Wyrd Games

One Scary Rail Ride

by Kyle Rowan, Design Lead, Wyrd Games

“Haven’t had a night’s rest since you don’t know when There’s a whistling from a train comin’ round the bend Out from the darkness, its haint blue light descends Hop on board as it passes by – it’ll be your bitter end.“

You 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 awful- ly 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. 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!

A New Pathway

in the Tabletop Games Industry

by John Stacy, GAMA Executive Director

Earlier 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.

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.

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

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)