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Scott - Minerva 🦉

@minervatabletop.co.uk

1.5K followers 190 following 710 posts

Board game designer and publisher from London, UK: 🥪 Crumbs! The Sandwich Filler Game 🎨 Swatch: The Abstract Game of Art 📝 Organiser of Playfest London and Playtest UK (South London) 🦉 https://linktr.ee/minervatabletop

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · Oct 18

Hi! I'm Scott, board game designer, and publisher as Minerva Tabletop Games.

I focus on small-box and microgames; games that offer simple rules with surprising depth, and do a lot with few components. I have a background in art and design and favour distinctive art styles.

More about my projects 👇🏻

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 10h

Yes, as a fan of penny machines Salmon Falls is a personal favourite of mine!

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 10h

Pilsner Urquell is the best beer I’ve ever tasted. I managed to find it in the UK but it’s not the same unless you’re sat in a sunny Czech courtyard!

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Reposted by Scott - Minerva 🦉

Marceline Leiman (High Tide, available now!!) @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · 1d

It’s hard to convey *just* how special the production of this game is. Metal cards feel great in the hand, the color contrast is incredible, and they feel super durable!

Don’t miss out on Crownfell: Metal Edition at Indie Games Night Market this year, ahead of its future crowdfunding campaign! ♟️

Crownfell by Mike Berg

Metal Edition

Metal wallet

Crownfell by Mike Berg

Metal Edition

Metal cards

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Reposted by Scott - Minerva 🦉

🥧 suzanne 🥧 @425suzanne.bsky.social · 16h

The hardest thing for ANY tabletop game is just getting people to know the game exists. Awareness. And if you're an indie maker? Oof - it's so difficult.

Anyway - here's a new project from a fabulous designer (and person) who makes RPGs that sometimes make me feel sad in a good way. :)

Travis D. Hill ☕️ @travisdhill.bsky.social · 1d

Lots of really big crowdfunding campaigns and preorders launching today. Here's to tossing in my little project!

You can find RITE: A Midwinter Sacrament #TTRPG #zine below. You can grab it for $7 and receive it before the bleak midwinter.

7 day campaign. Thanks for sharing.

Coming soon: RITE: A Midwinter Sacrament RPG Zine

An RPG Zine for up to four players participating in four sacraments during the bleak midwinter.

www.kickstarter.com

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 14h

The People Of Playfest - Part III

Our first Playfest four years ago was a modest meeting of designers, mostly from our regular playtest group. It’s hugely rewarding to see it grow to such a size, with visitors travelling as far as Wales and Scotland to attend.

#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky

A photo of playtesters playing The Smuggler’s Secret by Jess Metheringham.

A photo of playtesters playing Clockatoo by Ali Mussel.

A photo of playtesters playing Manipulation and Magic by Ben Gibson.

A photo of Jess, Denholm, and Shawn awaiting the results from the raffle.

Reposted by Scott - Minerva 🦉

Rory Muldoon @rorymuldoon.bsky.social · 1d

Hey #portfolioday

I’m a graphic designer who makes analog games. Here are some fun illustrations I made for our chill diving game Aquamarine.

www.postmarkgames.com

An illustration of a stylised shoal of yellow fish. Text reads ‘Aquamarine’ and ‘Butterfly Fish’

An illustration of a stylised blue and orange Cuttlefish. Text reads ‘Aquamarine’ and ‘Cuttlefish’

An illustration of stylised purple jellyfish. Text reads ‘Aquamarine’ and ‘Jellyfish’

An illustration of a stylised colourful coral reef. Text reads ‘Aquamarine’ and ‘Coral Reef’

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 2d

The People Of Playfest - Part II

I may not have got to test or play any games at Playfest London (the curse of being an organiser!), but it was a joy to take the time to photograph the attendees, the games, and the experiences they brought.

#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky

A photo of Nik Butler teaching his game Volley Brawl to two playtesters.

