Scott - Minerva 🦉
@minervatabletop.co.uk
Board game designer and publisher from London, UK:
🥪 Crumbs! The Sandwich Filler Game
🎨 Swatch: The Abstract Game of Art
📝 Organiser of Playfest London and Playtest UK (South London)
🦉 https://linktr.ee/minervatabletop
🥪 Crumbs! The Sandwich Filler Game
🎨 Swatch: The Abstract Game of Art
📝 Organiser of Playfest London and Playtest UK (South London)
🦉 https://linktr.ee/minervatabletop
Y’all aren’t ready for the most underwhelming playtesting shot ever.
November 2, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Y’all aren’t ready for the most underwhelming playtesting shot ever.
The Brains: I handle the website, comms, schedule, and take all the credit.
The Beauty: Lucy runs the day with an iron fist, making sure attendees are organised and games have players.
The Wildcard: Greg finds exciting special guests and if the speakers break, makes an excellent megaphone. 2/3
The Beauty: Lucy runs the day with an iron fist, making sure attendees are organised and games have players.
The Wildcard: Greg finds exciting special guests and if the speakers break, makes an excellent megaphone. 2/3
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The Brains: I handle the website, comms, schedule, and take all the credit.
The Beauty: Lucy runs the day with an iron fist, making sure attendees are organised and games have players.
The Wildcard: Greg finds exciting special guests and if the speakers break, makes an excellent megaphone. 2/3
The Beauty: Lucy runs the day with an iron fist, making sure attendees are organised and games have players.
The Wildcard: Greg finds exciting special guests and if the speakers break, makes an excellent megaphone. 2/3
The Organisers of Playfest
Our fourth year running Playfest London, we volunteer our time for the event and donate all profits to charity. We do this for the love of the game(s), our only reward an immense feeling of satisfaction and in my case, the hope that someone will buy me a beer. We are: 1/3
Our fourth year running Playfest London, we volunteer our time for the event and donate all profits to charity. We do this for the love of the game(s), our only reward an immense feeling of satisfaction and in my case, the hope that someone will buy me a beer. We are: 1/3
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The Organisers of Playfest
Our fourth year running Playfest London, we volunteer our time for the event and donate all profits to charity. We do this for the love of the game(s), our only reward an immense feeling of satisfaction and in my case, the hope that someone will buy me a beer. We are: 1/3
Our fourth year running Playfest London, we volunteer our time for the event and donate all profits to charity. We do this for the love of the game(s), our only reward an immense feeling of satisfaction and in my case, the hope that someone will buy me a beer. We are: 1/3
Finally, the biggest aesthetic influence was the Bauhaus. Using bold colours and simple shapes, their poster styles were the perfect match for Swatch’s card art, as well as being my favourite art movement. 3/3
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Finally, the biggest aesthetic influence was the Bauhaus. Using bold colours and simple shapes, their poster styles were the perfect match for Swatch’s card art, as well as being my favourite art movement. 3/3
I wanted the actions to make more ‘sense’ visually (such as mixing colours) and for players to care about the objectives they were claiming, meaning that whether they won or not, they still had created a colour scheme worth looking at. 2/3
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I wanted the actions to make more ‘sense’ visually (such as mixing colours) and for players to care about the objectives they were claiming, meaning that whether they won or not, they still had created a colour scheme worth looking at. 2/3
What influenced Swatch’s design?
Swatch began as a response to resource management Eurogames I enjoyed, like Century: Spice Road and Splendor, but wished that there was more thematic integration.
1/3 #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames
Swatch began as a response to resource management Eurogames I enjoyed, like Century: Spice Road and Splendor, but wished that there was more thematic integration.
1/3 #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
What influenced Swatch’s design?
Swatch began as a response to resource management Eurogames I enjoyed, like Century: Spice Road and Splendor, but wished that there was more thematic integration.
1/3 #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames
Swatch began as a response to resource management Eurogames I enjoyed, like Century: Spice Road and Splendor, but wished that there was more thematic integration.
1/3 #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames
Be careful not to get sucked in though! When I discovered it I went back and added every gig I’ve ever been to, to keep a catalogue of them 😅
October 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Be careful not to get sucked in though! When I discovered it I went back and added every gig I’ve ever been to, to keep a catalogue of them 😅
The People Of Playfest - Part III
Our first Playfest four years ago was a modest meeting of designers, mostly from our regular playtest group. It’s hugely rewarding to see it grow to such a size, with visitors travelling as far as Wales and Scotland to attend.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
Our first Playfest four years ago was a modest meeting of designers, mostly from our regular playtest group. It’s hugely rewarding to see it grow to such a size, with visitors travelling as far as Wales and Scotland to attend.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
October 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The People Of Playfest - Part III
Our first Playfest four years ago was a modest meeting of designers, mostly from our regular playtest group. It’s hugely rewarding to see it grow to such a size, with visitors travelling as far as Wales and Scotland to attend.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
Our first Playfest four years ago was a modest meeting of designers, mostly from our regular playtest group. It’s hugely rewarding to see it grow to such a size, with visitors travelling as far as Wales and Scotland to attend.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
The People Of Playfest - Part II
I may not have got to test or play any games at Playfest London (the curse of being an organiser!), but it was a joy to take the time to photograph the attendees, the games, and the experiences they brought.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
I may not have got to test or play any games at Playfest London (the curse of being an organiser!), but it was a joy to take the time to photograph the attendees, the games, and the experiences they brought.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
October 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The People Of Playfest - Part II
I may not have got to test or play any games at Playfest London (the curse of being an organiser!), but it was a joy to take the time to photograph the attendees, the games, and the experiences they brought.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
I may not have got to test or play any games at Playfest London (the curse of being an organiser!), but it was a joy to take the time to photograph the attendees, the games, and the experiences they brought.
