Four Seasons Village: Westenbray

En bref · fiche BoardGameGeek traduite

Four Seasons Village : Westenbray est un jeu de cartes immersif mêlant stratégie et survie, qui se déroule dans un univers médiéval hostile. Grâce à un paquet d’événements de 128 cartes, chaque tour dévoile un fragment d’une grande histoire qui influence la survie et le développement de votre colonie. Né d’un projet familial passionné, Westenbray allie une gestion approfondie des ressources à un système d’événements dynamique. Les joueurs doivent traverser les quatre saisons, s’adapter à des défis inattendus et préparer leur colonie à une survie à long terme. Caractéristiques principales : 128 cartes d’événement uniques : un cycle annuel complet où chaque carte apporte son lot d’histoire, de choix difficiles et d’impact sur le gameplay. 4 modes de jeu : allant d’un « Blitz » rapide (cycle d’un an) à une campagne « Hardcore » intense et à un « Voyage sans fin ». Intégrations futures : conçu pour s’enrichir de mécanismes de tournois chevaleresques, d’une application compagnon et d’une trame narrative plus approfondie. —description du concepteur

Présentation de la campagne

The Seasonal Cycle and Probability Matrix

The Economy and Components

Physical Prototype and Components

The Chronicles of Westenbray

"The history of the Empire is buried under layers of frost and silence. Help us break the silence. As our community grows, we will peel back the veil and reveal the secrets of the world you are about to rebuild."

• 🔓 UNLOCKED: 50 Followers! | The Chronicles of Westenbray

Prologue: The Land of Four Realms

At the very edge of the known world, beyond sprawling mountain ranges and impenetrable forests, lay Westenbray. It was not merely a country defined on maps by the bold strokes of royal borders. Westenbray was an entire self-sustaining universe—a blessed yet rugged land where nature had crafted a perfect balance.In its shape, Westenbray resembled a giant, sheltered amphitheater protected from outer storms. Within this land, there were no barren wastes or dead soil; every region had its purpose. Four great realms extended toward the four cardinal directions, like guardians of a shared home: fertile Aratria in the south, dense Silvania in the north, ancient Latomia in the west, and ore-rich Metallia in the heart of the mountains.Yet the true wonder of Westenbray was not just its abundance, but the people who called it home. They knew no rulers over them. For centuries, not a single castle was erected for a king, nor was a single coin minted with the profile of a tyrant. Westenbray existed as a Free Land—an alliance of four realms where everyone remained the master of their own soil, and collective decisions were forged not through whips and swords, but through unity and reason.This was the land long before the dark clouds began to gather above it...

Chapter 1: The Free Realm

Part I: The Breath of Four Elements

Life in Westenbray was never easy. Nothing here was handed out freely—every slice of bread, every carved log, and every forged nail was paid for in honest sweat. But this was the labor of free people. A person owned precisely what they created with their own hands, and no royal tax collector stood over them with a scroll, demanding a cut for the right to breathe the air.Respect among the people was bound to their dedication to their craft. From an early age, everyone in Westenbray knew a short and unyielding truth: if one stumbles, everyone falls. This mutual responsibility was not a burden; it was harmony. In hard times, it kept them from giving up, and in prosperous days, it allowed them to genuinely share the joy of collective success.Here, a person grew up within their element, gradually learning to master it.If you were born in Aratria, the first thing you breathed in was the warm, comforting scent of fresh rye bread. You grew up among endless golden fields where knowledge of the soil was passed down without words—from father to son, through the touch of damp earth. Aratria was famous for its most fertile lands, its richest tables, and its most skilled bakers. It seemed as though a realm that fed everyone would be self-sufficient, but that was an illusion.Aratria could not sow a single field without the plows supplied by Metallia. There, among dark iron cliffs, a child grew up to a relentless rhythm: the clang of pickaxes in deep mines and the heavy strike of hammers on anvils tempered newborns much like red-hot iron is tempered by fire and ice-cold water. In this rugged terrain, the finest blacksmiths were born, crafting tools that lasted for generations.Yet an iron plowshare or a forged axe meant nothing if granaries and homes lacked protection. To shield their harvest from wild beasts and roaming bandits, sturdy walls were essential. And so, everyone turned their gaze toward Latomia.Latomia was a realm of grey mountains and harsh winds. Grueling physical labor, the creak of pulleys, and the low groans of oxen hauling massive stone blocks—this was the very voice of Latomia. Masons and engineers had lived here for generations. They understood the hidden character of every stone layer and knew how to raise walls that felt like natural extensions of the mountains themselves.And from the highest peaks of Latomia, one could always see the green ocean of Silvania—a land of soaring canopies and ingenious carpenters. To be born in Silvania meant becoming a part of the forest. Unlike outsiders, the locals knew the true value of every tree. For a Silvanian woodcutter, felling an ancient oak meant taking a life, done only with deep respect and out of necessity. But planting a new sapling meant giving new life and laying the rafters for their grandchildren’s future homes.No region could survive on its own. They were like four fingers of a single hand, clenched into a fist.

