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Not on display

Foundations

World-Building Game
2023
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Foundations is a solo world-building and map making game, in which players create a fantasy setting for use in table top RPG campaigns and stories. The game is based around storytelling prompts cards informed by real-world history, geography and anthropology to help players create worlds which are unpredictable and unique.

The game was written by East London-based designer and community support worker, Marsh Ana. Ana had always played traditional board games and began designing games after the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. They said that they missed the social aspect of playing board games with others and tried solo gaming in the winter lock down, when people were spending a lot more time indoors.

Ana said they wanted to create a game focused on different aspects of real-world history when creating the storytelling mechanics in Foundations, and that they drew inspiration from 'the Marxist history, “A People’s History of the World”, which focuses on how forces like nature and economics shape history rather than individuals.'

Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Book
  • Cards
TitleFoundations (published title)
Materials and techniques
Paper, card
Brief description
Foundations, solo world-building and map making game, consisting of deck of 54 cards and a hardback book of prompts.
Physical description
Hardcover book and deck of cards, white background with blue abstract illustration of a map.
Dimensions
  • Book height: 220mm
  • Book width: 160mm
  • Book depth: 20mm
  • Deck of cards height: 95mm
  • Deck of cards width: 65mm
  • Deck of cards depth: 25mm
Credit line
Leyline Press / Marsh Ana
Summary
Foundations is a solo world-building and map making game, in which players create a fantasy setting for use in table top RPG campaigns and stories. The game is based around storytelling prompts cards informed by real-world history, geography and anthropology to help players create worlds which are unpredictable and unique.

The game was written by East London-based designer and community support worker, Marsh Ana. Ana had always played traditional board games and began designing games after the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. They said that they missed the social aspect of playing board games with others and tried solo gaming in the winter lock down, when people were spending a lot more time indoors.

Ana said they wanted to create a game focused on different aspects of real-world history when creating the storytelling mechanics in Foundations, and that they drew inspiration from 'the Marxist history, “A People’s History of the World”, which focuses on how forces like nature and economics shape history rather than individuals.'
Collection
Accession number
B.3-2024

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Record createdApril 5, 2024
Record URL
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