Welcome

This issue is a real fun one for

HISTORY REPEATED

Remembering the foundations of the hobby amidst the magic of the new

WHAT’S HOT?

Join us as we take a look at some of the games that are getting people talking. What’s being viewed and reviewed? Is it right up your street, or something you’re crossing the road to avoid?

THE BEST OF THE SCENE RIGHT NOW

A look at the indie RPGs that deser ve your attention this month

OUT OFTHIS WORLD

The making of SETI: Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence

STROKES OF STARDUST

It’s not just great design that makes a board game sing, but its art too. Ondrˇej Hrdina (Ondra) explains bringing SETI to life

UNBOXED - THE CREW: THE QUEST FOR PLANET NINE

Designer Thomas Sing looks back at the creation of the cooperative adventure that’s just the trick for fans of card games

KAZAKHSTAN

Iwas reading a news article recently concerning the

A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

Where do you go when a Kickstarter fails?

FAIR GAME

Titles inspired by publicdomain stories

FIFTY-ISH WIN MINUTES TO WIN

Six dice and Videotape - The short-lived life of VHS Interactive Video Board Games

10 OF THE BEST WORKER PLACEMENT GAMES

The worker placement mechanic has been popular since its first appearance sometime around the turn of the century. Fans of eurogames, in particular, are drawn to the leisurely process of plopping down a meeple for exclusive access to an action. In most cases, this involves collecting exciting things such as wood and grain, or partaking in white-knuckle activities like draining a peat bog, but there are now many examples demonstrating how the mechanic has migrated to less bucolic themes too.

FLAGONS AND FESTIVALS

Behind the scenes at Manchester’s newest festival

FORGOTTEN TOMES

Behind the scenes with The Shop on the Borderlands, home to new and out-of-print RPGs

YOUR WORLD YOUR RULES

Every issue, we give a few prompts and hints for you to take and expand upon, and if you combine some of those past concepts, you may even be able to craft an adaptable campaign that will be relevant regardless of the RPG you are playing

YOU MEET AT A TAVERN

Behind the door of the RPG trope

ON THE CARDS

Why is it always sold out?

HUMUNGOUS AMONG US OMNIBUS

You’re busy fixing some wiring at work when you get a message calling an emergency meeting

I-LAND ON VICTORY

Sailing to Archazia’s Island to find out what’s next for Disney Lorcana

INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Doing whatever a Spider can, in the newest addition to The Mar vel Multiverse RPG

tabletop Glossary

Welcome adventurers, to the tabletop – where deck building has nothing to do with the patio, and worker placement isn’t part of a recruitment agency. If the terminology used to describe the games we know and love can feel like trying to learn a new language, let our glossary demystify, and have you speaking tabletop in no time at all Written by Emma Garrett

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Prove yourself the most eloquent and verbose of

TRY THIS IF YOU LIKED… THE CHAMELEON

The Chameleon has snuck decisively into the mainstream

COMMUNITY CHATTER

We’re all gamers ourselves, so we know the tabletop community is like no other. This is your space to share the amazing things you’re getting up to. Tell us your stories and your achievements. Have you been raising money, organising activities in the community, or attempting to break a record? Get in touch, we’d love to see you in a future Community Chatter

tabletop time machine

KENSINGTON

FREE RIDE USA

A longside sci-fi, zombies, and beige-looking historical cities,

VIDEO GAME CHAMPION

For those old enough, the idea of returning

PAUPERS’ LADDER SECOND EDITION

In Paupers’ Ladder , designer Paul Stapleton has

THE CROWS OF COPPERSHELL BAY

This “Tiny Tin Tale” was my second foray

TALKING TABLE TOP

After a fantastic review, we caught up with Paul Stapleton about his incredible world-building games

LURE

Push your luck games always seem to go

LITTLE ALCHEMISTS

The app-driven Alchemists board game proved a big

SNATCH IT!

You can’t have too many filler card games

BOMB BUSTERS

B omb Busters was one of the most

WAR STORY: OCCUPIED FRANCE

While it’s been several decades since the height

TRANQUILITY: THE ASCENT

and peaceful, with a mixture of luck and

SPARKS

S parks brings together four designers, with at

IRONWOOD

When it comes to asymmetric strategy games, they

YAXHA

Publishers Helvetiq are most well known for their

KATMAI: THE BEARS OF BROOKS RIVER

For fans of the joyful celebration of soon-to-be

RAJAS OF THE GANGES: CARDS & KARMA

Asa seasoned gamer, it’s hard not to see

SAKANA STACK

Asa vegetarian, I’ve only been fishing once, a

CORE CONNECTION: THE NABLA CONSPIRACY

C ore Connection is all about young female

DOOMSONG

D oomsong describes itself as “a Roleplay Macabre

TRIANGLE AGENCY

Every page of Triangle Agency’s core rulebook cemented

ARMOURED CLASH: THE BATTLE FOR SINGAPORE TWO PLAYER STARTER SET

For my entire lifetime, the undisputed titan of