A photo of Natassja Yoxall with her game Dish It Out in the foreground.

A photo of Alan Wallat teaching War of the Toads to Mike Petchey of Huff No More

A photo of a playtester playing They Never Scream by Richard Jackson.

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 2d

Because it still requires making an active decision, and making sure that everyone does the same, which defeats the point of the game.

If your aim is to win at all costs, then certain games won’t be for you, but it doesn’t mean you should tell people that the game they enjoyed is bad, actually.

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 2d

Yes that would be boring and shallow except A: that isn’t permitted in the rules and B: why would you want to do that anyway?

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 5d

At Playfest, Matteo playtested Dawn, a card game that looks to streamline Daybreak’s gameplay to fit into an educational setting. Its development came as a response to those intimidated by the perceived complexity/setup time of Daybreak. 3/3

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 5d

Talking about how the world has changed since the hopefulness of designing Daybreak, Matteo said:

“Following the election of Donald Trump, Daybreak feels like a fantasy in 2025. Everything we put in Daybreak is possible, but now winning is getting to a point where Daybreak feels possible again.”

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 5d

“Winning is getting to a point where Daybreak feels possible”

We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3

#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky

A photo of Matteo Menapace speaking into a microphone at Playfest London. A copy of his board game Daybreak is on a table beside him.

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Reposted by Scott - Minerva 🦉

Chris - Unfringed @unfringedthings.bsky.social · 6d

🦚 It's live!! 🦚

Grab both a copy of Fetching Feathers & D.O.T for only £25 (save £4) and the option to pick up for free from UKGE26!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/unf...

Fetching Feathers & D.O.T

Attract fancy flocks to your seasonal sanctuaries in Fetching Feathers & Duel with a Difference in D.O.T.

www.kickstarter.com

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 7d

It’ll be great to see you again!

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 7d

I can reveal that I'll be exhibiting at Dragonmeet in London and @aireconuk.bsky.social in Harrogate, with a few more events to be confirmed. I'll have Crumbs! on sale as well as a sneak peek at what I'm working on next!

Who will I be seeing there?

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Reposted by Scott - Minerva 🦉

Matthew Dunstan @matthewdunstan.bsky.social · 7d

Today's video was a hard one for me to make - I wanted to talk about my experiences going through burnout in the last year or so as a game designer, and aspects of the wider tabletop industry that contribute to that.

youtu.be/D2rC_8F10R8

🎲✂️

The reality of being a full time game designer

YouTube video by Matthew Dunstan

youtu.be

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 8d

Thanks! That’s awesome, glad you have something near you too.

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 8d

I tend to try to do the following:
1. Launch the campaign page to mailing list for early signups.
2. Early previews/interviews from friendly media outlets.
3. Organic social media marketing.
4. Reviews in the week leading up to the campaign launch.
5. Reviews on the week of the launch.

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 8d

I think it's good to have a mixture, as you want a decent-sized project following for when the campaign launches, but also have that stronger conversion rate when the project is actually live.

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 8d

Games:
Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud
Streamers by John Sherman
The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet
They Never Scream by Richard Jackson

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 8d

The People Of Playfest - Part I

Playfest London might be all about the games, but it would be nothing without the people. From designers to playtesters, here’s a selection of shots I captured during the event.

#PlayfestLondon #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️

A photo of five people sat around a table playing Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud.

A photo of an engaged player making a move on the board game Streamers by John Sherman.

A photo of five people sat around a table playing The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet.

A photo of five people sat around a table playing They Never Scream by Richard Jackson.

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 9d

Night Lords putting Blood Angels to shame by being on the right side of teen angst as always 🫡

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 10d

‘The Internet wasn’t inflicting enough Psychic Damage on me so I made a tool to help it.’

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 11d

It’s a clever one, I’m always a sucker for wordplay titles 😁

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 11d

Yeah it’s fantastic! Such a great inspiration.