There was a time when you looked out your window and were content to see the small cottages and your fellow villagers passing by. But that time has come and gone. Now you dream of your village being the center of trade, commerce, and a military power. Very ambitions, indeed. A feat that might very well be possible – easy even – if it weren’t for the other nearby villages who had the same idea. Continue reading
Dragons are sacred beasts. They embody magic, strength, and benevolence. Tribes of warriors and mystics have dedicated their lives to protect these beasts from those who would harm them. You are such an individual and you have trained your whole life to be the sword and shield for these magical creatures. Your greatest allies are other Keepers who have sworn to protect the dragons and the dragons themselves. Continue reading
Australian moral philosopher, Peter Singer, said “Ancient recipients of instant news probably couldn’t do very much about it, for instance. Xerxes would still need three months to get his army together, and he might not get home for years.” In this game, each player will be putting together a Roman Legion as quickly as possible and on very short notice. Shortcuts will be necessary, which means that complications will arise. Building an army is a lot more difficult than leading one into battle! Continue reading
Retired United States Army general, Stanley A. McChrystal, said, “Anyone in a position of power is either corrupt or assumed to be corrupt, and the assumption of corruption is as bad as the reality of it.” Power can be held by one individual but wielded by another through deceit. After all, the corrupt can be easy to persuade if given the right leverage. Welcome to court, a den of backstabbing vipers. You’ll fit right in. Continue reading
The land of Erin is green and full of promise. At least that is what it looked like from the ships anchored off shore. Once the tribes set foot on the island, they discovered a dark secret. Terrible monsters dwell here and move to push the explorers back into the sea. But ambition and the thirst for adventure is a powerful motivator, as is greed. Now the tribes fight not only for survival, but also dominance over each other in this new land. One must question who the real monster is… Continue reading
American businessman and entrepreneur, James Cash Penney (yes, the guy who started J.C. Penney), said “There’s no better friend to any merchant than a fair competitor.” But in this game, it’s not about being fair. It’s about winning. That can be done through fair competition or through blatant underhanded disruption. All is fair in war and commerce. Continue reading
Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist, Ernie Pyle, said “The closest fires were near enough for us to hear the crackling flames and the yells of firemen. Little fires grew into big ones even as we watched. Big ones died down under the firemen’s valor only to break out again later.” The bravery of the men and women who volunteer to fight the fires that rage in the wilderness cannot be overstated, nor the dangers of doing so. Many of us will never be given (or want) the opportunity to try. In this game, you can test your resolve, your team work, and luck to see if you can put the fires out before it’s too late. Continue reading
German-born theoretical physicist and father of the theory of relativity, Albert Einstein, said “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” I remember running around the house with my brothers playing epic games where we built huge forts out of pillows and later climbed trees to create castles in the sky. In this game, players can flex their imagination muscle to create an epic treehouse, but make sure you maintain a semblance of order and balance. Continue reading
Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher, Sun Tzu, said “To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” In this game, players engage in combat both directly and indirectly. Players will quickly learn that the journey to victory can be traveled on many roads…in space. Continue reading
French actor and professional mime, Marcel Marceau, said “What sculptors do is represent the essence of gesture. What is important in mime is attitude.” In this game, players will be tasked to mime a random animal and a random ailment that plagues them. If time allows, they can steal cards, quietly, from opponents and gain additional points! Continue reading
Nobel Prize poet and playwright, Sir Derek Alton Walcott, said “The English language is nobody’s special property. It is the property of the imagination: it is the property of the language itself.” Words have meaning, and once spoken, bring forth mental images to those who listen. In this game, players will be spelling words not with letters, but with shapes. Continue reading
They say that truth is stranger than fiction. If such is the case, then the origins of some of our strangest tales are the very stuff of nightmares and dreams. For example, let us consider the origins of The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland and its strange inhabitants. Needless to say, visiting the real Oz or Wonderland would truly be an odd experience. Prepare for a trip to Oddtopia, kids… Continue reading
