top of page
Back to Top
TABLETOP GAMING
FANTASY TABLETOP GAMING
BRANDING • PRODUCT • PACKAGING • ILLUSTRATION • MARKETING • PHOTOGRAPHY
Wolves of Mercia
WOLVES OF MERCIA
THE MASTER'S VAULT
DICE WARS
Brybelly had made previous forays into tabletop gaming, and based on the returns determined the sweet spot was to make a game with a relatively light footprint, high-quality artwork, and party game value. Wolves of Mercia is a social deduction game (like Mafia) set in a gothic fantasy world, where each player uses their character's unique abilities to fulfill a secret agenda.
When the game's concept and mechanics were created by John Eckerd, we all agreed it showed promise. I enlisted our team's top talent for the illustration and design of the game's components and worked closely with them throughout the project. We also launched a robust marketing campaign involving web design, video production, social media, reviews and playtesting at Gen Con.
Character Card
Secret Card
Phantom Card
Character Card
1/5
Spell Card
Item Card
Secret Card
Spell Card
1/5
Project ROLE
COLLABORATION
Art Direction
Project Management
Game Design
John Eckerd: Marketing, Game Design
Brandon Smith: Graphic Design
Katrina Turk: Illustration
1/4
The Master's Vault
My client envisioned a system that helped Dungeons & Dragons players keep track of the items in their characters' possession. A deck of custom cards was deemed to be the primary solution, but a collection of customized poker chips was also commissioned. Customers can choose the collection that best suits their needs, or purchase a deluxe set containing both.
D&D's Open Gaming License allowed us to create this product using content from the game. It features 145 of D&D's most commonly found items, which are split into seven categories. Each card and chip includes a depiction, title, value, category and information on the item's use. Each category has unique information, so the card and chip layouts had to be versatile.
Weapon Card & Chip
Tool Card & Chip
Focus Item Card & Chip
Weapon Card & Chip
1/7
Potion Card & Chip
Treasure Card & Chip
Tool Card & Chip
Potion Card & Chip
1/7
Proficiency Item Card & Chip
Armor Card & Chip
Treasure Card & Chip
Proficiency Item Card & Chip
1/7
Project ROLE
COLLABORATION
Product Development
Graphic Design
Illustration
Zach Roth: Marketing
John Eckerd: Marketing, Product Development
Jodi Remaklus: Art Direction, Project Management
2/4
Dice Wars
At the time, Dice Wars was Brybelly's most ambitious project yet: A complex strategy board game set in a fantasy world of our own creation. In light of our Wiz Dice brand's success, we chose jumbo custom-engraved polyhedral dice as a key differentiator. The game enjoyed commercial success, starting with a $26,000 Kickstarter campaign, and spearheaded our entry into tabletop gaming.
In addition to serving as the game's Project Manager and Art Director, I participated heavily in the design process. I created the game's logo, visual assets, cards and packaging, and illustrated all of the game's characters. I opted for a highly accessible design aesthetic, with a distinctly "drawn" look and feel somewhat reminiscent of 80's cartoons like He-Man or G.I. Joe.
Basic Unit Card
Lancer - Red Army
Hero Unit Card
Thistlecrown the Manslayer
Advanced Unit Card
Assassin - Blue Army
Basic Unit Card
Lancer - Red Army
1/8
Hero Unit Card
Thistlecrown the Manslayer
Basic Unit Card
Barbarian - Blue Army
Basic Unit Card
Lancer - Red Army
Hero Unit Card
Thistlecrown the Manslayer
1/8
Basic Unit Card
Barbarian - Blue Army
Advanced Unit Card
Wizard - Red Army
Hero Unit Card
Thistlecrown the Manslayer
Basic Unit Card
Barbarian - Blue Army
1/8
Project ROLE
COLLABORATION
Art Direction
Project Management
Game Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Aris Kolehmainen: Graphic Design, Game Design
Zach Roth: Marketing, Game Design
Brandon Smith: Graphic Design
Taylor Mallatt: Illustration
3/4
Honorable Mentions
In my seven years at Brybelly, I worked on at least a hundred fantasy gaming products. As I led the company's team of creatives in developing and expanding our fantasy gaming brands Stratagem, Wiz Dice and Citadel (which focused on collectibles), these projects increased in complexity and scope.
For those with further interest in this (somewhat niche) category, below is a quick look at a handful of additional pieces I worked on during that time. Each image contains a closer look, a brief description including my role in the project and a link to the Amazon listing where applicable.
Project ROLE
COLLABORATION
Project Management
Art Direction
Brand Development
Product Development
Illustration
Brandon Smith: Graphic Design
Zack Marsh: Graphic Design
Brandi Underwood: Videography
Ernest Marcus: Video Editing
Zach Roth: Marketing, Brand Development
Jodi Remaklus: Art Direction, Project Management
Lauren Edison: Brand Development, Graphic Design
4/4
bottom of page