This is Beak, Feather and Bone (2020), a simple map-labeling/storytelling game about a city of ravenfolk. The game obviously draws inspiration from The Quiet Year. I personally find map making one of my favorite activities for RPGs, so games like this scratch a particular itch for me.

BFB uses a provided map, with players, who represent different factions in the city (mages, clerics, merchants, etc.), claiming buildings on their turn. Playing cards are drawn to indicate the building’s use (financial, social, future, past) and a point value. In addition to naming and claiming the building, which is done by coloring it in with a colored pencil, the player also notes a few details about it: the beak – what people say about it, the feather – what is looks like on the outside, and the bone – what it looks like inside. Face cards drawn from the deck also introduce rival characters from other factions, described with the beak indicating their reputation, the feather their appearance and the bone their true motivation. Play continues for a number of rounds determined by the players, at which point the point values of the buildings are added up. The player with the highest total claims and defines the city’s seat of power.

That’s it, and it is more than enough. The game has a relaxing, thoughtful pace, but intriguing details quickly emerge thanks to the rivals. The map is both evocative and a bit of a cypher, which is perfect, encouraging different player to interpret the buildings differently. What you’re left with is a little slice of possibilities. You can use this as a location for a tabletop game, sure, but I actually prefer to leave the stories untold and just appreciate their potentials, which are clearly mapped out by the end of play.