UK GAMES EXPO 2013 3 WELCOME Well here we are at the brand new venue for the 7th UK Games Expo.

It’s been quite a year putting the show together and with so many participants, events and elements to incorporate, an entire new venue to map, not to mention simply figuring out what goes where, there STAY ON TARGET have been times when the five of 04 DESIGNING THE X-WING us have wondered if we would ever MINIATURES GAME manage to make it all work. If it does work it will down to the hard work of RETURN OF many dozens of volunteers, games 06 WOTAN GAMES masters, umpires and demonstrators Laurence O’Brien Tells and we thank them all for their hard work. This show started back in the tale 2006 with two or three of us and an idea (or possibly a nightmare). The BOARD GAME fact that we have come this far is 08 RE-DESIGN testimony to that work. COMPETITION For budding games designers We also thank the traders for coming on board and supporting this major RICHARD BREEZE move to a location we hope will be 11 My Life in games our home for at least the next few years. We especially thank our major THE GAMES sponsors Mayfair Games, Fantasy Flight games, Asmodee and our 15 DESIGN CHECkLIST Associate sponsors, A1 Comics, THE DoS and DON’TS of Chronicle City, Coiled Spring, creating a game Chessex, Surprised Stare Games and Triple Ace Games for their support EXPO GUIDE and for the contents of the goody 19 what’s going on at the expo bags. Finally we want to thank you the visitor, for without 2,000 and EXPO MAP more of you turning up each year 24 All the exhibitors in the palace in increasing numbers, without your and kings suites support and enthusiasm for the annual carnival that is UK Games EXPO GUESTS Expo – well there would be no point. 27 Find out who is at the expo So enjoy yourselves, play the games, this year attend the seminars, watch the movies and if you like what you see SEMINARS & CINEMA let us know. Likewise if there are ways 29 Schedules for what is going we could make it better tell us too. on in the arden suite EXPO EXHIBITORS THE UKGE TEAM 30 A complete list of all of this Richard year’s traders Last year when C.a. Suleiman Tony’s server broke 32 Q&A with one of the Denning influential writers of RPGs Tony INDIE RPG GAMES stop saying my 33 FIND out how you can play server broke! Hyams STRANGE GOINGS ON 36 Cthulhu raises his ugly head Mick you can’t Games to cut park there 37 your teeth on Pearson OUR guide to the best Patrick starter games the AWARDS main man 41 This year’s nominees across Campbell seven categories John HALL OF FAME Kneel 15 The inaugural inductees for before Dodd this year

Cover by: Sponsored by Printed in the UK by jon The Magazine hodgson Printing Company www.jonhodgson.com using only paper from FSC/PEFC suppliers Programme www.magprint.co.uk design by Matthew Comben www.stegosaur.co.uk EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 5 Designing THE X-Wing Miniatures Game Stay on Target BY Jay Little As with many other geeks around the world, Star Wars has been “Working and scales. The ships needed to be large incredibly influential throughout my life. Watching the movies as a enough to show off their detail, but small child sparked my imagination and invoked a sense of awe. Over the with Star enough to be manageable on a tabletop years, my love of Star Wars grew as I became immersed in more and when fielding an entire squadron. After more ways to enjoy the setting. I consumed Star Wars books, action Wars is an several rounds of prototyping, reviews figures, video games, board games, role playing games, cartoons... and approvals, it was decided that the list goes on. incredible X-Wing Miniatures would be created at 1/270 scale. When I was asked if I’d like to design a see if these ideas were a step in the right opportunity. Star Wars miniatures game for Fantasy direction or if I was suffering from a mind With that With the scale settled, the media Flight Games, one that was meant to trick. The initial response was positive, so I department used 3D modelling software capture the excitement of the dogfighting kept refining the core concepts and slowly opportunity to create the level of detail required to between iconic starships like X-Wings started to add more and more details. really show off these starships. From these and TIE Fighters, I couldn’t say “yes!” fast also comes 3D models, steel moulds were built. Once enough. Once given the green light, I That lead to the next step, how to built, the first wave of production samples began designing X-Wing Miniatures with represent both the starships and their a sort of were manufactured and determining the unbridled energy and enthusiasm. pilots? This turned out to be more obligation” next level of detail – the colour and paint challenging than first expected. What schemes – began. Great, kid. Don’t get cocky... abilities or characteristics are inherent to a - Han Solo, Episode IV starship, and what unique abilities do the pilots bring to the table? How do ships As you can imagine, working with Star and their pilots interact? Wars is an incredible opportunity. With that opportunity also comes a sort of I also had to take into account a number obligation. Fans worldwide have high of key features of the Star Wars setting expectations when it comes to Star and the space battles we see in the hand, if the TIEs were too durable, player to “count” Focus icons generated “Few things a forward barrel roll. Ships with boost are Wars themed games and experiences. movies. How would astromechs like R2-D2 it wouldn’t feel right. by a dice roll. The player spends a incredibly nimble, and can dart in and out It doesn’t just have to look right, it has to come into play? What do shields need Focus token to change those icons into are more of engagements before the opponent feel right. to do? How do we represent different The combat system was heavily tested, successes on offense or evasions on knows what hit them. ordnance or weaponry like proton over and over, to strike that balance. defence. Otherwise, without using Focus, gratifying After several sleepless nights, long torpedoes or ion cannons? Both the attacker and defender have the those icons are considered blank! As for other favourite tricks or tactics? days, and nostalgia-triggered bouts of ability to influence the battle with strategic than Well, I guess we’ll have to square off in a inspiration, I had some concrete ideas Look at the size of that thing! positioning and action selection. We I have you now! game of X-Wing Miniatures to find out. I could build from. Some of those first - Wedge Antilles, Episode IV wanted the system to reward smart play, - Darth Vader, Episode IV blasting ideas that laid the foundation for the tactics, and planning ahead, but still have your Cue Credits design included the movement templates, Meanwhile, as I was working to answer that random element to build excitement Few things are more gratifying than manoeuvre dials and a modular approach those design questions, the production Control, control. You must learn control! throughout the battle. blasting your opponent’s ships into opponent’s It’s important to note just how much to kitting out individual ships to assemble and development team worked tirelessly - Yoda, Episode V oblivion while humming the Star Wars time and effort goes into creating a a squadron. to make sure X-Wing Miniatures would be Never tell me the odds. theme or making pewpewpew sound ships into game, especially one as demanding visually stunning. The media department With the starship model development - Han Solo, Episode V effects. I’m often asked if I prefer to play and rigorously developed as X-Wing I quickly assembled a prototype, eager to worked closely with Lucasfilm Ltd. to underway, the design continued to evolve. Imperial or Rebel squadrons, or asked oblivion Miniatures. I’m fortunate to have been show my co-workers. I wanted to ensure the consistency and The core concepts expanded to include That random element came in the form of what my favourite ability / action / pilot while able to lead the design. But X-Wing accuracy of the starship more dogfighting and miniatures elements the attack and defence dice. is from the game. Those are would not be the game it is without the © 2013 models. FFG obtained Lucasfilm like firing arcs, range bands, refinement of It’s easy to look at a game always difficult questions to humming hard work of dozens of other people. In measurements directly Ltd. & TM. the movement and manoeuvre systems, that uses dice and think it’s HEAR JAY LITTLE answer, because it’s like particular, Adam Sadler, Steve Kimball, from the actual models All rights and some of the special actions we heavily luck-dependent the lead designer choosing which of my the Star James Kniffen, Corey Konieczka and Jason reserved. of Star WARS: X-Wing used in the movies, No part of wanted to make available. or chaotic. That may Miniatures talk at children I love Wars theme” Beaudoin each contributed significantly allowing the media this content be true depending on 10am on the most. to the design and development process may be used team to create some without The next critical part of the design process how and why those Sunday in and should be recognized for their hard of the most accurate specific was creating the combat system. We dice are rolled. the Arden Despite that, there work. I’d also like to thank Lucasfilm Ltd. starships produced at written had to find the right balance between We considered Suite Or are some tricks and for the amazing opportunity to work with permission. Meet him at that scale. Fantasy Flight fidelity to the action from the Star Wars the options the Fantasy tactics I particularly the Star Wars license and make one of my Games, Fantasy movies and delivering a satisfying game carefully and Flight enjoy. The first is childhood dreams come true! Flight Supply, Over the course of and the FFG experience. decided that dice stand. the barrel roll action. the development logo are would be an integral I think one common trademarks of process, the media Fantasy Flight For example, I knew I wanted TIE Fighters part of X-Wing’s mistake new players team created rapid Publishing, to be more agile and manoeuvrable than design. The dice help make is to underestimate prototypes of starship Inc. X-Wings, but also more fragile. If the TIEs balance strategy with the power of the barrel roll models in a number were too fragile, players may not want to unpredictability and provide action, which allows a ship of different sizes field Imperial squadrons. On the other excitement. People tend to to move side-to-side after lean in closely to watch the performing its manoeuvre. dice rolls. As the Imperial player, a well-timed barrel Is there luck? Absolutely. Is it chaotic? roll can suddenly put a Rebel ship right in Well, it’s a sort of controlled chaos. your sights or allow you to avoid incoming Players have the opportunity to mitigate fire by rolling out of someone’s firing arc. the whims of fate by building squadrons, As the Rebel player, you need to be aware performing actions and positioning their of which ships can barrel roll and take that ships to maximize their chances. Moving into account during the Planning Phase. into close range to add another red attack The barrel roll really opens up the playing die could mean the difference between field and increases a ship’s potential threat scoring a glancing hit or taking down your zone. opponent. Similarly, the boost action found on ships The Focus action is another potent like the A-Wing and TIE Interceptor also option players have at their disposal. changes the battlefield. Boost allows It’s a versatile tool for both offense and a ship to move forward slightly after defence. Taking the Focus action allows a performing their manoeuvre, almost like

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 7

ON WHIMSY, FAILURE AND BECOMING A BOARD GAME DESIGNER Fast forward a few months and said fire. Then an ‘orrible and pernicious and er… other stuff… Or… Why are Wotan Games back in marketing consultant was sitting evil roamed the Land of Nod and he BY business, with most of the original team still in place? on the pavement outside the office was called VideOgamEs and he laid Laurence Apart from boredom that is. Boredom and greed. Boredom with a sore backside and no job. about him with his silly little control O’Brien and greed and megalomania. Yeah, apart from those THREE, Must have been the beer. Well any pad and his crap spellings and he THE RETURN OF why would we bother? fool knows that the thing to do after released Sonics and Marios and a being sacked from a prestigious, host of other pestilent little blighters PART THE FIRST: Just get on with the story – Ed). I high paying and eminently into the Land of Nod, which, until WHIMSY, CGDs and mean, anything can be a game can’t pensionable job is to open a games then, had been a green and fertile so forth... it? Watching paint dry? Having a shop. So that’s what this fool did. land, a land where people talked baby? Waking up in the morning? Stands to reason. to each other, spent hours in each A grizzled, hard bitten gamer, veteran Every one a serious challenge to other’s company and delighted in of countless dubious stratagems, health and sanity and so worthy of At which point God looked upon slaughtering their mates in a number lost battles, and failed saving rolls, the game designer’s best efforts. the fool and said in a rumbly, of different and horrible ways. And propping up a corner About the only subject that has resigned and somewhat techy voice. under the hegemony of the evil of The Loser’s stumped me so far is entropy. ‘Oh for pity’s sake Musgrave. You Lord VideOgamEs no one talked to Retreat bar at Bit of a bummer, entropy. Even have just blown the smooth and anyone but communed only with a games a lightweight stab at an entropy creamy path in life I have been the mind controlling computer and con and game is likely to last a few billion planning for you and your family for darkness was on the land. And all the toting years - minimum. And there’s not a oooooh, 3,000 years and now your good citizens of Nod were lonely and WOTAN GAMES a Civ lot going on really. Throw a d10 for expect to succeed? Ha! Very well, in a bit of a state most of the time box on energy loss. Your turn. Throw a d10 little man, this is the deal. You paltry, because videOgamEs suck and their one hip for energy loss and so on a so forth pathetic little games shop thing will strange phonetics gave everyone a and a for ever. Or at least until there’s no make money. But as a punishment migraine. leather energy gradients left, which is going I will give you delusions of being a bound to take a while. Like I said, haven’t Games Designer and you will fritter For quite a long time, or so it case of really got a handle on entropy yet. all your profits away on absurdly seemed, Lord Vid ruled the roost. Napoleonic grandiose publishing projects that But in small, dark corners of Nod, PART THE SECOND: will teach you humility. Big time. determined, recidivistic gamers FAILURE and other And I do mean big time. Now continued to play face to face even Just Rewards bugger off and play with your toys.’ unto role playing. And others of the miniatures on tribe of Nod saw the backsliders were the other, once Now all gamers are to some extent And so it was. And this foolishness not crushed by the Lord Vid and commented within proto designers, often having wise was called Wotan Games, and God they in their turn awoke from their hearing, ‘I’ll game and considered anything bar things to say about mowing the games, throwing fecking lawn’. off house rules willy-nilly and And I thought, generally behaving ‘Mmmm, The like chaps enjoying Mowing being engaged the Lawn in life and its Game. challenges, but few Nice one. push through the Build rules thorn fence that for the mower, big engine surrounds Camp fast but rough, small Published. And this engine slow but smooth. has zip to do with Small lawns, big lawns, important things curvy lawns, lumpy lawns. like IQ, application What a cracker. Oooooooooh! to the job in hand And a separate board for when dad or whether you get shrinks the kids…..’ lucky on a Saturday night. It is down So welcome to the world of the to chance. Which, compulsive game designer (CGD). when you think Go into the back garden, my friend, about, it is entirely and seek ye out the wettest, darkest appropriate spot and turn over the stone. bearing in mind Chances are there is a game designer our subject matter. living under it. You might recoil in So it was luck that horror, drop said stone and retreat to got me into games design, pure looked upon it and rubbed his hands nightmare and stumbled from the the house pronto. Sensible people chance that the first published design in joy and boomed out to anyone darkness into the light and started would, but CGDs don’t do sensible. was no worse, even in some ways, who was listening. ‘That’ll teach you, to play games face to face with real He’s doing important research on his better than other designs of its time, you pathetic loser.’ human beings who had real emotions upcoming game about algae. Algae? and serendipity that made the whole and who blubbed when they lost and Yep, algae. Never been done before, business worth the effort. But I’m PART THE THIRD: made silly high fives when they won, you see. Interesting little fellas algae; getting ahead of the story. WOTAN GAMES which is the height of cool. And the small, green; that sort of thing. Nice 1st Edition Lord Vid could not crush their spirit challenge that one. Strange cove, Which starts about 30 years ago as and when he approached with his you might think, a tad weird even. a marketing consultant to a major So in the darkness that was mighty armies of squeeky toys they But then CGDs do live in a weird national brewery. I was asked by my Hammersmith a board game was told him to bog off. twilight world. A world populated by employer to create a novel and fun created and its name was Sorcerer shadowy, fleeting visions of a far off, Christmas gift for key members of a King. And Sorcerer King begat King And so he did. Easy peasy. nay unreachable, gaming Valhalla marketing department who rather Arthur and the Thingies, which begat where he and the gaming gods obligingly threw wads of money Excalibur, which was the father unto PART THE FORTH: sit sipping ambrosia on the top of in our direction on a regular basis V.I.P.E.R, Share Mania, and Flux. WOTAN GAMES Mount Olympus playing The Ultimate while we trooped off to the pub, Then Robin Hood was born into the 2nd Edition Game that, natch, he has designed. got sozzled and thought up cunning world and a great cry went up (yeah, wheezes to sell ever more beer. It OK, OK and wailing & gnashing of So here we are again. Wotan Games Thus it is a world populated by shames me to say that I forget what teeth ‘cos the German publisher II. Hurrah! for Camelot the Build. intellectually and emotionally the games was about. Pubs, most had screwed around with the rules challenged dreamers ever trying likely. Or brewery reps opening new without permission and he was cast to escape the dull hardness of life accounts. Some such tripe. The point into liquidation and all about him by turning it into a game. (That’s was I enjoyed the process and we were cast into liquidation and the enough of the Freudian analysis. had some fun playtesting it. First Age of Games was consumed in

