Embryo Machine

Anime Mecha Tabletop Game Embryo Machine Hitting Kickstarter for English Localization

If you're into anime and mecha, tabletop game publisher LionWing came bearing news today via press release about Embryo Machine.

If you’re into anime and mecha, tabletop game publisher LionWing came bearing news today via press release.

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The publisher announced that it intends to localize the popular Japanese tabletop game Embryo Machine by Cosaic.

The localization will be funded via Kickstater, with a campaign that will start in February 2021.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, it supports from two to six players and it’s played on a modular board with the aid of a dedicated deck of cards.

You can see a few images of the mecha and the localization below, alongside an official description.

“Embryo Machine is a competitive tabletop mecha combat game from longstanding Japanese design studio Cosaic (Demon Worker, Zombie Tower 3D). In Embryo Machine, up to six players engage in action-packed free-for-all or team-based showdowns making use of the game’s grid battlefield and the cards they draft. Players start each game by first choosing which mecha—called Embryo Machines, or “EMs” for short—they’d like to pilot, according to their playstyle, and then utilize a deck of cards unique to their EM that comprises all of their unit’s equipment and attacks.

Once players have their EMs set up, they then build the battlefield using the modular board that comes with the game. On the board are wide open fields, bottlenecks, stat-altering terrain, and various other obstacles to contend with. Players then position their EMs on the field using the two-sided custom standees, which feature each Embryos’ art, and prepare to maneuver around the battlegrounds.

Play in Embryo Machine is fast-paced, leaving little room for downtime. This quick-playing approach is accomplished through the use of the game’s simultaneous action selection system wherein players reveal the movement of their EMs, as well as their actions, at the same time as one another. Having to predict your enemy’s movement and incoming assaults are part of the complex yet seamless strategy of the game.Embryo Machine is a great game for both newcomers and veterans of the skirmish genre. Each Embryo Machine unit has a Basic version and an Advanced version—with the former being a more simplified, streamlined version while the latter is a more complex one—thus allowing for casual and competitive matches.This play pace lends itself well to the game’s theme too, providing players with the feeling of piloting giant mecha at breakneck speeds across lush vistas, dodging attacks and firing off shots in quick succession; the type of action you might see in shows and games like Gundam, Evangelion, and Armored Core.Everything you need to play Embryo Machine—be it casually or competitively—comes in one box; there are no other purchases necessary. This explains why the game is rather dense despite coming in a fairly compact case. Weighing in at 2.5 lbs, Embryo Machine is packed with thick, durable, and high-quality components that will undoubtedly survive many a night on the table!

Story

In the world of Velm, endless warfare pits major and minor powers in a continuous struggle for dominance. Neither magic nor monsters exist in Velm, but the land harbors something equally frightening – titanic humanoid machines that rule the battlefield. Excavated 40 years ago and now fully operational, these Embryo Machines will be your superweapon in the fight to claim Velm as your domain!”

Highlights

  • An accessible tabletop combat experience for 2-6 players brought to you straight from Japan!
  • 9 mecha to pilot, each one comprising their own unique abilities and statistics!
  • A deep but intuitive combat system that hinges on weapon, armor, and individual unit stats, terrain advantages, as well as ranged and melee attacks!
  • 239 cards to outfit your mecha with, all representing the various equippable weapons and armor available in the game!
  • A grid-based movement system that allows players to traverse the battlefield in search of flanking shots, defensive maneuvers, and close-quarters tactics!
  • Two versions of each Emryo Machine: a Basic version, great for newbies, and an Advanced version for competitive players.
  • Seamless integration of mechanics such as card drafting, line-of-sight fire, movement points, and simultaneous action selection!
  • Matches that support both free-for-all and team-based formats! A unique sci-fi anime theme punctuated by beautiful art brought to life by the talented illustrators at Japanese design studio Cosaic!

Components

  • 239 Cards (weapons, armor, movement, aim, and charge cards)
  • 9 Double-Sided Mecha Unit Boards
  • 9 Double-Sided Cardboard Mecha Suit Standees
  • 2 Double-Sided Modular Battlefield Boards
  • 1 Double-Sided Map Tile Pieces
  • 2 Double-Sided Terrain Joint Pieces
  • 80 Landmine and Decoy Tokens
  • 15 Miscellaneous Chits and Tokens
  • 4 Double-Sided Cancel Chits
  • 8 Team Chits
  • 8 Team Markers (that affix to your standee’s base)
  • 1 Round Marker Disk
  • 1 Round Marker
  • 1 Rulebook
  • 2 Quick Reference Sheets (containing all cards and their stats)

A work-in-progress version of the manual can already be downloaded here.


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Author
Giuseppe Nelva
Proud weeb hailing from sunny (not as much as people think) Italy and long-standing gamer since the age of Mattel Intellivision and Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Definitely a multi-platform gamer, he still holds the old dear PC nearest to his heart, while not disregarding any console on the market. RPGs (of any nationality), MMORPGs, and visual novels are his daily bread, but he enjoys almost every other genre, prominently racing simulators, action and sandbox games. He is also one of the few surviving fans on Earth of the flight simulator genre.