Part II: The Great Fair and Tournaments of Honor

The most vital event for all of Westenbray was The Great Fair. It was never just a marketplace; it was the living rhythm of the year that bound all four realms in a shared celebration. Because the year was divided into four seasons, each region hosted The Great Fair in its own turn. For this occasion, they chose the longest, brightest day of the season and a majestic location that best represented the realm itself:In Aratria, The Great Fair gathered in the autumn on the vast Golden Slopes—amid endless fields where threshed grain lay in mounds, and the air smelled of fresh bread and young wine.In Silvania, the festival took place in the spring at the Ancient Glade—under the massive canopies of the primeval forest, where the air was thick with the scent of pine resin and early blooms.In Metallia, the Fair bustled in the summer within the Lower Valley at the foot of iron cliffs, where the fires of the forges and the chime of hammers turned into festive music.In Latomia, the Fair was welcomed in the winter on the Mountain Plateau—among grand stone arches and walls that shielded guests from bitter winter winds.People gathered from every corner of Westenbray for The Great Fair. There were no royal bailiffs or judges here. All disputes were settled by a person's word of honor, and trade was simple and transparent: a measure of grain was exchanged for iron, stone for timber.Yet the crowning jewel of The Great Fair had always been the Knights' Tournaments.These were not brutal clashes meant for destruction. A tournament in Westenbray was a contest of honor, valor, and resilience. Each realm fielded its finest warriors and defenders. Knights competed not for wealth or titles, but for the respect and glory of their land.Taking part required months of grueling preparation, and the victor received no golden crown, but the collective reverence of all four Realms. It was a demonstration of strength meant to protect their shared home, not to oppress the weak.Back then, no one could have imagined that soon these spectacular tournaments, along with the Fairs themselves, would become nothing more than a memory—one that the Elders would have to rebuild from the ashes...

• 🔓 UNLOCKED: 100 Followers!

Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Crown

Part I: The Price of Foreign Fame

Rumors of Westenbray spilled far beyond its borders like an unstoppable river. A realm where labor held true value, where there were no extortionate taxes, royal bailiffs, or debtors' prisons, and where every person owned the fruits of their own hands, became a burning beacon amid the darkness. And that light drew everyone in.

Through the snowy crags of the Southern Passes, endless streams of people began pouring into Westenbray. Most were exhausted, honest workers fleeing the brutal tyranny of the Crown. They arrived in whole families, carrying their entire lives on their shoulders—meager bundles and weary children.

The Free Lands welcomed them with open hearts and outstretched arms. The inhabitants of Westenbray never locked their doors, for a lock on a door was seen as an insulting sign of distrust toward a neighbor. Aratrians opened their granaries without hesitation, sharing warm rye bread with the refugees. In Silvania, work was readily found for the newcomers among master carpenters, who provided axes, respect, and a roof over their heads. Latomian masons patiently taught them how to shape heavy mountain stone, while the blacksmiths of Metallia placed hammers in their hands, tempering the novices beside glowing forges. The people of Westenbray truly believed that anyone willing to work honestly would add strength to their shared home.

Yet along with the honest workers, others seeped through the narrow mountain trails. Those seeking easy money and quick wealth arrived without royal trackers or gallows behind them—thieves, rogues, and fugitives from the law.

For the first time in centuries, the peaceful, measured rhythm of the Free Realm faltered:

• In the golden valleys of Aratria, granaries filled with grain burst into flames for the first time as strangers attempted to steal seed rye.
• At the iron mines of Metallia, entire carts of valuable goods and tempered tools vanished.
• And along the borders of Silvania and Latomia, the first disputes flared up, where instead of an honest word, the sword began demanding the resources of others.

An internal order that had relied for centuries solely on verbal agreements, conscience, and words of honor faced a trial the free folk were simply unprepared for. They had never learned to suspect one another.

Worst of all, eyes from the deep palaces of the South watched all of this closely. To the King, a prosperous Westenbray was not merely desired wealth—it was a dangerous, deadly ulcer on the body of his absolute power. Hearing stories of their neighbors' free lives, his own peasants and craftsmen increasingly murmured, refused to pay unbearable tithes, and secretly packed their belongings to flee.

Part II: "Free Soil It Was, and Shall Remain"

On a sweltering afternoon, while the scent of pine resin and warm bread hung over the central crossroads of the trade routes, a solitary royal messenger arrived in Westenbray. He wore a lavish yet dust-covered surcoat bearing gold royal crests. Looking down condescendingly upon the plainly dressed folk, he rode straight into the Council of Elders, where routine fair matters were being decided.

Unmoved, he pulled out a heavy parchment scroll sealed with a large wax stamp and proclaimed the Royal Edict. The demand was brief, brutal, and absolute: henceforth, all of Westenbray was declared the indivisible property of the Crown, its riches surrendered directly to the King, and all its people made subjects bound to pay the lion's share of grain, steel, timber, and stone into the royal treasury.