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

24-26th May 2013 UK Games Expo 2013 Competition will be launched at a seminar on the Saturday at UKGE. Budding designers will be able to ask questions and meet members of the judging Have you ever played a game and thought that if you took the panels. Competition packs will be available from the components and threw away the rules there could be a completely Leisure Games stand over the weekend. Packs will different game on the table? Ever thought that you have a game be limited and may be available to collect in store design just waiting to come out if only you had someone to after the weekend. Note that no pack will be sent kickstart you? Ever wanted to get insight into how a game design out. Contestants must be 16 or over or have parental is taken from first thoughts through to publication? UK Games consent, and the intellectual property rights will Expo Board game Re-design competition is for you! belong to the entrant. Entry fee is £10. Places are VISIT limited and available on a first come first served basis. LEISURE GAMES AT STAND P25 IN THE PALACE 1ST January 2014 SUITE Entrants must be received by Leisure Games. All entries will receive an email confirmation that their games have been received. Please leave plenty of time for postage.

January to March 2014 Entries will be shortlisted and finalists will be notified by the middle of March.

Design Review Day Early April 2014 Date and Venue TBC Finalists will be invited along to attend a design development day led by Playtest UK in London, where they will have a chance to present their game to a team of play testers and hear feedback on the day about their design.

Budding designers will be given a set games. Then the shortlisted games will May 2014 of components of an already published be handed over to a team of play test UK Games Expo 2014 game and will have seven months to experts, who will take each game through The finalists will get a demoing space at UK Games design a completely new game. Change the rigours of a professional play test Expo 2014 to engage the public. Final Judging will the text on the cards, adapt the pieces session and give individual feedback. The take place and the winner will be announced with the here, repurpose tokens there and voila, shortlisted games will then be handed rest of the year’s awards. a new game is born. over to the final Judging Panel and will get a demonstration spot at UK Games Expo Once designers have made their new 2014 where the winner will be announced. June 2014 to May 2015 game, given it a name, theme and play The winning game will get a print review Written review will be handed over and mentorship tested it a few times, it will be time to from Shut Up and Sit Down and the will take place hand it back over to the team at Leisure designer a yearlong mentorship from Games, who will shortlist a handful of Surprised Stare Games.

SIT DOWN & SHUT UP

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Like all UK gamers I have been “I would delighted by the success of the UK Expo and grateful for the recommend effort that Richard Denning and his team have made in to all order to develop a ‘UK Essen’. The original, German, Essen aspiring Spiel has been integral in the game development of Eurogames and also in my own involvement in authors the gaming hobby. that they As a child growing up in the 60s, my sister Juliet (now the artist for my publishing try to play company R&D Games) and I were fortunate that our parents had a collection as many of family games, which as well as including games as the predictable selection of titles such as Coppit (published 1927), Monopoly (1933) possible and Scrabble (1948), also contained a few less well known games such as Peter of the type Rhyiner’s Wild Life (1964) and the bizarre Uncle Wiggily (1916). We would also they want get to play games such Canasta (1939) to design” and Mah Jong (1850) when visiting our grandparents. Keyflower main Later in the late 1970s I discovered illustration Dungeons and Dragons (1974) through my friend Greg du Pille, whose brother owned a model railway shop that sold the game. My parents owned an artist materials shop Richard in Hammersmith just one road away from Breese Just as D&D inspired Robert Harris to discovered the world of German Games, will be on the original Games Workshop (GW) store the Coiled create Talisman as a game to give players or Eurogames as we now call them, and opened by Ian Livingstone and Steve Spring a roll playing experience without the have been back there every year since. Jackson, and I was a regular visitor. In 1983 Stand K2 intensive preparation, D&D also inspired This was also the year that Alan Moon GW published Talisman, which I played me to create a game with different (who subsequently designed the Spiel de several hundred times as a fast paced (!) character classes, each of which enabled Jahres winning games Elfenlands (1998) two player game with my wife Dawn (the D movement through different terrains. and Ticket to Ride (2004)) set up his R&D Games in R&D) before our sons Mark, Stuart and illustrator This idea then became simplified into White Wind company to promote his own Jonathan were born, with the Prophetess Juliet Breese an abstract game called Chamelequin limited edition publications. This became working inevitably winning two of the four knock on some (1989), my first published game. the model for my early releases. out competitions we staged between all of Keyflower the characters! tiles. My parents’ shop also stocked gifts In 1989 gaming commentator Mike and, as a consequence, each year they Siggins launched the UK games magazine would visit the trade only UK Toy Fair Sumo, which was the forerunner of at Earl’s Court, to which I was lucky the current Counter magazine. Mark enough to be taken along. I continued Green of Just Games in Brewer Street this annual pilgrimage into adulthood. recommended Sumo to me and I was After qualifying as an accountant I was, privileged to become part of the Mike’s by the late 80s, working in the West End. inner gaming circle. In 1993 Sumo In January 1989 my then secretary Kay launched a game design competition, Redrup had taken a few days off work and which inspired me to create my first I was amused to find her dressed up as a Eurogame style game. geisha on a stand at the fair promoting her partner Nick Fletcher’s first board I met American gamer Keywood Cheves game Chikara (1989). This is a brilliant at the Hans im Glück (HiG) stand at two player abstract game in need of Essen in 1994 over a game of Andreas republication! Seyfarth’s newly published Waldmeister. Keywood’s unusual name was just what Having discovered a fellow designer, Nick I was looking for when I was searching and I decided to exhibit both Chikara for a name for my new game. Happily and Chamelequin at the following year’s Keywood didn’t mind and bought three Toy Fair in 1990. It was there that Ian copies of the game. He is now even Livingstone and Brian Walker, publisher happier as he recently sold one of them of the UK game magazine Games for almost $700! I submitted Keywood to International, stopped at our stand to the Sumo competition and was delighted tell us we ‘should be at Essen’. So in when it won the competition. I then 1991 we hired a stand at Essen and I took my hand made copies to Essen in

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES UK GAMES EXPO 2013 13

The R&D team 1995 where the game was well received, at Essen getting a top rating in the German 2012: Left to Spielerei magazine. right: Graham Mayfair Games is a Staplehurst, Andres Frank, Essen now attracts almost 150,000 Richard Breese, Tony gamers over four days. However in the Ross and early to mid-90s it was a much smaller Sebastian convention, with a much smaller English Bleasdale. speaking contingent. It was even possible proud sponsor of UK to game with such gaming luminaries as Alan Moon in an open gaming area and I was pleased to persuade both Alan and my future translator Barbara Dauenhauer to play my game Keywood. However to my disappointment neither of them liked “This year Games Expo! it because of the direct player interaction element of the game. I will be With this experience and others in mind, helping at I would recommend to all aspiring game authors that they try to play as many the stand games as possible of the type they want Settlers of Catan to design and to listen to what other of the UK gamers do and do not enjoy. My own designs now incorporate the mechanisms distributors In Woods’ impressive chronicle of the Sebastian and I were delighted with the that I enjoy most and are aimed at the of Key development of Eurogames (quoted positive response to Keyflower, which Regional Qualifier! heavier end of the family market. In above), Woods also writes, ”…worker came top of all the new releases in the particular you can now expect from an Flower, placement first appeared … in Richard German games magazine Fairplay poll at R&D game that: Breese’s Keydom (1998). In Keydom, Essen 2012. The game is now on general 1. Player interaction will be indirect, Coiled players allocate a number of worker release and, fingers crossed, there will be i.e. through the game mechanism, tokens to areas of the board that provide a mini expansion Key Celeste available at not ‘take that’ (the feature that Alan Spring and a variety of resources and actions. While today’s UK Expo. Key Celeste introduces and Barbara disliked and which I now would be any player may place as many tokens as a ghost into the game, which can be used recognise does not give rise to an they wish on most of these spaces, hidden to frighten away an opponent’s ‘keyples’ enjoyable gaming experience to pleased to values on the underside of the tokens to your own village, but win the bid for many gamers). are subsequently used to determine who your opponent in compensation. 2. Actions will be constructive, generating demonstrate receives benefit from the space.” Woods a positive feeling, not negative, conflict notes that, “Breese employed the worker The first full expansion, provisionally driven or destructive. The aim is to the placement mechanic in a purer form in his entitled Keyflower – the Farmers, will be damage another player by making a Keyflower later game Keythedral (2002)”. released at Essen 2013. The expansion good move for yourself. will introduce animeeples and another 3. There will be a small amount of luck only. game to any At Essen in 1998 I showed Keydom to dimension to the tiles by utilising the 4. Players will be allowed do things, as I Bernd Brunhoffer, head of HiG. Bernd fields created by the roads. try not to restrict options and that interested liked the ideas in Keydom, which were 5. There will be a family friendly theme. refined and then re-themed and reissued As mentioned Wild Life was a game my As Reiner Knizia was quoted (Garrett’s gamers. But by HiG as Aladdin’s Dragons (2000). parents owned and an early influence Games #166), “I don’t like bloody in any event, Working with Bernd was a big influence and my interest in wildlife is already games. I think we can get better in my design education and I think represented in my games Reef Encounter missions out into the world of gaming I hope you my subsequent designs became more (2004) and Fowl Play! (2006). This year, for the youngsters and the old guys polished as a result. time permitting, R&D will also publish than motivating people to shoot each enjoy the a full size game titled Inhabit the Earth, other.” The worker placement mechanic has where players control an ever changing show.” also featured in some of the subsequent menagerie of creatures which move 1995 was also the year of Klaus Teuber’s Key games, but each time with a twist; and migrate northwards through the seminal game Settlers of Catan. I enjoyed Keythedral (2002), mentioned continents. The game could be described Settlers, but was not fond of the luck above, where placements are as a cross between Innovation (2010 - factors inherent in the dice rolling. I from adjacent numbered which the design predates) and Wildlife wanted to achieve the same effect but cottages and houses, Adventure (1985). without the dice, just by direct placement David Brain’s Key Market of the workers on the board. This became (2010) where I acted as Hopefully there will be more R&D Games the central mechanic to the second ‘Key’ developer, which was to follow these and, of course, more game Keydom, published in 1998, which probably more time UK Expos to exhibit them at. This year is now recognised as the first worker consuming than being I will be helping at the stand of the UK placement game, as kindly acknowledged the mere designer! distributors of Keyflower, Coiled Spring by Uwe Rosenberg in his Agricola Advent And in the most recent and would be pleased to demonstrate Calendar geeklist (#27177, item 5). Key game Keyflower, the Keyflower game to any interested a joint design with gamers. But in any event, I hope you Sebastian Bleasdale (On enjoy the show. the Underground (2006)), which also utilises Sebastian’s inspired bidding mechanic.

Key Celeste is the first mini expansion apparent. The Key Celeste had become a for the Keyflower game, which is being ghost ship! Players bid for the Key Celeste Publishing the released at UK Expo in May. Key Celeste tile and obtain the ghost, which they can comprises one large Key Celeste hexagonal use to frighten away and replace another tile, one oversize grey ghost keyple and a player’s winning bid. The player who played rules sheet. Discovered drifting out to sea, the ghost acquires the replaced workers. finest games unmanned and apparently abandoned, the Points are available at the end of the game Key Celeste ship was towed to the shore. for the owner of the Key Celeste tile and the Her cargo was untouched and the personal ghost. Key Celeste adds more interest and belongings of passengers and crew were considerations to Keyflower and changes still in place. What had caused the crew to this popular game in more ways than for more than abandon ship? The terrible truth was soon gamers are likely to initially anticipate!

