When it comes to 18-card game offerings, nobody produces more games regularly than Button Shy.
And more often than not, the games they release are ones you will want to take a look at.
Now you can add Embers to that list.
Embers comes from designer Steven Aramin and artist Steven De Waele.
And we must start with a tip of the hat to the artist for doing a really fine job on this one. I get a Norse mythology vibe off it, although I believe there is no specific culture this one is tied to. Still the artworks.
As for the gameplay, well, to start with, this is a solo game of survival, and the copy I am reviewing was Print n Play. At just 18 cards, it’s a quick print, cut, and sleeve affair.
In Embers, you are using your heroes to defend against waves of encroaching monsters and to keep your campfire lit. It’s a simple enough premise, but it works.
You have a band of heroes, and through the game, you will use each hero’s unique strengths and movements to defend the fire from attack and prepare for the next onslaught.
The fire is ultimately the key. If it dies — well, so do you.
As you might expect, though monsters tend to be relentless critters, and in each turn of Embers, new monsters spawn – again, not new, but then you must have a challenge for it to be fun.
In the game, you spend each hero’s action points to move heroes around the campfire, attack monsters, upgrade abilities, support each other, and forage for material to keep the fire going. Herein lies the meaty part of the game. There are decisions to be made, and never enough action points to do everything you want to. Making the right choice at the right time is crucial to a player’s success.
After the heroes act, the monsters strike: damage the nearest hero or even the fire itself.
When the night card appears, a new round begins. Survive four full rounds without the fire being extinguished to win.
A compact game supported with fine art making Embers a great solo option as evenings darken sooner as fall arrives.
Check it out at www.buttonshy.com
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Fine art enhances game play of Embers
When it comes to 18-card game offerings, nobody produces more games regularly than Button Shy.
And more often than not, the games they release are ones you will want to take a look at.
Now you can add Embers to that list.
Embers comes from designer Steven Aramin and artist Steven De Waele.
And we must start with a tip of the hat to the artist for doing a really fine job on this one. I get a Norse mythology vibe off it, although I believe there is no specific culture this one is tied to. Still the artworks.
As for the gameplay, well, to start with, this is a solo game of survival, and the copy I am reviewing was Print n Play. At just 18 cards, it’s a quick print, cut, and sleeve affair.
In Embers, you are using your heroes to defend against waves of encroaching monsters and to keep your campfire lit. It’s a simple enough premise, but it works.
You have a band of heroes, and through the game, you will use each hero’s unique strengths and movements to defend the fire from attack and prepare for the next onslaught.
The fire is ultimately the key. If it dies — well, so do you.
As you might expect, though monsters tend to be relentless critters, and in each turn of Embers, new monsters spawn – again, not new, but then you must have a challenge for it to be fun.
In the game, you spend each hero’s action points to move heroes around the campfire, attack monsters, upgrade abilities, support each other, and forage for material to keep the fire going. Herein lies the meaty part of the game. There are decisions to be made, and never enough action points to do everything you want to. Making the right choice at the right time is crucial to a player’s success.
After the heroes act, the monsters strike: damage the nearest hero or even the fire itself.
When the night card appears, a new round begins. Survive four full rounds without the fire being extinguished to win.
A compact game supported with fine art making Embers a great solo option as evenings darken sooner as fall arrives.
Check it out at www.buttonshy.com
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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