Dragon Riding + Treasure Hunting

Windriders, a new tabletop game I'm writing.

On occasion I am seized by the overwhelming urge to create games.

I never stopped being fascinated with toys, games, and imaginary play, and so on days off from my other work, my play is to create the sorts of things I love. I especially love tabletop games, particularly the kind that have little miniatures, because for me they’re simultaneously toys, games, imaginary play, and art.

Windriders is a game I drafted one afternoon, right here in the Moving Castle, trying to come up with something that me and my pre-elementary child Smol Fairy could play together. But in the process I think I accidentally came up with a zine-sized game that would be fun for more than just a parent and a child. I think it could be fun for all sorts of people.

Ignore the fact that this cover is titled ‘WINDRIDER’ and I’ve been calling it ‘WINDRIDERS’. I reserve the right to waffle about titles until the thing is actually done :]

This game is an exercise in ‘get it done!’ energy, rather than trying to make everything perfect. The drawings are simple and quick, the rules are simple and quick, the setup is simple and quick. The PDF is currently 8 pages, or when printed 4 sheets on the front and the back, and my goal is to keep this version at about that size.

The gameboard is an entire room, and you fly your winged mount about by shooting rubber bands, which was an idea that made my inner eight-year-old very, very happy.

The art process has been similarly delightful.

I’ve been drawing little cutout-&-fold Riders on their winged mounts, trying to keep the art fast and loose and light since these will be two inches tall. I’ll do two more. They’ll all fit on a single 8.5x11 sheet, along with the lanternstone tokens. Five minutes with a pair of scissors and a gluestick and you’ll be ready to play.

The interior won’t be too heavily illustrated, but I’ve done some doodles to go inside as well.

I’ll probably release a free playtest version soon, here on Substack, so that anybody who wants to spend some time zooming around on a mythical flying creature hunting for lanternstone can take Windriders for a spin.

Fun story, when I drew this one, Smol Fairy immediately asked, “Is that me?”

I think it was the pigtails.

“Hmm, it could be,” I said.

Unsatisfied with my noncommittal response, Smol Fairy immediately and matter-of-factly informed me that the rider of this particular creature was, in fact, herself.

“It’s me. Mom, Daddy drew me riding on a dragon.”

I offered no arguments. It seemed to me a good sign, considering my original goal. :] Hopefully she’ll enjoy the game as much as my inner eight-year-old will.

— Cael