Tabletop Gaming

Welcome to Tabletop Gaming, guiding you towards a better gaming future and (probably) a much emptier wallet once you’ve seen all the cool games reviewed in this issue. We’ve got Frostpunk, we’ve got ISS Vanguard, we’ve got 12 indie RPGs reviewed all at once. But most importantly, we have a chance to say goodbye to Klaus Teuber, the creator of Catan, and in many way, the industry as we know it now. It’s likely that if you’re reading this, Catan has something to do with it – even if it’s only an echo. After 43 issues as the editor of Tabletop Gaming I’m about to pack up my board, dice and collection of poorly painted miniatures and ride off into the sunset. Thank you for all of the in-depth chats,…

MEET THE NEW EDITOR OF TABLETOP GAMING MAGAZINE Please welcome long-time contributor, and now Editor of Tabletop Gaming magazine, Matthew Vernall. Matthew will be taking over from Chris from issue 80. Want to get in touch? Email him at: matthew.vernall@warnersgroup.co.uk Here’s an introduction from Matthew: “Good day to you all! I’m Matthew Vernall, some of you may recognise me from various reviews, articles and my regular feature “Encapsulate.” If I’m being professional, I’ll talk about how play is such a core aspect of what makes us alive, being free to experience and enjoy life vicariously through the roles of general, entrepreneur or adventurer. If I’m being me, I’ll talk forever about niche games that make my heart sing but make anyone else stare enraptured at my ramblings, as if they…

Horrible Guild, the publishers of classics like Potion Explosion, Alone, and Railroad Ink are returning with a *chef’s kiss* concept for a roleplaying game. Wilderfeast sets players up as ‘Wilders’ who are monster hunters and chefs who are not only wielding huge kitchen implements as their weapons, but also gain mutations from every creature they consume. Set in the vaguely named ‘One Land’ the world offers us magic food, weird monsters and the goal of restoring harmony to the world through having a really good brunch. The game relies on an dice pool system and represented humans with a D8 and monsters with a D20, fittingly. As a Wilder you’ll choose which side of yourself to embrace when it comes to taking actions – whether you go wild (and reduce…

Almost 50 years since the original publication of Tunnels & Trolls the fine people at Rebellion Unplugged (publishers of Sniper Elite: The Board Game) have picked up the game to publish a new version. Tunnels & Trolls was published in 1975 as an answer to some minor game called ‘Dungeon & Dragons’ – the goal of this game was to introduce a more ‘player friendly’ approach which streamlined the systems seen elsewhere. Interestingly, one of the core draws of Tunnels & Trolls is the way it supported solo play. Considering the current boom of solitaire roleplaying games there’s few that don’t owe a little something to the original in the genre. Beyond Tunnels & Trolls Rebellion Unplugged have also taken on the whole line of Flying Buffalo games including Citybook,…

You said… Actual Plays that teach you how to play/run the game @milnermaths People reading the books. @pangalactic An ending @Wyrd_Science How to play videos. Victory points. Mid-game changes to how things work. @_simeonsmith The action/turn order system in Olympos could make for an interesting way of doing initiative. @_ScruffyLooking Starting with a rules summary/play overview rather than char gen or lore (I’ve been saying this for years). @spaceseeker19 Boxes @spezbaby Normalize talking about whether a game’s mechanics support the theme, and vice versa. @zwodder The game being done at some point. You ever been stuck in a bad campaign for year but you also kind of want to find the macguffin, even tho you aren’t having any fun doing it? Boardgames end at some point. @HODAGRPG Get in touch…

1 HANABI If your greatest fear is letting other people down, then maybe this isn’t the one for you. Hanabi is a co-op card game where you work together to create a flawless firework display, but don’t let the light-hearted theming fool you – it gets intense. Having the ability to see everyone else’s cards but not your own, you give each other clues as to what it in their hand in the hope of igniting fireworks (or playing cards) in the correct order. Clues are limited and earned back by discarding cards, but some cards are unique, meaning this game gets explosive in more ways than one. Will you manage to hold it together when your friends misinterpret your totally obvious clues? Prepare to have your patience, memory, deductive…