On purple blue background, on the left the word Games. On the right hand side, the hashtag #Cymera23
The Cymera Games Strand is back in its very own games space for 2023!
Find us in the Highland Room (RPG Space), on the top floor in the building right across from the main entrance, above the Festival Bookshop.
We are open on Friday at 5pm until late Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 am until late.
The games space is a free, drop in, safe place for folks to play tabletop games of all descriptions. Some games will be provided by us with experienced and friendly hosts to guide you through them and take you on an adventure. Or feel free to bring your own games, both board and rpg or whatever you fancy and make use of our space - bring some friends or make some there.
We will be asking everyone to use safety tools, at the very minimum the X-card at games played in our space and ask all who join us to familiarise themselves with our code of conduct and other policies to ensure a diverse, accessible and safe space for all.
Please note spaces are capped for everyone’s safety in the Games Space, we will do our best to accommodate you at all times but please be aware of these restrictions.
Our RPG and Games space is supported by Ancient Robot Games, a new independent board game shop and café now open in Leith, Edinburgh. The shop offers a wide range of board games and tabletop RPGs, as well as weekly and monthly events for every level from beginners to experts. Everyone is welcome!
Ancient Robot Games will be in the Games Space with RPGs and board games being run throughout the event. They will also be selling games from their stall in the Creators Hall
Find Ancient Robot Games on Instagram , Twitter and Discord .
Schedule
There will always be tables for free play. If you are interested in any of the RPGs and Board Games, we recommend reserving a slot so we can gauge interest.
Friday 2nd June
5pm to 10pm: Free play - bring your own games or grab one from our Board Game Library
6pm: Board Game - Eclipse: Second Dawn of the Galaxy
with Dougal from Ancient Robot Games
A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals. You explore new star systems, research technologies, and build spaceships with which to wage war. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species, while paying attention to the other civilizations' endeavors.
Read more on Board Game Geek
For 2 to 6 Players, Play time 60 to 200 minutes, Age 14+
Suitable for players new to the game as Dougal will be on hand to teach you and guide you..
6pm: RPG - Death In Space
with Morgan Edmonds from Ancient Robot Games
The world is broken. In a collapsing universe, your crew is your only family. DEATH IN SPACE takes you to a grimy blue-collar future in a universe filled with risk, but also opportunity. Manage your oxygen as you delve into a great space hulk, scavenging for the tech that might be your ticket to riches!
2 to 5 Players
Saturday 3rd June
10am to 1:30pm: Free play - bring your own games or grab one from our Board Game Library
2:30pm to 6pm: Free play - bring your own games or grab one from our Board Game Library
10:00am and 2.30pm: Board Game- Dune Imperium
with Chris Townsend from Ancient Robot Games
The award-winning Dune: Imperium blends deck-building and worker placement in a deeply thematic new strategy board game where the fate of the Empire hangs on your decisions. A council seat... or a sharpened blade? The cards are dealt. The choice is yours. The Imperium awaits in the first new Dune board game in nearly 40 years! Will you seek political allies or rely upon military might? Economic strength or subtle intrigues?
Read more on Board Game Geek
For 2 to 4 Players, Play time 60 to 120 minutes, Age 14+
Suitable for players new to the game as Dougal will be on hand to teach you and guide you..
10:00am: RPG - Electric Bastionland
with Morgan Edmonds from Ancient Robot Games
Bastion is the only city that matters, now entering its electrical age. Each of the characters has a failed career behind them and share a colossal debt. Treasure Hunting is the only spark of hope. Beyond the infinite city of Bastion you might delve into the rural decay of Deep Country or the Underground that sits just below time and space.
1 to 5 Players
10:00am: RPG - The Haunting of Ypsilon 14 using Mothership, the SF Horror RPG
with Brian Ashford from Ancient Robot Games
During a routine cargo job on a remote asteroid mining base you learn that one of the workers has disappeared. No blood, no body no record of the airlock opening. Just gone. And that's not the only unexplainable thing that's been happening on Ypsilon 14... Who can be trusted? Can you make it out alive?
2 to 5 Players
Trigger Warnings: Body horror, sudden death, space capitalism.
10:00am and 2.30pm: Runesword RPG - "Raiders of the Lost Crypt"
with creator Greig Watson from Gregorian Games
Our valiant adventurers are down on their luck and almost out of money in the port city of Valperza. A chance meeting with a local rogue gives them a tip-off about some mysterious tunnels hidden beneath the city. Rumour has it that fabulous treasure lies within, but who knows what dangers lurk in the darkness below? A haul of ancient treasure would solve the heroes' money problems though only if they can survive the hazards that await...
This fun adventure scenario is designed for 3 to 6 players and showcases the Runesword RPG system for new players.