A heavy, stone-like silence fell over the Council. The Elders—a burly blacksmith from Metallia with fire-tempered hands, a grey-haired mason from Latomia whose brow resembled a mountain ridge, a carpenter from Silvania, and a farmer from Aratria—exchanged glances. The silence quickly turned into loud, bewildered laughter.

People who had spent their entire lives building, sowing, shaping, and forging through their own sweat took the gold-sealed scroll for a stranger's foolish joke. The old mason stood up, took the scroll, and without even reading to the end, handed it back to the messenger with a brief word:

"Tell your master: we have no kings, for we need no whips to work. Westenbray is a free land. Free soil it was, is, and shall remain."

But the Crown did not know how to forgive insults.

Only a few weeks passed before an armed detachment of royal guards crossed the Southern Pass. These were professional mercenaries in heavy iron armor, marching beneath banners featuring the royal lion. They came no longer to negotiate, but to punish—with bared swords and torches, attempting to breach the border by force and compel the Elders into capitulation.

Yet the free folk did not flinch before the gleam of royal steel. At the foot of the Latomian crags, the locals themselves blocked the invaders' path. Everyone stood together: masons with heavy hammers, carpenters with felling axes, blacksmiths with tempered pikes, and farmers. Well-tempered tools and hands hardened by daily labor proved no less persuasive than the swords of the royal guard. After a brief but fierce clash, the royal detachment, having lost much of its strength and men, was forced to retreat in disgrace back across the passes.

The inhabitants believed the Crown would realize its mistake and stop, but this violent pretext was precisely what the King had been waiting for.

Capitalizing on the internal turmoil brought into Westenbray by the outsiders, and accusing the free lands of "savagery, banditry, and open rebellion against the majesty of the Crown," he signed the decree initiating a full-scale military campaign.

A heavy, black shadow from the South enveloped all of Westenbray. Ahead lay thirty grueling years of fire, steel, and fierce resistance...

• 🔒 250 FOLLOWERS
• -------------------------

• 🔒 500 FOLLOWERS
• -------------------------

• 🔒 1000 FOLLOWERS

-------------------------

A Word from the Creator

What is Four Seasons Village?

Hello! My name is Anton, and I am the creator of the Four Seasons Village series. I use the word 'series' deliberately - because while Westenbray is our first chapter, it is only the beginning. I already have numerous ideas and concrete developments for expanding this world: from new random event decks to large-scale knightly combat and tournament preparation. My vision for the game's future includes integrating the tabletop experience with a mobile companion app, as well as writing a short book that will delve deeper into the history of this universe.

What does this game mean to me?

This game is more than just mechanics; it is a project where my family has been my greatest support. This is a game we play, live, and develop together. My wife and I spent countless evenings brainstorming events and writing the lore, filling the world with detail. Together with my wife and mother, we conducted the first prototype tests, drawing conclusions and making vital improvements.

In fact, it was my wife and mother who hand-drew and cut the very first paper prototype of the game. Later, once the economy was refined and the balance was tested in real battles, I moved the game to Tabletop Simulator for professional polishing and rigorous stress-testing. After hundreds of digital sessions and final adjustments, the first physical version was born. It has been a long, challenging, but incredibly rewarding journey - and it’s only just beginning.

What is Westenbray?

Westenbray is the heart of the series - the living, harsh world where the game’s events unfold. Its foundation is the 'Westenbray Random Events' deck, consisting of 128 cards. Each card is not just a gameplay mechanic, but a fragment of a grand story that gradually reveals the lore and secrets of this universe.

We designed these cards to fully immerse the player in the atmosphere of survival. Every event is written with great attention to detail, giving the player a clear understanding of exactly how each occurrence affects the well-being of the inhabitants and the future of their settlement.

Future Expansions

The 'Westenbray Random Events' deck fully covers one annual cycle in Four Seasons Village, consisting of 128 turns. But the story doesn't stop there. Ahead of us are new decks that will cover subsequent annual cycles, further expanding the universe and telling new legends of this land.

What else is exciting?

Knightly Competitions and Preparation. We plan to connect the game with a mobile app that allows you to 'burn' resources accumulated during the game to upgrade your knights and earn final points for the global leaderboard. Using the resources gathered in-game, you can improve your knights and compete against other players: points are added for a victory and deducted for a defeat.

Furthermore, your knight's level is converted into victory points at the end of the game. This makes the sessions truly deep and immersive: a single game can last several real-world days and span several decades of in-game time.

Game Modes

To ensure everyone finds their own pace, the game features four modes:

1. 'Blitz': 1 in-game year using all cards - a fast-paced and intense adventure.
2. 'Standard': 3 years - the gold standard for strategic development and village building.
3. 'Hardcore': 5 years - a true test of your endurance and leadership qualities.

'Endless Voyage': The game lasts as many years as your spirit can endure. This mode is specifically designed to fully explore the potential of knightly tournaments and the evolution of your heroes.