Elf Creek Games

In this Cold Kingdom Merchants Become Heroes

By Caleb Wilson, Resident Storyteller

Merchants 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 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!