Apothecaria publisher debuts three new print-and-play RPGs at Scottish convention

Glasgow-based designer Anna Blackwell and her publishing house Blackwell Games, renowned for the popular solo roleplaying game Apothecaria, are debuting three new titles in print at Tabletop Scotland this year. Each of the games was previously only available in PDF format but now has a physical zine edition, and all share a thematic link to death and a reliance on tactile components.

The first of the trio is the introspective A Conversation With Death. In this solo experience, the player character has already died and must challenge Death to a game of chess. A victory means a return to life, while a loss solidifies their fate. The game uniquely requires an actual chess set to play, blending traditional board game mechanics with narrative roleplaying.

Shifting from personal mortality to its consequences, Our Once Proud House tackles the theme of inheritance and legacy. The game casts players as the squabbling heirs of a noble family, competing to claim as much of the family’s legacy as they can before it all collapses. It’s a story of greed and desperation in the wake of another’s death.

The final, and most whimsical, of the new releases is Mistorical Museum. While museums are often filled with the remains of the dead, from taxidermy to dinosaur fossils, this game takes a different approach. Players are tasked with curating a museum dedicated to the “weird, the wonderful, and the completely made-up.” To play, each person needs two six-sided dice and three ordinary objects from around their house to serve as the basis for their bizarre exhibits.

All three games have been released as staple-bound zines, making their first physical appearance at the convention. The titles can also be found digitally on Blackwell Games’ itch.io store, and Anna Blackwell continues to develop new projects with the support of fans on her Patreon.