League of Legends developer Riot Games is massively expanding its offerings in the digital sphere, announcing so many new video games that I've actually lost count. It's also expanding their catalog in another medium: tabletop. Tellstones will be the next tabletop title from Riot Games.
Previously, Riot Games released Mechs vs. Minions, a title they describe as a "huge, cooperative game loaded with miniatures and narrative content" in a news post about their upcoming tabletop offerings. Now, they're aiming for something a little bit smaller with Tellstones.
What Do We Know About Tellstones?
Here's what we know about Tellstones so far. While Mechs & Minions was a much bigger endeavor, Tellstones is aiming to be smaller and more personal. It's a lot like moving from a massive army battle down to an intense 1-on-1 swordfight.
In Tellstones, 2–4 players will be engaging in a bluffing game. Lore wise, it's a Demacian variant of a game played throughout all of Runeterra. It's also said to be a "perfect information" game — that is, everyone is aware of what's happening in the game.
That's about all we know for now — how exactly Tellstones will play out is something we have to see when they release more details. Riot Games, however, aren't ending things there.
There's More Coming
Riot's first foray into tabletop must have done pretty well for them because Tellstones isn't the only thing they have coming. Riot Tabletop has been formed and they'll be making a serious exploration of the medium. Here's a bit of their philosophy behind the new studio:
Why is Riot making board games?
We’re gamers. That means more to us than just video games. You can tell by the piles of board games, miniatures, and roleplaying books stashed around the office. So it was natural to explore what would happen if we brought the Riot perspective to tabletop games. We call it Riot Tabletop.
Player Experience First
Every team at Riot puts player experience first, including Tabletop. For that space, we believe player experience means the following:
- Design: Is this game fun? Does it deliver a top-tier experience in its genre?
- Accessibility: How can we make the game easier to get to the table? What can we do to ensure that a player can play this game?
- Components: Are players proud to have this game on the table? Is their anticipation rewarded when they open it?
- Innovate When Needed: What pain points exist in these areas, and can we solve them? What conventions should we reexamine?
It certainly sounds like they have ambitious plans for the future of tabletop gaming at Riot. You can sign up to find out more at the news post announcing this new studio and game.
How do you think Tellstones will play? What elements of League of Legends do you think would make a fun tabletop game? Let us know in the comments below!
