- Joined
- Jul 11, 2011
- Posts
- 125
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 1,015
This month sees two brand new board games come out under the Discworld license:
Guards Guards (which I got to play test the prototype) & Ankh Morpork:
Guards Guards:
Guards! Guards! is an action packed, fast paced adventure set in the streets of Ankh-Morpork, the Discworldââ¬â¢s oldest, grubbiest and least law-abiding city. Prior to approval by Sir Terry Pratchett and a select group of Discworld fans in 2010, the original prototype of Guards! Guards! had been viewed by Rio Grande, Fred Games, Z-Man & Kosmos back in 2009. Based on their feedback the game was redesigned and Z-Man were most keen to publish.
This delighted long time role players and Discworld fans/designers Boyd & Brashaw who had originally created the game over fifteen years ago. The Cunning Artificer, Bernard Pearson put Boyd & Brashaw in touch with Discworld illustrator Stephen Player who agreed to produce the unique 90 volunteer cards based on Discworld characters from over twenty of Sir Terryââ¬â¢s books. Each card also contains an amusing or relevant excerpt taken from the Discworld books about that character.
I have interviewed the game makers and reviewed and play tested it on my site (link in sig
Ankh Morpork:
Developed by Tree Frog Games the game is set in yes you guessed it Ankh-Morpork, The game designer is Mark Wallace who has worked with a team of artists and overseen by the people at the Discworld Emporium and is due for a September release. I canââ¬â¢t decided which one I am looking forward to the most and yes I will be getting both. You can read the official press release here. Here is a brief game description: Lord Vetinari is dead, either that or heââ¬â¢s on holiday. While the cat is away the mice come out to play ââ¬â you being one of the mice. You will be given a secret personality which will tell you what you need to do to win the game. If you are one of the three lords then you must control a certain number of areas (the number depending on how many players are in the game). If you are Vetinari (having secretly returned to the city) then you must have minions placed in nine different areas. If you are Chrysophrase the troll then you must accumulate $50 in wealth, which includes the value of buildings on the board. If you are Dragon King of Arms then you want to cause enough trouble to lead the city to welcome back the rightful king. Finally, if you are Sam Vimes then you want to stop any other player winning by the time the deck of cards run out. For full game description click here .
But wait there is more!
Treefrog will be releasing a collectors edition of the Ankh-Morpork game. This will only be available directly from Treefrog, either via the website or at the shows we attend. As well as having a different box cover, a larger map, and a poster with artwork from the game, the collectors edition will also avoid the use of the number eight (for reasons that should be well known to those versed in Discworld lore). Itââ¬â¢s not a big change, but it does mean the production of a special 12 sided die and the separate printing of the cards just to make sure the one with 8 on it has 7a instead (Treefrog will go to any lengths for thematic accuracy!). The larger board is intended to allow players to upgrade their set by the addition of resin playing pieces, as well as helping those with poor eyesight and stubby fingers.
There will also be a deluxe edition of the game. This will have resin pieces instead of wooden ones. Once the pieces have been sculpted pictures will be posted here. The Collectors edition will be around ã40 GBP and there is no price on the deluxe one as yet but you can register your interest by clicking here.
The game is for two to four players and is by far the lightest game to be released by Treefrog. Itââ¬â¢s simple enough for non-gamers, but has enough meat for the more experienced player.
Guards Guards (which I got to play test the prototype) & Ankh Morpork:
Guards Guards:
Guards! Guards! is an action packed, fast paced adventure set in the streets of Ankh-Morpork, the Discworldââ¬â¢s oldest, grubbiest and least law-abiding city. Prior to approval by Sir Terry Pratchett and a select group of Discworld fans in 2010, the original prototype of Guards! Guards! had been viewed by Rio Grande, Fred Games, Z-Man & Kosmos back in 2009. Based on their feedback the game was redesigned and Z-Man were most keen to publish.
This delighted long time role players and Discworld fans/designers Boyd & Brashaw who had originally created the game over fifteen years ago. The Cunning Artificer, Bernard Pearson put Boyd & Brashaw in touch with Discworld illustrator Stephen Player who agreed to produce the unique 90 volunteer cards based on Discworld characters from over twenty of Sir Terryââ¬â¢s books. Each card also contains an amusing or relevant excerpt taken from the Discworld books about that character.
I have interviewed the game makers and reviewed and play tested it on my site (link in sig
Ankh Morpork:
Developed by Tree Frog Games the game is set in yes you guessed it Ankh-Morpork, The game designer is Mark Wallace who has worked with a team of artists and overseen by the people at the Discworld Emporium and is due for a September release. I canââ¬â¢t decided which one I am looking forward to the most and yes I will be getting both. You can read the official press release here. Here is a brief game description: Lord Vetinari is dead, either that or heââ¬â¢s on holiday. While the cat is away the mice come out to play ââ¬â you being one of the mice. You will be given a secret personality which will tell you what you need to do to win the game. If you are one of the three lords then you must control a certain number of areas (the number depending on how many players are in the game). If you are Vetinari (having secretly returned to the city) then you must have minions placed in nine different areas. If you are Chrysophrase the troll then you must accumulate $50 in wealth, which includes the value of buildings on the board. If you are Dragon King of Arms then you want to cause enough trouble to lead the city to welcome back the rightful king. Finally, if you are Sam Vimes then you want to stop any other player winning by the time the deck of cards run out. For full game description click here .
But wait there is more!
Treefrog will be releasing a collectors edition of the Ankh-Morpork game. This will only be available directly from Treefrog, either via the website or at the shows we attend. As well as having a different box cover, a larger map, and a poster with artwork from the game, the collectors edition will also avoid the use of the number eight (for reasons that should be well known to those versed in Discworld lore). Itââ¬â¢s not a big change, but it does mean the production of a special 12 sided die and the separate printing of the cards just to make sure the one with 8 on it has 7a instead (Treefrog will go to any lengths for thematic accuracy!). The larger board is intended to allow players to upgrade their set by the addition of resin playing pieces, as well as helping those with poor eyesight and stubby fingers.
There will also be a deluxe edition of the game. This will have resin pieces instead of wooden ones. Once the pieces have been sculpted pictures will be posted here. The Collectors edition will be around ã40 GBP and there is no price on the deluxe one as yet but you can register your interest by clicking here.
The game is for two to four players and is by far the lightest game to be released by Treefrog. Itââ¬â¢s simple enough for non-gamers, but has enough meat for the more experienced player.
