It’s a significant scoop for Tabletop Scotland this weekend, as publisher Mindclash Games is offering the first public demos of their newly announced board game, Emberheart.
The game, which was only officially revealed on September 2nd, is part of the publisher’s Mindclash Play series and will be skipping Kickstarter to head straight to retail.
Known for heavier, more complex titles, Mindclash Games is positioning its Mindclash Play family as a way to offer more accessible experiences. Emberheart fits this mould as a quick-playing, medium-weight worker placement game. While Geek Native had heard whispers of the game’s existence at Gen Con, staff were not permitted to discuss it as final details were still being arranged, making the Edinburgh-based convention the game’s true public debut.
In a charming twist on common fantasy tropes, players aren’t hunting dragons but rescuing them. The story is set on the mystical island of Emberheart, where villagers have lived in harmony with dragons until poachers from distant lands arrive to capture them. Players take on the role of the King’s Champions, tasked with rallying villagers and heroes to protect the dragons and drive back the invaders.
The gameplay involves sending parties of hirelings to various locations on the island to gather resources, recruit heroes with unique abilities, rescue dragons, and expand their preserves. A key mechanic involves training your own dragon companion, which can grant bonuses to your actions. The goal is to accumulate the most Glory over five rounds by rescuing dragons, recruiting heroes, and managing a personal “Flame” track, which can incur penalties if it gets too high.
The free demos at Tabletop Scotland have been consistently busy, with many players drawn in by the game’s premise and components. A particular highlight is the set of incredibly cute, custom wooden dragon meeples that add a unique and tactile appeal to the game.
Emberheart is designed for 2-4 players, ages 12 and up. Pre-orders are now open directly from Mindclash Games for €35, which includes a premium promo pack.
A special thanks to All Rolled Up for sponsoring Geek Native’s coverage of Tabletop Scotland. You can find them in the trade hall and explore their fantastic range of indie RPGs and high-quality gaming accessories on the All Rolled Up website. You also also win £50 to spend with them.
