It is time to select a new coven leader. But how? By doing what witches do best, of course: HEXING, GARDENING, and POTION BREWING! Break out your CAULDRONS because it is time to play CAULDRON: BUBBLE AND BOIL (by INDIE Game Developer Rob Booth)! The game is nearly ready to go to the printers but in order to do so, CAULDRON: BUBBLE AND BOIL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
Cauldron: Bubble and Boil is a game for 2-4 players where you compete to brew the most valuable potions to become leader of the coven and wield the powerful Hag’s Eye. However, you must grow the ingredients first and that takes time. However, you can take shortcuts and use your magic to steal other players ingredients, or try to ruin their efforts. But be careful, Hexing (casting spells) causes corruption which may ruin your own efforts to brew the best potions.
There are multiple tiers / levels of support. The minimum pledge is $39 and nets you a copy of the base game along with all unlocked stretch goals. The first stretch goal is the Advanced Victory Conditions Deck. These cards can be used to change the game’s scoring rubrics that vary from game to game. These will impact your strategies as you play the game, adding even more replay value to the game! Reaching the second stretch goal allows us to print Cauldron: Bubble and Boil in better card stock, upgrading to 300 gsm card stock (with a chance to upgrade it further with later stretch goals). The third stretch goal adds the optional Moon Deck. This separate set of cards that follow the phases of the moon. Each of the phases of the moon (e.g. waxing gibbous, full moon) will affect that turn in a specific way. The moon deck operates like an event deck that affects all players. You’ll have to check out the game’s Kickstarter page to see more.
Many of the critic reviews were positive, often citing how easy the game was to pick up and play. Having looked over the PDF rulebook I can see where they’re coming, though there are a number of variants listed as well as rules for advanced gameplay. I have to say that I found the components featured in the pictures to be attractive and eye-catching. It’ll be interesting to see what the final game looks like once it releases. The game is almost halfway funded, having reached a total of $6,081 pledged of the $14,700 goal as of the time of this posting. 21 days remain, so get your cauldron spoons and potions ready!
