We're Not Wizards - Tabletop Board Game Reviews

Angel Investor is a card game about running successful start ups using your own money and skill cards, completing projects and aiming to build up as much fame as you can before the deck of cards runs out. Published by Inductive Bias and designed by Alrecenk, it combines a mixture of business intelligence and information with cute cartoon like graphics to bring a combination of luck and strategy to the table. Players aim to play as many of their money cards into a project row in order to have the most money invested in the project to win fame. On the completion of a project all the skills cards within that row will be activated and awarded to the player who has invested the most money within that row. Some of the completed cards will award you with that much required fame. Others will reward you with the ability to swap out cards or draw more cards, effect other players and generally give you an advantage the more your play. That's dry isn't it. I mean, I had to take a

If Vector Wars demonstrates anything about the nature of Kickstarter, it is that a strong marketing campaign is almost as important as making sure the game itself works. As the platform continues to grow and change, Vector Wars joins the list of games that we might simply never see climb back on the kickstarter bandwagon, due to the huge task that getting the word out involves. Vector Wars has been on Kickstarter previously, and failed to reach its funding goal. So why even bother telling you about it now, when you can't jump on and back it? Well, I'm hoping you're reading this because Eli Mamane has made the bold move of starting to produce the copies through his own source of funding, or it has managed to find a safe port in the arms of a careful and interested publisher. I hoping that you are  reading this  because you've heard about it and you want to find out more. Vector Wars isn't the big game that "should have been", and this is not goin

One of my major bugbears for any game that comes from the Kickstarter platform, is that of one that is simply too over-produced. Bling for bling sake, additional pointless tokens and miniatures that serve no purpose than as an impolite marker as to how much money a campaign made. The creator didn't have the good grace to pull back the reins, and say WHOA, THAT'S ENOUGH. It's like a fear that creeps in, that every part of the funding needs to be used, and unfortunately the original vision can get lost in all that 'extra' nonsense.  I don't mean to be skeptical, because after all, who am I to punch down on someone's success? So I'll say this. I'm impressed by someone who goes into a campaign knowing they have a finish line, a final vision, and they can't make their game any better no matter how much money they gather in over the course of thirty days, especially when they have far exceeded the fundng target. Skulk Hollow from Pencil Fi

It's the year 2348, and rather than leaving Europe, we find ourselves going to Europa. The Artemis Project sees players take on the role of Stabilizers, attempting to create the most successful colony on the barely-habitable moon, Europa. Players will look to build structures both on land and in the ocean, recruit skilled colonists and send them out on expeditions and have them staff the buildings. Players will also gather resources which are used to pay for colonists, buildings and shelter, as well as potentially scoring victory points at the end of the game. Before the box is even open there's a level of anticipation based purely on the box art. It's very nice and nails the theme perfectly. Inside and it's not too shabby either. The 4 classes of colonists all have a unique meeple shape and colour, making it easy to identify them. The minerals, energy and toolkit components are good, if not spectacular. There are also building tiles, coming in two flav

In a whirlwind of emotions, the little brother of big-box brain burner Cerebria: The Inside World dropped through the letterbox at We're Not Wizards Towers. The standalone card game for 2-5 players is set in the same universe as it's big-box relation. Will the card game fill you with bliss, or leave you feeling gloom? (Quick note: I've not played the other Cerebria game) The first thing that strikes you when picking up the game is the stunning packaging. The cigar like box has a magnetic lid which reveals a lovely insert, featuring two slots either side of a metal coin containing cards and identity fragments. It's a great first impressions bolstered even further by the art of Pedro A Alberto, Villő Farkas and Jamie Sichel who were three of the four artists on the big-box game. The art might not be for everyone, but I found it vibrant, off-kilter and a lot of fun. The game itself sees players building their Mindset with emotions (Bliss or Gloom) which are dra

How do you make money in an industry where the media coverage has grown from bedrooms and garages and dining tables to recognised names and logos and brands. From passionate individuals starting with a hope and a cheery tone and a 'Hey Everyone', to trying to make their way in the cardboard world financially viable? Where access to creating content has never really been easier, where everyone is making something, whether it be a public thought on Social Media or a video of their dog doing a cat impression. We are at the peak of free content, the height of unsolicited opinion, and yet these people who have a decent following, are asking for us to continue to help them. How dare they, and yet why not? It helps to look at our video game cousins, where early coverage in the mid 80's consisted of absolutely no internet, but monthly magazines, filled with adverts for games and services, which helped to supplement the income of the sales of the publication itself. It was run by

Where do I start with Teotihuacan: City of Gods? Getting it on the table it looks equal parts complex and beautiful. Essentially a Euro, with elements of set collection, some tile laying and board which is a giant rondel the game offers a myriad of strategies to pursue in your bid to outscore your opponents. The game is based on the Aztec city of the same name (pronounced Tee-oh-tay-wah-Kan, I am reliably informed by a Mexican colleague), and in it players take on the role of families vying for favour by helping to build the pyramid in the city, whilst worshipping at various temples to gain the favour of the gods. The board itself has a scoring track on the outer edge, with the rondel inside that comprising 8 different areas where players can take actions. Moving in towards the centre there are also the three temple tracks, the Avenue of the Dead and the eclipse track, before slap bang in the centre is the pyramid. Gameplay The ultimate aim of the game is to outscore

Flip & Find's Diner takes a game anyone with children will know - tile matching - and puts a little extra ingredient into the mix. Does this elevate it beyond that basic premise of finding matching tiles though and is it worth a mention in the crowded world of board games? Read on to find out. I first heard about Flip & Find's Diner on none other than We're Not Wizards back in March 2018. Gerald King III of Spontaneously Combustible Games was a guest talking about the forthcoming Kickstarter campaign for the game and I was impressed enough to back the campaign. The game duly arrived around the turn of the year and here are my thoughts. Game Setup & Gameplay As I said previously, at it's heart this is a tile matching game. 25 ingredient tiles are laid out face down in a 5 x 5 grid. Then the extra element comes in. 5 order cards are laid out at the bottom of the tile grid, face up. Alongside this a tip deck is placed face down. A player&#

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island places players on a deserted island, shipwrecked there and in dire need of food and shelter. Here I'll talk about Solo mode using the beginner scenario Castaway, which is a great introduction to the game. The game is played over 12 rounds, with the aim being to build a log pile and light a fire to signal a passing ship. The ship is scheduled to pass on rounds 10, 11 and 12 so time is of the essence. To further complicate matters, the woodpile must be added to only once per turn, prior to the Action phase, adding another level of complexity and difficulty. This isn't even taking into account the day to day task of actually surviving, which can be very challenging. Each round is comprised of 6 phases. The Event (skipped in round 1), Morale, Production, Action, Weather and Night phases. The Action phase is, unsurprisingly, where most of the key decisions are made. Do you explore your new home and seek ou