box,” you earn it by attending the publisher seminars. The Retailers Appreciation Box is a collection of games and accessories provided by Expo publisher sponsors and shipped to your business after EXPO. Within it – and it’s usually way more than a single box – you’ll find games to learn, items for your demo library, and products you can sell in your shop. We’re working every year to make this product selection as relevant as it can be and a fantastic way for publishers to communicate to retailers about the product of which they’re most proud. And if you love to learn new games or see them in action before

ordering, don’t forget the Game Nights. For three nights, publishers set up throughout the hall and offer to teach or run games of all kinds – board games, miniature battles, role-playing, and card games. It’s a relaxed atmosphere and gives you a chance to not only see the games, but also to see reactions to them in a real-world setting. Spending money to make money As the adage goes, you’ve got to spend money to make money, and Expo’s vendor hall can be a dangerous and wonderful place for your product acquisition budget. For two afternoons, hundreds of publishers of distributors will be set up in the Vendor Hall, ready to share their current library and upcoming titles, as well as take titles. With many, there will also be show specials. Often specials include free shipping, a demo copy, or special pricing – but they’re only for a limited time and only for GAMA members. This is a good time to not only get a better look at the items you heard about in the Publisher Premier Presentations, but also to have more in-depth conversations. And the opportunities to work with newer or smaller publishers can result in wonderful changes. At Origins, retailers worked with PYE Games to develop ways that made it easier for retailers to order bundles of games, but also the idea that PYE could personalize their displays for individual shops. PYE can get more orders and retailers can have a more streamlined process – everyone gets a win. Because there may be new or upcoming products in the Vendor Hall, it can also be a great chance to help stoke interest in your customers back home. Take some photos and post info on your social media platforms. (Just be sure to follow any “do not photo or record” warnings a vendor may have posted, please.) Come prepared with the usual business vital information and your checkbook and/or credit cards. Networking and developing new relationships Expo also offers plenty of opportunities to relax with friends or create new relationships. Retailers have a few organized meals. These are perfect to sit with strangers – who may soon be friends – and find out what’s going on in other parts of the world. You may find yourself getting a new idea or sharing some of your own knowledge to help a fellow retailer find more success. It’s also a chance to meet your GRD – those are the Retail Membership Group leadership team – and give them constructive feedback about what you’d like to see both from GAMA and in the industry as a whole. They represent you to the GAMA Board of Directors, and also regularly communicate with people throughout the industry: creatives, media, publishers, distributors, and more. Plus you can meet the Board of Directors members as well as the Home Office team – they’re the ones who run GAMA. Well, the Board determines the direction and the Home Office executes. Together the work to improve all tiers of the industry throughout the world. Get ready to pack your bags Expo is really four days of improving your business. It gives you an annual chance to work ON your business instead of IN your business. The payoff is long-term: educational to help you improve your business, product knowledge to make more informed decisions, and industry contacts that keep you better informed. Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 9

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A Killer Party One Group of Suspects. One Dinner. One Exceptional Mystery Adventure by Johanna Sadkovich, CEO, Pegasus Spiele North America

n otherwise pleasant gathering of friends is disrupted when someone is found dead! Murdered in cold blood – by one of you! Partygoers must unravel the events of the evening to identify the killer before they become victims themselves. Talking amongst yourselves will reveal some unsettling clues, as will exploring the venue. Slowly, over the course of three rounds, witnesses will gather evidence and discover details to help them determine where and when the murder occurred, and who among them is the culprit. Deadly Dinners are neatly packaged classic murder mystery dinner “shows” that you can host at home – providing exceptional settings and an immersive experience for groups of five to up to 10 players. Deadly Dinner is not only the name of the game, but also the design team responsible for the development of this innovative social-deduction experience. They were happy to answer some questions for us regarding the games. First, can you tell us more about who is behind Deadly Dinner? The project Deadly Dinner has its origin in our Escape Room “Breakout Göttingen.” We are currently five people working on Deadly Dinner: Verena, Martin, Tabea, Jannis and Lukas, who also work on projects for Breakout Göttingen. When and how did you come up with the idea of publishing crime dinners? Having very limited space in our escape room and therefore a limited number of games customers could play at our venue, we always wanted to create something customers could play at their 10 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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home, while at the same time creating a similar feeling to our escape rooms. We created our first crime dinner in 2017 as a gimmick for our own X-mas party at the escape room and have been in love ever since. After a long creative process, we published the first Deadly Dinner at the end of 2019. Is there anything that you especially focus on in the games? First and foremost, we focus on our games giving people the opportunity to spend an exciting evening together. We are providing them an accessible story, funny and interesting plot twists, characters which people love to play and dress up as – just to name a few. Also, we find it important that all of our games are solvable with the right analysis of clues given. Therefore, all our games come with a detailed map of the crime scene and a strict set of rules to avoid any misconceptions.

an escape room. We combine our crime dinners with riddles and authentic objects which enhance our stories. Also, we include personal goals for every character to fulfill on their own and to share these after the game. The first two games in the Deadly Dinner series are expected for release in Q1-2022 from Pegasus Spiele. In Red Carpet in Ruins, six to eight players visit the set of a romantic comedy in the 1950s in Hollywood, where heartthrob superstar Henry Steward is found dead in his trailer next to his Oscar statuette. Now, the cast and crew have to find the culprit amongst them. In The Last Rose, five to seven players find themselves on the set of the popular dating show “The One.” But one of the final contestants is found dead. What enemies did TV beauty Cheyenne make after filming ended? Now it’s your turn to find out who is real and who is fake!

What would you say is special about your crime dinners? Our crime dinners are a fusion between a traditional crime dinner and

One Group of Suspects. One Dinner. One Exceptional Mystery Adventure. Deadly Dinner certainly delivers on its tagline’s promise! pegasus-web.com

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Good Times Guaranteed

(Almost!)

by Garima Sharma, Head of Tabletop and DTC, Skybound Entertainment

ames have a unique way of bringing us together, whether through competition or collaboration, teamwork or trash talk! Families that play together, stay together. Growing up, one of our favorite family holiday traditions was to play Chutes and Ladders together for hours. It was a simple game, but one that my family and I enjoyed tremendously. As I grew up, Chutes and Ladders got replaced by Scrabble, Pictionary, Monopoly, Uno, etc. Whatever the game, the tradition remained. Today, as the pandemic continues to impact our lives in unimaginable ways, I have spoken to so many friends and family members that have found a meaningful practice in playing board games, more than ever before, and staying connected. Games have a unique way of bringing us together, whether through exploring competition or collaboration, teamwork or technique. At Skybound Tabletop and our imprint Druid City Games, we have always strived to create titles that families can play together. As the holiday season approaches, take a look at these uniquely themed games, meant for all ages. Kim-joy’s Magic Bakery Play it for: A game for the whole family with adorable artwork and co-operative play style where players are tasked with fulfilling customer orders with ingredients from their hands. Players must work together in this scenario-based game that changes the game rules each time you play! Pebble Rock Delivery Service Play it for: Pebble Rock Delivery Service was created for gamer parents that love playing games with their kids, but might be tired of the old standby titles. If they’re seeking something a bit more fulfilling, here’s some pick-up-and-deliver gameplay that’s light on rules but heavy on fun! Pitchstorm Play it for: The game helps with building creative thinking, evaluating ideas and pitching your thoughts to a larger 12 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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group. Pitchstorm delivers improve-style gameplay to a party atmosphere for all ages that have a love for movies. Trial By Trolley Play it for: The late-night gathering of friends that want to loosen up with a hilarious take on the trolly dilemma. Having a player decide what side to send their out-of-control trolley down while players debate, laugh and convince them not to choose their side will create stories for your game that no one will soon forget. Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef Play it for: The gamers in your group that like a bit more strategy and narrative in their games. A worker-placement game with dice rolling and upgrades that has incredible artwork set in a fantasy water world will draw in even the most elite gamer groups. Valor & Villainy: Minions of Mordak Play it for: The groups that love fantasy roleplaying games that don’t always have the time for a full RPG campaign. Sure to be a hit with fans of quirky and fun fantasy worlds that enjoy looting, leveling up and adventure! Skybound Tabletop is a division of Skybound Entertainment focused on developing games that feature immersive stories, innovative gameplay and exceptional production quality. Checkout our games on store.skybound.com or reach out to our Retail Manager, Matt Faulisi (mfaulisi@skybound.com) skybound.com

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A Quest for Glory in the Golden Age of Pirates by Ken Hill, Production/Marketing Manager, Rio Grande Games (ken@riograndegames.com)

lory Islands is a race and area-control game set in a whimsical world of pirates. Designed by Arve D. Fühler, the game imagines a contest between the restless crews of pirate ships in the Caribbean. Glory Islands is a fun and challenging game that plays in less than an hour. Players are the captains of pirate ships racing around the mythical Glory Islands to prove who has the best crew in the Caribbean. They are trying to win the race and control the various islands by placing crew members on each island as they pass. Whichever player has the most pirates on the multiple islands will score points based on the size of the island. Before each turn, the players select one card from their hand to play. The card they pick determines what the player can do on their turn. Once chosen, the cards are revealed simultaneously. The first part of

the card will determine the player order for the upcoming turn. The cards show a number between 1 and 5, and the lowest numbered card gets to go first. The second part of the card shows how far the ship can move on the track during the turn. Moving faster on the board gets the ship closer to the finish line, but it is also more expensive. A unique mechanism rewards (or penalizes) the players for how fast they move during the game. The third part of the card indicates where a player’s pirates can be placed on the islands. Placing pirates on the island not only helps the player control the island but may also provide unique bonuses like collecting treasure or scoring points. The card used by the player on that turn is then placed in the discard pile and is not available again until the

card with the “return cards to hand” special power is used. The game continues for several rounds until one of the pirate ships has crossed the finish line. However, the winner of the game is not always the player who crosses the line first. The points and values of the treasures collected during the game also help to determine the winner. Glory Islands has a double-sided board to increase the fun and variety of the gameplay. The second board has special spaces that allow players to place pirates anywhere on the islands. There is also a special “mini-expansion” already included in the game. This expansion gives the players the option to explore shipwrecks along their route for further opportunities to score points. Glory Islands is a fast and fun game. The rules are easy to learn, and the turns are quick with interesting decisions. Plot your course carefully but always keep one eye on your opponents as you try to outmaneuver (or outrun) them on your journey! Glory Islands is coming to game stores everywhere starting in December 2021. For more information on Glory Islands or other Rio Grande Games titles, please visit riograndegames.com.