Runesword RPG is a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game inspired by classic sword & sorcery tales such as the works of Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber and Robert E. Howard. Its streamlined and easy-to-learn rules system focuses on fast-paced action and problem-solving over rules minutiae and is equally suitable for roleplaying newcomers and veteran gamers. Set in a gritty world of medieval warriors and terrifying magic, players take the roles of professional adventurers, making a living by venturing to places others fear to tread in search of ancient treasure and lost knowledge.
2.30pm: RPG - Neverland (5th Edition)
with Morgan Edmonds from Ancient Robot Games
Mermaids, sword fights, and adventures through Neverland are all fun and exciting—until you’re staring down the mouth of a crocodile big enough to topple a castle. Journey into the world of Peter Pan and its mysterious inhabitants in Neverland, seen in a way you've never seen before.
1 to 5 Players
2.30pm: RPG - The Sky Blind Spire
with Brian Ashford from Ancient Robot Games
Using rules light, old school D&D. Kids welcome. “Get to the top of the abandoned wizard’s tower to have your wishes granted, eh? No problem. All those people who never came back probably just had their wishes granted and had better things to do than come tell us about it. What does non-Euclidean dungeon mean anyway?” This being a dungeon delve, of a sort, there is potential for combat and character death, but careful planning and quick wits will see you safely though. Or, alternatively replacement characters can be easily introduced
2 to 5 Players
Trigger Warnings: Combat, traps, slight chance of small apocalypse
Reserve a spot to play
7pm: Inside the Rookery - Live from Cymera
‘Inside the Rookery’ join us live at Cymera as The Rookery host a special of their weekly RPG shindig.
Expect some lively chat and special birds of a feather joining our flock as we take a deep dive or should that be swoop into the ways and wynds of games in the company of our experts. Our panel includes Greig Watson the designer and author of tabletop fantasy roleplaying game Runesword RPG and the founder and main instructor of Edinburgh Renaissance Fencing Academy (ERFA) who is running games at Cymera 2023 and Stark Holborn novelist, games writer, film reviewer, and the author of Nunslinger and Triggernometry and has worked on games and interactive fiction such as Shadow of Doubt (Colepowered Games) and Mars 2020 (BBC). Stark is appearing at the festival
Hosted by The Rookery’s feathered flock
About the event:
Running time: 60 minutes
This event is free to attend but spaces are limited. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
This event takes place in person and is broadcasted via the Rookery live stream. We will have a QA at the end of the panel, we will take questions from the in person audience and from folks inline via the Cymera or Rookery Discords or social media feeds.
Who are The Rookery?
The Rookery are Andy Law, Andy Leask, Graeme Davis, Mark Gibbons, and Lindsay Law, five award-winning TTRPG professionals with over a century’s combined experience in the gaming industry. They not only host Inside the Rookery, but also run their own company, Rookery Publications.
Watch their previous livestreams on YouTube Twitch and support Inside The Rookery on Patreon and find them on Twittter and Facebook
Sunday 4th June
10am to 1:30pm: Free play - bring your own games or grab one from our Board Game Library
2:30pm to 6pm: Free play - bring your own games or grab one from our Board Game Library
10:00am and 2.30pm: Board Game- Dune Imperium
with Chris Townsend from Ancient Robot Games
The award-winning Dune: Imperium blends deck-building and worker placement in a deeply thematic new strategy board game where the fate of the Empire hangs on your decisions. A council seat... or a sharpened blade? The cards are dealt. The choice is yours. The Imperium awaits in the first new Dune board game in nearly 40 years! Will you seek political allies or rely upon military might? Economic strength or subtle intrigues?
Read more on Board Game Geek
For 2 to 4 Players, Play time 60 to 120 minutes, Age 14+
Suitable for players new to the game as Dougal will be on hand to teach you and guide you..
10:00am: RPG - Neverland (5th Edition)
with Morgan Edmonds from Ancient Robot Games
Mermaids, sword fights, and adventures through Neverland are all fun and exciting—until you’re staring down the mouth of a crocodile big enough to topple a castle. Journey into the world of Peter Pan and its mysterious inhabitants in Neverland, seen in a way you've never seen before.
1 to 5 Players
10:00am: RPG - The Sky Blind Spire
with Brian Ashford from Ancient Robot Games
Using rules light, old school D&D. Kids welcome. “Get to the top of the abandoned wizard’s tower to have your wishes granted, eh? No problem. All those people who never came back probably just had their wishes granted and had better things to do than come tell us about it. What does non-Euclidean dungeon mean anyway?” This being a dungeon delve, of a sort, there is potential for combat and character death, but careful planning and quick wits will see you safely though. Or, alternatively replacement characters can be easily introduced
2 to 5 Players
Trigger Warnings: Combat, traps, slight chance of small apocalypse
Reserve a spot to play
2.30pm: RPG - Electric Bastionland
with Morgan Edmonds from Ancient Robot Games
Bastion is the only city that matters, now entering its electrical age. Each of the characters has a failed career behind them and share a colossal debt. Treasure Hunting is the only spark of hope. Beyond the infinite city of Bastion you might delve into the rural decay of Deep Country or the Underground that sits just below time and space.