30 years!

debuting at ExpO EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 15

By Rob Harris of Playtest UK

There are few greater feelings than watching your game Recommended DO continue to improve being enjoyed by a group of players. It is the equivalent of a reading as a games designer. screenwriter sitting in a receptive audience for their film or That is There are now several academic a playwright on opening night. It makes all of the hard work not too books available that describe the creative worthwhile, but make no mistake game design is hard. And academic design process. You do not need to know designing good games is even harder. everything about a subject to begin, but some pearls of wisdom may make your When it comes to inspiration, no one can tell you how to design your own games. If you task easier in the future. are staring at a blank sheet of paper or an empty computer screen, it is down to you. Ideas will spring from your own creativity and preferences. However, here are some tips DO get involved with that can help to make the path a little smoother. Since starting Playtest UK in 2010, I the games design have been lucky enough to meet many games designers from all over the world; both community. aspiring and established. This guidance is gleaned from those conversations. The best way to learn is from experience. (Please treat this as a list of suggestions; there is no right or wrong way.) It saves a lot of time if you can learn from other people’s experiences as well. There are now more places to meet your fellow DO play lots of games. fun for you. Remember that if you are designers and games enthusiasts than This is the best advice ever, as trying for publication, you will have to ever before, like joining your local club it is fun and something you are play the game over and over, long after and attending events like the UK Games probably already doing. Now, any avid your initial enthusiasm has burned out. If Kobold Guide Expo. With the growth of the internet, player can call their hobby: ‘research’. it’s an experience that you enjoy, you are to Board there are now many helpful websites. Look beyond your gaming comfort zone more likely to remain focused and see the Game Design The Board Game Designer’s forum www. by trying different genre types and new project to completion. By Mike Selinker BGDF.com and the Board Game Design releases. This will help to widen your & David Howell webpage on www.boardgamegeek.com knowledge and experience of games, DO keep a notebook. are recommended. Share your resources while giving you a broader design This does not have to be and support each other. vocabulary and perhaps even some paper-based, although many inspiration along the way. designers prefer this method; you can DO create designer aids. make notes on your mobile phone or into This will help you understand DO decide on your a dictaphone. It should always be to hand how your game works. One tip preferred outcome for moments of inspiration and random for writing straightforward rule sets is to from the start. design-related comments, which might construct a flow chart of the gameplay. Would you like to get your game otherwise be forgotten. This checklist was This will give you a good overview of published or is it intended for the born from this approach to note-keeping. the action and signpost possible areas enjoyment of friends and family? Are For a games designer, inspiration is all for rules simplification. If your design you designing purely as an intellectual around and often old notes can open new includes random elements like dice or exercise, to prove it can be done? chains of thought. a card draw, create a table of possible These are all valid objectives and will outcome probabilities. Not only will this affect how you approach the rest of the DO keep a design diary. help you to determine how the game development cycle. This is related to the previous How to system works, but it provides a entry and is a way of collating create Video framework that can be easily tweaked DO decide which type your notebook scribbles into a coherent and Tabletop between iterations. of game you would account. A diary allows you to organise Games, Start like to design. your thoughts and cross-reference your to Finish DO make a prototype. It may be useful to write down your design choices and breakthroughs. By Lewis Publisher Make a prototype and write favourite games and why you enjoy Following the journal prevents you re- rules out early in the design playing them. Do you like games with visiting developmental cul-de-sacs and process, but do not spend too much an emphasis on social interaction or it can be a good way of connecting with time doing either, as they will both alter complex designs with a strong theme? your passion and objectives from the drastically after the first playtest. Just by Consider all of the factors that make it beginning of a project. creating these physical objects for your game, the concept will become clearer and simple errors from the ideas phase will be highlighted. At this stage, doing is the best form of thinking. Concentrate on producing a clear and easy-to-use prototype, rather than wasting valuable design time on graphics that will inevitably change anyway. Colour blindness affects around 1 in 20 males and around 1 in 200 females in the UK and this includes your playtesters and eventual customers. Add shapes in addition to colours for any distinguishing features on your components and check your images for colour-blind clarity at www.vischeck.com.

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES UK GAMES EXPO 2013 17

DO playtest, playtest and FREE playtest again. SOFTWARE First of all, play your game Alternatives solo and then with close friends, but as to expensive soon as possible, playtest with others computer outside of your social circle. This is design the only way to get proper feedback, software which will enable you to improve your design. You can contact playtesters via the internet forums mentioned above, or perhaps you could use your local games group. Of course, if you are in London or Cambridge then you are welcome to attend free Playtest meet ups (www.playtest.co.uk).We have over 170 members and your design will get plenty of useful comments. Alternatively, you could bring your prototype to the Inkscape Playtest Zone at the UK Games Expo A vector graphics and get feedback direct from the editor, with buying public. capabilities similar to Illustrator. DO prepare properly www.inkscape.org for your playtesting sessions. As well as your prototype and game rules, ready a description of how to play so that your players can start quickly. Bring your notebook and a time-piece to track the session. (You can download free feedback forms from www.playtest. GIMP co.uk.) Beforehand, think carefully about An image your goals for each playtest. Do you need manipulation to try the game with a specific number programme, of players? Is there a particular mechanic similar to DO enter games send your game unsolicited. First of all, that you want to check? What questions Photoshop. design competitions. try to make a personal contact with the would you like to ask the playtesters www.gimp.org Challenging yourself to meet a company at a convention or via social afterwards? contest’s deadline is a great way to focus media. They will already have many the mind and develop your skills. Here projects under consideration and the DO simplify your design are a couple of the larger ones, which do development process can take a long as much as possible. have English translation pages: time, so expect to wait to hear from Often a good test of whether a game is them. Agree beforehand on when you nearing completion is not whether more Playtest will Hippodice – premier German games should communicate further to check features can be added but instead if have tables in the design competition (www.hippodice.de) on progress. nothing more can be taken out without Arden Suite during breaking the experience. Also, do Europa Ludi – games design DO consider ways of not be afraid to put a project on the Trade Hours Sat competition shared between France self-publishing, like Print backburner for a while. Subsequent and sun and Spain (www.europaludi.com) & Play or Kickstarter. inspiration may move the development If your primary concern is to get your more quickly. DO research designs into players’ hands then you can games companies. publish them yourself in a digital form When you are satisfied that on the Internet or even through crowd- your prototype is ready, it is time to sourcing websites, such as Kickstarter. Do approach publishers. Look carefully not underestimate the amount of work for companies that have published and research that this may entail. similar games in the past and might be THE DOn’ts interested in your design. Do not just

DO NOT worry about being too original, any publishers that will sign a non-disclosure agreement from an unknown particularly with your first few designs. designer, in case the company are coincidentally developing a similar game. It is a usual part of learning a creative pursuit to hone your skills The best protection for your idea is to share and develop it thoroughly and to on something you know, like adding enhancements to a favourite game. be the driving force behind getting it published. When you are more confident in your ability, you can flex your game-making prowess with more inventive projects. Look on mistakes as opportunities to DO NOT take constructive criticism personallY. learn and improve. All games designers make errors and every prototype Listen carefully and try to be open to new ideas. Playtesters are goes through several iterations before it is ready for publication. there to help you improve your game, but you are the sole arbiter of how your design will change. All playtest feedback is valid, but it may vary DO NOT worry about someone stealing your idea. in its usefulness. Take note of the types of games that your playtesters usually It is far more important that your prototype is played and perfected, play and whether this may influence their opinions. and not sitting on a shelf gathering dust. In law, it is impossible to own an idea in the first place. The real value comes from the execution of a DO NOT be afraid to make big changes concept into something tangible. Do not let fear hold you back from reaping between playtests. the benefits of sharing your games with others. This will allow you to draw big conclusions and you can always change details back at a later date and make finer adjustments nearer the end DO NOT worry about copyright, patents of the development cycle. Remember to schedule time for blind playtests or non-disclosure agreements. of your design, which are achieved by silently observing as the players try to It is not possible to copyright ideas anyway, but as soon as you make sense of the rules and gameplay without your help. create the rules and prototype for your game, you are automatically granted legal copyright on how it looks and the exact words you used. Even this DO NOT give up the day job. protection is unlikely to stop others creating a similar game, but with different There are very few independent designers worldwide, whose sole graphics and rules. Additionally, if you were to go through the process of income comes from games alone. Be realistic about your goals and patenting a game mechanic, it would cost upwards of £5,000, which is far enjoy what can often become a long process. It will give you opportunities to more than you are ever likely to receive in royalties for a hobby game. The be creative, make great friends and have fun within this fantastic hobby. costs of enforcing a patent in court would be even more. I do not know

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 19

Terrace

PRIMEVERA LIBRARY WESTMINSTER

FOOD PAVILION COURT SUSSEX BOULEVARD

TICKETS STAIRS TO ASCOT, WINDSOR & SUNNINGDALE

ARDEN SWIMMING POOL YORK LANCASTER LOUNGE BAR

COSTA COFFEE HOTEL STAFF ONLY

LIVING WELL SPA

ONNY’S WELCOME

This is our first year in this new venue. Kent & Sussex – UKGE offices, senior staff only. In all we are using 50% more space than GIVE & TAKE last year. Let’s take a look what is going Arden Suite – Divided into Henley and Hampton. ARITHMETIC BOARD GAME Administration on where. This is where the seminars are. Play test is based here. Saturday night this will be given over to a cinema. Library – The front desk is here. Whether you pre- The game that put fun into doing Gaming and Tournaments booked your tickets or are buying them on the day Colonial and Terrace Rooms – These are this room is where you will collect them. The admin tournament rooms and are available for open gaming serious business. desk will be here too. This is where you can book into in the evening. Role Playing Games the various organised play events such as roleplaying games and tournaments. A full schedule of available York, Lancaster on Ground Floor and It is a game that inspires both young roleplaying games will be posted to boards in this Devon, Ascott, Sunnydale, Durham and Toilets room. We will also give out programmes, awards Windsor – Above them and up the stairs on the first and adult to do mental and practical voting forms and the passport. It also houses the floor – these are the roleplaying rooms. board game library and is available for open gaming Arithmetic, some management and Trade/Bring & Buy in the evening. The rear of this room is our food court Pavilion – This is a tournament room. Outside the ledger entries. Family Zone serving food and drink throughout the show. Pavilion are additional demo games. Cinema (7.30pm onwards) Palace and Kings Suites – Between them Westminster – One room is the bring and buy. these are something like 2000 sqm of space – all The rest houses our two day wargames tournaments. filled with our trade stands. This is also where the Seminars costumed groups will be based and where the Goody Bag Collection Point – For visitors family zone is. Outside the Kings Suite are some who have a voucher for a goody bag, this is where FRANK ONNY VISUALS additional demo games. you will collect them. [email protected] Demo Games 07828609144 EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 21 Sell your old Recruiting games or maybe players in pick up a bargain Open gaming

There is a new team running the bring and buy this year So you have arrived at UKGE, you have headed up by Jason Garwood. This year it will be in one located the board game Library (in the room of the Westminster Suite. Library Room) and the Open Gaming Space, unpacked your five player mega game You will be able to register your products for sale from 7pm to 9pm Friday and then stared at your mate and and from 9am on the Saturday and Sunday. During the trade opening hours realise 1+1 is not 5. this room will be for buying and selling goods, so go along and see what goodies they have. You can bring along old games, books and figures to “We need players!” he says. sell. If you downloaded our booking form then just turn up at the Bring and Buy with your form, check the products with the staff and leave the product “Well duh!” is your witty reply. on sale. But how do you advertise this and how do you get If you do not have a form don’t worry, Jason’s team will have spares. You will Saturday players to your table? Naturally whilst rugby tackles, need to fill it out, price each item and then check the products in. Check back Open • Lounge – Available all day. This is a drugs and seduction are of course entirely legal at UK towards the end of the day to collect earnings or remove unsold goods. public area but we are welcome to use it. Games Expo we have a practical solution. In the Board Gaming • Pavilion Suite – Available from about Game Library are 72 of these chaps. Placing one of The Bring and Buy will charge 10% commission, which will be given to the On the back of your 6pm although some space may be these on your table is a signal that you are looking for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Heartline and Cancer Research UK. Will you voting form you’ll find our All available earlier. players. Once you have your players drop it in the box find the bargain you are searching for amongst the treasures on sale? passport scheme. To be in • Arden Suite/Hampton Room – A small in each room or back at the Library. Simples as that. with a chance to win £100 weekend amount of space is available during worth of goodies, all you There is always a need for space trade hours along side the playtest need to do is visit each to just sit down, get out a game area. Do be aware however that we will of our destination stands. and get playing. convert this to a cinema at 6pm. Once your passport has • Terrace – Available from about 7 pm. demonstration been signed or stamped by There is no charge for these areas. Not • Colonial Room – Available from about them all, put your mobile got any games? Well there is a huge trade 7pm (note that a small area is set aside games phone number and a valid hall you know. But we also have a board for the Talisman tournament). email address on it and game library. We anticipate that the peak There are two areas of the show outside the TRADE rooms where you will find demonstration games hand it in at the Library. demands for this will be Friday night and Sunday A prize draw takes place Saturday night but have some provision for • Lounge – Available all day. This is a you can try out. each day - with the winner open gaming all weekend. public area but we are welcome to use it. One area is outside the Pavilion and next to the swimming pool. getting their hands on • Pavilion Suite – some space likely to The other is the Kings Ante Chamber. These are free so just walk £100 of vouchers to spend Here is a list of what space is available for be available. up and ask to play. These games include: at our sponsors’ stalls. Our open gaming and when: • Arden Suite/Hampton Room – A small six passport destinations amount of space is available during • A Very British Civil War – a skirmish wargame of alternate history, are: Fantasy Flight Games, Friday trade hours along side the playtest area. Mayfair Games, Asmodee • Lounge – Available all day. This is a • Steve Jackson Games’ Men In Black demo games Games, Surprised Stare public area but we are welcome to use it. BOARD GAME LIBRARY Games, Tritex and • Pavilion Suite – Available all day. To be found in the Library all weekend. • Wild West gunfight game Coiledspring Games. • Arden Suite/Hampton Room – Available Introduced in 2008 this is always a popular all day. attraction at Expo. We aim to bring • Mad Lab rabbits running Loony Lab Games • Terrace – Available from about 6pm. along a good selection of games for use • Colonial Room – Available from about anywhere in the convention. Just sign out • Operation Overlord D-day Game 7pm (note that a small area is set aside the games and borrow them and then (can you get off the beach?) ALL CHANCE TO WIN £100 TO SPEND for the Talisman tournament). sign them back in when you return them. Simple as that! Return games by 5pm on • Castle Panic GIANT GAME. Sunday night. FREE TO PLAY Tournaments & Massive Costumed Championships Roleplaying Groups 02 Include Warmachine, X-Wing 05 Schedule 08 The cosplay groups are part of Miniatures, Warhammer 40K, This year we have a capacity of the fun of UKGE. With Daleks, friend, sit down and get right into Settlers of Catan, Netrunner, up to 41 roleplaying games at any Stormtroopers, Doctor Who With so it. Don’t forget we also have an Malifaux, Carcassonne and many time. We will have many choices and his companions and lots of extensive game library open to others. You could win a flight to of games on eight sessions over monsters we hope you enjoy many you. Full details above. USA! Many are open for entry three days. We must have an RPG the entertainment. The cosplay until 15 minutes before the start. game for you. Just don’t split the groups are always willing to choices Bring and Buy You’ll find a full list on page 23. party! Full details of how RPG at have photos taken. They will Part of the Westminster Suite will THINGS NOT TO MISS Expo works on page 22. be collecting for their chosen and far 11 be the Bring and Buy. Maybe you Family Zone charities during Expo. have old games you want to sell There are so many things to see Lots for the kids to do with a huge Guests too much or are looking for a bargain. This and do at UK games Expo that is 03 number of games, new and old, We are always delighted to Seminars is the place to go. Will you find can be easy to miss some of the for young players. The Family 06 welcome gaming celebrities. They & Talks to do that bargain you are searching for things going on. Here are Zone is there to entertain you. will be helping out in the seminars 09 A popular part of UKGE is the amongst the treasures on sale? twelve elements you DON’T Kids – why not also try out the but all are always willing to chat seminar schedule. Ask questions in one Full details above. want to miss: Children’s Roleplaying or get your about the world of games. Check of the game designers, find face painted? them out on page 27 and be sure out how to go about designing weekend U K Games to say hello. and publishing games or how Expo Awards Newest games to publish your own books! The this is 12 UKGE hosts awards to praise the & releases Cinema seminars go on during trade best new games. You the public Unrivalled 04 A large number of traders will have New for 2013 we will be hours on Saturday and Sunday in literally can vote on the awards. Don’t Trade Fair demo tables in their stands. Many 07 converting the Arden suite into the Hampton Room. Entry is free forgot to collect your voting form 01 UK Games Expo has a huge trade will be new or recent releases. a cinema on Saturday evening. so just turn up. The schedule is on Everything on arrival and get those votes in fair with 85 traders selling board There are more demo games and We will be showing Judge Minty, page 29. by 2pm on Sunday. We announce games, card games, roleplaying wargames to try outside the Kings The People Vs George Lucas and about the awards at 3pm on Sunday in products, miniatures, arts, books Suite, between the swimming Avengers Assemble, starting at Open SPACE the Family Zone. Full details of and a host of gaming related pool and the Pavilion and also the 7.30pm. Entry is free. Capacity is Just bought a cracking new game Games the award on page 41. products. Hope you brought lots playtest prototypes tables in the 200 seats. See page 29 for more 10 from our trade hall and can’t wait of pocket money! (Full Trader Arden Suite. Don’t be shy – just details. to start playing? Well you don’t directory on page 31). walk up and ask to play. have to! Just find a space, grab a EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 23 Meet the Team