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGameSky
“Winning is getting to a point where Daybreak feels possible”
We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky
We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky
October 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“Winning is getting to a point where Daybreak feels possible”
We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky
We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3
#BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky
I can reveal that I'll be exhibiting at Dragonmeet in London and @aireconuk.bsky.social in Harrogate, with a few more events to be confirmed. I'll have Crumbs! on sale as well as a sneak peek at what I'm working on next!
Who will I be seeing there?
Who will I be seeing there?
October 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I can reveal that I'll be exhibiting at Dragonmeet in London and @aireconuk.bsky.social in Harrogate, with a few more events to be confirmed. I'll have Crumbs! on sale as well as a sneak peek at what I'm working on next!
Who will I be seeing there?
Who will I be seeing there?
The People Of Playfest - Part I
Playfest London might be all about the games, but it would be nothing without the people. From designers to playtesters, here’s a selection of shots I captured during the event.
#PlayfestLondon #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️
Playfest London might be all about the games, but it would be nothing without the people. From designers to playtesters, here’s a selection of shots I captured during the event.
#PlayfestLondon #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️
October 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
The People Of Playfest - Part I
Playfest London might be all about the games, but it would be nothing without the people. From designers to playtesters, here’s a selection of shots I captured during the event.
#PlayfestLondon #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️
Playfest London might be all about the games, but it would be nothing without the people. From designers to playtesters, here’s a selection of shots I captured during the event.
#PlayfestLondon #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️
The games are:
Horrors From The Campfire by Richard Lawton
Salmon Falls by Denholm Spurr & Mandela Fernandez-Grandon
The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet
Volley Brawl by Nik Butler
Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud
Restoration Quest by Josh Bloom
Walls of Constantinople by Dean Price
Horrors From The Campfire by Richard Lawton
Salmon Falls by Denholm Spurr & Mandela Fernandez-Grandon
The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet
Volley Brawl by Nik Butler
Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud
Restoration Quest by Josh Bloom
Walls of Constantinople by Dean Price
October 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The games are:
Horrors From The Campfire by Richard Lawton
Salmon Falls by Denholm Spurr & Mandela Fernandez-Grandon
The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet
Volley Brawl by Nik Butler
Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud
Restoration Quest by Josh Bloom
Walls of Constantinople by Dean Price
Horrors From The Campfire by Richard Lawton
Salmon Falls by Denholm Spurr & Mandela Fernandez-Grandon
The Leningrad Symphony by Jacob Keet
Volley Brawl by Nik Butler
Pirates For Hire by Benoit Guilbaud
Restoration Quest by Josh Bloom
Walls of Constantinople by Dean Price
We had over 40 different games played at Playfest London last weekend, with prototypes ranging from white paper to beautifully-produced copies.
Here are a selection of prototypes played throughout the day. Which games do you like the look of? More in the next post 👇🏻
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
Here are a selection of prototypes played throughout the day. Which games do you like the look of? More in the next post 👇🏻
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
October 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We had over 40 different games played at Playfest London last weekend, with prototypes ranging from white paper to beautifully-produced copies.
Here are a selection of prototypes played throughout the day. Which games do you like the look of? More in the next post 👇🏻
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
Here are a selection of prototypes played throughout the day. Which games do you like the look of? More in the next post 👇🏻
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
Playfest London was a blast. Our biggest and best event yet 🥳
Thank you to everyone who attended, designers and playtesters like you are what makes this community so great!
A special thanks to our guest speaker Matteo for sharing his experience designing Daybreak.
See you again next year ❤️ 🎲✂️
Thank you to everyone who attended, designers and playtesters like you are what makes this community so great!
A special thanks to our guest speaker Matteo for sharing his experience designing Daybreak.
See you again next year ❤️ 🎲✂️
October 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Playfest London was a blast. Our biggest and best event yet 🥳
Thank you to everyone who attended, designers and playtesters like you are what makes this community so great!
A special thanks to our guest speaker Matteo for sharing his experience designing Daybreak.
