Play with Game Designers

This year we are lucky to have a number of game designers who will be present to demo and play their games.

Designer: Derek Croxton

Lords of Baseball

Publisher: L4 Studios,  Mr. B Games

BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/97155/lords-baseball

Game Description

The new century is upon us, and the 20th Century promises to be something great for the game of baseball. Across the eastern half of the United States the national pastime is taking shape. The leagues are settling into traditional formats that will remain unchanged for decades.

You are an owner of one of the charter franchises, a leader with the money and vision to grow the game into its modern form. Invest wisely – it is not only the team on the field that matters, but also the stadium, media, and fans that can set you up for success! This is not a baseball game simulation; this is a game about building a baseball dynasty. Your business savvy and skills will win the day.

Lords of Baseball is for 1-4 players (expandable to 6 or 8 and can even be expanded to 16 with two base games and 4 expansions). Lords of Baseball takes about 40 minutes per season to play. It is a card-driven strategy game that unfolds over multiple seasons (you can choose to play a short, medium, or long game).

Learn & Play Game

Demo: Sat, 12:30 PM

Game: 1 – 4 PM

Learn the game from Max and then play a full game.  Up to 8 players can join in after the demo concludes.

Designer: Talia Rosen

 

Kangaroo Island

Game Description

(1-4 players, 75 mins, ages 10+): “Off the coast of southern Australia sits Kangaroo Island, home to an abundance of diverse wildlife. Mobs of kangaroo inhabit the scrublands, while local little penguin colonies thrive in nearby rocky burrows. If you look up into the occasional eucalyptus tree, you’re sure to see a pair of koalas, and if you peer into one of the many waterholes, you may spy the venomous platypus.  In Kangaroo Island, you’ll control a growing herd of these animals as you explore and lay claim to the island’s finite territory. Earn nature stars by taking a balanced approach to claiming territory, while unlocking new abilities for your animals and watching out for bushfires and human construction sites along the way.”

Learn & Play Game

Saturday

Demo: 11:00 AM

Game: 11:30 – 1:30 PM

Learn the game from Talia and then play a full game.  Up to 4 players can join in after the demo concludes.

Spectrum

Game Description

(1-4 players, 60 mins, ages 10+): “As a modern media mogul, build a nationwide television network to maximize revenue, and then strategically invest your capital to develop a wireless broadband system that positions your business to conquer the airwaves.  The game is played over two distinct halves: (1) players draft broadcast television towers (representing license assignment in the 1950s-60s) and face interactive decisions about which puzzle pieces to select and how to arrange their network; then (2) players sell and purchase licenses to build out their broadband network (representing 21st century cellular auctions).  Spectrum combines spatial puzzle gameplay (like Patchwork) with fast-paced auctions (like Modern Art)”

Playtest the Game:

Saturday

Learn the game from Talia and then try it out.  Up to 4 players can join in.

2 – 4 pm

Designer: Bill Crenshaw

American Mogul

American Mogul is an action selection game set in 19^th century America. You are a captain of industry trying to expand your mercantile empire by investing in markets and building cities to produce resources and establish control. You use resources to complete lucrative contracts and earn money and VPs. You buy companies to give you special powers. You navigate event cards each round and try to capitalize on destiny cards to earn additional VPs. At the end of each round, you may invest in your personal Foundation to unlock valuable bonuses. The game is playable by 1-4 players; playing time is about 3 hours once you know how to play.

Learn & Play Game

Friday

9AM – 1 PM Learn the game from Bill and then play a full game.  Up to 4 players can join.

Ancient Archons

Ancient Archon is an action selection game set in Ancient Greece that combines historical and mythological elements. A god and goddess provide you special powers as you attempt to increase your Might and Wisdom and expand your mercantile empire. You take control of territories to obtain access to resources that you use to build your Military, complete Quests, and patronize Leaders. You visit the Amphitheater to play powerful Event or Fate cards or the Agora to trade resources and build ships and emporiums to expand the reach of your empire. You also attempt to obtain Sigils, representing favors of the gods that may be used to acquire powerful artifacts, diadems and patronize Legends. The game is playable by 1-4 players; playing time is about 3 hours once you know how to play.

Learn & Play Game

Thursday

1:30 PM – 5:30 PM Learn the game from Bill and then play a full game.  Up to 4 players can join.

Designer: Suzi Gerb

Suzi will bring a prototype for playtesting.

Interstate Commerce

Interstate Commerce is a game for 3-5 players. Play time varies from 75-120 minutes depending on the number of players.

Players accumulate control of the 50 U.S. states. From their states they gain resources such as ports, population centers, and food, power, and goods production. They coordinate the contributions of their states by creating constructions to bring about technological progress and generate income.

Playtest the Game:

Friday

Learn the game from Suzi and then try it out.  Up to 5 players can join in.

1 – 3 pm

Designer: Bruce Glassco

Octoberland

If you’ve played any of the games in Bruce’s Fantasy Realms series, you know that they’re all about assembling a hand of cards that work together to tell a story. This game is a different twist on the same idea – you’re assembling a tableau of tiles that work together to make a picture of an October scene. Your board might end up depicting the peaceful fields of a harvested farm, a walk in the forest through crunchy leaves, or a spooky haunted house with ghosts and witches. This should be a fun gateway game – easy enough to teach to a child in five minutes, but with enough strategy to give pause to serious gamers. 2-4 players, 30 minutes play time.

Playtesting Game

Friday

8:00pm – 9:30pm

Learn the game from Bruce and then play a full game.  Bruce will bring 2 copies – which will allow up to 8 total players.

Last Updated October 21, 2025