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With so many new games on the market, how do you know if a game is right for you? It’s a great problem to have. A bit of research can make the difference between a game that finds its way to the table regularly and one that collects dust in the corner. In September, Renegade Game Studios will release Ex Libris, a unique game set in a ponderous fantasy setting. Will it be the next hit on your gaming table? Ex Libris is for fans of worker placement games who are looking for something a bit different. You won’t be placing a worker to get a brown cube, then placing another worker to turn it into a slightly darker brown cube. Your assistants will gamble, take risks, investigate mysteries, make donations, initiate drafts, win auctions, and even make wishes. The game mechanics of each location integrate so seamlessly with the theme that you’ll feel like your assistants are partaking in little adventures and interacting with interesting locals on their search for valuable books.
Ex Libris is for gamers who appreciate replayability. The 18 location tiles will appear in a completely different order every game, forcing you to adapt your play style, accordingly. You’ll use one of the 12 special assistants each game, giving you a unique ability your opponents won’t have. Of the six randomly dealt categories of books, players will compete for the most of one type, trying to avoid collecting banned books while attempting to accumulate as many books of their secret focus as possible. All of these variables add up to thousands of different possible permutations - no two games of Ex Libris will play, or feel, the same. Ex Libris is for players who love a good challenge. Building your bookshelf is a constant puzzle of shifting priorities - do you shelve the card that will give you favorable categories but cuts off an entire group of letters, or do you shelve the card with fewer books that makes your shelf more stable? If you take too much time trying to cultivate the perfect bookshelf, your opponent may race to trigger the end of game, overshadowing your quality with quantity. Striking a balance between the five scoring opportunities is important, but hindering your opponents from doing the same may be even more so.
Ex Libris is for anyone with a sense of humor. Across the 152 book cards you’ll find 510 unique book titles, such as “Nancy Druid, An Incomplete Guide to Procrastination”, and “The Graverobber’s Guide to the Galaxy”. If your opponent is taking their time pondering a particularly difficult decision, entertain yourself by reading the titles in your bookshelf. With most bookshelves containing only a few dozen books each game, you’ll be discovering new titles each time you play. Ex Libris is for anyone who’s walked into a used book store, empty-handed, and left with “priceless treasures” they couldn’t live without. It’s for anyone who gravitates toward the host’s bookshelves at a party, especially anyone who fights the urge to alphabetize said bookshelves. It’s for anyone with a love for both books and board games.
Ex Libris may not be a game for everyone, but chances are it’s the game for you.
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