Sword Loser

He's dashing and sometimes capable and frequently somewhat ridiculous. How does Tyngauld get himself into these situations? Well, someone at the table with you is about to explain what's happened this time!

Everyone takes turns telling anecdotes about Tyngauld, and those anecdotes unfailingly feature a sword. A good sword? A stolen sword? A magic sword? Tyngauld has had so many, because he just can't seem to hold onto them. The swordplay and combat, that's no problem. It's the where-did-I-set-it-down-I-swear-it-was-just-against-this-tree that's the problem... or however you decide he's lost this one!

Each anecdote will be inspired by a doodle of a sword by one of the players, all made at the table as part of the game. As your group plays, they'll inevitably cement other details about Tyngauld's life, making him a kind of folk hero with many different versions of him told over different times the game is played.

The game is short, about 20 minutes, though maybe you’ll play for an hour. The rules document is also short, only 12 pages including the cover, yet it packs in so, so much fun. Read the rules aloud to teach the game and establish a light, cavalier tone. Best for 2 to 5 players! If you've got 6 or more, split into smaller groups to play and then regroup to swap tales together after.

Sword Loser came out of my ongoing Patreon campaign and was immediately a hit with everyone who played it, even folks who don’t play story games and ttrpgs. People who feel uncertain about their drawing skills are generally better at Sword Loser than their “good at drawing” friends are. It’s short, which means easier to get to the table. It provides a reliably silly and sweet time.

Here's what folks are saying~

“Sword Loser is a tiny game with delightful surprises and compounding rewards. There’s a natural flow that’s so easy to settle into and satisfying to wrap up. I find myself retelling old adventures and discovering new stories each time I play. It makes art and storytelling approachable and ridiculously fun.”  Steph @sourfruitjunkie 

“Sword Loser is the perfect bite-sized game. Tegu's charm is on full display, offering everyone a playful cocktail of goofy swords and goofier stories. I remember grinning the next morning finding our scribbled swords in a pile on the table; tiny artifacts of an adorable adventure.”  Kurt Refling, games reviewer at Meeple Mountain 

“I had fun with Sword Loser! It was lovely to play because sometimes you want to tell shared fantasy stories but sometimes you'd rather sit quietly and draw swords, and this can change very quickly.” Alex Roberts, creator of For The Queen

“Sword Loser was maybe my most fun hour of 2018! And I met a bunch of new friends that way, because there’s a certain part of the soul that gets immediately revealed when someone draws a Cool Sword.” Dan Garrison, co-creator Phoenix: Dawn Command

“Sword Loser is my Best Game of 2018. …The creative aspect is something I want to see more of in this world.” Joe Greathead, avid game player

“It’s my most played game of 2018. The play is perfect.” Tim Hutchings, creator of Thousand Year Old Vampire