Exquisite Biome [#Itchmas Day 4]
Ever been tired of not having enough little guys?
Get tired of the same selection of horses and wolves and dragons to pick from, and want more stuff like guar and silt striders[^1]? Did you get reeeally into Scavenger's Reign when it came out, like, maybe too much so, you're pretty sure your friends are worried about you on account of it, but that's not what it's telling you, not since it got inside your head... don't you? I mean, aha, who wouldn't.
caro's recent fiddly little card deck microgame Exquisite Biome is a great way to fill out an ecological web of cool, inter-related creatures in settings as brief or drawn-out as you prefer.
I highly suggest throwing it into your session zero or road to season worldbuilding game roster, to throw a little wonder, tonal control, and/or alien fascination into the world. It plays perfectly well on its own, but there's always ways to work such creations back into future ideas and stories...
Delightful intellectual fidget toy; wonderful way to solicit group input and investment; prosocial and doesn't overstay its welcome. The Evolutions appendix of variant modes offers flexible utility and replayability.
Si Sweetman's art enlivens the gorgeous layout with lush maybe-could-be creatures.
You owe it to yourself to at least read through it, get it starting your brain juices to whir a bit. That's how metaphors work, right?
A hearty recommendation from me, O visitants to the Oracle.
[^1]You'll pry Morrowind references from my cold dead hands.