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riograndegames.com

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Enters the Tabletop Scene years ago, Hyper Light Drifter entered the inSeven die video game scene, bringing beautiful pixel-art

graphics and an expansive and immersive world. We grew to love the Drifter, a lone red-caped figure fighting against the darkness of the past to find a cure to their sickness, or at least a brighter future.

Seven years later, Metal Weave Games invites us to come back and revisit this beautiful, dangerous, and melancholy world. Building from pixels Taking a look inside, the first thing to greet us is the beautiful pixel-art, most of it brand new and original, but also reminiscent of the game. “Given the game is known for its pixel art, I don’t think I can imagine this using any other art style,” says Metal Weave’s founder and Creative Director Andreas Walters, most notably known as the creator of the beloved Baby Bestiary Handbooks. He describes how difficult it was to find a process that would consistently deliver the pixel art from illustration to print layout. He mentions, for instance, that to keep everything in scale, they need to manually build each page and overblow the size 1000x using specific exports, so that the PDF and Print books would be consistent. The game Looking at the game you see that Drifter features its own original system, which blends

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strategic crunch with indie shared-narrative sensibilities. It features the following. • A robust resource management system including energy, woe, components, and ingredients. • An ability bar where players can equip and swap abilities; creating meaningful choice, collaboration, and synergies between players. • A player-facing resolution system. After making a roll, you compare the result against stats on your character sheet. • A new way to teach and run RPGs! Gameplay is broken down into manageable phases: Combat, Exploration, Travel, and Downtime. • A fight against time. You will slowly accumulate Corruption to lead to your drifter’s eventual end. If you’re looking to get started, the Basic Rules – free on the Metal Weave Games’ website – will show you everything you need to play, including free delve tokens, combat boards, character sheets, and more! If you’ve never played the video game, fear not: this evocative, broken, post-apocalyptic world will draw you and your players in for hours at a time. The game is slated for a full-digital release on December 14th, 2021, including the gamebook, ancillary tools, a digital soundboard for audio effects created by the original game’s sound designer Akash Thakkar, and an EP created by the original game’s composed Disasterpiece. A physical release, including a Beginner Box, is slated for sometime in Q1 2022, given international production. Please contact info@metalweavegames.com for distribution inquiries. Metal Weave Games is an ENnie award-winning tabletop games developer and publisher. metalweave.games

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Grab Their Attention WITH VISUAL MERCHANDISING

isual merchandising creates a positive response from customers and is critical to the strategies of selling. Impacting the effects of buying decisions with visual cues is a technique that takes your store to the next level. This visual strategy can start with the feeling your customer gets when their eyes scan across a parking lot and notice your store windows, to the moment they walk out the door with the product you inspired them to buy. The entire process is driven by what your customer sees and feels. Let’s look at some of the basic visual merchandising techniques you can use to improve attention, sales, and customer experience. This article will focus on two different and unique areas to improve your store’s visual appeal. Then we will continue focusing on visual merchandising techniques in future articles, and in the seminars we will be presenting online. You can find the first visual-merchandising seminar at gama.org, in the resources tab under education. Watch your weekly membership emails and GAMA’s socialmedia networks for information on attending future webinars. Let’s start with the first place you have an opportunity to increase your breadth of organically found new customers: your storefront. It can often be underutilized in drawing attention to your building after you have completed your store build-out. We put so much effort into how our signage will look from across the parking lot or on the street. But why stop there? Have you noticed that after being in business awhile that your building is not drawing the same excitement as it did when you were new? Well let’s fix that, starting from the outside of your building and working through every element of your store’s visual presence.

for one minute you can’t have store window displays if you are in a strip mall or in a building that doesn’t have obvious window appeal. With or without a big window, you can create a display that attracts customers from a distance. We will go into detail on that a little bit later in the article, but right now, challenge yourself to attract customers from a distance without a window, simply by adjusting what goes inside the building – or outside. Why worry about our store windows? Because eye-popping windows that are themed or visually exciting create a picture that will draw a consumer to your store. Make sure your windows feature oversized imagery, models, or constructed elements. Do not overcrowd your windows and think beyond posters that have smaller print that needs reading. Unless you have a true sidewalk with pedestrian traffic, they are often not effective and even then, marketers have mixed opinions. For this store in Germany, the marketing firm used a vinyl application to create a window that literally pops out at you. It almost feels three-dimensional. Because of the bright color and the extension of the window to the sidewalk, you are sure to notice this storefront from

farther away. This technique is also used in architecture – by creating big and unique facades and painting buildings bright colors, the design team is creating interest to get attention. If you are saying that you don’t have enough windows to make an impact like this, you would be missing a huge opportunity. This sort of extension of the window technique is perfect for those that have few windows or maybe just a door. By using this non-damaging technique you are creating visual intrigue that would work on the side of your building just as well. And by using game-specific vinyl shapes, you could tell people what you are all about, as well as catching their attention from a distance. Inside the windows Oversized displays in a window draw attention far better than small displays. Small displays in windows have a place and purpose, most often in a window that has a lot of pedestrian foot traffic. But if you are trying to grab attention from across a parking lot, the bigger the better. Oversized game pieces in windows can create stunning and eye popping images and will tell the exact story you want people

Windows When we think of store windows we think of downtown buildings in picturesque Middle America or trendy storefronts in big cities like New York. But do not think 18 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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to know about you. You sell fun! But why is it so impactful? The human eye is trained to scale items and when you create a display that challenges what the eye is used to, it will make for instant attention from consumers. So people who are close to your window are drawn to it because of the size. But people from across the parking lot will notice a bright oversized window display far better than a smaller one. Now remember when I said you can have a window display without having a picturesque window? What did I mean by that? Well if you have a strip mall location with big windows in the front of your store, but you put product up to the window or play tables, then you are missing an opportunity. Pull your product out from the window a few feet and create an area for window displays. You can do this by backing your fixtures with something as light as foam core covered with wallpaper to create a mock wall. Hang foam core from the ceiling or, in the most permanent way, by building a partition wall. Keep in mind this can help with UV damage to your product in place of tint that still allows the sun to shine in the eyes of customers. You can do this with all your windows or maybe you want to start small and create one window. Just keep it clear, concise and don’t clutter your windows. Vignette merchandising A vignette is always the buzzword in retail as we head into a new season. Seasonal displays do this well. At the core of this merchandising philosophy is creating a picture or display in your

store that helps consumers envision the product in their everyday life. It pushes the sale by creating a feeling in the consumer that they want to have it for themselves – creating a sale through feelings. Another form of vignette merchandising can be collections of unique products in one area that are not the same but go together. Such a display reminds the buyer to pick up other things they need to make the one product they want work properly. In a game store, you might do a display of the newest games released and it is a role-playing game and you display several copies of the book. To make it a vignette, you would add other things needed to play an RPG game: dice, unique player notebooks, miniatures, tiles or mats. The next set is crucial. Stage it to look like a game is going on somewhere in the display. We will go deeper into this sort of staging in our upcoming seminars. Another example would be to create a hostess-gift-idea table. This display would have party games on a feature table with a stylized promotional t-shirt or custom logo bag mocked up to show an example of a hostess gift. Add some signage that says, “Games make great hostess gifts” to show the intent of your logo tote bag. Tuck a game inside of it as the focal point of the display. You can take the idea further using smaller signs around the display that list ideas for the hostess gifts. Here are some examples: BBQ, housewarming gift, welcome to the neighborhood, dinner party. The ideas are endless, but the intent is to generate a reason beyond the customer needs and wants for a reason for purchase. Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 19

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Avatar Legends Comes to Tabletop Roleplaying!

