Theology of Games is a multimedia site filled with original content about the happenings in the tabletop gaming industry. We talk games via written reviews, podcasts, and video!
Today we're looking at Stonemaier Games' sophomore offering Euphoria, the dystopian worker-placement game set in a future world where it's good to keep your workers dumb and happy, not educated and angry. You win by exercising your authority on the land and placing all of your tokens on the board to show that you can keep those little people under your thumb.
Sounds like a super happy fun time right? Read on to see what we think...
Read MoreA former Navy SEAL is inexplicably a cook now, and it's up to him to save a ship from terrorists. Wait. That's Under Siege. Island Siege is a colonization/combat game that pits two players against each other as the try to colonize an island, while attacking their opponent to prevent them from doing the same.
Read MoreIf you didn't know by now, today is International TableTop Day, an international holiday created by TableTop host and geek ambassador Wil Wheaton. Folks are encouraged to share a game with friends, family and maybe a complete stranger or two along the way, in an effort to promote the hobby and the social interaction that seems to be missing in this digital world. We're sure most of you are busy playing and not reading blog posts today, but we thought we'd ask you what you're playing today? Also, we thought it would be helpful to point out that: in order to help celebrate the day, Amazon has put some great classics on sale at huge discounts. You can find them all by clicking this link, right here!
Read MoreWell another week has come and nearly gone, and here we are again with another set of Kickstarter Campaigns that have caught our attention. We think they're worth taking a quick look at, so we're going to do that now!
Board Games: Now Blind Accessible - 64 Oz. Games
64 Oz. Games has developed an ingenious method for making board games accessible for players who are blind. By using an embossing machine and embossing a plastic sticker that adheres to card sleeves, player mats, etc. they will be able to make sets of sleeves which will make popular games accessible and readable for players who are blind. They've also developed a way to use QR codes to read large amounts of text on cards through technology already available to the sight impaired. This is a very large undertaking, and a very noble one at that. 64 Oz. Games isn't the only publisher that is doing their part to make their games accessible, but there is a long list of heavy hitters in the gaming industry who officially support this project. Including: Stonemaier, Rio Grande, Plaid Hat, Minion Games, Crash Games, Indie Boards & Cards and many many more!
The rewards for this campaign are a little unique, but for $25 you can get a copy of Yoink! a tactile micro game, OR a set of braille card sleeves for a "small" game. You can choose from Coloretto, The Resistance, Tichu (1 Deck) or Love Letter (With plastic reference sheets).
The campaign is nearly funded and it ends on April 24. You can check out the full details of the campaign right here.
Read MoreWhat week here at TOG would be complete without us highlighting a handful of games just chomping at the bit to make it to market and your table! So we've scoured Kickstarter and come up with these games we feel might interest you.
Tower: A Board Game of Bullying and Building - Ben Haskett
In Tower you're attempting to help the king of your realm build, well, a tower. Essentially a resource-management game, with a small amount of worker-placement mixed in, Tower pits players against each other as they try to rush to market to get the resources they need to complete their section of the tower. The components, and illustrations shown on the campaign page, look rich and thematic. There are a lot of stretch goals--some of which are already unlocked--and the price point makes this one pretty easy to get in on. Tower has been in development through PnP on The Game Crafter for two years, so it's safe to say a lot of kinks have been worked out; this one looks truly market ready!
A pledge of $29 will get you a copy of the game. There's plenty of time for more stretch goals to be unlocked since the campaign doesn't end until March 24. You can get all the details and see all of the components: right here!
Shipwrights of the North Sea - Shem Phillips/Garphill Games
Remember when we said of Asgard's Chosen "Hey it's really cool they did a viking/norse theme; there aren't many games like that." Well apparently the gaming industry has taken note of that fact. Not that we said it, but that there is a mythology out there that lies untapped and ready for the exploiting.. errr taking... Anyway. Shipwrights is a game for 2-5 players in which the goal of the game is to construct the largest fleet of warships, which lets you make lots of money, which lets you win the game.
The campaign is packed with lots of videos and stretch goals--many of which have been unlocked already!
A pledge of $44 NZD (Approx. $37 USD) will score you a copy of the game shipped worldwide, and the campaign ends March 13. You can find out all the details: right here!
The Piratical Collection of Leather Pouch Games - Bibelot Games
This slick collection of rustic and authentic-looking games are all designed to fit within a suede leather pouch. The pouch holds all the game pieces--which are made of real marble and wood--and the pouch unfolds to become the playing area. The "board" is laser etched into the suede so it should be pretty darn durable. There are seven games to choose from with this campaign each having a different flavor of the pirate life. The down side of this campaign is the price: The components are very cool and authentic, but that makes them a bit pricey. Still, if you like pirate type games (and who doesn't!?), this one is definitely worth a good look!
