Best Shem Phillips Games – a Designer Spotlight
Shem Phillips is a New Zealand based board game designer and the founder of Garphill Games, established in 2008. During his time as a board game designer, Phillips has released a number of successful games since his first debut with Linwood, including his notable North Sea Trilogy which includes Explorers of the North Sea, Raiders of the North Sea, and Shipwrights of the North Sea (along with a number of expansions). If you’ve ever heard of Shem Phillips, it’s most likely due to his extensive range of trilogies that all revolve around the same universe. Intrigued? We’ve compiled a list of Shem Phillips games ranked in order of popularity.
If you’re looking for the best Shem Phillips game to add to your ever growing board game collection, or you’re ready to get stuck into a thought provoking new trilogy, take a look at our list below and head to our website to purchase the game that gets you hooked.
Ready to buy? Check out our range of Shem Phillips games on our online board game store today! For general queries on our products, or for more information about More Than Meeples contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Shem Phillips Games Ranked
Paladins of the West Kingdom
The city of Chartres stands amid a tumultuous period in West Francia’s narrative, around 900 AD., and despite recent attempts to expand the city, its outlying communities are still under siege from outside aggressors. Saracens keep an eye on the borders, while Vikings pillage wealth and livestock. Even the Byzantines from the east have shown their dark sides.
As noble men and women, you and your fellow players must gather workers from the city to help in defending against enemies, while building fortifications and spreading faith across the land. Ready your horses and sharpen your swords. The Paladins are approaching!
Average Playtime: 90 – 120 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 1 – 4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 3.66/5
Architects of the West Kingdom
The players of Architects of the West Kingdom vie to impress the King and preserve their noble rank by erecting various landmarks throughout his re-established kingdom. Players must gather natural resources, engage apprentices, and maintain a vigilant eye on their staff. These are perilous times for architects. Rival builders will stop at nothing to impede your progress. Will you remain virtuous, or be found as a thieving, black marketeer?
The aim of the game is to be the player with the most Victory Points by the end. How are points gained? By constructing multiple buildings and advancing work on the Archbishop’s Cathedral. This game is based on players making a number of moral decisions, though by the end, virtues will be judged.
In order to be successful in the game, your civilisation needs to do well in many areas. You may be good at some things, but you should not be bad at anything. Your rivals will try to get ahead by going to war or through politics, so you need to be prepared. But don’t forget about the other aspects of life either, because the civilization with the most influential culture wins.
Average Playtime: 60 – 80 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 1 – 5
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 2.78/5
Raiders of the North Sea
In this game, players are taken back to the middle years of the Viking age and take on the role of Viking warriors in an attempt to impress the Chieftain through attacking unsuspecting villages. To gain resources, gather supplies, and travel north to pillage gold, iron, and livestock, players will need to assemble a crew and collect provisions.
Much like Shem Phillips games, the aim of this game is for players to gain the most Victory Points by the games end. This is done by raiding settlement villages, taking plunder and making offerings.
Players do not compete against each other in order to win. Instead, they work together to complete the challenges in the game. These challenges can be made more or less difficult, depending on what the players want. Completing the most difficult missions usually requires close teamwork! Order today!
Average Playtime: 60 – 80 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 2 – 4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 2.53/5
Viscounts of the West Kingdom
This game is set during a time when the King’s reign began to decline. In order for the enemy to put down their swords and declare peace over wealth, the great King began offering the land and precious gold. However, peace is a difficult thing to achieve. Many people of the land began to lose faith in the Kings capacity to lead as poverty increased, prompting citizens to seek separation from the crown.
By the end of the game, one player must have the most Victory Points to be declared the winner. Points are gained by developing and constructing buildings, writing manuscripts, working within the castle walls, and acquiring deeds for new land. The aim is to advance your towns endeavours and increase influence.
Average Playtime: 60 – 90 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 1 – 4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 3.44/5
Explorers of the North Sea
In this game, players take on the roles of warriors during the latter years of the Viking Age. Players seek out new territories to colonise and dominate as daring sea captains. To capture livestock, establish strongholds, and complete various other objectives, they will need to transport their people across the newly discovered islands. Prepare for a long journey; there are new horizons to be explored.
Each player will start with 7 Vikings and a Longboat where they will then place tiles on the shared, central island and advance with their venture out to the newly discovered islands. Players with the highest total of the game are then declared the winner.
Average Playtime: 45 – 60 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 1 – 4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 2.12/5
Raiders of Scythia
The Scythians were known for their mastery of gold metalwork. They created leather armour and improvised the recurve bow, which they trained eagles to use in hunting and warfare. The Scythians were known for their mastery of gold metalwork. They created leather armour and improvised the recurve bow, which they trained eagles to use in hunting and warfare.
Some historians believe that they influenced Greek mythology’s stories of the Amazons. But they were more than tall stories or folklore. They were the Raiders of Scythia. Players of this game are required to assemble a crew, train animals, and gather provisions. When there are only 2 settlements that haven’t been raided or 2 quests remaining, the game will end.
Average Playtime: 60 – 80 minutes
Recommended Age: 12+
Number of Players: 1 – 4
Difficulty (BGG Weight): 2.62/5
Buy the Raiders of Scythia Board Game
Looking for the Best Shem Phillips Game?
If you’re wanting to expand your collection, you can shop Shem Phillips games at More Than Meeples today and buy board games online to enjoy fast shipping across Australia. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or require more information, get in touch with our team and we’ll do what we can to get you what you want.