Sarah “Sam” Saltiel, Director of Marketing

Record-Breaking Kickstarter On September 2nd, Magpie Games closed the month-long Kickstarter for the new officially licensed tabletop role-playing game, Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, raising more than $9.5 million! Set in the world of Nickelodeon’s “Avatar The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra,” the tabletop role-playing game brings the setting of these beloved shows to life as players tell their own tales of wondrous adventure. We’re thrilled and honored to be able to say that the project broke the record for largest tabletop, role-playing game Kickstarter of all time, joining the ranks of the top 10 most funded Kickstarters ever! From day one, we saw a tremendous outpouring of support from fans of this wildly popular franchise! Over the course of the Kickstarter, more than 80,000 backers helped us reach more than 30 stretch goals! Over 25 percent of those backers are new to Kickstarter, and we hope that Avatar Legends: The RPG will continue to bring new gamers to the hobby by presenting them with an accessible game that builds off a family-

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friendly franchise they’ve already come to know and love. Adventure Awaits! In Avatar Legends: The RPG, players craft their own roles as young heroes of the Four Nations who have joined together to make the world a better place. The player characters can be benders, weapons experts, or technologists; using their training to fight for justice and balance in the world. Together they can soar on the backs of flying bison, defeat devious foes … and maybe even help to save the world! Avatar Legends: The RPG allows players to tell stories in multiple eras of the Avatarverse: the Kyoshi Era, the Roku Era, The Hundred Year War Era, the Aang Era, and the Korra Era. The core book comes with tips and tricks for playing in each era, complete with historical context and political atmosphere. Will you navigate

suspicion and paranoia as the Four Nations tighten their borders, help heal the world after the Hundred Year War, or find a new future in Republic City? The game uses the Powered by the Apocalypse system first pioneered by Vincent and Meguey Baker, and we’re hard at work customizing the game’s mechanics to make them easy to learn for players new to TTRPGs, while capturing the stories told across the Avatarverse through the shows, graphic novels, and novels. We’re also working with Asian and Indigenous designers to bring authentic perspectives to the material, and collaborating with martial arts experts to reflect the weird and wonderful fighting styles of benders and nonbenders alike! The Journey Has Just Begun We’re so excited to be releasing Avatar Legends: The RPG next year and we hope it finds a way into your store next year! “Avatar the Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra” are amazing tales, and we’re ecstatic that we get to help fans create new stories in their universe!

magpiegames.com

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WARPAINTS

AIR

A “Push” Forward for The Army Painter

or years customers and retailers have been asking me, “When are you going to make airbrush paints?” If you know anything about me, I don’t make hasty decisions and this was one I wanted to make sure we thought all the way through so that we delivered the best possible product we could. Hi, I’m Bo Penstoft and I’m the cofounder and CEO of The Army Painter. It’s been 14 years since some of you first met me at the GAMA tradeshow when, alongside my partner Jonas, I was selling an innovate product called Quickshade Dip. A lot has changed since then, and we owe a lot of that to retailers like you. Thousands of retailers across the globe now stock our products, and range has certainly grown up a bit along with the company. As of today, we have quadrupled our production in just under a year’s time to keep up with your demand, and the demand of your customers, and this expansion made it the right time for airbrush paints. When it comes to launching an entirely new paint line, one with established players already in the category, it was not a decision I or the company took lightly. Our retailers have trusted us for our high-quality, wellstocked, and innovative products – so we had to make certain that the new Warpaints Air range not only meets, but exceeds your expectations. I’ll be honest with you, before this process began I was a complete newbie to the tool and technique. I was stuck in my old way of Spray, Paint, Dip, Done. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that). When the time was right to endeavor into airbrush paints, I put my trust in my team of talented and hardworking hobby nuts to develop a unique concept; something that 22 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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not only differentiated our airbrush paints from our competitors’, but also saved time and simplified the technique for our customers. I didn’t just want to offer another airbrush paint; I wanted to offer a better airbrush paint. That meant it had to be so simple to use ... a newb like me could figure it out. You probably want to know what differentiates Warpaint Air in the airbrushready category. For starters, our airbrush paints are truly ready to use right out of the bottle; unlike others in the category that still require additional thinning. We also put our pigments through a four-part, ultra-filtration process to ensure smooth coverage and flow, while reducing clogging on the needle. Further, for the first time ever, we have preloaded every bottle of Warpaints Air with two of our high-grade stainless steel, rustproof Mixing Balls – adding even further value for your customers. The real catch, what really sold me on the idea, was the concept of utilizing Colour Triads. These are a common tool used in many different industries from interior design, manufacturing, and miniature painting! We identified 34 of our bestselling colours from our existing Warpaints range and began developing the corresponding colours to create a group of three colours – a Colour Triad. Let’s use Pure Red, which is a customer favourite, as an example: Pure Red is the Mid Tone for the triad, which has a darker Base Tone (Encarmine Red), and a brighter High Tone for highlighting (Archangel Red). To paint a red miniature, you simply apply a base coat of Encarmine Red, the first zenithal highlight of Pure Red,

Ult

and finish it off with an extreme highlight of Archangel Red. It’s that easy! As a newbie, this demystified how to use an airbrush because we took the guesswork out of the colour selection equation. When my team brought this to the table – my mind was blown. It made perfect sense! I’m incredibly proud of this product and the team behind it. I’m confident that it’s going to be a product that does well in your stores. While this is the most advanced paint we’ve ever developed, it still carries the traits of all the products that came before it. Warpaints Air is high-quality, it will be wellstocked, and it is truly innovative. And I think your customers are going to think so, too.

Mix

Per

Bo Penstoft is the cofounder and CEO of The Army Painter, an industry-leading paint and hobby accessory company. A veteran of the wargaming and hobby industry, Bo and his company have grown from a one product outfit to an industry leader in 14 years with innovative products like Quickshade Dip, Colour Primer Sprays, the entire Warpaints range, and the new Gamemaster line of products. Bo and The Army Painter are committed to growing the hobby, supporting events all over the globe. thearmypainter.com

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New Airbrush Rack coming early 2022 ... and more to come! Every product in the Warpaints Air range, from the revolutionizing Colour Triads to Airbrush Primers and Cleaner will be available as a complete rack solution for your store. Along with an exciting new product yet to be announced that will redefine what it means to Get More Time for Gaming. Get more time for gaming

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Contact our sales team to pre-order: sales@thearmypainter.com | +45 2891 1656

LEARN MORE 11/17/21 10:31 AM 08-09-2021 14:25:03

The

Dragon is in the Detail

by Ian Spiegel-Blum

f you’re anything like us, you can’t help but see dragons everywhere you go. See a beautiful crimson sunset glowing against the horizon? Probably a dragon getting ready to unleash a stream of searing hot fire just beyond the clouds. Come across a sculpture garden in a local park? Beautiful, but would be a tad more memorable with a giant freaking dragon made of twisted metal. Call it an occupational hazard, but at Dragon Shield we have dragons on the mind. And so, is it really a surprise that when looking at the great artistic masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and the Japanese woodblock Ukiyo-e artist Hokusai that our thoughts immediately went to, “these are great, but you know what might make them even better?” Alas, the Dragons in Art series was born. (Read more about the original pieces in this excellent article by Donnie Caltrider: Dragon Shield Art Sleeves, Volume 2 – Hipsters of the Coast: Hipsters of the Coast). Our newest addition to the series, releasing November 5th, includes The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Abbey in the Oak 24 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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Wood and The Great Wave. When selecting pieces to dragonize, one must ask oneself a series of questions. First, what makes this painting a masterpiece? Is it recognizable? Does it tell a story on its own? If so, how might adding a dragon benefit or, in rare cases, detract from the original? Take Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” from our newest release. The original painting is known for its riveting beauty and the intense yet mysterious look of its subject, as much as the pearl earring she wears. The bold colors and juxtaposition against the black background make her instantly recognizable anywhere in the world and inspiring to millions. It might sound silly, but we have to ask the question, “How might a dragon enrich this painting?” In this case, we liked the idea of adding another subject to the frame, of giving the girl a confidante to whisper to, while expanding the mysteriousness of her world to include fantastic beasts. Our hope was to create something new, a piece that provides a window into a world wholly different from our own, but without losing the

charm of the underlying masterwork. We think our artist José Muñoz did a fantastic job. As for the sleeves, our newest dragons in art come in Brushed texture. Brushed makes it possible for us to print all the way to the edge with art or a beautiful colored frame. Brushed texture is the perfect match for art as it feels just as if the last brushstroke has finally dried up, making it the natural choice for stunning pieces such as these. Art pieces are collector’s items, and our Dragons in Art series is no exception. In addition to the three pieces in our new line, we have released eight previous designs – all in limited edition. Some are still available, so if you want a collection like no other, ask for them before they sell out too (like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night). • The Astronomer Sleeves + Playmat • Hunters in the Snow Sleeves + Playmat • The Oxbow Sleeves + Playmat • Whistler’s Mother Sleeves + Playmat • Poppy Field Sleeves + Playmat • Among the Sierra Nevada Sleeves Have any suggestions for pieces you’d like to see dragonized? Reach out to our art director at info@arcanetinmen. com to let us know your ideas. Until next time, keep an eye out for dragons, and for beautiful art wherever you go. arcanetinmen.com

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THE BEAUTY OF

Evergreen Games by Debbie Moynihan, COO, Wise Wizard Games

vergreen product lines are games that have been reprinted again and again and again, and continue to be top sellers. Evergreen games provide stability and predictability with their loyal customer bases and high level of player satisfaction. Here are the benefits of evergreen product lines for a retailer. - Confidence in awesome gameplay - Easy to recommend and demo - Community resources to support players - Repeat purchases for expansions and accessories

Confidence in Awesome Gameplay

Evergreen titles have been played repetitively with rock-solid player experiences. Using Star Realms as an example, the Star Realms Deckbuilding Game was first released in 2014, the digital app has been downloaded over 1M times and the physical game continues to be in high demand year after year. Star Realms won seven Game of the Year Awards when it was launched, and has amassed more than 35,000 ratings on BoardGameGeek.

Easy to Recommend & Demo

Many gamers know how to play Star Realms and are familiar with its deck-building gameplay style. There are also lots of How-to-Play videos available. Anyone can give a demo in 5-10 minutes, and there is also a how-to-play tutorial on the free-to-download digital app. At conventions, we have almost a 1:1 demo-to-sales ratio (many demos result in the sale of more than one copy of the game). The game is easy to grasp and players want to play it again. The gameplay length lends itself well to new gamers and use in between longer games, i.e. it will get a lot of gameplay. Yay!

Community Resources

Evergreen titles lend themselves well to community building. Many evergreen titles also have digital implementations, which we have found increases the community-building leading to more players of our games. For Star Realms, there is a fan-created Star Realms Community Facebook page; fan-organized tournaments on Facebook, BGG and at conventions; fan- and publisher-created discord channels, and lots of streamers excited about the game.