The UK Games Expo takes Patrick Campbell the weekend. Their work is greatly Jason Garwood Roleplaying many weeks of work Expo Logistics appreciated. Jason is running the Bring and to bring together and Manager Buy this year Games requires scores of Pat is one of the UKGE aims to offer the best selection of RPG volunteers together with founder members of the Expo and Richie Nicholls Games possible. the Hilton staff to make has been at work in the background and Mike Nicholls the weekend happen. since 2007. He handles the storage Richard is a keen medieval re- This year we have 41 tables spread over seven rooms and movement of all the kit we need John Denning enactor and his brother Mike a (Lancaster, York on the ground floor, and Devon, Ascot, We extend our thanks to everyone to run the show. He also does a and Helen Denning talented photographer. “Richie Sunningdale, Durham and Windsor up the stairs on the first who helped out in whatever capacity substantial amount of the pre-show Richards’s father and daughter have and Mike” put in many hours floor. The first floor rooms do not have disabled access but 9.30 to 5pm because it is simply not possible to PR work at other shows during the been working the expo since the in advance and over the days the RPG team will ensure that all games are available to all Saturday and run the convention without your hard year. He can often be seen during first days. Helen is now our official of the Expo. players – moving a game in the event of a disabled player). 9.30 to work. On this page you will see some the weekend being sent off on some photographer. These rooms will host well over 120 RPG games on eight 4pm Sunday of the team that work throughout the thankless task by Richard or Tony. Tournament Umpires sessions over the three days. year in preparation for these three This year Pat will be running the Pete We wish to give thanks to all FREE great days of gaming. Awards. Heatherington the numerous GMs who are How do I know what Games are possible? Pete looks after the running RPG games. The games have been listed online for two months prior Richard Denning Mick Pearson tournaments during to Expo but you can still sign up on the weekend. In the Expo Director Expo Operations the weekend of the show and makes We also want Library is an admin desk where we will put up boards listing Founding Manager sure everyone has the trophies that to highlight the all the available games and remaining slots. Simply go to Director of If you have are required. No Pete - no cup. He following Tournament the desk and ask to sign up to a game. You will be given a Expo since volunteered for the expo you will also assists with the Expo Awards on Umpires: ticket and told where the game is. Report to that room in Family We will have a great team of demonstrators 2007, Richard have had contact with Mick as he the Sunday and is always ready to time for the game and have fun. with us ensuring you have the best of times is jointly handles all aspects of the volunteers. do any job when required. James “Hammy” Hamilton Zone and teaching you how to play the games in the responsible In addition to this he is also is back running his Field of Charges for Games The Family zone is always quickest and cleverest ways possible. There will for the overall responsible for the banking, booking Glory and Flames of War Some RPG games – the daytime ones on Saturday and an exciting area in the be lots of prizes and competitions on offer. We organisation of the show. He and organisation of crowd control, events. The Halesowen Board Sunday are charged for at £3 each. Why? As with all our Kings SuitE. It’s not are confident that we can find something that handles the communications, car parking and a dozen other Gamers, Gordon Robinson, tournaments the rooms RPGs go on in are additional to only aimed at families everyone will enjoy from hardcore gamer to first emails, trade and a hundred other operational tasks. Mick is a retired Scott Moore and Steven Hilton the core part of the show and cost money to hire, as do and young people but will contain time players. tasks that keep everything moving. police officer and an active member join us this year to run our tables to put in them. We also reward GMs with some games we think can surprise and He also created Awards (a role now of the Black Country Society. boardgame tournaments and expenses. These modest charges help cover some entertain everyone. Alongside the Family Zone we will have face passed on to Pat). His main area we look forward to working of those costs. Evening gaming (and games on painter Victoria Mullis. (Charges apply) of the show is the board games. In John Dodd with them over the weekend. Friday) we offer for free for people having Expo Imagination Gaming will ‘real life’ Richard is a GP, as well as Expo RPG Barry Ingram has run our tickets. be bringing a range of Children’s Roleplaying a board game designer and writer. Manager Nigel Scarfe, Chris Standley, Memoir 44 and Command and games from all over Richard Law will be running his very popular John Dodd organises Tim and Lisa Oakley. Colours Ancients games and What systems run? the world, some roleplaying games for children ages five to 13. Tony Hyams and runs the RPG section of the Nigel and his team are continuing other tournaments from the We aim to run a huge variety of of which you may No knowledge of rules is needed. Children just Expo Director Show as well as the Admin desk. He their work with Lisa and Tim in first Expo. Jonathan Pickles games systems. We cater for the know, others you need imagination and a willingness to learn. Since 2007 recruits GMs, organises the schedule expanding and running the Family will run the Warmachine mainstream systems but also Indie will not, but all of Every story has a beginning, this story starts Tony has been of games and makes sure it all runs Zone. Working with children is Tournament this year. Leon games. You will find Pathfinder which will have with you and your friends finding a box full responsible for smoothly. always a challenge but these guys Smith and his team are in Games, Call of Cthulhu, 4e D&D, you thinking, of dress up clothes in an old wardrobe. But the website, always produce a good time for all charge of the expanded two Savage Worlds, Ascanis and many laughing and playing pretend is only the beginning, soon booking the children involved. day 40K Birmingham Open. more. If you want to run a game that is enjoying the toy weapons seem real, your costumes systems and all Elliott Eastoe continues his not being offered talk to John Dodd on yourselves. become real armour and the wardrobe is a the ticketing. annual Talisman event. We the Admin desk. They are all doorway to another world. Are you brave He is jointly responsible with welcome the following new simple to learn, enough to protect your home from the Richard for the overall show. His Jane Denning umpires with new events: easy to play and monsters lurking on the other side of the main responsibilities include all the and Margaret Denning Nick Dorrel who takes on the don’t last too long, wardrobe door? “The Dwarf, The Wizard and technical aspects of running Expo. Richard, as a shameless slave Richard Law and Chris Lowe X-Wing Tournament this year, which means you will be The wardrobe” Is a 40 minute Role Playing Tony created the Programme and driver, has no problems recruiting Will be running his their very popular Paul Grogan who is running able to play a huge Game experience designed to serve as an keeps an eye on it (although the his entire family. His wife Jane and roleplaying games for children ages Netrunner, Geoff Thomas is the number of games before introduction to pen and paper role playing editor is now Matthew) In ‘real life’ mother Margaret are chained to five to 13. Blood Bowl organiser, Steve the day is through. for children. he is an ordained minister. the front desk handling tickets for Gullick takes on Warhammer Epic, Dev Sodagar Dystophian Naval Tournament and Floris Hussarts Dust Tactics. Major Sponsors Tournaments & Championships UK Games Expo would not be possible without the support of our Major Sponsors: Every year we put Tournament Day/Time Location Umpire Sponsorship on a great variety of Talisman Friday evening to Saturday Colonial Elliot Eastoe UK Games Expo tournaments where 40K Birmingham Open Saturday and Sunday 9.30am Westminster Leon Smith UK Games Expo you can show your UKGE Epic Tournament 2013 Saturday and Sunday Pavilion Steve Gullick Exodus War WIN mastery of your favourite game system. UKGE Warmachine/Hordes VI Saturday and Sunday 9.30am Westminster Jonathan Pickles Cerebus Entertainment Whether it’s settling Field of Glory – Ancients Saturday 9.30am Terrace James Hamilton Magister Millitum Catan, commanding Field of Glory – Renaissance Saturday 9.30am Terrace James Hamilton UK Games Expo PRIZES a panzer division or UK National X-Wing Tournament* Saturday 10am Pavilion Nick Dorrell Fantasy Flight (win trip to USA) battling the Galactic Settlers of Catan UK Championship* Saturday 10am Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers Heron Games (win trip to German) Empire we have the Agricola* Saturday 10am Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers UK Games Expo tournament for you. Associate Tournament Kingdom Builder Saturday 10am Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers UK Games Expo Sponsors Sponsors Some tournaments 300 Lucky Expo attendees UK Games Expo runs many tournaments. We are grateful may accept additional Marital Law – A Malifaux Tournament* Saturday 10am Warwick Tom Williams Titan Games are walking away with to these companies for sponsoring the events: entrants. These are Netrunner* Saturday 10am Warwick Paul Grogan Wotc Goodie Bags (the first Xwing – Fantasy Flight Games marked with an *. You Memoir 44* Saturday 10am Terrace Barry Ingram UK Games Expo 300 to book rooms at the Malifaux – Titan Games can check on available Call of Cthulhu UK Masters Saturday 3pm RPG Rooms Various Gms Cubicle 7, Modiphus and Yog Sothoth Nec Hilton). The bags Warmachines – Hordes Cerebus Entertainment spaces on these at Official Dystophian – Naval Tournamnet Sunday Pavilion Dev Sodagar Spartan Games are full of goodies from Warhammer 40K Epic – the Admin desk Exodus Wars Dust League – Dust Tactics Tournament Sunday Pavilion Floris Hussaarts Dust Chronicles Magazine these amazing associate Field of Glory (Ancients – Magister Millitum outside the sponsors: Field of Glory (Renaissance) – Magister Millitum King’s Suite. Command Colours Ancients* Sunday 10am Terrace Barry Ingram UK Games Expo • A1 Comics Settlers of Catan UK Championship – Heron Games Blood Bowl Team Manager Sunday 10am Pavilion Geoff Thomas Fantasy Flight • Chessex Netrunner – Wotc Note: Some rooms Carcassonne UK Championship* Sunday 9.30am Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers Win £100 towards entry in world final. • Chronicle City Call of Cthulhu UK Masters – Cubicle 7, Modiphus, may alter after Dominion UK Championship* Sunday 9.30am Colonial Halesowen Board Gamer Esdevium • Coiledspring Games and Yog Sothoth programme goes to Flames of War Sunday 9.30am Terrace James Hamilton UK Games Expo Dystophian Naval Tournament – print. Check with the • Surprised Stare Spartan Games Puerto Rico* Sunday 2 pm Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers UK Games Expo Games Dust Tournament – Dust chronicles magazine Admin desk for • Triple Ace Games Blood Bowl Team Manager – Fantasy Flight final locations if unsure. 7 wonders Sunday 2 pm Colonial Halesowen Board Gamers UK Games Expo

[Schedule correct at time of going to press] EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 25

Exhibitors

P1 Spirit Games P19 Silverbranch, P40 bITS K11 p ure Evil Miniatures K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 P2 Miniaturemen and Wordplay Games P40a Grublin Prublishing Games K12 Gen 42 Components P20 hawk Wargames P41 Triple Ace Games K13 Medusa Games S1 P2a Stakbots P21 Elemental Publishing P42 blackbox Games K14 Queen Games P3 Games Cellar P22 Mantic Games P43 Exodus Wars K15 Jammy Devil Games P4 Lesley’s Bits Box, P23 pyramid Recall P44 Arctic Fox K16 2D6 KR Multicases P24 Gameslore, P45 hopwood Games K17 Cognosis Games Ltd P5 Tresham games Spiral Galaxy Games, P46 Cubiko K18 Coventry S.G.I P6 northumbria Games Czech Games P47 yog-Sothoth K19 Tweet RPG K30 K22 S2 P7 Chronicle City, and Locworks Poland P48 Lamentations K20 Shadows of Esteren K13 Delta14 Publishing, P25 Leisure Games of the Fire Princess K21 Esdevium Games, Mindjammer Press, P26 burley Games P49 beanie Girl Steve Jackson Games K21 Modiphius Entertainment P27 GTC P50 Too Much Games K22 Asmodee Editions K8 P8 Queen Games P28 Across the Board P51 Arion Games K23 Fantasy Flight Games P9 pelgrane Press P29 XIII Legion K1 Chessex K24 Coiledspring K23 P9a Xi-Cards P30 Titan Games K2 Chess The Game K25 Tritex S3 S6 S5 P10 ragnar Brothers P31 Surprised Stare Games K3 Extraordinary Art K26 Queen Games K14 P11 battlesystems P32 The Ice of Life K4 v icki Paul Art K27 north and South Games P12 Queen Games P33 bill Campbell K5 h ellion’s Art K27a Xi Cards K6 K31 P13 Tall Trees Games P34 Cubicle 7 K6 b oardgames Extras K28 pagan Angel P14 T.B.C. P35 Shadow Games Ltd K7 A1 Comics K29 Mandrilenean, Cycling Party P15 Mayfair Games P36 hula Gaming K8 Giant Brain, Billy Nac Angels K30 Alderac Entertainment Group K9 P16 heron Games P37 hazam Games, Konami inferno, NSKN K31 Imagination Gaming K15 P17 bbnB Games P38 Magic Geek K9 b ackspindle P18 Warmill P39 oubliette Magazine K10 Wotan Games K24 K16 S6 K10

