In the island of Thrule, spirit-weavers gather to protect all of mankind.  After many years and trials, you have finally been given the chance to take your place among the exalted summoners.  Can you battle against the competition and rule the Summoner's Isle?

In Summoner’s Isle you are competing in a rite of passage to prove that you have full command over your creatures. To do so you must apply careful strategy, prove yourself in combat and most importantly, demonstrate your ability to absorb large quantities of spirit energy. Only once you have achieved all three can you take your place among the exalted ranks of the Summoners.

In Summoner's Isle, players must gather their energy and use it to summon beasts which protect areas they wish to control.  Each round completes in three phases: summon, action, and energy.  To combat decisive leads, energy levels are drained from those whose have the largest reserves and are awarded to people with very little.

This is a beautifully designed, simple-but-effective area control game.  Peculiarity has endeavoured to keep the gameplay efficient but also enjoyable, and it comes across in this Kickstarter.  As does their passion for the craft.  I mean, look at this guy:

I will buy a game off anyone who is this happy at a convention.  Not just because I'm a gaming addict, or because that box of chocolate beside him could lure me in like those kids in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  It's because publishers with this amount of passion for their game usually create games which are just plain fun to play.

Summoner's Isle is available on Kickstarter now.  It's already met its target and, with 25 days still to go, there's no doubt going to be some awesome stretch goals released as well.

Do you think passionate publishers make a difference?  Tell us in the comments!