Repeat Purchases

Once a player knows how to play an evergreen line, they are very likely to buy more. With Star Realms, players start with any of the base games and then can mix and match any of the expansions. This allows players to continue to expand their gameplay with lots of follow-on small purchases. When a new expansion releases, Star Realms fans love to pick it up and add it to their collection. There are also lots of accessories for those with larger collections. The Universal Storage Box holds an entire collection plus a rolled up playmat. The playmats make it easier to set up the game for those who want a nicer table presence when battling for their Star Realm. Many of our players love the Star Realms sleeves to protect their collection. You can order all of the Star Realms product line and our other product lines direct from Wise Wizard Games by joining the Wizards Retailer Guild. Details at wisewizardgames.com/GAMA 26 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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wisewizardgames.com

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A Quicker Way to

Make Mars Habitable by Reid Conley

elcome to Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, the latest addition to the Terraforming Mars series. Ares Expedition is a standalone, shortened version of the smash-hit Terraforming Mars for 1-4 players. This version combines what you love from the original version with a new action selection mechanism that leads to new and interesting decisions. With more than 200 beautifully illustrated cards, there are many strategies and engines to play around with. Not to mention, it’s easier to bring to the table than its predecessor due to much faster playtime and streamlined rules. The new elements of Ares Expedition compared to Terraforming Mars are centered around the phase cards. Each player has five phase cards corresponding to the five possible phases that allow you to build project cards, produce resources, take actions, and collect more project cards. Every round, each player will choose one phase card in secret, and only those phases will take place for that round. Every player gets to take the indicated action for each phase selected, but players who choose that phase will gain additional bonuses. You’ll want to piggyback off the phases chosen by the other players and still make sure you are doing the actions you need to do. This change in the game’s flow makes a significant difference in how the game feels without taking away from the parts of Terraforming Mars you love if you are already a fan. Successful players will pay attention to what their opponents are doing and predict what they will try to do next. There’s no worse feeling than being caught unprepared and unable to perform a selected

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action for the round, so keep your eyes peeled. If you find yourself alone on game night, you can try out the solo mode. In this mode, you are attempting to terraform mars on your own within a time limit fully. You’ll select a phase card to play each round and draw one randomly from a dummy hand to determine which phases are in play. In this way, you have some idea of what phases will be available each round, but usually, you won’t have perfect information. Use your engine building and deduction skills to come out on top and terraform the planet in time. You only get to count your points if all the parameters are met, and this is not an easy task on your own. Similarly, there is a two-player co-op mode in which you and a partner need to make the planet hospitable with an even tighter time limit and a point goal. You’ll need to use clever play and communication to achieve victory. See if you and a friend are efficient enough to win, and then try again and see if you can score even higher! Ares Expedition is a great way to experience the fun of Terraforming Mars in a fraction of the time. If you’ve never played Terraforming Mars before, this is an excellent introduction to the rewarding engine building of one of the most popular games ever. Alternatively, if the original game was a bit too long or a bit too complicated for your liking, this is the perfect way to experience it in a way that’s quick and comfortable. Ares Expedition is going to bring Terraforming Mars to a whole new audience.

indieboardsandcards.com

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in 25 30

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• • • • • •

Engine Building Simultaneous Action Selection Terraforming Mars with amuch shorter play time Dual layered player boards 2 storage trays Includes solo and 2-player coop mode

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Order the Collectors Edition Now! A new, stand-alone game in the universe of the internationally best-selling game, Terraforming Mars! In this time of unprecedented prosperity and advancement for humankind, we are finally ready to expand beyond what once were considered our limits and make a new home among the stars. Ares Expedition is a card game where you take control of an interplanetary corporation with the mission to make Mars habitable (and profitable). Featuring simultaneous action selection and simultaneous resolution, Ares Expedition is a fast-playing strategy game inspired by scientific principles. Will you lead humanity’s new era?

Collector’s Edition Includes dual-layer player boards and custom storage trays!

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STRONGHOLD GAMES ®

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by Sean Jacquemain

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EDGE

rime is a lot different in the year 2087. Cyberneticallyenhanced goons infiltrate New Dawn City. The only way to stop them is to hook into their minds and participate in their illegal activities to gain intel and evidence. Players just have to be sure to not go too close to the edge, or they risk going in too deep. In Too Deep is a strategic puzzle for one to five players. As undercover agents, they step into the minds of criminals and spend actions to complete Story and Side Crimes. As the investigation continues, they’ll file evidence crucial to their case. The more time they spend in the minds of the criminals, the better they’ll get at controlling their actions, even unlocking special powers. Each completed crime comes with a decision to make, which will determine the path of the case. If they’re not careful, they might find themselves taking on too much corruption and stepping over the line. Will the Syndicate be stopped? Can they save the city? And who will go In Too Deep? There is a lot to consider in a game of In Too Deep, but the gameplay is straightforward and melds seamlessly with the cyberpunk theme. Players will make critical decisions throughout, and the narrative will unfold differently every time it’s played. At the start of the game, each player has the same goal … but as the chapters unfold, the lure of the dark side might be

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too much for some players, and their intentions may shift. At the end of the third chapter, filed evidence is revealed and the players get to see if the Syndicate has been foiled. Then the players reveal their corruption level and see who has accumulated the most. If they have been successful in their mission, then the player that went in too deep is going to lose points; crossing the line can be punishing for agents. However, if the Syndicate is not stopped, the most-corrupt player suffers no consequences for their questionable methods. The reveal is often as dramatic as the decisions made during the game. Every game of In Too Deep features many variables: New Dawn City is made up of different zones arranged randomly. Players can choose which criminals they want to play with in a game, giving them access to a wide variety of helpful powers. Seven different Syndicate storylines are included in the game, allowing players to choose the adventures they want to complete. In Too Deep is an immersive board-game experience unlike any other. Players will be drawn to the interesting game play, the unique narratives, and the high level of re-playability. This case isn’t going to be easy to solve, and staying on the right side of justice might be even harder. You can order In Too Deep for your retail store in Q4 2021!

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11/17/21 10:32 AM

Which one?

WHY NOT BOTH?

Ian Birdsall Marketing Manager Floodgate Games

ivid Memories, a game of collecting and connecting memories, launched as the second most successful Kickstarter project from Floodgate games after Sagrada. With brightly colored resin tokens that fit satisfyingly into a doublelayered player board, these two games both stand out with stunning table presence and clever, puzzly gameplay. But what sets them apart, and why are they both great to recommend to your customers this holiday season? Sagrada is a favorite game among many, with its simple-to-teach rules and the increasing challenge of play it’s at the top of the list of recommendations to newcomers to the hobby. Its relatively quick setup and playtime continue to keep it front of mind for game night, date night, or anytime as well. Floodgate continues to expand the content with new expansions adding additional dice drafting options and modules that let players mix and match to change the way they play from game to game. As an

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evergreen title in the Floodgate Games catalog, our goal is to always have it available for new customers to discover and existing fans to grow their gaming experiences around. Our Sagrada point of sale display is available for your brickand-mortar store location to catch your customer’s eye the next time they visit. The newest game in the Floodgate lineup, Vivid Memories will be hitting retail in the United States in December of 2021. With the worldwide distribution issues causing delays in so many new titles, we’re thrilled that retailers will have a chance to show off this new title for lastminute holiday shoppers. Vivid Memories combines a clever design with delightfully whimsical artwork and high-quality component production that Floodgate Games is known for. Like Sagrada, Vivid presents players with a drafting and placement puzzle that plays in under an hour. Vivid grants players more initial control over how they approach each

turn as limitations on drafting and placement are minimal as the game begins. The puzzle emerges as players weave a tapestry of threads in their player boards, representing the player’s brain. Players will balance creating big, combos and connections against carefully combining fragment tokens in hexes to match scoring opportunities. With many ways to score, a shared drafting pool, and secret end of game objectives, Vivid is thinky from the first turn. We’re happy to say that it’s also already receiving high praise from critics like Richard Hamm of Rahdo Runs Through who said that Vivid Memories “Blows Azul out of the water!”. Whether your customers pick up Sagrada or give Vivid Memories a chance this holiday, we expect these games to remain staples of the board game hobby. Check with your distributor about stocking these or any of the other titles from Floodgate Games. If you are in need of any direct support about Floodgate products please contact rich@ floodgategames.com.

floodgategames.com

11/17/21 10:32 AM

A Game of Collecting & Connecting Memories

Collect Moments

COMING Q4 2021!

Connect Memories

Aspire to Victory!

CONTACT YOUR DISTRIBUTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION MSRP $49.95 | SKU FGG-VIV

2-4

30-45

Players

Minutes

VIDEOS, REVIEWS & MORE AT

FLOODGATE.GAMES/VIVID

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Ages 13+

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One Scary Rail Ride by Kyle Rowan, Design Lead, Wyrd Games

“ H ave n ’ t h a d a n i g ht ’s re st s i n c e yo u d o n ’ t k n ow w h e n T h e re ’s a w h i st l i n g f ro m a t ra i n c o m i n ’ ro u n d t h e b e n d O u t f ro m t h e d a r k n e s s , i t s h a i nt b l u e l i g ht d e s c e n d s H o p o n b o a r d a s i t p a s s e s by – i t ’ l l b e yo u r b i t t e r e n d . “

ou trainhop aboard the Silver Ferryman, chasin’ a dream or runnin’ from the past. What you find is a welcomin’ hand – white glove, stretched skin … and a fiddle player in the distance, playin’ a tune that’s awfully inviting. The melody makes you never wanna leave. In Vagrantsong, a fully cooperative, story-driven boss battler, you and up to three of your friends will play as Vagrants trapped on a supernatural ghost train. You will have to work together to face your fears, reveal the mystery behind the Silver Ferryman, and devise one plan on how to escape its bone-chilling grip. You’ll have six Vagrants to choose from, and each of them sports their own unique playstyle that can be customized throughout the game.