P13P14 P38 P44 P45 P4 K17

P30 P20 K11 K18 K26 P9 P9a P29 P51 P19 P23 P37 K7 P3 K12 K25 K27 K29 P50 P22 P28 P2a P12 P18 P24 P43 P2 K28 P8 P49 K19 P21 P34 S7 P11 P17 P27 P42 P48 K20 P36 P1 P10 P16 P33 P47 P32 P35 P26 P41 P7 P31 P46 KINGS SUITE Terrace P15

P5 P6 P25 P39 P40a P40 Special Stands PALACE S1 Authors including NWUK and Mercia Books S2 UKGMN and Geek Apocalypse SUITE S3 Face Painter S4 Arts and Crafts S5 Children’s RPG S6 Imagination Gaming Family Zone S7 Costumed Groups

[Details correct at time of going to press]

EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 27 EXPO GUESTS Jay Little Andrew Hackard Dr. Mike Jay Little has been working in and out of Andrew’s first experience with roleplaying “DoctorMike” Reddy the game industry for most of his adult games was taking a first-level magic-user Mike has been choosing his own adventure life, with more than 50 titles to his credit. into the Caves of Chaos armed only with for the last 40 years, most recently teaching He is currently a Senior Game Designer a dagger and a detect magic spell. This game design for the last eight years at at Fantasy Flight Games. In his time at experience taught him valuable lessons the University of Wales, Newport. Mike FFG, Jay has been involved in the design about resource allocation, spell selection, and his former students have won various & development of a number of popular and rolling up new characters. Since then, awards for innovation in computer game games, including X-Wing Miniatures he has learned a lot, making him ideally development, but he has recently returned Game and the Edge of the Empire RPG suited to oversee the continuing growth of to tabletop games. He is currently working for Star Wars, as well as Blood Bowl: the Munchkin juggernaut. In his previous on repurposing and redesigning existing Team Manager and Warhammer Fantasy lives, Andrew has been a project manager, titles like Monopoly, Cluedo and Othello Roleplay. Jay is an avid game collector, the managing editor for a major game to bring new life to ‘tired’ board games as with more than 800 board games and publisher, a frustrated graduate student, part of the #1GAM (“one game a month”) 1,000 roleplaying products he loves and a high-school teacher, where he learned initiative. Look out for his next game, to pore through for inspiration and more about munchkinry from his students “Cluthulhu” (Think Cluedo + The Thing + entertainment. than in any activity before or since. In his The Blob) - Dr. Black’s not just dead, he’s free time, Andrew wants to eat your brains. raised the Old Ones, and working out who Larry Roznai did what, where, with the candlestick is the Larry Roznai is President and COO of Angus Abranson last of your worries! Mayfair Games. An avid gamer, he hosted Angus Abranson is the owner of Chronicle weekly game nights for many years before City Ltd, a publishing company that not Mark Rein Hagen discovering the new generation of fine only creates and develops their own Mark Rein Hagen is a role-playing, card, parlor games. Larry became a part of board, card and roleplaying games but video and board game designer, best Mayfair Games’ extended family when he also assists over 30 other companies known as the creator of Vampire: The attended Gencon as a company guest in and designers in bringing their games to Masquerade and its associated World of 1990. In 1999 he joined Mayfair Games as market. He previously founded Cubicle 7 Darkness games. Rein·Hagen is also one a board member, President, and COO. It Entertainment, and was one of the founders of the original two designers of Ars Magica is no exaggeration to say that is thanks to of the Dragonmeet convention in London along with Jonathan Tweet. Larry and the support of Mayfair Games and Valkyrie Magazine. He worked for that we are gathered here this weekend. over 23 years in hobby retail with Leisure Paco Garcia-Jaen Two years ago when he visited UKGE Games and has contributed to a number of Born in Spain, Paco discovered Dungeons for the first time he encouraged us to magazines and game lines over the years. & Dragons nearly 25 years ago and has take Expo up a gear and the move to He also co-owns Delta14 Publishing Ltd, a been keen gamer since. Not allowing his this larger venue flows directly from that small press fiction publishing company and dyslexia to get in the way, he produced conversation. UKGE would like to thanks Nightfall Games, creators of SLA Industries. the fanzine “Enrolate” in his home- Larry for his help. You can follow him on Twitter @Angus_A or town Algeciras and organised the first find him on Facebook. conventions in the early 90s. Here in John Levene the UK, he founded G*M*S Magazine in John Levene played one of the all-time C.A. Suleiman 2010 and since has gathered an terrific most popular of Doctor Who’s recurring C.A. Suleiman has contributed scores group of contributors. Together, they have campanions - U.N.I.T’s Sergeant Benton. of books to the hobby games industry’s published more than 1000 articles and Before his first appearance as then- top properties, including Dungeons & reviews. He also hosts the G*M*S Magazine Corporal Benton in the Doctor Who serial Dragons and the World of Darkness. Podcast and presents the G*M*S Magazine The Invasion in 1968, he had already Along with being the developer for White YouTube videos in a further effort to bring appeared on screen as a Cyberman in Wolf’s Mummy: The Curse line, he is the well informed reviews and well crafted The Moonbase and a Yeti in the Web of creator of the Hamunaptra setting and the interviews to the public. And that’s just in Fear - the serial that introduced Benton’s co-author of Vampire: The Requiem, which his spare time! commanding officer Brigadier Lethbridge- he counts among his favorite White Wolf Stewart. John gave up acting after Doctor projects. He is especially proud to have Rob Harris Who so he could set up his own audio shepherded development of the world’s Rob is a games designer, who runs Playtest visual company; Genesis Communications. first fantasy campaign setting — Dave UK, a friendly community of aspiring and He has directed over 45 audio visuals and Arneson’s Blackmoor — until its storied established game designers who meet live events for clients including the Ford creator’s passing in 2009. His new novel, monthly and weekly to playtest each other’s Motor Company, British Airways, KFC and Big Iron, will be out this summer courtesy prototypes in London and Cambridge, Revlon. A regular convention guest, he is of Prometheus Books. C.A. lives in the as well as organising public events, like also a talented stand up comedian. Washington, D.C. area, where his band the Playtest Zone at the UK Games Expo. (Toll Carom) is busy toiling away at its latest He is the owner of Whistle Games Ltd, Simon concept album. a publishing company and Ludonaut, a Fisher-Becker design studio which creates pervasive A long-time fan of Doctor Who, Simon Cat Tobin real-world games and educational games Fisher-Becker is best known for playing Cat Tobin has been heavily involved in the for clients, such as the Science Museum. Dorium Maldovar in the series, but other roleplaying industry in Ireland and the UK He also helps to organise GameCamp, a TV credits include Afterlife, Getting since the late 1990s, during which time bi-annual unconference event in London On, Love Soup, One Foot in the Grave, she has organised Diana Jones Award- aimed at the gaming industry as a whole. London’s Burning, The Bill and Doctors. winning conventions, performed inventive You can follow him on Twitter: @playtestuk In 2014 he will be seen playing Tony book-keeping for games companies and or on the Playtest blog at www.playtest.co.uk Fazackerley in Puppy Love with Jo written everything from advertising copy to Scanlan, Vicki Pepperdine and Sanjeev RPG and LARP scenarios to srs magazine Bhaskar. He has also added his voice articles. She is currently the Project Editor The Coolest Dice on the Planet to the animation series ‘Gay Boys’ by with Pelgrane Press, where she’s working Thomas Cowell and appeared in Big Finish hard to develop new titles and produce productions, as well as venturing into the books for Pelgrane’s existing products like See NEXT PAGE realms of webseries, playing Dante in The Trail of Cthulhu and Night’s Black Agents. Waterside Trilogy by Alan Rafferty and She likes coffee, hates mornings and is not FOR SEMINARS visit us at stand k1 Roger in 3some by Lisa Gifford. a secret agent. in the kings suite EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 29

Avengers Assemble START: 7.30pm CERT: 12A LENGTH: 143 minutes Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Charities supported by UK Games Expo Earth from Loki and his army.

Every year at Expo a number of traders and groups support Judge Minty charities. This year at UK Games Expo we have TWO costumed START: 10.00PM groups who will be collecting for Charity at their stand in the CERT: 15 Kings Suite. (You can’t miss it as its where the Tardis will have LENGTH: 30 minutes Judge Minty is a not for profit materialised). fan film based on the world of the comic book character ‘Judge Who’s Company (Dr Who Costumed Group) will be collecting Dredd’. It is an original work, for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and Galactic Knights following the tale of a secondary (Star Wars and Scifi group) for Cancer Research UK. figure from the stories.

The Bring and Buy will charge 10% commission which will be The People Vs George Lucas given to the same charities (Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust START: 11.00pm FREE and Cancer Research UK.) CERT: Unrated LENGTH: 97 mins with your Liked the original Star Wars movies but hate the prequels? This movie is saturday an examination of the widespread fan TICKET disenchantment with George Lucas. Seminars Saturday 3.30PM – Game redesign competition Paizocon 2013 ad Games Expo Qk7:Pathfinder 21/2/13 17:50 Page 1 Ask questions Come and find out about an exciting Board Game Redesign 9.30AM – UK Games Media Network Competition involving Kara Gander of Lesiure Games and Alan of the Game Come along and meet the UK Games Media Network Paull of Surprised Stare and Rob Harris of Playtest. Win a years podcasters and bloggers with Paco Jaen, Chris Bowler and mentorship and guidance on your own designs. DesignerS and Michael Fox. 4.00PM – Writting your own RPG find out how 10.30AM – The beginnings of roleplaying How easy it is? How do you get started. What are the top tips It’sajolly Just what are roleplaying games? What is the history of for writing a good adventure? With Angus Abranson, Mark fine show!, We are very Euro-friendly! to go about roleplaying – how did it all start and how did it evolve? Why Rein Hagen and C.A. Suleiman. PAIZOCONUK don’t y’know! We have GMs who speak do people play these games? What is a good one to start German, Dutch and French. designing and with? What are good games to start others on? You fancy Sunday 20–21th July, AstonUni, Birmingham trying a new type of game? – how to start in a new genre. publishing Matthew Dawkins, Paco Jaen, Mark Rein Hagen and C.A. 10.00AM – Jay Little [X-WING MInATURES GAME] Suleiman look back over the history of the hobby and discuss Questions and answers with our guests Jay Little, designer of the games or their favourite games. Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game as well as creator of Blood your own Bowl Team manager and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying. WE WANT YOU! 11.30PM – Kickstart your games Thinking of publishing a game but don’t have the cash? Find 11.00AM – Meet the big boys books! out about the use of Kickstarter and other crowd funding It takes all types of companies to drive the hobby games world. options in game publication. With Angus Abranson (Chronicle Come and meet managers and designers from some of the larger City), Michael Fox (Sprocket Games), Andrei Novak (NSKN companies as they discuss the future of hobby games. How do In 2013 there Legendary Games) and others. they compete in a world of electronic games? With Larry Roznai will be talks by of Mayfair Games, Mark Wooton of AEG, Dominic McDowall of games designers, publishers and 12.30PM – Life on Dr Who Cubicle 7 and Andrew Hackard, of Steve Jackson Games. John Levene (Sgt. Benton of U.N.I.T) and Simon Fisher-Becker N Do you play Pathfinder Society authors. gET tips Munchkin about getting (Dorium Maldovar in series 5 and 6) will answer your questions 12.00PM – Andrew Hackard [ ] games, or want to give it a try? published and on times and expericences as actors on Dr Who. Questions and answers with Andrew Hackard, line manager for even learn how the hit Munchkin Card game series. Join us at PaizoCon UK. to become a 1.30PM – A Kindle Millionaire game designer Self publishing for authors. So you have written a book, 1.00PM – Board Game Designers Panel N Latest adventures! Old favourites! yourself. UK what now? How do you go about self publishing and making Got ideas for a board game? Come and meet board game Gaming Network e-books and how do you get them on to Amazon? Authors designers and discuss games design. With Larry Roznai of Mayfair, will providing Andy Holmes, Tom Bryson, Dave Ebsworth and Fiona Linday Tony Boydell, Alan Paul of SSG, MIchael Fox and DR Mike Raedy. N Friday Night Social! support for all will discuss the various approaches and the pitfalls. the events in 2.00PM – Who Nicked My Spaceship? N GMs are especially welcome. this room. 2.30PM – UK Games Expo Hall of Fame Dr Who’s version of Never Mind The Buzzcocks meets QI Tony Boydell, Michael Fox and Richard Breese are the panel meets Shooting Stars in a sci-fi way. Richard Ashton and the N Tickets sell-out,sobook soon. who will preside over the first ever annual UK Games Expo Hall rest of Who’s Company are joined John Levene (Sgt. Benton of Fame Awards. These recognised UK games and designers of U.N.I.T) and Simon Fisher-Becker (Dorim Maldavar in a quiz SEMINARS have made a lasting impact on the development of hobby show with a diffeence. www.paizocon.co.uk gaming in the UK. ARE HELD IN 3.00PM – UK Games Expo Awards Pathfinder and Pathfinder Society are registered trademarks of Paizo Publishing, Find out who wins awards for new games and if you win any LLC and are used here under Paizo’s Community Use Policy. This not a Paizo run THE Arden prizes from our prize draw. To be held in the Kings Room. John event. For more information about Pathfinder Society, Paizo Publishing and [Schedule correct at time of going to press] Levene and Simon Fisher-Becker give out the awards. Paizo products, visit www.paizo.com SUITE

