Designers: Costin Becheanu, Laura Dorila (Moonshiners of the Apocalypse), Giuliano Draguleanu (Moonshiners of the Apocalypse)

Artist: Mihai Mihail

Publisher: 2Fat2Fly Games (Moonshiners of the Apocalypse)

Genre/Mechanisms: action/movement programming, action point allowance system, area control, cooperative play, hand management, miniatures, point-to-point movement, variable player powers

Funding Status: At the time of this posting, Trouble in Templetown is already fully-funded.  In fact, pledges currently total almost twice the initial funding goal.

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-heavy

Risk: high

What It’s About: Choose from Tyler Nolle, Li Yuko Cite, Pa’ Cetamol, and Neutra Liza as you go up against Frankie Bola and his infectious goons, threatening to overwhelm the landscape of Stanley’s consciousness with infection and disease, in this unique co-op adventure and efficiency puzzle.

How It Works: Players must accumulate 20-50 DNA (depending on player count) to rewire Stanley’s ailing host body, AND build a full slate of immunity walls in districts equal to the player count or defeat the evil virus boss, Frankie Bola. Each round, players will refill their hands up to 6 Action Cards, then use those cards to take actions, including: Move, Build a Construction (Block or Defense Tower), Cure an Enemy, Buy Weapon Cards, Buy Item Cards, Repair a Defense Tower, and Exchange Action Cards for DNA. In the Enemy Phase, Wandering Bacteria, Lazy Parasites, Frankie Bola, and Defense Towers will all be Resolved. Players lose the game if the Enemies manage to infect 13 zones; they also lose if they complete the Immunity Walls construction or defeat Frankie Bola, but do not have the required number of DNA between them.

Comparisons:  Trouble in Templetown has a set of mechanics that combine to form a somewhat unique style of gameplay. The best other example of 2Fat2Fly’s design style has to be their first Kickstarter game, Moonshiners of the Apocalypse. Like Templetown, it has often over-the-top, cartoon-y art design buoyed with plenty of quirky humor and wit. Some other well-rated games that include a combination of an action point allowance system, area control. variable player powers, and cooperative play include The 7th Continent, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Gaia Project, Ghost Stories, Gloomhaven, the Pandemic Legacy games, Star Wars: Rebellion, and Terra Mystica.

What Should I Pledge?:
$59 Standard Edition: a copy of the game with all unlocked stretch goals.
$69 Deluxe Edition: the Standard Edition, plus 4 Hero Miniatures, 32 Event Cards, and 21 Acrylic Gems.

Add-Ons:
$5 Frankie Bola Miniature
$5 Trouble in Templetown 16-page comic book
$5 Personalize Cloth Bags (set of 2)
$5 32 Event Cards (this are the cards already included in the Deluxe Edition)

KS Exclusives:
All of the Add-Ons are Kickstarter-exclusive and will not be offered at retail. The Deluxe Edition is Kickstarter-exclusive as well.

All-In Total: In the continental U.S. you’re looking at $69 for the Deluxe Edition, $5 for the Frankie Bola Miniature, $5 for the comic book, and $14 in shipping, for a grand total of $93.

Trouble in Templetown completes its Kickstarter on Tuesday, July 2nd and tentatively ships in May 2020.