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Whether you embrace the chaos of Booming Boxcars as the Empress, trust in your loyal Pup to give you a hand as the Runaway, or heal up both your friends and ghostly adversaries as the Revivalist, there are plenty of ways to tackle objectives along the way. But you won’t be on the train alone. Haints, the lingering spirits imprisoned by the fiddle player’s soothing songs, will stop at nothing to make sure that you lose all your Humanity and stay aboard this spooky locomotive … forever! There’s no need for a game master or another player to take up the role of these dastardly foes. Haint actions are fully automated; it’s as simple as drawing a token from the Bindle bag and resolving the action written in the 100-page Scenario book. Instead of focusing on what the enemy will do each turn, it will be up to you and your friends to figure out how to save these lost souls while also trying to escape the Silver

Ferryman before it’s too late. Luckily, you’ll have the chance to make a new friend who is willing to lend a helping hand (or paw), so long as you’ve got Coins to spare. DC, a mysterious black cat with horns and piercing blue eyes, will offer you both Skills and Junk to acquire and further customize your Vagrants after each and every Scenario. As you progress along the tracks of Vagrantsong’s campaign, the many mysteries of the train will unfold before you, whether through a song in the distance or the choices made along the way. In each of the 20-plus Scenarios, you will investigate the unknown, save these misguided ghosts by restoring their lost Humanity, and uncover the rich story surrounding the Silver Ferryman. The only way to uncover the secrets of this spooky and challenging adventure will be to pick up your copy later this fall, when Vagrantsong reaches local game stores. All aboard!

wyrd-games.net

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A New Pathway in the Tabletop Games Industry by John Stacy, GAMA Executive Director

arlier this year, GAMA’s Diversity & Equity Committee explored ways that we could make a real difference to address the needs of communities that have been historically underrepresented in the tabletop industry. After a lot of reflection and conversation among members, the GAMA Horizons Fellowship was created. The fellowship is a six-month accelerator for prospective and newly-established tabletop game publishers, creators, and retail store owners. It is designed to connect them with industry professionals who will serve as mentors and peer coaches, in addition to providing access to grants and resources essential to developing and sustaining successful business relationships. The program runs from October 2021 through March 2022, so that the Fellows are able to participate in the GAMA EXPO in Reno next year. All selected fellowship participants receive • monthly one-on-one coaching sessions with dedicated mentors and peer coaches to be scheduled at the participants’ convenience, as well as virtual group workshops

• • • • • • •

a one-year complimentary membership in GAMA valued at $300 a $1,000 grant for business or operational expenses free admission to GAMA Expo 2022 with complimentary hotel stay complimentary booth space at GAMA Expo 2022 for publisher participants with access to hundreds of retailers from the U.S., Canada, and other countries a complimentary retailer box following GAMA Expo 2022 for retailer participants reimbursement of up to $1,000 in travel-related expenses for GAMA Expo 2022, and one year of complimentary legal advice from Azora Law of Bellevue, Washington

Additionally, upon completion of the fellowship, one publisher and one retailer Fellow will be selected to each receive a $5,000 grant to help create, maintain, or grow their respective businesses. Thanks to the generous support of industry partners and GAMA, this pilot program has raised more than $30,000 to support the Fellows.

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Brandee Lopez – Cardboardia (Murrieta, CA)

cardboardanddie.com | @cardboardanddie “My name is Brandee, and my husband Jesse and I own Cardboardia game store. Our store mascot is our 13-year-old terrier mix, Ra’s Al Ghul Lopez, who is greatly loved and spoiled by our customers. We have one of the largest and most unique board game selections in the area. We also specialize in tabletop card games such as Magic The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon and, most recently, My Hero Academia. Our goal is to create an inclusive gaming community for all walks of life and experience. When I am not at the store, I am at the hospital working full time as a nurse.”

Deon Mixon – Design Eye Game (Detroit, MI) designeyegame.com | @designeyegame

Deon Mixon is a graphic designer, author, and entrepreneur from Detroit who specializes in brand identity design. He is founder and CEO of Design Eye Game – a design education company that leads with its flagship product, Design Eye – the world’s premier graphic design education board game. Design Eye was created to educate youth – particularly youth of color – about graphic design, and to encourage them to pursue careers in the creative world.

Desireé Vaughn – Dub This! (Boston, MA) dubthisgame.com | @dubthisgame GAMA received more than 40 applicants for the initial class of Fellows, with nine selected to participate in the first cohort. The inaugural group is comprised of five publishers and four retailers. In addition, the remaining applicants were invited to join monthly educational programs at no charge to help support their journey into the industry. It is our great pleasure to announce the GAMA Horizons Fellows Class of 2021.

Ami Baio – Pink Tiger Games (Portland, OR)

pinktigergames.com | @pinktigergames Pink Tiger Games is the studio of Ami Baio, a game designer living and working in magical Portland, Oregon. Previously a massage therapist, writer, and personal trainer, Ami brings her unique experience in self care, storytelling, and personal growth to make games that are creative and kind.

Desireé is a musician, educator, innovator, and lover of all things that bring joy and positive energy! She is intrigued by how music can be a life source for so many people, herself included! She came up with Dub This! ™ after noticing how she connected music and songs while doing everyday tasks or listening to music. Dub This! is a high-energy, musically involved card game. It is a game that combines musical connections, nostalgia, and challenge to create a memorable experience for all!

Federico Chialvo – Joyful Mathematics (Lodi, CA)

foyfulmathematics.com | @joyfulmathematics Federico Chialvo is a lifelong gamer, a game designer, and founder of Joyful Mathematics, a company that aims to make games that give everyone access to the beautiful and powerful world of mathematics. As a first-generation Latinx immigrant who grew up with dyslexia, ADHD and learning (continued on page 47) Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 41

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Upper Deck is in Search of the

Ultimate Legendary Gamer! U

pper Deck is excited to announce the launch of the Legendary Gamer Giveaway Contest. This contest will celebrate and shine a light on stories from all corners of the gaming community. Whether you’ll be showcasing your favorite games or sharing a particularly awesome experience, Upper Deck wants to recognize you! The ultimate Legendary Gamer is the most passionate of tabletop gamers, who has made a positive impact in the gaming and/or Legendary® community. Upper Deck wants to hear from YOU! The grand prize winner will not only receive the ultimate Legendary Gamer prize package, but also a trip to Gen Con 2022! North America’s largest tabletop game convention is the perfect destination for the ultimate Legendary Gamer, and Upper Deck wants to give one deserving V.I.G. the ultimate Gen Con experience. Go to UpperDeckStore.com/LegendaryGamer to enter today!

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upperdeck.com

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(continued from page 45)

English as a second language, Federico struggled a lot in school. He was fortunate to overcome these struggles and earn a BS in mathematics and an MA in education, and has dedicated himself for almost 20 years to making mathematics education more equitable. Joyful Mathematics was founded in 2019, successfully kickstarting MULTI by raising more than $25,000. They launched a Kickstarter for a card game called Numeroso on October 27th, 2021!

Jesse Stommel & Joshua Lee – PlayForge (Littleton, CO) playforgegames.com | @ playforgegames

PlayForge is a makerspace and retail shop with games and puzzles for and by people of all ages – a store, a school, a playground. The store is curated with toys, board games, and RPGs that inspire curiosity and community. It sells popular and independent games, and also creates and supports a diverse community of gamemakers. The store is owned and operated by Joshua Lee, Jesse Stommel, and their 4-year-old daughter, Hazel (the store manager). Jesse is an educator of 21 years. Joshua is a maker, teacher, and alternative energy engineer.

Miles English – Puddletown Games & Puzzles (Portland, OR)

puddletowngames.com | @puddletowngames “My name is Miles and I recently started my first business – a small hobby board game and puzzle store in Portland. I have been in retail for nearly my whole life. As a kid I worked in grocery stores; in college I worked at Pottery Barn. The bulk of my adult resume has been motorcycle parts sales. “I managed a very large hobby game store in Portland for about six months before I decided that I’d like to stop working for someone else. On the eve of my 50th birthday, I worked my last day there and started work on my own shop the following day – May 15th, 2021. I know lots about retail but I also know that there’s a ton I don’t know. I’m super excited at this opportunity to improve my knowledge.”

Quan Truong – Roll With It Board Game Cafe & Bar (Virginia Beach, VA)

rollwithitbgcafe.com | @rollwithitbgcafe Quan recently left an eight-year career in healthcare IT to open Roll With It Board Game Cafe & Bar. He has been an avid hobby board gamer for more than six years and decided to open a place for his community to learn more about board games. The cafe has 600-plus board games for guests to enjoy, and features a menu of fresh food such as Paninis, salads, smoothies, and milkshakes. Along with food, the cafe serves beer and wine, and has a retail section where guests can buy games.