EXPO GUIDE

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 31

Exodus Wars Jammy Devil Games Pagan Angel Titan Games Specialises in fine-detail sci-fi Stoke-on-Trent based retailers of Sell fantasy, science fiction and Lichfield based one stop shop for wargames models. P43 hobby games. K15 gaming themed jewellery, T-shirts wargames miniatures and hobby and accessories. K28 supplies. P30 Extraordinary Art Lamentations of the Fire Princess Lee’s artwork is an imaginative Finnish fantasy roleplaying publisher. Pelgrane Press Too Much Games exploration of Eastern and Gothic P48 Pelgrane Press publishes award-winning A one man board and card game settings. K3 tabletop roleplaying games. P9 deisgn house. P50 Leisure Games Fantasy Flight Games Stock roleplaying, wargames, Plastics for Games Tresham games Minnesota-based game company collectable card games, board See Northumbria Games Francis Tresham is the designer of that publishes roleplaying, board, games from all over the world. P25 classic board game Civilisation now and card games. K23 Pure Evil Miniatures publishes 18XX railway games. P5 Lesley’s Bits Box, KR Multicases Produce historical and fantasy Games Cellar Carry a range of second hand and miniatures. K11 Triple Ace Games 2D6 Battlesystems Games retailer with large range of new Warhammer and other Sci-fi Produce a huge range of innovative All the way from Estonia, 2D6 is a Offers realistic sci-fi & fantasy terrain board gaemes and card games. P3 figures as well as figure cases. P4 Pyramid Boss roleplaying games. P41 small publishing company, focused for table top gamers and collectors. A new card game from the mainly on economy games. K16 Ideal for all sci-fi 28mm systems. P 11 Gameslore Locworks Poland publishers of the word game Tritex The UK’s largest online retailer. P24 An enthusiastic group of dedicated Alphabet Runner. P23 Specialises in gaming and A1 Comics Board Game Extras specialists from Poland who provide collectable miniatures, gifting items One of the longest established Specialists in accessories such as Gen 42 high quality localization, translation Queen Games and film memorabilia. K25 comic book stores in Scotland but wooden replacement parts for British designers and publishers of highly and development services German publishers of a huge range also stocks memorablila, boards and Agricola and Settlers. K6 addictive quality and award winning to publishers. P24 of board games including Kingdom Tweet RPG card games. K7 board games such as Hive. K12 Builder and Escape. Is a free online roleplaying Chessex Magic Geek K14 / K26 / P8 / P12 experience which utilises Twitter to Arctic Fox The coolest dice on the planet. K1 Giant Brain Stock a huge range of Collectible provide adventures. K19 Publishers of the board games Go Games company based in Card Games including Magic. P38 Ragnar Brothers with the Flow and Anchorage. P44 Chess The Game Edinburgh, dedicated to making Veteran games designers who have Vicki Paul Art A company looking to revitalise entertaining and accessible Mandrilenean designed over 15 board games over 2D and 3D art for games. K4 Arion Games chess and challenge how and where games. K8 Spainish publishers of Ringwords. the last 20 years. P10 Creators of fine roleplaying games and it is conventionally played. K2 K29 Warmill paper miniatures since 2005. P51 Grublin Games Shadow Games Ltd Offer new and exciting products to Chronicle City Cornish bases company, producing Mantic Games Stock a wide range of board games, the wargaming community. P18 Asmodee Editions Publish a range of roleplaying and distribute strategic board Carry a range of affordable high miniature games, collectable card A leader in the publishing and games and supplements. P7 games across the UK. P40a quality miniatures which can be used games and roleplaying games. P35 Wordplay Games distribution of board games and in all kinds of games. P22 Is a games company producing rules trading card games in Europe. K22 Cognosis Games Ltd GTC Shadows of Esteren light and immersive pen and paper A brand new, exciting, problem- Produce Bushido an oriental fantasy Mayfair Games French roleplaying game publishers of roleplaying games. P19 BBnB games solving family board game. K17 tabletop miniatures game. P27 U.S. based publisher of board a medieval roleplaying game. K20 Produce sci-figures and miniatures. P17 games and card games suitable for Wotan Games Coiled Spring Hawk Wargames families and hobbyists. P15 Silverbranch, With a rich history of creativity in the BeanieGirl Publish, distribute and market Produce the 10mm scale sci-fi A small independent publisher producing board games industry and are now Gifts, toys, game and accessories. P49 original, innovative educational massed battle game, Dropzone Medusa Games tabletop roleplaying games. P19 back in business. K10 puzzles and games. K24 Commander. P20 UKGE director Richard’s game Bill Campbell design house, designer of The Great Spiral Galaxy Games Xi cards Madagascar based producer of Coventry S.G.I Hazam Games, Konami Fire of London 1666. K13 Manufactures and distributes board An upcoming collectable card game abstract board games. P33 The institute researches game-based Publish and distribute collectible and card games. P24 (CCG) with an easy to learn, hard to learning. K18 card games including the popular Miniaturemen and Components master rules system. P9a Billy Nac Yu-Gi-Oh. P37 Games Workshop and historical Spirit Games Billy Nac publish Legacy, a strategy Cubicle 7 component parts and figures. P2 Supply roleplaying games, XIII Legion board game. K8 The creative team behind The Hellion’s Ar wargames miniatures, scenery, board A new fantasy miniatures company Doctor Who Card Game, Victoriana Professional illustrator of book Modiphius Entertainment and card games for 29 years. P1 who produce a large range of BITS and many many more. P34 covers, interior illustrations, and Publish a range of roleplaying fantasy figures. P29 A UK based organisation dedicated roleplaying game images. K5 games and supplements. P7 Surprised Stare Games to providing a forum for Marc Cubiko Publish games that are colourful rich Yog-Sothoth Miller’s Traveller roleplaying game. P40 London based independant family Hencro Ltd North and South Games in theme and detail, innovative and, The blog and podcast dedicated boardgame designer/manufacturer/ Publish Foxes and Chickens a family A design studio specialising in family most importantly, fun! P31 to the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying Blackbox Games publisher. P46 game of a little luck and a lot of board and card games to bring world. P47 Publishers the Lords of War fantasy strategy. P14 people together. K27 Stakbots combat card game. P42 Cycling party Stak Bots is a new versatile card Spainish publishers of Cycling Party. K29 Heron games Northumbria Games game launching at UKGE. P2a Burley Games Is an on-line games store based in Carry a wide selection of board and An independent designer, Czech Games the UK and Mayfair Games official card games. Plastics for Games will Steve Jackson Games manufacturer, distributor and Czech Games Edition’s goal is UK representative. P16 also have a small display of games See Esdevium Games. wholesaler of board games. P26 to pick the best games of Czech components at this stand. P6 designers and bring them to the Hula Gaming Tall Trees Games SEE MAP On Across the Board international market. P24 Online retailer of board games and N.S.K.N. Are publishing Hydra, a small ATB Games specialises in inventing, card games. P36 Romanian publishers create one of a abstract type game with a Celtic developing and marketing board Delta14 Publishing kind strategy board games. K8 feel. P13 PAGES 24-25 games. P28 Publish a range of roleplaying Imagination Gaming games and supplements. P7 Specialise in using fun, modern Oubliette Magazine The Ice of Life Alderac Entertainment Group board and card games to engage A magazine for old school fantasy Publishes a game called Everlasting Creators of roleplaying, card, and Elemental Publishing and educate. K31 players. P39 Life. P32 board games like Legend of the Five A games publishing company that Rings and Tomb. K30 focuses on turning learning concepts into innovative fun games. P21 Angels inferno Authors including NWUK and Mercia Books Facepainter Children’s RPG Costumed Groups Produces of the Convoluted card Esdevium Games Combined stand featuring a range Vicki our facepainter will paint your Richard and Chris will teach children Who’s Company cosplay characters game. K8 Europe’s leading distributor of of authors. Come and see their face – young or old for a small fee. ages 5 to 13 how to play roleplaying will be joined by Guest John Levene hobby products. Their stand will books. S1 S3 games. S5 (Sgt Benton from Doctor Who) and Backspindle also host US based Steve Jackson Simon Fischer-Becker (Maldovar in Northern Irish designers of fun and Games that creates and UKGMN, Geek Apocalypse Arts and Crafts Imagination Gaming Family Zone Doctor Who).The Tardis is here. You strategy games such as Guards! publishes roleplaying, board, Podcast and online gaming blog sites Bethan will be showing children how The mega stand dedicated to games to can also meet the Stormtroopers of Guards! and Codinca. K9 and card games. K21 will be interviewing from here. S2 to paint and draw here. S4 play as families and with children. S6 the Galactic Legion. S7

[IThese descriptions are take – where possible from company website and are

often in their own words. UKGE does not specifically endorse the comments.] EXPO GUIDE

WANTED: Board Game Players. UK GAMES EXPO 2013 33 Must crave apocalyptic wasteland. Backstabbing sociopaths preferred. C.A. Suleiman

C.A. Suleiman (CAS) has contributed scores of books to the hobby games BUILD a town, an empire, a history industry’s top properties, including Dungeons & Dragons and the World of Darkness as well as being the developer for White Wolf’s Mummy: The Curse line. EXPLORE a romance, a crisis, a tragedy DESTROY everything in an hour or two What is your own gaming What would you say to background? Did you get people who want to work Indie Games by Demand into gaming in your teens in the games industry? @indie_GbyD_UK Gather for ‘Games by Demand’ at the beginning of or at College? To people who want to work in the games industry, each slot, choose from all the games on offer that I have rather a lot of things to say; the answer Indie Games by Demand is your place to try out you’d like to play and then, based on the group’s Actually, I didn’t wait until my teens to start really depends on the question and the context. classic and cutting edge small-press RPG/story demand, we kick games off until all our tables are gaming; I’ve been playing published roleplaying It starts with their focus: Do they personally want games and see what the fuss is all about. Book a full. If there are any spare spots in a game or spare games since I was seven, starting with the first to make a particular kind of game, or do they ticket in advance or on the day, turn up and you tables, then we’ll spread the word and anyone can edition of D&D. I was pretty much a TSR die-hard just want to work in the hobby games industry in help decide what games to play. join. (Note that you must have bought an ‘Indie (Star Frontiers FTW) until Vampire, which of course some capacity? Is their desire to be creative, or is Games by Demand’ ticket through Expo to play changed everything. And ever since I became an it to work with their friends in a field that doesn’t You have a band. Indie Games by Demand works by giving you – during peak hours.) Origins Awards juror, I’ve been playing all kinds feel like so much like work? One needs to get What’s the story the players – the choice as to what you want. No of RPGs, if only to test out their designs and keep those basics out of the way before one can really there? What sort of prior knowledge or experience required. You bring Keep up to date throughout Expo with everything current with the industry. address the topic of specific advice. music do you play? the enthusiasm; we bring the facilitator/GM and we’re playing and any vacant spots or tables by materials and teach you everything you need to following us on twitter @indie_GbyD_UK What would you say was Of your own work what Yes, my band is called Toll Carom, and to have a great time. your favourite game of did you enjoy working on this day, I’m still not sure how to describe Don’t want a full game? Just come along and we’ll all time? Why? the most? our sound. The Washington Post called be happy to chat about any of the games on offer us Middle Eastern-influenced alternative or even run a demo of some of our games right I find it difficult to pick favourites in the things It’s sad, but I have a harder time distinguishing rock, and I’ve certainly heard less accurate there on the spot. I love most (music, film, games), so I think it the projects I liked working on the most than I descriptors. Because we’re so busy, would be at least a little easier to address them do remembering the ones I enjoyed the least. we only put out an album and play in Expo Indie Games by Demand is provided by in the context of broad categories. My favourite When things go wrong on a project, it tends to support of it every three or four years, but volunteers from London Indie RPG Meet up. Chat traditional fantasy RPG, for example, is still D&D. stick in the old craw a while, especially if someone thankfully, 2013 is one of those years. Our to us if you want to know more. As well as folk My favourite dark fantasy RPG is Wraith: The else’s edits or mistakes ended up weakening your new album, The Word, should be done by new to indie games, we’re especially keen to talk Oblivion. published work. By extension, though, I guess summer. with existing indie gamers from other parts of the that helps define projects I did enjoy (by virtue of country thinking of starting their own local indie How and when did you get those situations not happening), so in that light, I see you have written meet up. into working in the Hobby I’d probably say stuff like Mummy, Belilal’s Brood a novel – Big Iron. Game Industry? (for Vampire), and my Egyptian fantasy boxed Tell us a bit about To play in one of our Indie RPG games get your set, Hamunaptra, since those projects went so your writing career. ticket at the Administration Desk in the Library. I got my start as an actual contributor to smoothly from initial vision to publication. Are there more books The actual game you play will be decided by you the industry in the late ‘90s, courtesy of two in progress? and the other players when you sit down to play. The Post-Apocalypse, as quality gentlemen: Harry Heckel, my mentor, A lot of your gaming work and Justin Achilli, my first developer. My first is Horror RPGs – is there I’ve written a couple of novels, actually, run by your local council. major assignment was an enormous solo-credit some reason for that. but yes, Big Iron is the latest and it book – I think the manuscript came in at around What do you like about comes out in September, IIRC. Thanks 115,000 words – so that was nice and stressful. this genre? to the success of its Kickstarter project, Playing now at Palace 50! It was called Cairo by Night, and lucky for me, the Mummy line will have even more There’ll be more than a dozen games to choose from each Justin thought it turned out okay. Things took When one is a giant horror fan, one tends to supplements being rushed out to fans time, depending on our volunteers’ speciality, including as off thereafter. gravitate toward the same in the media and than originally scheduled, so yes, there our core games: Visit our special UK Games entertainment one creates or engages. I don’t are always more books in the pipe. actually get to read as much of it as I’d like, since Currently, I’m developing Guildhalls of the Fiasco: The award-winning classic, as seen on I’m so busy, but it’s definitely my cup of tea, Deathless, a big combo source book on Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop. Expo site for photos, especially when it’s done so well that it transcends the various mummy guilds in the game. videos and extras. even the idea of “genre.” Horror for pure shock Monsterhearts: Buffy meets Tru Blood in this game of value (or even its own sake, really) does very little You are holding a teenage monsters. for me anymore, but I love a good scary story that dinner party and can toomuchgames.co.uk/ukge also “says something” or otherwise communicates invite six people. They Duty & Honour: Inspired by Sharpe, take on missions on two tiers, as most truly great art does. can be from anywhere as part of Wellington’s army. and anytime period and What makes for a good may also be fictional. Microscope: Tell an epic story spanning generations or Horror RPG adventure? Who would you pick focus on a split second. and why? I don’t think there’s one answer to that question. Witch: the Road to Lindisfarne: In 1350, the blame for Horror isn’t a particular story or set of stories. Well, if I wanted to be pithy, my answer the Black Death is borne by a single woman. Like science fiction, it’s a tonal environment in would be, “I don’t host dinner parties. I Too Much Games which to do all the same things you can do in attend them.” Slightly less flippantly, I’d The Quiet Year: Experimenting with a community’s mainstream narrative. But yes, in order for it to ask for a clarification as to whether or not survival in a post-apocalyptic world. be horror, there certain elements need to be my guests would be able to talk to (read: present in some capacity, and it’s those elements yell at) each other, as that would certainly Love in the Time of Seið: Shakespeare meets on which one should focus if one’s going to influence my practical line-up. To the Wagner in this Norse blood opera of magic, marriage write or run a horror RPG scenario. Beyond the spirit of the question, I think I’d love to and monsters. trusty “downer ending,” one can run almost have a chance to actually talk face-to- any basic set-up, including clichés like rescuing face with Beethoven. The irony there, of Durance: A game of savagery and servility in a the damsel in distress. The trick is to make the course, is that even if I spoke German, SF prison colony. execution of the set-up horrific, preferably in and he, English, the man still wouldn’t more than one way. hear a word I said. Cthulhu Dark: The rules-light Lovecraftian game.