See you again next year ❤️ 🎲✂️
Thank you to everyone who attended, designers and playtesters like you are what makes this community so great!
A special thanks to our guest speaker Matteo for sharing his experience designing Daybreak.
See you again next year ❤️ 🎲✂️
September 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I played The Gang recently, which is a cooperative poker game with players trying to crack a safe.
Players have to successfully work out who has the weakest > strongest hand without talking to each other, only indicating where they think they place 1/2
Players have to successfully work out who has the weakest > strongest hand without talking to each other, only indicating where they think they place 1/2
September 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I played The Gang recently, which is a cooperative poker game with players trying to crack a safe.
Players have to successfully work out who has the weakest > strongest hand without talking to each other, only indicating where they think they place 1/2
Players have to successfully work out who has the weakest > strongest hand without talking to each other, only indicating where they think they place 1/2
Officer Jenny does it in the anime!
September 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Officer Jenny does it in the anime!
From my first playtest with a prototype to my first game with a professionally produced copy, Crumbs! is always best enjoyed with food or drink 😁
The first photo was taken on my honeymoon! Talk about dedication 😂
The first photo was taken on my honeymoon! Talk about dedication 😂
August 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
From my first playtest with a prototype to my first game with a professionally produced copy, Crumbs! is always best enjoyed with food or drink 😁
The first photo was taken on my honeymoon! Talk about dedication 😂
The first photo was taken on my honeymoon! Talk about dedication 😂
Nothing to see here, just the first mass-production copy of Crumbs! 👀
I'd love to show you the second, but it got set on fire for safety testing 😭 (It passed)
I'd love to show you the second, but it got set on fire for safety testing 😭 (It passed)
August 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Nothing to see here, just the first mass-production copy of Crumbs! 👀
I'd love to show you the second, but it got set on fire for safety testing 😭 (It passed)
I'd love to show you the second, but it got set on fire for safety testing 😭 (It passed)
Over on Instagram we’ve been sharing memories of our ‘last week of summer’ to celebrate @alliesorenemies.bsky.social Kickstarter launch.
This is me in 2009! About to go to uni, skating on the street listening to A Day To Remember.
If you play Last Week Of Summer, you can find me at the skate park!
This is me in 2009! About to go to uni, skating on the street listening to A Day To Remember.
If you play Last Week Of Summer, you can find me at the skate park!
August 22, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Over on Instagram we’ve been sharing memories of our ‘last week of summer’ to celebrate @alliesorenemies.bsky.social Kickstarter launch.
This is me in 2009! About to go to uni, skating on the street listening to A Day To Remember.
If you play Last Week Of Summer, you can find me at the skate park!
This is me in 2009! About to go to uni, skating on the street listening to A Day To Remember.
If you play Last Week Of Summer, you can find me at the skate park!
This year’s Playfest London is shaping up to be a sold out event 🥳
We only have a third of our tickets remaining after going on sale a few weeks ago, and designer tickets are selling out fast!
More info and booking at www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
We only have a third of our tickets remaining after going on sale a few weeks ago, and designer tickets are selling out fast!
More info and booking at www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
August 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM
This year’s Playfest London is shaping up to be a sold out event 🥳
We only have a third of our tickets remaining after going on sale a few weeks ago, and designer tickets are selling out fast!
More info and booking at www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
We only have a third of our tickets remaining after going on sale a few weeks ago, and designer tickets are selling out fast!
More info and booking at www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest
@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️
This weekend at Canterbury Gaming Convention marked the end of an era for Swatch, as I realised this would be the last show it would be on sale.
It’s fittingly come full circle, as Uncon (CGC’s predecessor) was the first convention I playtested Swatch at six years ago, gaining lifelong fans.
It’s fittingly come full circle, as Uncon (CGC’s predecessor) was the first convention I playtested Swatch at six years ago, gaining lifelong fans.
August 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This weekend at Canterbury Gaming Convention marked the end of an era for Swatch, as I realised this would be the last show it would be on sale.
It’s fittingly come full circle, as Uncon (CGC’s predecessor) was the first convention I playtested Swatch at six years ago, gaining lifelong fans.
It’s fittingly come full circle, as Uncon (CGC’s predecessor) was the first convention I playtested Swatch at six years ago, gaining lifelong fans.
I then tested Turbo Crusher Princess which I’m working on with Leo Samson, a light card game about creating increasingly ridiculous Mad Max-esque titles for your post-apocalyptic warlord. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Stank Patrol 3000?
August 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I then tested Turbo Crusher Princess which I’m working on with Leo Samson, a light card game about creating increasingly ridiculous Mad Max-esque titles for your post-apocalyptic warlord. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Stank Patrol 3000?
I played Dam Nation by Matt Hoather, a beautifully-produced prototype about beavers building up dams to cross a river whilst trying to claim to highest spot.
August 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I played Dam Nation by Matt Hoather, a beautifully-produced prototype about beavers building up dams to cross a river whilst trying to claim to highest spot.