Richard Day – Anoba Studios (New York, NY)

boilingpointgame.com | @boilingpointgame Professionally, Richard comes from an engineering and entrepreneurship background, having previously cofounded a clean tech nanomanufacturing company in Brooklyn. He’s always been interested in supporting the underserved and is currently working full-time on energy equity, bringing much-needed clean energy and energy efficiency to those communities. He started Anoba Studios out of his other lifelong passion: producing creative media and supporting fellow artists who lack access to resources that can lead them to success. Anoba Studios LLC focuses on finding ways to support and highlight the innovations of underrepresented content creators. It was founded by a collective of professionals from different industrial backgrounds who share a passion for both creativity and making an impact. Together, they are working on several different projects and initiatives, in addition to publishing their own creations. Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 43

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From Russia with Loot Translating Munchkin Russia into English by Alain H. Dawson

teve Jackson Games has a longstanding relationship with our translation partners at Hobby World, so when they asked to make an original Munchkin game with a Russian theme, we said “da.” Designers Pavel Iliin and Dmitry Moldon worked with illustrator Sergey Dulin (Spyfall, Furnace) to create a Munchkin-y take on historic, modern, and folkloric Russian culture. The result was a unique, pun-filled, visually striking game … in Russian. We needed a translation and our partners were happy to help. Julia Klokova, the International Project Manager at Hobby World, did the majority of the translation work, with assistance from James Higgins to get the English-language references just right. The English version of Munchkin Russia will be released this fall, but we were fortunate to have a copy with us when we went to Gen Con in September. Fans had a very positive reaction to our rousing and rowdy demos, despite the complete lack of vodka. We got raves about the art, and Munchkin aficionados enjoyed the different flavor of this game as well as some new mechanics. SJ Games and Hobby World staff were both at Gen Con, and we took the opportunity to interview Julia and James; they talked about the translation process and the sorts of decisions they had to make to keep the Munchkin humor and Russian references intact. Julia: “We had a whole team creating 44 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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that humor, so we had about eight people at the table, asking, ‘Will it play? What can we add here? How are we going to have the picture?’” Some cards were simple to translate. New Munchkin Line Editor Will Schoonover recalled, “My very first demo Thursday morning was with someone who had lived in Russia. He explained to me what was funny about some of the cards that I didn’t understand. But even not understanding everything, I mean, Chekov is very obvious.” Cards such as Iron Curtain and the Oligarch are also easy for Americans to understand. Not all of the changes were that straightforward. Julia: “I do remember how I struggled with this one, Lone Wolf. It was originally Tambovsky Volk: “Tambov Wolf.” Tambov is a small Russian town. It’s really cold and far from Moscow. We have a saying: ‘In Tambov, wolf is your friend.’ I told James, ‘I actually have no idea why they say that!’ I had to look it up myself. You would say this to someone who is starting to call you a friend, and you really don’t want to interact with them, so you tell them,

“I’m not your friend. A Tambov wolf is your friend.” After Julia researched the origins of the phrase and spent half an hour explaining it to James, the two decided it wouldn’t translate. They chose the English phrase “lone wolf ” because it was a good match for the art. Wolves are a regular feature of Russian folklore, and are used to scare Russian children into behaving – even to this day. That may seem harsh to a modern Western audience, but as James noted, “If we look in the mirror and we think about some of our own stories, songs – Hansel and Gretel are getting baked in an oven. Rock-a-bye Baby – what is the baby doing in the tree? What we’re looking at here is a reflection of ourselves in a different culture, and what I found very interesting and compelling were the similarities.” Want to learn more? Check out Julia’s Translator Diary at boardgamegeek.com. Munchkin Russia is a 168-card stand-alone game, arriving late October 2021.

sjgames.com

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by Kathy Hilliard, Vice President, Marketing, Andrews McMeel Publishing

he New York Times calls puzzle Editor Will Shortz “the most powerful man in puzzles. His personal style, aesthetic, humor and sensibility set the standard for what makes a great crossword.” His creativity and expertise is evident in his latest enterprise: Will Shortz Games, a series of games, books and calendars in partnership with Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) and Nextoy sure to entertain and delight with a November 9th debut. The venture has already been recognized as exceptional, nominated for a TAGIE Award for “Most Innovative License of the Year.” And who better than trusted authority Shortz to develop a new line of games? In addition to being The New York Times puzzle editor, Shortz is founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (the oldest, largest, and most popular crossword puzzle competition in the world), and puzzle master for NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday.” The first three products in the lineup are: • Will Shortz Games: Down and Across, • Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords, and • Will Shortz Games: Brain Twisters 2022 Day-to-Day Calendar. Will Shortz Games: Down and Across will interest wordsmiths of all ages, and fans of Scrabble and Bananagrams, among other word games. Participants draw letter tiles, roll dice, and compete to be the first person to come up with a two-word crossword to fit the clues. Easy to learn and readily accessible, the portable game will undoubtedly become a family favorite on game night. It was developed with Gameblend Studios.

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Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords features 60 puzzles from the beloved American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Considered the “Super Bowl of Crosswords,” the tournament is widely recognized and acclaimed, thanks in part to the documentary “Wordplay,” in which it was prominently featured. In addition to dozens of engrossing puzzles, Will Shortz Games: Championship Crosswords is packed with fun facts, expert solving tips, photos and more, with challenging puzzles created by an all-star list of crossword creators. Finally, Will Shortz Games: Brain Twisters 2022 Day-to-Day Calendar engages fans with a daily challenge from hundreds of word-based puzzles, testing their skill and strengthening brain power. Clever and entertaining, it provides an opportunity for learning and successful solving every day of the year. “We are thrilled to partner with Will Shortz to introduce a stellar lineup of games, books and calendars,” said Kirsty Melville, publisher and president of AMP. “He is unquestionably the premier puzzle and word master, and as the burgeoning popularity of board games, brain games, and puzzles continues to grow, the timing is ideal. With Will Shortz Games, AMP expands our presence in the Games category, and I can’t imagine a better partner than Will Shortz in doing so.” “I’ve devoted my life to intelligent play,” said Shortz. “I’m so happy to partner with Andrews McMeel, one of the giants in publishing, to bring my puzzles and games to a wider audience.” The Will Shortz Games line will arrive just in time for holiday gift-giving and festive gatherings, stimulating brains and enriching experiences for friends and families.

amuniversal.com

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The new, large Star Realms Box Set from Wise Wizard includes the Star Realms Deckbuilding Game – winner of seven Game of the Year awards – plus a gorgeous game board, an insert thaxt organizes four Starter Decks, Explorers, Market Deck, and Gambit expansion including Nemesis Beast and Pirates of the Dark Star solo/ cooperative challenges, with room for expansions. wisewizardgames.com/gama Upper Deck’s second Legendary® James Bond expansion, The Spy Who Loved Me, follows the plot of the classic film. Within this deck-building game, you can join 007 in his battle against one of his greatest foes, the indestructible Jaws! Along the way, you will face other notorious villains and complete epic missions, all while avoiding perilous traps and pitfalls. Are you up to the task? https://bit.ly/LegendaryBond

Down & Across is a fast, competitive word game by Will Shortz Games for anyone who loves Scrabble or Bananagrams. Draw your letter tiles, roll the clue dice, and be the first person to come up with a two-word crossword to fit the clues! For 1-4 players, ages 10+. sales@amuniversal.com

The Warpaints Air Range from The Army Painter contains every colour you will ever need to airbrush any miniature or army – 126 colours total. It’s a diverse palette ranging from crisp acrylics and shimmering metallics to vibrant fluo. The paints are pre-thinned, making them ready-to-use right out of the bottle! https://shop.thearmypainter.com/products. php?ProductGroupId=26

Pine Box Entertainment’s Moods of the Mad King is a micro-game in which players assume the role of a playwright. The Mad King demands a play to suit his whim, but with his ever-changing moods, all the playwrights must steal secrets and gather information in order to create the perfect play! MSRP: 14.99 pineboxentertainment.com

Fog of Love from Floodgate Games is a romantic comedy as a board game! For two players, where each creates one of the characters in a fictional relationship. Critically acclaimed, Fog of Love and its expansions are now available from Floodgate Games! Contact Rich Gain, Sales Manager, rich@ floodgategames.com

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Become a true collector with famous pieces of art and a touch of dragon. Dragon Shield releases three new additions to their Dragons in Art series on November 5th: The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Abbey in the Oak Wood, and The Great Wave join eight fantastic art pieces previously dragonized by Dragon Shield. https://www.dragonshield.com

Steve Jackson Games The Random Fun Generator … 21 Dice Games That Are … A Little Different! Fast-playing dice games from Steve Jackson Games are designed for groups of all sizes, ages, and gaming experience. All you’ll need to add is paper and a pencil for keeping score. Grab some friends, pick a page, and get rolling! retailers@sjgames.com

Ultimate Werewolf Extreme from Bezier Games is an interactive game of deduction for 5 to 75 players who are divided into two teams: Villagers and Werewolves. The Villagers don’t know who the Werewolves are, and the Werewolves are trying to remain undiscovered while they eliminate the Villagers. orders@beziergames.com Attack Vector: Tactical from Ad Astra Games puts the science in your science fiction space combat. Lauded by NASA, the current edition has been used as a reference for multiple television programs, including “The Expanse” on Amazon. This rich game rewards multiple plays with emergent tactics, and there’s nothing else like it. adastragames.com

Skybound has been cooking up a sweet co-op card game with Kim-Joy from “The Great British Bakeoff”! 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! MSRP $20 SKU 4310 UPC: 811949032843 Contact Matt Faulisi – mfaulisi@skbyound.com

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Full House is the follow-up to the award-winning MicroMacro: Crime City from Pegasus North America. Featuring a new city map and 16 new and exciting cases, this standalone game will make use of your keen eyes and deduction skills as you dive into detective work in Crime City. pegasus-web.com Facebook: @pegasusspielglobal Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 49

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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 from Elf Creek Games, 1 to 4 players assume the role of these brave few merchants that travel the dangerous paths between cities. While the job is perilous, fame and fortune await! patrick@elfcreekgames.com