1 to 5 Players
2.30pm: RPG - The Haunting of Ypsilon 14 using Mothership, the SF Horror RPG
with Brian Ashford from Ancient Robot Games
During a routine cargo job on a remote asteroid mining base you learn that one of the workers has disappeared. No blood, no body no record of the airlock opening. Just gone. And that's not the only unexplainable thing that's been happening on Ypsilon 14... Who can be trusted? Can you make it out alive?
2 to 5 Players
Trigger Warnings: Body horror, sudden death, space capitalism.
Meet the Cymera Hosts
ABS is known to hunt vampires and all manner of undead…
ABS
ABS programs and produces the Cymera Festival RPG strand amongst other things
ABS is hoping you would like the play the adventure he co-wrote for last year’s festival Green and Pleasance Land running Liminal the excellent urban fantasy system set in present day UK and ‘The Hidden World’
Or perhaps his freshly written mystery for Brindlewood Bay – ‘a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who frequently find themselves investigating (and solving!) real-life murder mysteries.’ This adventure see the players visiting Scotland in ‘The Mavens Go Stravaiging aka That’s Another Fine Loch Mess You’ve Gotten Us Into’ and this would be the first public play of it!
He can be found at https://morefunwith.games/ or Twits @_A_B_S_ Insta @_A_B_5_ or @ABS@mastodon.social
Hildegard Von Bringem aka Hilde
Games Space Assistance Pup and Moral Support Mascot
Hildegard loves the magic of hugs and chasing balls
She thinks games are pawesome!
She particularly enjoys Call of Cat-thulhu
Hilde can be found on Twitter
Hildegard!
Greig Watson, designer and author of tabletop fantasy roleplaying game Runesword RPG.
Greig Watson
Greig Watson is the designer and author of tabletop fantasy roleplaying game Runesword RPG, which is self-published under the label Gregorian Games.
He is also the founder and main instructor of Edinburgh Renaissance Fencing Academy (ERFA), a historical fencing club specialising in traditional Italian styles of swordsmanship.
ERFA's techniques are researched from authentic period fencing treatises and are representative of real combat styles of swordplay. Greig combines a lifelong love of fantasy & sci-fi with a passion for history.
He is also a professional teacher of English as a foreign language.
Runesword RPG
Runesword RPG is a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game inspired by classic sword & sorcery tales such as the works of Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber and Robert E. Howard.
Its streamlined and easy-to-learn rules system focuses on fast-paced action and problem-solving over rules minutiae and is equally suitable for roleplaying newcomers and veteran gamers.
Set in a gritty world of medieval warriors and terrifying magic, players take the roles of professional adventurers, making a living by venturing to places others fear to tread in search of ancient treasure and lost knowledge.
Runesword RPG
Ancient Robot Logo
Ancient Robot Games Crew
Brian is an enthusiast of all games from classic board games to tabletop roleplaying games and videogames. Basically any game which allows you to sit down while you play. He probably started roleplaying with Fighting Fantasy gamebooks or maybe with Basic Dungeons & Dragons. Or it could have been the HeroQuest board game. It was a long time ago and his memory isn’t that good. These days Brian likes playing years-long ongoing RPGs of epic adventure interspersed with the sort of shenanigans you never expect but inevitably find. He also likes running short introductory adventures for kids, and other new players because then he can re-use all his old games mastering tricks and still look clever.
Chris has been a player of boardgames for the last ten years after being introduced to Risk Legacy, and quickly developed a passion (obsession) for strong, narrative-led games. He particularly enjoys how long from stories can be applied to the tabletop medium. Still learning, absorbing and exploring, he’ll try any game once. Some of his favourite games are Scythe, Betrayal Legacy, Firefly: The Game, Nemesis, Dune Imperium, Pandemic, Inkling, and anything in the Gloomhaven universe. He is also partial to a well-placed sticker! Outside of games, Chris continues to explore story as a practicing screenwriter, script reader, and coverage writer. He freelances for several production companies and websites, alongside developing his own tv projects.
Morgan has been running roleplaying games for over a decade now, and he shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. In that time he's been involved in RPG's as both a hobby and as a job, running events for a wide range of people at game shops and conventions across the country. He prides himself on running fast paced, inclusive games that give everyone a chance to shine and tailors the experience to the players. More recently, he took on the role of Assistant Manager at Ancient Robot Games and is in the process of publishing his own RPG, Minion!