In the world of espionage, trust is a commodity in short supply. Even supposed friends and allies could be double-agents. Some agents go so deep undercover that they no longer can tell truth from fiction. But no one can live a lie forever. Eventually every spy slips up. The trick is to be observant enough to divide fact from fiction. Continue reading
Pompeii was a Roman city situation on the sea. It was a bustling place, full of life, leisure, and commerce. Above it stood Vesuvius, a sleeping giant that none in the city believed to be a threat. There were the occasional quakes, but they were minor and became just part of the city life. Little did the people know that the quakes were a warning and soon Vesuvius would come to life, bringing ash, fire, and death to Pompeii. Continue reading
It has been said, by some (not me, per se), that cooking is an art form. Others will tell you that it’s a science. Still there are a few that will tell you to skip the whole cooking thing and just order off the menu. Whatever your preference and belief, it cannot be argued that cooking is a process that is one part creativity and one part chaos. In this game, what you make of chaos is based on creative card plays. Continue reading
American singer, songwriter, and actress, Lauryn Hill, said “Reality is easy. It’s deception that’s the hard work.” In this metagame, players will be attempting to subtly achieve objectives without drawing attention to themselves. All the while, the players will also be expected to play the main game that is nothing more than a facade to cover the “real game” boiling below the surface. Continue reading
You and several of your fellow thieves will be sneaking aboard a fancy yacht in hopes of robbing the party guests blind. But there is no honor among thieves, it would seem. While the goal it to get as much money as possible, the second objective is to pin everything on another thief. You must be quiet and you must be quick, or you’ll end up being tossed overboard. Continue reading
The elders of the village took no risks. They hired as many bounty hunters as they could and told them where the monster could be found. At sunset, the bounty hunters walked into the monster’s abandoned mansion. Somewhere in this building was their prey. Unknown to the bounty hunters, the monster they sought was standing among them and eager to hunt, as well. Continue reading
Your duty and honor are without question. What remains to be tested is your loyalty. The Shogun is dead and old feuds and past insults are causing strife between the clans. A successor must be named and it’s up to you, the clan leader, to ensure that justice is done to right old wrongs and claim the title of the next Shogun. Continue reading
The earliest card game that somewhat resembles today’s deck of cards is Karnöffel, which was played in the 15th century. Since them, cards have found their way into many different games. Cards can be used as markers, values, and even monsters. But the shape of the card has changed little. In this pack of cards, the complete game is contained in a small box no bigger than a package of gum. Chew on that for a moment. Continue reading
To capture is to control. To control is to conquer. To conquer is to win. This is the goal of every player who attempts to capture the flag of their opponent. Working as a team, you must avoid being caught and grab the prize. The winner gets milk and cookies! Continue reading
New York City is full of hopes, dreams, and corruption. Behind each brightly lit street is a shadowy alley where anyone can make a backstreet deal. The line between “good” and “bad” is blurred once you start compromising your values and justifying your actions. In this game, you’re only interested in clues. You’ll let the newspapers cover whatever passes as “truth”. Continue reading
Traditionally, a witch’s Book of Shadows is destroyed when the witch passes on. In some rare cases, books are considered to be too valuable to the Coven to be lost. A great and powerful witch has died, but her Book of Shadows is nowhere to be found. The witch that finds it will have access to powerful spells and old secrets. For witches, knowledge is power and power is worth fighting for. Continue reading
French author and a soldier in World War I, Georges Bernanos, said “The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.” But what if the end is believed to be righteous even though the means may seem unjust? History is written by those who survive to write it, trumping opposing opinions in the process. In this game, corrupting others is essential to victory. Continue reading