Wise Wizard’s Epic Card Game is a fast-paced fantasy card game with giant monsters and devastating events designed by the creators of Star Realms. The new Duels set contains allnew cards, two pre-constructed decks, and a Quick Start Guide to walk new players through a turn-by-turn tutorial of a full game. wisewizardgames.com/GAMA

2400 takes Chronicles of Crime into the future for the first time and introduces a cyberpunk setting that is hotly desired by gamers of all generations. Each of the four scenarios in the game from Lucky Duck offers a unique criminal investigation with an expansive narrative (averaging over 65,000 words per scenario!). The game is fully cooperative and all players work together to solve the mystery. MSRP $29.99 luckyduckgames.com

In a world of myth and magic, great heroes vanquish terrible monsters and earn a place in legend. But what about the babies left behind? The Baby Bestiary Handbooks from Metal Weave Games are the first exploration of a new kind of adventure: the raising of young monsters to become loyal companions, beloved friends, or fearsome guardians. andreas@metalweavegames metalweavegames.com Players of The Tree Lined Avenue from Japanime Games discover that when avenues cross and the number of available trees are limited, designing a large, picturesque park becomes challenging. Higher points can be achieved by collecting the same type of trees on rows and columns on which your gardeners stand. Expected release: January 2022. https://japanimegames.com/products/the-tree-lined-avenue Below the surface of a secluded lagoon lie four newly discovered shipwrecks full of lost artifacts. Draft dice and send your divers to the wrecks to recover their treasures. Fast turns, interesting decisions, and lots of ways to score makes Wreck Raiders from Burnt Island Games a fun puzzle for players of all ages. https://www.kidstablebg.com/wreck-raiders service@kidstablebg.com 50 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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Fight for the future of Xadia in The Dragon Prince: Battlecharged. The epic animated series comes to life in this fast-paced tactical miniatures game from Brotherwise Games. Control eight heroes and villains, each with their own custom battling deck and unique play style. In stores now! www.brotherwisegames.com/thedragonprince 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

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

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is an engine-building game in which players control interplanetary corporations with the goal of making Mars habitable (and profitable). This new standalone game from Stronghold Games – inspired by Terraforming Mars – features faster gameplay and more than 200 beautifully illustrated cards! indieboardsandcards.com

Picture Perfect from Arcane Wonders – the hit sell-out game of Gen Con – is now available! Can you take the perfect picture of a group of people in one try? Each has different wishes. Some want to be at the front of the picture; some want to stand next to another. It’s up to you to make everyone happy … arcanewonders.com

In Wyrd Miniatures’ Vagrantsong, a cooperative and story-driven boss battler, you will take on the role of a Vagrant trapped on a supernatural ghost train. Face off against ghosts lingering on the train (called Haints), adjust your playstyle with Skills and Junk acquired along the way, and uncover the secrets of the Silver Ferryman in this spooky and challenging adventure. https://www.wyrd-games.net/vagrantsong

Art Decko from Rio Grande Games is an artistic new take on deck building. Players spend their turns acquiring new paintings in five different genres while they look for more funding and exhibit their purchases. Buying and showing paintings drives up that genre’s value while amassing gold dilutes its value. Available now. www.riograndegames.com Q4 2021 • AROUND THE table 51

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5 Reasons to Offer Your Small Business Health Insurance Benefits

ne of the biggest dilemmas facing small business owners today is whether to offer health insurance as an employee benefit. Each year, small businesses are faced with the task of weighing the pros and cons of offering group health insurance to their employees and themselves. “I guess because of the pandemic I have to offer insurance.” “Will this help my business?” “Can I afford to offer these benefits?” “How will this affect my bottom line?” “I don’t know anything about insurance, how would I answer my employees’ questions?” We wanted to highlight some of the reasons why health insurance is a must-have offering for every employer, no matter the size.

1. Improved Hiring and Recruiting

A recent survey of small businesses across the United States found that 66 percent of employers offering health insurance benefits to their employees did so to hire and retain the best employees. The data on the employee end is even more drastic. According to a 2017 survey from Lending Tree found that 33 percent of people have turned down a job offer due to lack of employee benefits. Finally, and most notably, a survey in 2016 from Fractl published in the Harvard Business Review noted that 88 percent of respondents would be more likely to take a lower paying job if health insurance were offered. A 2018 survey from Willis Towers Watson showed that 46 percent of respondents cited health insurance as a key consideration in choosing their current employer. With only 55 percent of U.S.-based companies with less than 100 employees offering health insurance, providing an attractive benefit to potential talent is a way to set you apart from the rest of the pack. In a small business, one employee represents a substantial percentage of your overall team. Being able to attract the right employees can be the difference in a success story and an ultimate disaster. This is even more true in the post-pandemic era where small businesses need to pull out all the stops to attract top talent.

2. Better Employee Retention

With all the challenges of finding and

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hiring the right employees comes the challenge of keeping them on board. Dealing with both the direct and indirect turnover costs are a burden for any company let alone a small business. The direct cost of finding, onboarding, hiring, and training a new employee exacerbates the indirect costs of lost productivity, gaps in customer service, not achieving your businesses core competencies, or any adverse effects on company culture. Some studies have been done to quantify the actual cost of employee turnover, with one study concluding that the average business spends 21 percent of an employee’s salary to replace him or her. Fifty-six percent of employers who were offered health insurance through their current employer answered that their coverage was a deciding factor in their decision to stay with their company. Given the importance of employee retention on small businesses, the ability to offer health insurance is paramount as it provides a stickiness to employees and mitigates the possibility of turnover becoming an issue to overcome. (On top of the endless issues you must deal with as a small business owner)

3. Tax Incentives

Most often, the largest driving factor keeping employers from offering health insurance benefits are the premium costs. Many businesses, especially smaller ones, worry that the price tag of offering coverage to their employees may break the bank. Thankfully, tax incentives can help small businesses weather the burden of those costs. There are a few diverse ways employers can receive tax benefits by contributing to group health insurance. In most cases, premiums paid by businesses for employee coverage are 100-percent tax deductible. The contributions you make to employees’ small group health insurance benefits are tax-exempt, according to the Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This means those costs are declared for informational purposes only and are not part of any tax calculations for your business: they are not subject to federal income tax withholding, social security, Medicare,

federal unemployment (FUTA) tax, and are not reported on Form W-2. Taking advantage of this incentive is particularly valuable – it can lower your tax payments, or in some cases even eliminate them completely. Section 125 or sometimes Premium Only Plans (POP) allows employees to enroll in coverages and pay for these benefits pretax. Here’s how it works: The dollars you commit toward employees’, their spouses’ and dependents’ premiums are an obvious financial plus for them, but are not considered ‘wages’ by the government, and therefore aren’t taxed the same way, for example on their paycheck. In general, contributions to employees’ Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a deductible business expense for your company. A type of pre-tax savings account, HSAs can be used when paired with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Those contributions can also be excluded from an employee’s income, and are not subject to Social Security, Medicare, or federal income taxes.

4. Wellness and employee culture

Employee culture and wellness is a top priority when thinking about whether to offer benefits (and what kind). Too many employers think about the insurance plan itself, and not anything indirectly related. For instance, many insurance plans do come with supplemental wellness initiatives that can also be used as a tool to incentivize good health habits. It could also be a great tool to continue to foster a familylike culture within the businesses. By taking an interest in supporting employees’ health, they are more likely to be more productive, stay employed there longer, and rave about how awesome they are treated as employees.

5. Operational Costs

It is a best-kept secret that health insurance can be an operational cost that YOU can control. As a GAMA member you have GameManufacturersHealthcare.com and their advisors to help you learn how to take back control of your Healthcare while freeing up resources to distribute elsewhere in your business. gamemanufacturershealthcare.com

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Free Moderator App Helps Differentiate

“Extreme”

by Ted Alspach, CEO, Bezier Games, Inc.

ltimate Werewolf Extreme is the latest incarnation of the Ultimate Werewolf series of games, and it has been re-imagined in every way, with incredibly detailed and representative artwork, updated rules, a more modern graphic design, and integration with an optional moderator app which makes setting up and playing games easier and faster than ever before. “Extreme” comes with enough cards to allow for three simultaneous game “villages” of up to 25 players each to take place, with plenty of werewolves, villagers, and even three Seers. In addition, there are dozens of special roles for each of the teams and several independent roles. There’s even an Ivory Tower token, which provides the power to prevent being eliminated first in the game. The moderator score pad is a great way for players to keep track of the players and their roles … but that’s nothing compared to the new Moderator App, which does all of that work for you! The free Moderator App (available 56 AROUND THE table • Q4 2021

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for both iOS and Android) starts off by helping you set up the perfect game with roles that are suited for your group. Then it scans the backs of cards, the players’ names, and even their faces to allow the moderator to see who is in the game, what role they have, and to track who has been marked for elimination each night. The app knows who is still in the game, and even organizes the players in a circle that matches their physical locations relative to each other. It also walks the moderator through each step of the night, waking up each of the roles as needed and then providing a script for what those roles do each night. One of the hallmarks of the Ultimate Werewolf series has been the variety of roles available in the game. While “Extreme” has dozens of unique roles, the new Ultimate Werewolf Bonus Roles expansion has an additional 45 new roles that can be added in to keep games fresh. Bonus Roles also contains a Tasty Sandwich token that can be used for

keeping werewolves at bay (who knew they would prefer eating a sandwich to a villager?), and a Magical Charm that is given to a player by the first werewolf eliminated, protecting that player from the angry village team for a single day. Because Ultimate Werewolf has been around so long, many players have played hundreds, even thousands, of games. Those players consider themselves experts. For these players, and players who strive to move to that level of play, the new Ultimate Werewolf Pro expansion has professional rules that tweak the game for experienced players and moderators, and more than 50 new professional-level, carefully-balanced roles carefully crafted with those expert players in mind. Pro also contains a Judge’s Gavel token, for a new mode of play where the players elect a Judge who determines if nominated players are eliminated or not. These new boxed expansions are fully compatible with the Moderator App, too! beziergames.com

