Empires League Football™ — or simply ELF™ — is a fantasy-themed, head-to-head tabletop game based on a simplified version of football. It takes the game of football, strips it down to its core competitive and entertainment elements, and enhances that with a fantasy theme to create a unique, fast-paced, tabletop football experience. And just like real football, no two games are ever alike.

In ELF, you are a team’s coach and mage. You control who on your team plays, what plays are called, and when to use magic, timeouts, bluffs, and other strategic elements to give your team the best chance to win the game.

What is a game of ELF™ like and what is the goal?

A game of ELF™ is played using cards and a game board. A game is divided into two halves — each half lasting 90 ticks of the game clock, which is tracked on the game board. While there is time on the clock, two teams use cards to battle against each other, with one team moving the football up and down the field trying to score, and the other team trying to take back the football and stop them from scoring. The ultimate goal is to be the team with the most points when time runs out in the game.

Each team has five players representing it on the field at any given time, with five offensive players controlling the football and trying to score against five defensive players who are trying to stop them. Both offensive and defensive players have two ability scores, one showing their ability to impact the running game, and passing, reflecting their

Each team’s mage (or coach) influences play based on their area of football expertise and by casting spells, activating magic items, and healing players.

Like football, the offensive team must gain at least 10 yards in 4 downs to continue playing on offense, and may continue playing until they score points — via a field goal or a touchdown — or turn the ball over. If they are unable to gain 10 yards after 3 downs, they have a choice to “go for it” on 4th down — with the risk of turning the ball over if they do not get a first down — or they may punt, giving the ball to the other team further down the field.

This process repeats with each team getting chances to score until time runs out on the game clock, and the winner is decided by whichever team has scored the most points. If the game ends in a tie, there are tie-breaking rules used to determine a winner.

Now this, of course, is just the dry, dictionary definition of a game. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the pantheon of drama and emotion played out in a full game, or been to the Dreadhold and seen a stadium of intoxicated orcs erupt and storm the field — as when their famed linebacker, Igmar Fangrin, recovered a fumble to seal the victory against the stuffy, high-minded Ildaen Kings™, and marked the first time ever a Darksiders' team had beaten the Empires’ Champion.

Obviously, you can’t see a real game at the Dreadhold, but you can experience the fun and excitement of a come-from-behind victory over your biggest rival. Or a last-ditch play that goes the length of the field to win you the tournament championship. It’s these kinds of moments that make football such a sublime experience, and it’s these kinds of moments that are packed into a game of ELF, waiting for you to experience them.