Welcome to Tavern Talk Thursday! We are expanding. What started as a column dedicated to chatting with members of the TTRPG community is growing to talk about all things TTRPG and board games. We aim to continue sharing everything we love about the community and all the content within. So, consider this a little peek into our favorite worlds and creators as we explore everything we love.
February is here, and Valentine’s Day looms close by. And by close, we mean tomorrow. We know it might be too late to book that high-end restaurant or plan an all-out party for your closet single friends. However, we have four games that are perfect additions to a low-key night with your partner or a great party game with friends and family. So, whether you are crafting the perfect love story or sharpening your skills to win over your favorite Jane Austen hero, we have a card game for everyone.
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Love Letter
Our first Valentine’s Day-themed game is Z-Man Game’s Love Letter. It is a fast-paced game for 2 to 6 players, perfect for a romantic night with your partner or a great party game for close friends. Players will work to outwit friends and earn the trust of the noble Princess, all with the plan to win her heart. Each card has different rules players will need to follow, making the ability to think on one’s feet imperative. We love the game’s original version, but for that romantic touch, we suggest Love Letter: Bridgerton. Nothing could be more perfect than uncovering the truth behind Lady Whistledown.
Marrying Mr. Darcy
Is it Valentine’s Day without at least one Jane Austen-themed game? Our pick is Eika Svanoe and Erik Evensen’s Marrying Mr. Darcy. This is another quick-paced card game for 2 to 6 players. The end is when the winner finds themself married to their one true love. Players take on the role of one of the female characters from Pride and Prejudice and spend their turn improving their skills and showing off at events. And it wouldn’t be an Austen novel if we didn’t have the chance to show off our cunningness and gain advantage in our pursuits. It plays just like the novel reads, and we love it. If you want to expand your gameplay, we suggest checking out the Emma and The Undead expansions.
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Fog of Love
Looking for just a two-player game to enjoy with your partner? We suggest checking out Floodgate Games’ Fog of Love. It features more of a romantic comedy feel as it navigates two players through the journey of meeting, falling in love and facing the challenges of this unusual relationship. There are cards for everything from character traits, destinies, and occupations that make the replayability chances high and tons of fun. We love the idea of spending the night weaving a love story with twists and turns and overcoming the different struggles they will face. There are even expansions that introduce new love stories like Love on Lockdown and Paranormal Romance.
Star Crossed
Our final Valentine’s Day-themed game is Alex Robert’s Star Crossed. We want to note that a brick tower is needed to play this game, so break that old dusty Jenga out. This is another two-player game where you craft characters destined to fall in love but have compelling reasons to avoid it. The goal is to continue building attraction between them by playing out scenes and taking turns deciding how each responds. When attraction levels increase, a brick is pulled from the tower and placed on top. But you need to be careful when doing it. Once that tower goes down, the game is over. Depending on how many were successfully pulled, the relationship will blossom or be destined to fail.
Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
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