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GAMA news

GAMA EXPO

Registration is Open March 14-18, 2022 Peppermill Resort, Reno

Join us in Reno for

GAMA EXPO 2022

where you will be able to: • Network with hundreds of industry professionals • Build relationships with customers • Attend Peer-to-Peer education programs • Demo the latest games for 2022 • Hybrid event with both in person and online programming • Gain recognition in the industry • Members Only Event - you must be a GAMA member to attend

BADGES Each voting member company receives two (2) complimentary badges to the show. Additional badges are $100. You must be an active member of GAMA to register for and to attend EXPO. To sign up for the show, please visit our website at: www.gama.org/page/gama-expo. HOTEL GAMA has a group discounted room rate at the Peppermill. These rates are available March 11-19 for those that want to arrive a little early or stay an extra day. The GAMA rates are available only through the Peppermill by calling the hotel direct at 866-821-9996 using group code AGAMA22. We do not use a thirdparty housing service. Any such service that contacts you are not authorized. RETAILER ROOM PROMO Once again, we are offering our Book A

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The 2022 GAMA EXPO will be held March 14 through 18. This is the largest gathering of hobby game industry professionals in the United States, attracting more than 2,000 attendees each year!

Night, Get A Night Promo for retailers at Expo. For each night booked, GAMA will pay $99 towards a second night stay, with a maximum of two nights paid towards your final hotel bill. Please note when you reserve your room, your total will show that you are paying for all nights booked, but you will not be charged prior to your stay. Your two additional nights covered by GAMA will be removed from your total when you check out.

our mission statement of “A game on every table. A table for everyone.”

COVID Safety Requirements All attendees will be required to show proof of either being fully vaccinated prior to the show, or a negative covid test before being allowed to participate in the show. In addition, based on current Nevada rules masks must be worn indoors as well. This last item may change based on local ordinance and transmission rates next March.

If you are currently a member, thank you and we appreciate your continued support in 2022. If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join our association and help us remake GAMA to be more reflective of today’s tabletop industry. For more information on membership, please visit our website at gama.org or email us at john.stacy@gama.org.

We currently have six voting member categories in addition to a nonvoting communicating membership. The voting membership categories are Creators, Media & Events, Publishers, Production, Retail, and Wholesale.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL As an nonprofit trade organization, we could not operate without the support of our members. We want to thank you for your membership in the Game Manufacturers Association! It is time to renew for 2022. Benefits of membership include free webinars, quarterly networking meetings to share best practices and ideas, our membership directories, education, industry news, complimentary badges to Origins and Expo 2022, and so much more to help you achieve your professional goals. • See listing of upcoming events by visiting the industry calendar. • Get access to educational webinars and pre-recorded seminars. • Network with your colleagues in the industry (GAMA member directory). • Stay on top of industry trends with GAMA’s Around The Table publication. • Secure complimentary badges for GAMA Expo, March 14-18, 2022 (voting members). • Read about ways GAMA serves its members in the GAMA Newsletter. In July 2021, GAMA restructured our membership categories to embrace our value of inclusivity and acceptance by inviting ALL members of the industry to the table, to better reflect

P INE B OX E NTERTAINMENT . COM /M AD K ING

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GAMA news

Origins Game Fair Report

Origins Game Fair

Thank you to all the exhibitors, retailers, GAMA members, GMs and volunteers that helped make this year’s Origins Game Fair a success with 10,476 total attendees. While that is about 50% of our 2019 attendance, we are very grateful to everyone who helped make the show happen.

One special moment during the convention was the dedication of the Open Gaming Area for longtime retail member Brian Dalrymple who passed away earlier this year. In addition, we partnered with GDEX, a central Ohio video game developers conference that show was co-located at Origins

with its 40 exhibitors and more than 100 hours our workshops, seminar and tournaments. Attendees who purchased a badge for Origins we able to go to both shows for the same price. The feedback was that it was good to get a new audience to experience our show. We look forward with partnering with GDEX again in 2022. Special thanks to the GRD board for their hard work organizing the Merch Store, as well as coordinating the education tracks for the Trade Days @ Origins program. Shout out for the publishers who sponsored Trade Days: Iello, Left Justified & Prolific Games, Foam Brain Games, Smirk & Dagger, Bridge Distribution & Giga Mech Games, Czech Games, Fireside Games, Free League Publishing, ICv2, BCW Supplies and Lucky Duck Games. Mark your calendars for June 8-12, 2022 for next years convention.

2021 Origins Awards Update During the September GAMA board of directors meeting John Rogers with Arcane Wonders was named the new Chair of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design, which oversees and manages the Origins Awards. He is joined by Mike Elliott, who is the curator of the AAGAD Hall of Fame and John Stacy, who serves as Academy Secretary. The submission period for consideration of the is open until December 31, 2021. The twelve categories for this year will be: 1. Board Game – Family/Light This category is for board games that are meant to be playable by families or games that focus on streamlined/simple mechanics that are playable in roughly 30 minutes or less.

2. Board Game – Medium This category is for board games that focus on accessible/moderate mechanics that are playable in roughly 90 minutes or less 3. Board Game – Heavy This category is for board games that focus on challenging/complex mechanics that are playable in any amount of time. 4. Board Game – Historical/Wargames This category is for board games that focus on historical and educational subject matter. 5. Card Game This category is for games that are comprised primarily of cards and whose

mechanics revolve around the usage of those cards. 6. Collectible Games (randomized and living TCG)This category includes card, preconstructed miniatures, and other games which rely on a model of serial purchases whether they be randomized packs or “living” style packs. 7. Miniatures Game – Thematic This category is for miniatures-based games with a non-historic theme where the components constructed and/or decorated by the consumer. 8. Miniatures Game – Historical This category is for miniatures-based games with a historic theme where

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the components constructed and/or decorated by the consumer. 9. Role Playing Games - Core Rule Set This category is for printed books that contain the base rules for RPGs. 10. Role Playing Games - Supplement & Adventures This category is for printed books that contain expanded rules, written adventures and campaign for existing RPG systems. 11. Game Accessory This category covers any material or game components intended to enhance the user experience. Playmats, Dice Rollers, Box inserts, and Carry-alls would be in this category. 12. Game of the Year This category is open to any product within the board gaming industry and is

Trading Day at Origins

voted on by the members of the GAMA Retail Division. Each category will be reviewed by volunteer jury members. If you would like to be part of one of the juries, please email academysecretary@gama.org. Submission window for this year is Nov

1 to December 31, 2021. For more information on how to submit games and products for consideration, eligibility requirements and timeline, please visit https://www. originsawards.net.

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INDEX OF advertisers Company

website

adverstory page

ad page

Ad Astra Games............................adastragames.com..........................................................................62 Andrews McMeel Universal......amuniversal.com........................................46.................................47 Arcane Tinmen ApS.....................arcanetinmen.com.....................................24.................................25 Arcane Wonders...........................arcanewonders.com.......................................................................29 Bezier Games................................beziergames.com........................................56.................................57

Space Combat With Actual Science The New Season of The Expanse is Coming

Be Ready

Bloomsbury Publishing.............ospreypublishing.com....................................................................11 Brotherwise Games, LLC...........brotherwisegames.com..................................................................61 Elf Creek Games...........................elfcreekgames.com......................................6................. front cover Floodgate Games........................floodgategames.com.................................36.................................37 Iello..................................................iellogames.com................................................................ back cover Indie Game Studios....................indieboardsandcards.com........................28...........................30-31 Japanime Games.........................japanimegames.com..................................52.................................53 KTBG/Burnt Island Games........kidstablebg.com..........................................34.................................35 Lucky Duck Games......................luckyduckgames.com..................................8..... inside front cover Magpie Games..............................magpiegames.com.....................................20.................................21 Metal Weave Games....................metalweave.games.....................................16.................................17 MyHealthily...................................gamemanufacturershealthcare.com......54.................................55 Pegasus North America.............pegasus-web.com.......................................10...................................4 Pine Box Entertainment............pineboxentertainment.com...........................................................59 Rio Grande Games.......................riograndegames.com.................................14.................................15 Skybound LLC...............................skybound.com.............................................12.................................13 Steve Jackson Games................sjgames.com................................................44.................................45 The Army Painter.........................thearmypainter.com...................................22.................................23 Ultra Pro Int. / Playroom...........ultrapro.com...............................................................................32-33 Upper Deck....................................upperdeck.com...........................................42..... inside back cover Wise Wizard Games.....................wisewizardgames.com...............................26.................................27 Wyrd Games..................................wyrd-games.net...........................................38.................................39

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

www.adastragames.com Available through Distribution or Direct

AROUND THE

A Publication by the Game Manufacturers Association

Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022

Deadline

January 7 April 15 July 15 September 30

Mailing Date

February 18 May 20 August 19 November 4

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Around the Table Q4 2021

Articles inside

Bezier Games

New Products

MyHealthily

Andrews McMeel Universal

Upper Deck

Steve Jackson Games

Wyrd Games

Floodgate Games

KTBG/Burnt Island Games

Indie Game Studios

Wise Wizard Games

Arcane Tinmen ApS

The Army Painter

Skybound LLC

Magpie Games

Metal Weave Games

Lucky Duck Games

Letter from the Executive Director

Rio Grande Games

Pegasus North America

Elf Creek Games