One of the things we like to do here at the Malted Meeple is give some extra attention to our favorite board game publishers and designers. In our monthly Publisher’s Spotlight we provide a bit of a background on the publisher, discuss a few of their games, and may even announce a visit to The Meeple by some of the publisher’s representatives!
This month our Publisher’s spotlight shines on an industry giant, Wizards of the Coast.
Wizards of the Coast lays claim to some of the most beloved and long lasting franchises in hobby gaming. Magic the Gathering recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary, while Dungeons & Dragons celebrated its fortieth year with the release of D&D 5th Edition.
Over the last few decades these titles and many more have become household names. Yet it was not always so. According to Wizards of the Coast, “(Our) story is an epic tale of a tiny company which started in Peter Adkison’s basement and grew to be a leader in the hobby gaming business… From those humble beginnings arose fantastic new worlds, stories, (and) brands…”
Here at the Malted Meeple we have several board games from Wizards of the Coast in our library, including: Betrayal at House on the Hill, Lords of Waterdeep, and Acquire. Two of these games have also held the honor of our Game of the Month!
In Betrayal at House on the Hill, players take on the role of explorers trying to survive the horrors of a cursed mansion. Lords of Waterdeep offers players a chance to vie for power as one of the hidden lords of Waterdeep. Finally, in Acquire, each player matches their resources and their wits to become the wealthiest hotel tycoon of all! All three games offer players strategy, interaction, and theme.
We also host Dungeons & Dragons here at the Meeple every Wednesday. In Dungeons & Dragons, players create their own hero in the iconic world of The Forgotten Realms. Players must work together to defeat cultists, monsters, dragons, and worse… Each session, players will gain experience, gold, and maybe even magical items.
If you are interested in joining your fellow Meeples in playing the ‘World’s Greatest Role Playing Game’ ask your game master how you can get started! And the next time you’re in the Meeple, be sure to pick up one of the great games from Wizards of the Coast and join a decades long history of gaming!
Karington Hess is a lifelong gamer whose passions for hospitality and all things game-related led him to Ravenwood Castle, where he served as an Innkeeper before joining The Malted Meeple. When not pouring beers, crafting milkshakes, or teaching boardgames, Karington can be found behind the DM’s screen, weaving intricate stories for his fellow gamers.