C.A. Suleiman will be involved in several seminars over the weekend EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 35

BY John Dodd

“So let me get this straight, in this game there’s no chance we can world – nothing more, no fanfare, no pile beat the bad guys, and it’s likely that we’re all going to end up dead, of gold, and nowhere to brag about the and those of us that don’t end up dead are going to be nuttier than adventure you’ve just been on (unless you a bag of brazils?” like white rooms and lots of questions). If the Investigators don’t manage to stop the “Yep” Mythos from intruding into the world, then “What do it’s likely that it’s too late for them to do “And we’d want to play this why?” you get if anything, but there are still ways to defeat these creatures (and we don’t count hiding Expo’s upon us again, and while there’s of Tindalos, can move through time and you drop in a doughnut shaped house from the hundreds of games on offer, there’s one space and manifests within any right angle Hound of Tindalos as one of those). game that outnumbers all the others and that it can find, allowing it to track its prey a nuke on quite ironically it’s not one of the new anywhere. It can be driven away for a The game started out in the same eras ones. Call of Cthulhu was first published time, but as long as there’s an angle for it Cthulhu? that the stories were written in, that of in 1981 by Chaosium and won the 1982 to step through, it can still get to you. If He comes the early 1900s. The world was a far Origins award for Best Roleplaying creatures like this find their way into this more superstitious place, and even Game. While it never sold in the quantity world, getting rid of them takes more than back twenty commonplace events could be seen as that games like Dungeons & Dragons brute force, so a lot of the games revolve supernatural by those who didn’t know did, it proved to be a hit with gamers not around the creatures themselves, but minutes any better. The popularity of the game everywhere who wanted more than on those who would seek to harness their was such that other time periods were swords and sorcery. power for their own ends. While a gun later, soon written about, ranging from the won’t harm Cthulhu, it will make a big only this time of the Romans to the far future, Based around the stories written by difference to those trying to bring him when lasers and bombs would be just as Howard Phillips (HP) Lovecraft, the players into this world. There will always be those time he’s ineffective as sticks and stones had been. take the roles of investigators in the who seek to meddle in powers beyond The wide variety of different time periods Cthulhu Mythos, a pantheon of creatures their understanding, and this is where the annoyed and settings has allowed the game to go ranging from zombies to Elder Gods that investigators come in. beyond the original remit of the books as inhabit different universes to those we live and they were written and it’s now possible in. These creatures have plans beyond Almost all Call of Cthulhu scenarios will to get anything Cthulhu related, from the comprehension of mortal man and start with the premise of something radioactive” plushy toys (try and explain that one to powers significantly beyond anything that not quite normal in the world, your nieces and nephews) to after dinner man can hope to challenge. Just the sight artefacts being stolen from museums, mints, playing cards, and board games. of these creatures is enough to drive a mysterious markings on hillsides, or the One only has to look at the recent surge person insane, as their existence cannot disappearance of something related to Main Image & in crowdfunded projects to know that the Bottom right be comprehended by mortal minds. the Mythos. From there it is down to the by Kunrong Cthulhu’s time is now. Investigators to piece together what has for Achtung! The chance of victory against these been happening ‘till they can confront Cthulhu The most recent of the Cthulhu games is creatures is non-existent. What happens the architects of the plan and stop them Image below Achtung Cthulhu. Set in the Second World if you drop a nuke on Cthulhu? He comes from carrying it out. In many cases, the by Ian War, it introduces the Mythos to a time Scholefield back 20 minutes later, only this time he’s rewards for their efforts are that creatures for Achtung! when the world couldn’t have been in a annoyed and radioactive... of the Mythos never make it as far as this Cthulhu darker place, when Nazis experimented

So where’s the attraction to playing the game? with powers beyond their control and brave men and women fought against the form of six preliminary rounds, The difference between Call of Cthulhu them for more than the survival of nations. each round coming from one of and other games is that most games The recent Kickstarter managed to raise the time periods of the game and presume that the player characters go on more than £100,000, with nearly 2000 centred upon Birmingham and to have long lives and much success. In people backing the project to succeed. the tumultuous times that it has Cthulhu, investigators know that they’re endured over the years. From not going to have a long life, and if they Always one of the most popular games each round, one person will go do, it’s likely that they aren’t going to to be offered at the Expo, Cthulhu games forwards to compete in the final have the sanity with which to enjoy it. The usually sell out within hours of being put for the grand prize, a copy of the game is about using mind over muscle, up on the site and there’s always call Necronomicon, the book named the knowledge of what you’re dealing for more of them. Not just from those by Lovecraft as containing all the with is far more useful than a sword or who’ve been playing for years but new knowledge of the Mythos creatures. a gun when dealing with creatures like generations of investigators, raised not on There are other prizes for those these, and it’s that that makes the game Lovecraft but on X-Files and Warehouse who don’t make it all the way to the interesting. It’s only a matter of time 13, where the mysterious holds a certain end, including preserved examples before the forces aligned against you sway, and brains over brawn is the order of Mythos creatures and prizes finally get you, and the creatures you of the day. from several of the companies at come up against in this game don’t have Expo, but the knowledge contained weaknesses like silver bullets and stakes. At Expo this year, we are proud to in the Necronomicon is such that A modern rifle will put a hole in them, but host the inaugural UK Cthulhu Masters when the winner drives home, they the hole won’t trouble them any more than Tournament. Based on the Cthulhu may watch the stars, and wonder a bee sting might you or I. One of the Masters Tournaments run in the US at to themselves if the stars aren’t lesser creatures of the Mythos, The Hound Gencon Indiana, the tournament takes watching back...

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES UK GAMES EXPO 2013 37

It is not uncommon to hear visitors to UK Games Expo, who have never to cut before come across any of the modern type of boardgames on display and sale, say something along the lines of “I have never your heard of all these games, I like Game X, can you recommend any other games like that.

teeth This list is all about recommending 10 games to cut your teeth on. These are games that are pretty easy to get into, good fun and are none on too complex.

Settlers of Catan Ticket to Ride Kosmos and Mayfair Games Days of Wonder 3 to 4 Players (expands to 6) 3 to 5 Players 90 minutes, Ages 10+ £28 45 Minutes Ages 8+ £35 Originally published in 1995 by German publisher Kosmos as Fancy building railway routes across Die Siedler von Catan, it is now Carcassonne Power Grid America or Europe? Ticket to Ride is published in English by Expo Rio Grande Games Rio Grande Games an example of the high production Sponsor Mayfair Games. You can try 2 to 5 players 2 to 6 players value quality games made by a game on their stand or else enter 45 minutes 120 minutes publisher Days of Wonder. the UK Settlers Championship every Ages 8+ £25 Ages 12 and up year at UKGE. You can learn this game in three This is the game that uses cute In this game you take on the role or four minutes and there are This is one of the classic examples little wooden people widely called of running a utilities company very few rules. The game comes of the modern type of board game, meeples. It is a tile placement supplying power to cities in the with an attractive and colourful which involves gathering resources game. Think dominos but way USA or Germany (and in other board displaying cities and routes and using them to build with. In cooler than that. The tiles have versions of the game elsewhere in between and little model railway this game you play the settlers of tiny bits of southern the world). carriages in player colours with the island of Catan. Each space on French landscape which you literally build the routes the island produces one of wood, on them. The tiles The aim is to be able to supply by placing the carriages along sheep, grain, ore or bricks. You are pulled out of the most cities by the end of the the board. In order to place the start the game with two villages on a bag and have game. You bid for power stations carriages, players collect train the island. Rolling dice determines to be placed which might be coal or oil cars in various colours. By which spaces adjacent to an burning, garbage burners, handing in sets of cards produce goods existing tile on nuclear or wind powered. they can then build and the players the table. The In the early game you will the routes and score with village tile might portray buy stations that power only points dependant on adjacent part of a city, a road, one or two cities but gradually the length of these to these a cloister, grassland bid for more powerful and more routes. On a turn spaces or a mix of these. efficient stations as the game goes players either collect on. You then buy resources to collect new cards them. You have to place your tile so that power the stations – such as coal, or build a route roads, cities etc match up. Slowly oil, garbage and uranium. The (but not both) Watch the landscape grows. Now when market is dynamic so as goods are so there is a nice out you have placed your tile you can bought they get more expensive tactical choice to be though also add a meeple (that wooden If none are bought they get made between building because a figure remember). The placing of the cheaper. Now you build links shorter routes to claim roll of a seven meeples is a big part of the strategy between cities, keeping a close eye them or collecting for (on two dice) in the game. You can drop them on the map to spot cheap routes longer, higher value routes means a bandit on roads, in cities or cloister or as a and maybe cut off players and but which might be claimed appears, and steals farmer on a grass area. When roads, make it hard for them to expand. Recreate exciting Star WarsTM space combat in X-Wing, a fast- before you are able to. Players will players goods. Players can trade, cities or cloisters are complete they Finally you power your stations and start with route cards showing cities for example by uttering phrases score points. Farmers score for each supply cities and get paid for the paced tabletop miniatures game! Take control of powerful Rebel they are trying to connect, which if like, “I have Wood for Sheep”. city they can trace a route to. total of cities you supply. X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE fighters with the core set, then they do so they get a bonus for. At They swap the resources in order to the end of the game the player who gather what they need to build more The strategy then in this game The game goes on like this until a build your fleet with a growing catalog of expansions. Featuring builds the longest continuous route villages, convert them to cities and is where do you place your tile – certain number of cities have been stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, X-Wing places the earns an extra bonus. link them with roads. adding to your own road, city etc connected at which point the player fate of the galaxy in your hands. or just in a way to make it awkward who supplies the most cities wins. The game is a world wide big seller Villages score 1pt, cities 2pts and for others? Likewise you only have a and there are a number of variations there are bonuses for the longest fixed number of meeples so do you Expo Verdict Careful planning FANTASY with maps of Europe, Japan and road or by buying special cards. The add one, or save it for later use? and working how far to go www.FantasyFlightgames.com Scandinavia to try. first player to reach 10pts wins. when bidding makes this a FLIGHT Expo Verdict Attractive game fascinating game. GAMES Star Wars and all associated elements are © 2013 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Expo Verdict Easy to learn, a Expo Verdict A classic game that that combines very simple rules with ® Fantasy Flight Games, Fantasy Flight Supply, and the FFG logo are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. great game for all ages. every gamer should own. tactics and decision making.

EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES UK GAMES EXPO 2013 39

ExplorE Formula De Asmodee thE SandS! 2-10 players 120 minutes, 7 Wonders Ages 10+ £35 Dominion Asmodee Rio Grande 2-7 players Take to the racing circuit in this classic 2 to 4 players, 30 minutes, Grand Prix game. You control one or 30 minutes Ages 10+ £35 maybe two cars in a team. Your job Kingdom Ages 10+ £33 is to win the race. The game comes Builder Puerto Rico Munchkin In 7 Wonders players are building with a double sided board and you Queen Games Albi, Rio Grande Dominion came out in 2008 Steve Jackson Games one of the wonders of the ancient can buy more board replicating the 2-4 (5 with expansion) 2-5 players and was a brilliant innovation. It 3-6 Players world. They have a player board great racing arenas of the world with 45 minutes 90 minutes involves card drafting and deck 90 Minutes showing for e.g. The Great Pyramid all their kinks and turns. Ages 8+ £40 Ages 12+ £35 building rather like Collectible Ages 10+ £15 of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Card Games but you get all the Hanging Gardens of Babylon etc. Each car has a dashboard card. A quite new game this one. You This is a game where you build cards you need in the base set (you Kick down a door, beat the monster Each of these cities will give you a Here you record how many brake, build your kingdom settlement by a colony on a Caribbean Island. can buy extra sets to give more and loot the treasure. Get stronger single resource (bricks, ore, wood, fuel, engine and body points the settlement across a map, which The game starts with each player cards). You start with a small hand and move on. That, in essence, is linen, glass etc). car has. It also shows the gear the will vary with every game you play, having just one small plantation of cards. Some are worth money what Munchkin is all about. car is in. Each turn you roll a special aiming to gain the most gold. You and no colonists. and other worth victory points. The You start the game with seven dice dependant on which gear you get gold for placing settlements aim of the game is to buy as many The card game is a light hearted cards. Some of these cards are are in. The range and maximum next to castles on the map but also In the game you grow your colony victory point cards as possible. look at roleplaying games based more resources, some buildings score on the dice increases with by fulfilling certain conditions on and start to produce corn, sugar, around exploring dungeons. worth victory points, some military each gear: 1st: 1-2 (4 sided die) secret objective cards you draw. coffee, tobacco and indigo and So you start with ten cards and Your goal is to reach tenth level. units, other science symbols and 2nd: 2-4 (6 sided) 3rd: 4-8 (8 sided) In the game you have a hand of either sell it for money or ship it draw five. That might give you, You start off at first level with no others market or economy cards. 4th: 7-12 (12 sided) 5th: 11-20 (20 cards and play one of them which back to Europe for victory points. say four copper to spend with treasure and no particular class or Now you choose one of the cards sided) 6th: 21-30 (30 sided). You will show a certain terrain type. You At the same time you also build a which you go shopping. In the race. Each turn is simple, you draw and play it. To bring a card into can increase by one gear a turn. can now place three settlements city. The cities’ buildings allow you middle of table are a market of a door card. That card might have play costs resources (which you will So, you are thinking, you just crank on that (and only that) terrain type to process all these raw materials cards you can buy and may cost a monster on, a trap or some other show you have on your board or up the gears and go as fast as you always placing adjacent to your but also grant you other abilities two to six copper. The exact challenge. To defeat the monster on other previously played cards) can? Think again. Every corner on own building if you can. A clever and more victory points. The make up of those cards varies you need to beat its levels. Now or if you don’t have the resources the track has a number that tells tactic is playing a card where you innovation in Puerto Rico, which from game to game. So in one here you can use items you have you can buy then with money from you how many turns you have to cannot build next to your own makes it quite original, comes from game you might have these cards picked up on previous rooms but neighbouring players. end your move somewhere in the settlements as that allows you to the roles. The game has a number Cellar, Market, Militia, Mine, also appeal to the good will of corner. If you over shoot the corner place a settlement elsewhere on of role cards: Settler, Mayor, Moat, Remodel, Smithy, Village, your fellow players who might help You now pass on all your cards to you have to brake or burn off tyre the board allowing you to spread Builder, Craftsman, Trader, Captain, Woodcutter, Workshop and in you at a price – usually an item your neighbour and take six from the points or crank down the gears out. Sometimes you can build and Prospectors. another Coppersmith, Courtyard, of treasure. As you gain in levels player on your other side, choose costing engine and fuel to make next to a location which allows the SummEr 2013 Masquerade, Scout, Shanty Town, and power other players might one play it and pass on five etc. the turn. It is very possible to spin player to seize an extra action tile Each turn the first player chooses Steward, Festival, Torturer, Library, decide you need knocking back off the track and then its game over allowing you to break the rules in a single role. He undertakes Wishing Well. All games also and so they play cards to make the In the course of the game then you hot shot. certain ways such as moving your the action that role allows. (So involve copper, silver and gold monsters stronger! If you lose to a build up your resources, gradually settlements. the Settler allows him to add an cards, and the three victory point monster bad stuff happens – maybe build your wonder, buy victory point These dice are the real genius extra plantation, the Mayor to cards types. you lose everything or just some cards or science cards (which you mechanic in this game. So its a Achieving your objectives is never gain colonists who are waiting items or a level. score points for ) or military so you tense game all about pushing easy as the other players are busy in a ship and looking for work, Each card will give you some can beat up your neighbours. the machine to breaking point, expanding where you want to go the Craftsman actually forces his benefit. They might just give you The cards show great artwork and Then after playing six cards you screeching over the line with the and somehow they other players plantation to produce resources, more income, grant you extra are usually funny. The game has vast discard one and the age ends. After minimum left but getting there first. always have the cards YOU want the Trader allows him to sell actions, allow you to buy more replay potential especially with a near three such ages the game is over. right then. resources, the Captain to ship than one card or have an effect on infinite number of expansion packs! Expo Verdict An exciting game stuff to Europe and gain VPs, the other players (usually unpleasant). Expo Verdict A game of making where fortunes can change, Expo Verdict A fairly new game builder to build buildings and the Gradually your deck builds as you Expo Verdict Kill the monsters, decisions on what best to play with favours the brave but rewards which is already showing signs of travel to a land of endless, sun-scorched Prospector gives him gold. buy cards and add them to the steal the treasure, stab your buddy! the cards in your hand. careful play too. becoming a firm favourite. Now ALL the other players get to deck. The deck cycles all the time sands, servile jinn, cruel overlords, sly now do the self same action BUT (so in a turn you draw five cards the player who chose the role gets from your own deck, play them, rogues and adventurous heroes. some sort of bonus – like building take actions on the cards, then at one less gold per building. Now buy a new card, add whatever play moves on to player two who you bought and then discard all chooses another action and so on. of those cards into your personal The tactics here then are knowing discard pile. Once the draw deck is when to choose actions and in exhausted you shuffle your discard what order. This mechanism also deck and start again. Eventually allows you to hurt other players. three of the ten card piles you can For example in the Captain action buy from will be empty and the any resources that a player has that game ends and everyone reveals Take It Easy Zeus on Boggle cannot be shipped to Europe are how many victory points they have. Burley Games the Loose Asmodee Games wasted. A canny player can force THREE Gamewright games others to throw away a lot of good Expo Verdict Every game Another simple game but with a They don’t come much simpler than this. materials. is unique due to the vast beautifully designed game mechanic this A card game that on the surface appears Find the object on your card that is also on combinations of cards: High replay Games game of making lines of the same colour to be simple adding up but with a bit of the card in the middle. Easy? Not as easy Expo Verdict Build your value. reach from one edge of your board to the a poker face needed, stealing Zeus, king as you think and with lots of different ways colony your way, but be aware To introduce other has worked in every school we’ve of the gods from the other players, and of playing, no taking of turns and frantic that other players actions can children and visited, both primary and secondary. Being a sure fire way of improving your basic game play this is a great wreck your plans families able to play it solo or as an almost ‘bingo’ arithmetic skills this is a winner all the way. www.tripleacegames.com to gaming. style drawing of tiles this will test even the

cleverest of players, of any age. © 2013 Triple Ace Games Ltd. Hellfrost, Land of Fire and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Triple Ace Games Ltd. Savage Worlds, and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. All rights reserved. Used with permission. EVERYTHING ABOUT GAMES

expo advert.indd 1 14/04/2013 18:08:55 UK GAMES EXPO 2013 41

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Dropzone Commander Enforcers STAR WARS: X-Wing By Hawk Wargames By Mantic Games MINIATURES GAME Versatile Card Game By Fantasy Flight Games

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Cognosis Forbidden Desert Steeplechase By Cognosis Games By Gamewright By Cubiko & CoiledSpring

Map It! Spiegel SpukschlosS Words By FoxMind Games By Ringames & Coiled Spring [SPOOKY MIRROR CASTLE] & Madrilenian By Drei Magier Spiele & Coiled Spring

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UK GAMES EXPO 2013 43

Achtung Cthulhu Age of Arthur Cold and Dark Draconian Rhapsody Dungeon SlayeRS Edritch Skies By Wordplay Games By Wicked World Games By Ulisses Spiele By Chronicle City By BATTLEFIELD PRESS, INC (Hero of The Sea/Three Kings) & Chronicle City & Chronicle City By Modiphius Entertainment

Hellfrost: Land of Fire Shadows of Esteren Squadron UK Star Wars: Edge of The Empire The Island of the Piranhamen Yggdrasill By Triple Ace Games By Agrate RPG By Simon Burley By Fantasy Flight Games By Ulisses Spiele By 7eme Cercle Sarl & Chronicle City & Cubicle 7

Coyote Cthuhlu Dice Decepto Dino Hunt Hydra By Gigamic By Steve Jackson Games By Bill Campbell By Steve Jackson Games By Simon Dangerfield & CoiledSpring

Best New Boardgame Zoom Zoom Kaboom By Hopwood Games NO IMAGE AVAILABLE Best Role-playing Game AT TIME OF Airship Pirates GOING By Cubicle 7 TO PRESS

Best Miniatures Range Star Fleet Octi OVO Rock, Paper, Zen Garden By Mongoose Publishing Mah Jek By Foxmind By Gigamic By Mayfair Games By Bill Campbell & CoiledSpring & CoiledSpring Scissoes, Bang Best Family Game By North and South Games Rory’s Story Cubes By Coiledspring Best Abstract Game On arrival you were given an A4 sheet. One side is the Passport, with which Foundation you can win £100 vouchers to spend on games. The other side is the voting By Cubiko form for the UKGE awards. Simply tick one box in one of more categories to vote for your choice of the best game in that category. Return the form by Best Card Game 2pm on Sunday to the Admin desk in the Library. In the weeks before Expo Panic Lab the games have been rated by our judges in several local gaming groups. By Coiledspring Half the marks for a game come from the judges. The other half comes from YOU the public. Patrick Campbell, our Awards Organiser and chief Umpire, Special Award will collate all the marks and at 3pm on Sunday 26th May we all find out the Designers & Dragons results. Good luck to all our entries. By Mongoose Publishing AWARDS

UK GAMES EXPO 2013 45

Kaker Laken Nox Professor Tempus The Big Bang Theory Smash Up Snake Oil Star Wars: Word a Round By Huch&Friends By Gigamic By AEG By Out of The box By Thinkfun [Poker Royal] & CoiledSpring & CoiledSpring THE party game Publishing and Cold & THE CARD GAME & Coiled Spring By Dri Magier Spiele By Cryptozoic DarkWicked World Games By Fantasy Flight Games

Aeroplanes Escape Exodus: Proxima Centauri Fighting for Virginia By Mayfair Games By Queen Games By NSKN Legendary Games By Nigel Lambert & Print, Play Games

Elemons Disgrace & Favours Doctor Who By Elemental BY Hopwood Games Publishing The Card Game By Treefrog Games & Cubicle 7

Keyflower Mice and Mystics Road Rally USA By Huch&Friends By Plaid Hat Games By Mayfair Games & Coiled Spring Lords of War Making Profit: Munchkin Apocalype By Black Box Games By Steve Jackson Games The Boardgame By 2d6.EE Games

Rome and Carthage Snowdownia Urbania By Grosso Modo Editions By Surprised Stare Games By Mayfair Games & CoiledSpring Roundhouse Kick Shadows over Stak Bots By 2d6.EE Games By DogEared Games Camelot By Days of Wonder

String

Railway By Asmodee

AWARDS

Best Family Game 2010 – Forbidden island Best Family Game 2011 – Cubulus David Parlett David Parlett’s writings on card and board games are essential reading for any scholar of the industry. No other writer has quite the grasp of how the mechanisms of play works managing to express them in a way that all gamers Best Card Best Family can understand. His work, though deep, is accessible and offers incredible insight no matter what your level of interest. David’s most famous books are undoubtedly the Oxford Guide to Card Games and the Oxford History of Board Game 2012 Game 2012 Games, both of which should be required reading for any aspiring designer. His addition to the Hall of Fame is only cemented by the fact he is also responsible for the multi- million selling Hare and Tortoise, winner of the first ever Spiel des Jahres in 1979 and still in print today. Francis Tresham Since founding Hartland Trefoil in 1971 to say that Francis Tresham has been a major part of the UK games industry is something of an understatement. Not only was he responsible for the initial publication of the legendary boardgame Civilisation, he also single-handedly developed the 18XX genre by bringing 1829 to the tables of wannabe railroad bosses around the globe. He is also the man who pioneered the use of the first ever technology tree in a boardgame. It’s safe to say that without him the landscape The concept of a Hall of Fame is of our industry would look very different today. Following one that has appeared in many the sale of Hartland Trefoil in the late 1990s, he now runs industries but has been sadly Tresham Games and is still designing, developing and lacking here in the UK when it releasing 18XX titles today. We are honoured to have Francis comes to the games that we love as part of the first UK Games Hall of Fame intake. to play.

The establishment of the UK Games Hall of Rory’s Story Fame at the 2013 UK Games Expo looks to Don Panic Lab right that wrong and show the world the level of influence that this country has on the world Turnbull Cubes: Voyages scene. This inagural intake looks to showcase While many people may not immediately be aware of the some of the best and brightest, to honour influence the late Don Turnbull has had on the hobby, even those who have had a major influence on our the most cursory look over his credentials is guaranteed to hobby and have led the way in our industry. impress. Whether it’s almost single-handedly kicking off the UK EXPO 2013 Nominations: gaming ‘zine scene with his Diplomacy focused magazine Of course, making the decision on who Albion or being one of the founding contributors to Games our first set of inductees was incredibly Workshop’s White Dwarf, his reach can still be seen to difficult. We decided that we shouldn’t only this day. Perhaps his most notable achievement was the look at people when considering potential establishment of the UK branch of TSR under the guidance candidates; companies and groups were also of Gary Gygax, which bought countless modules still entirely viable as long as we could prove that beloved by roleplayers today. On this tenth anniversary of his they were influential. Our initial shortlist of death, we are delighted to induct Don into the Hall of Fame. ten was whittled down to this selection of five that we present today, the first ever members of the UK Games Hall of Fame. We salute their influence and thank them for the hard Bruce work they’ve done and – in some cases – continue to do. Quarrie Wargamers around the world should be well aware of the advancements that Bruce Quarrie brought to their Family game: Board game: Party Game: hobby. While he is most famous for his work as a historian, Keyflower WordARound particularly focusing on the Second World War, his time Forbidden Desert spent as editor of Airfix magazine in the early 1970s saw the start of a wave of wargaming that is still spreading today. Napoleonic Wargaming, published in 1974, was one of the first books to establish a ruleset for hobbyists around the world and is still regarded as a benchmark to this day. Despite his death in 2004, his influence is still felt to this day with his work carried on by players worldwide. Gibsons GamES Abstract game: Card Game: Gibsons Games is the oldest board games manufacturer and publisher in the UK and is well deserving of a place in Octi Professor Tempus the inaugural Hall of Fame thanks not only to their longevity but also the wide range of titles that they have brought to gamers over the generations. With roots stretching back to 1903 the company has grown over the past century and Discover these fantastic games in Kings Suite with Coiledspring Games more, surviving even the destruction of their premises during the Blitz of the Second World War. With legendary releases such as 221b Baker Street and Diplomacy on their roll of honour, it’s no surprise that the name of Gibson has become 020 3301 1160 synonymous with the gaming scene. [email protected] www.coiledspring.co.uk