The Meeple Guild: It's a PnP summer part one; chasing monsters

YORKTON -When the calendar turns to June we are pretty much into summer.

Now ideally that means time in the garden, at the fishing hole, or on the disc golf course, but we know Mother Nature often thwarts such plans with days the sun blazes too hot, the wind bows too hard, or the rain falls.

So why not some print ‘n play gaming at such times?

A PnP project offers some relaxing time in its creation, and of course in play – with many solo options for those days your bud in busy and the rain comes too.

So in the coming weeks The Meeple Guild will be adding a short bonus review weekly focused on PnPs.

Let’s start with one of those super simple PnPs; One Page Monster Hunt by designer Roman Solar, a self-professed PnP fan.

“I love PnP games, especially those on one page only,” he said via email. “It’s quick to set up, easy to learn, you can finish a game in one session, very portable, you can teach game everywhere. You need a small table space.”

As the name implies this is a game that prints on a single sheet of paper, and since the art is in black and white it’s even friendly in terms of ink use.

Print the page, and yes the rules too, and grab common D6 dice and a pencil and you are set.

As various characters, a villager, dwarf, elf etc, you search through a dungeon collecting gems and fighting the witch.

Solar said he was looking for a fun game in its creation.

“Its should be inviting, it should fuel your imagination,” he said. “Also variability in terms of game modes, solo/cooperation/competitive gameplay. Something for everyone.”

In the end it’s a pretty basic dice roller that offers some choices, but dice rule in the end.

And, while you can compete, this is really solo-oriented,

The various character choices offer a few different ‘skills’ but the map is the same, so the variety seems a bit limited.

“Enemy's attribute growth,” is a key element said Solar. “The game starts with chill exploration, but soon your hero can feel the pressure of the dungeon. You have to be quick or be dead. Each decision matters.  The longer you are hunting on the map, the less chance there is of survival for you.”

You probably won’t play this one repeatedly, but for a rainy summer afternoon diversion it’s a quick print and off to the table option.