Welcome everyone! We are talking with Shem Phillips, the co-designer of Ezra and Nehemiah from Garphill Games and Arkus Studios.
Welcome Shem! We are very happy to have you on BibleBoardGames.com. For those of you who don’t know Shem, he is from Garphill Games, the board game publisher of the North, West, & South Kingdom series, along with other games and the Ancients series. Speaking of the Ancients series…
Ezra and Nehemiah – The Game
● What is your role in making Ezra and Nehemiah?
Shem: Co-designer and publisher.
● When will it be released?
Shem: Q3 2024.
● Where will it be released?
Shem: On Kickstarter Oct 2023, and later in retail.
Back it on Kickstarter here.
● What do you like the most about this game?
Shem: How well the theme and mechanisms work together, and the crunchy decisions you have
on every turn.
● What sparked your interest to make this game?
Shem: I’ve wanted to make a game about this story for around 10 years. I actually attempted to
make a game back then, but ended up abandoning the concept when another game
titled “Nehemiah” came to market. More recently Sam Macdonald and I collaborated to
bring this new version to life.
● How long did it take to make this game?
Shem: The initial design was fairly fast, but there was a few months of development after that. It
was spread out over time, but it would have been around 9 months all up.
Board Gaming Background
● How many games have you designed/published?
Shem: Somewhere around 25-30.
● Do you have any favorite types of game mechanics?
Shem: My favourites include multi-use cards, worker placement, and set collection.
● Was there a particular time or game that got you interested in board games?
Shem: I grew up with classic games, but it was Catan, Carcassonne, Family Business, Citadels,
and Ticket to Ride that drew me into modern board gaming over 12 years ago.
● Any other board games you like to play when you have time?
Shem: Some of my favourites include Pandemic, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Great Western Trail, and
Underwater Cities.
● Did you always have a passion for making board games or did it develop gradually?
Shem: I’m a creative person. My late teens and early twenties were spent writing and
performing in various bands – playing guitar, bass, and singing. It was in my early
twenties that I first thought of designing my own board game. Much like writing music, it’s
just another creative outlet.
● What was your first board game you remember playing?
Shem: I’m guessing it would have been some classic old card games like Memory or Old Maid.
From there it would have Scrabble, Cluedo, or Monopoly.
Virtual Gaming and Conventions
● Virtual Gaming is becoming more popular with board game designers because it is
easier to get all the play testers a new version quickly compared to the time and cost of
physically shipping a new version. I see Tabletop Simulator, Tabletopia, Vassel, and I
apologize if I miss some. Do you like using virtual gaming systems and which one is your
favorite?
Shem: We use Tabletop Simulator on a daily basis. It’s an amazing tool which allows us to run
regular playtests with people all over the world.
● The average person has 25-50 hours per week for leisure time. Why would you
encourage someone to fit in some time for board games?
Shem: They’re a great way to connect with others around a table. They challenge you to think in
different ways, and invite you to discover new and interesting worlds.
● Did you have any favorite gaming convention (game con) experiences?
Shem: I love attending Wellycon – my local con in Wellington. It’s always great catching up with
everyone there. I’ve been to a few cons in Australia, Germany, and the US in recent
years. The last Gen Con was a big highlight for me. It was so great meeting our regular
online playtesters in person for the first time.
Publishing
● It looks like you are on a good run of games people want to buy. How many low-print
games did you make before Shipwrights of the North Sea and Raiders of the North Sea
started gaining interest on Kickstarter?
Shem: I made 6 other games before Shipwrights. They were just small local print runs. Mostly
card games or low-component games that I could produce without needing to use a
factory.
● People may not realize that a majority of the purchase price of a board game goes
towards making the actual game; After the art, production, manufacturing, and
shipping are covered, the rest is split between all the parties who are involved in making
and selling it. Are you able to design board games full-time now?
Shem: I have been full-time with Garphill Games since 2017. We also have 2 other full-time
employees at the company now.
Other Games
● I see you have other board games in the North Sea, West Kingdom, and South Tigris.
Do you see Ezra and Nehemiah as a part of one of these series or more of the Ancients
series?
Shem: Ezra and Nehemiah is part 4 in our Ancient Anthology series.
● If Ezra and Nehemiah is too complex for new gamers, what would you recommend them to start
with from your games or other games?
Shem: Raiders of the North Sea and Architects of the West Kingdom are largely accepted as
the best games to try out first from our catalog.
● If someone likes Ezra and Nehemiah game, what other game would you refer to them next?
Shem: Paladins, Viscounts, and Scholars are similar games from our series. For other games,
I’d recommend Great Western Trail or Underwater Cities for a similar experience.
● Any other new titles planned for the South or East?
Shem: We have already announced the entire South Tigris: Wayfarers was released in 2022;
Scholars will be released shortly, and Inventors will be on Kickstarter in 2024. We have
not announced the East yet, but it will likely launch in 2026.
Interests
● Favorite Classic Card Deck game? Ex: Hearts, Spades, 500 Rummy?
Shem: Patience (Solitaire).
● Favorite Food?
Shem: Anything Satay.
● Favorite TV Show or Movie?
Shem: Person of Interest, and Fringe are two of the best shows ever made.
● Favorite Outside Activity?
Shem: While I don’t play it anymore, I still love watching a game of rugby from time to time.
● What do you have going on next in your personal life or professional life?
Shem: We should be moving into our newly built office for Garphill Games in a few months. It
will be nice to get all the local stock out of my garage and to have a shared space where
we can all meet to work on our upcoming projects.
● Where can someone go to see more of your games?
Shem: www.garphill.com
Thank you Shem for your time and Good Luck with Ezra and Nehemiah!