One game is going to ring you up for $34, and for all 7 games you're going to fork over $217. The campaign ends on March 6. You can find all of the details: right here!
Kill Shakespeare - IDW Games
An area-control board game based on the comic book of the same name, Kill Shakespeare is a semi-coop game featuring some of the most historic characters from the works of Shakespeare. The game is semi-cooperative, so you'll work together but in the end you're jockeying for position to become protector of the realm.
This campaign is already funded and working toward stretch goals, including an upgraded map and custom meeples!
A pledge of $50 to get a copy - Ends on March 15, and you can find the details: right here!
Thanks so much for reading; we'd love to know if you're backing any of these campaigns, or if there are others we're missing! Let us know, in the comments below!
You can subscribe to TOG by filling in your email over on the right, we'd also love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and of course there's more TOG where this came from on our Podcast!
We here at TOG, love gaming cons... Well at least I (Jeremiah) do. Firestone often sulks from afar because most of the major cons happen states--if not time zones--away.
Anyway, while there are some large staples in the gaming con universe: GenCon, Origins, Spiel Con, BGG Con, today we thought we'd make an open place for folks to inform others of the diamonds in the rough. It seems that unless you peruse the bulletin boards at your FLGS you won't hear much about the local cons in your area.
So here's where you come in. We'd love to hear from you, especially if you've attended a smaller local con that you think is worth checking out--just let us know down in the comments below. Let us know all the vital details: date, location, any special guests, events, and of course cost for admission. Feel free to include links or twitter accounts, and contact info as well. Remember, this is the internet and our readers are spread out everywhere, so don't hold back--the more cons listed the better!
So sound off, gaming folks: Where do you get your con on?!
Thanks for reading and contributing!
Hey everyone, we hope you enjoyed our interview with designer and publisher of Ninja Dice - Jeff Gracia and Rocco Privetera.
Jeff just sent us a sweet image of the pre-production units! We think these look awesome! Did you back Ninja Dice?? What do you think? We're excited to see the final product!
Thank you so much. 2013 has been a great year here at Theology Of Games, and it wouldn't be anything without you. So thank you. But as we look ahead to 2014, we want to resolve to bring you more.
More reviews. More interviews. More news. More podcasts. More YouTube videos.
But what else can we do? What do you want to see more of? What can we do better? We TRULY want to know, so let us know in the comments or click a few boxes in the poll below, how we can better serve you.
We hope you're getting together with some loved ones tonight. Stay safe. And we'll see you in the new year. Look for our Top Games of 2013 post next week.
While we've got you, would you be willing to swing by this site and vote up Theology Of Games? Right now we're at 29; would you help us go higher? And while you're there, vote for some other sites, too. We're particularly fond of islaythedragon. Thanks!
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Hey Guys!
So we know we've been linking to all sorts of online stores including some links sending you to Amazon with their low prices and lightning deals, etc.
It's obviously easy for us to drop in a bunch of links to online retailers for deals since we're...ya know...on the Internet, and online retailers are also on the Internet. But we both love local game stores as well, so we thought we would give you all this open post to share links to your store's Web site/Facebook pages, etc., and let the folks who may be reading in your area know about any special deals and events going on in your neck of the woods!
It's our Christmas present to you folks who work day in and day out providing a friendly, safe place for folks to come in and check out new games, play in tournaments, and connect with other gamers in the area!
So, FLGSs, leave your links in the comments below! PLEASE include your city and state, and any contact info below, as well as any info on upcoming gaming events, sales, or promotions!
Readers, please share this post with your FLGS so they can join in on the fun!
And have a Merry Christmas!!
From Firestone, and Jeremiah here at Theology of Games!
Hey it's Friday and that means... Well, here at TOG that could mean just about anything. But for this particular Friday it means we're bringing you another edition of Kickstarter Weekly!
This week, isn't just any old Kickstarter Weekly, it's a special trial run at a video version of our world famous Kickstarter Weekly! Ok, maybe "world famous" is a stretch, but KSW has become a staple around here, and so as we've expanded our reach into other mediums we thought we'd try this on for size! So, here it is Kickstarter Weekly! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Y2uqY_K0U&w=420&h=315]
Let us know what you think of the new format! We'd love your feedback!
Thanks for reading and watching, please don't forget to subscribe to the blog and the YouTube channel! And check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Two Geeks, Hundreds of Games, One God. We bring you the best in board game talk, tabletop news and compelling interviews with those in the boardgame industry! Stay tuned for all things gaming, here on Theology of Games!
