Body
Henge Games announces Barbarity, a card game of mighty thews and impractical fashion choices, launching on Gamefound this February. Designer Mark Brendan (Solomon Kane) leads this new venture alongside industry veterans Martin Frain (ex WOTC, EA) and Sebastian Czarnecki (Seb Games)
What is best in life?
According to Barbarity, it's crushing your opponents via card-driven combat, resource management, and chainmail that doubles as evening wear. You take on the role of a barbarian warrior seeking glory and plunder, accompanied by a cast of characters including Blue Senga, whose plaid boobtube and trophy sporran imply a delightful alternate history for the Highland Clearances, and our favourite: Beasticus, master of the squirrels.
The gameplay loop is straightforward: grab your hero, draw some cards, and lay down prize cards in your "adventure area" which are like a to-do list of pillaging and conquest.
Rip off head
Shit down neck
Eggs
Milk
And then, in a violent simulation of a competitive filing system, your opponents stack challenges on your prizes, which you'll need to overcome with battle cards and special abilities. First to five prizes wins.
The glorious artwork is an exciting homage to the golden age of fantasy illustration, channelling Frank Frazetta's muscular bleakness alongside a Simon Bisley-style excess of violence. Cormac the Slayer is right out of the blood-soaked pages of classic 2000 AD, complete with berserker grimace and an impressive mastery of arterial spray painting.
We imagine the game's local watering hole, the Death Stalkers Arms, offers a lunch time menu of hyborian delicacies including the Warpo Mac Spasm and cheese, and War Pigs burgers (kids' portions available).
We're particularly intrigued by Bonehenge, which seems the perfect venue for a post-victory drum circle using the skulls of the vanquished.
It's out in February, register your interest on Gamefound right now and prepare to solve the riddle of steel!
In The Fields The Bodies Burning, As The War Machine Keeps Turning
Images courtesy of Henge Games Ltd