Friday, December 30, 2016

GJJ Games Reviews - Francis Drake by Eagle-Gryphon Games

Francis Drake
Designer: Peter Hawes
Publisher: Eagle-Gryphon Games
3-5p | 90-120m | 14+
GJJ Games Reviews - Francis Drake by Eagle-Gryphon Games
Disclaimer

Game Overview:
Who doesn't love a good pirate game?  Swashbuckling crews, plundering ports, sea battles, and lots of action are what make pirates so enthralling.  But how about a great privateer game?  It doesn't sound quite as exciting, but one right, a game about managing resources, trading goods, and sailing the high seas could be quite interesting.  Well, just like Sir Francis Drake blurred the line between honest privateer and opportunistic pirate, the game Francis Drake a!so straddles the same line.  Does it work out as well for the game as it did for the famous captain?  Read on to find out.

Francis Drake is a large box game for three to five players (there is a variant for two players) that takes about 90 to 120 minutes.

Components & Packaging:
There's only one thing I can say about the components and packaging for Francis Drake.  Wow!  When I received the game I was impressed by the size and weight of the box.  When I took off the shrink wrap and opened the box I was impressed again.  The components are all top notch.  

Francis Drake features a large game board, printed on both ides, a smaller board to store the resources and other bits during the game, player boards for up to five players, and a whole slew of cardboard, plastic, wood, and glass components.  
Tons and tons of absolutely gorgeous components!
Everything is absolutely top notch as far as quality.  The player boards, tokens, and tiles are all nice and thick.  The ship miniatures are nice sculpts, and they even give you an extra one for keeping track of rounds when a simple token would have sufficed.  The silver, gold, and jewels are glass droplets.  The supplies are little barrels.  There are even little treasure chests for each player to keep their plunder in.  A whole bunch of wooden cubes, disks, and captain meeples round out the components.  Plus, everything is double sided with German content on the obverse.  The only game I own with nicer components is Scythe and that's only because I splurged on the metal coins and realistic resources.  If you only look at standard components, Francis Drake has the nicest, by far.
All the printed components are double sided, so you can play in English or German.
Even the huge main game board has an English side and a German side.
There's only one thing that may be nicer than the components, and that's the packaging.  Usually games have a box that is nothing special.  As long as it fits everything securely and isn't piece of junk, it'll be good enough.  Inserts, too, usually do their job, but aren't all that impressive.  Francis Drake, however, has one of the best inserts I've seen in a super nice box.  The insert has a spot for everything, but on top of that, the entire insert has a clear plastic cover with indentations that fit snugly in each compartment of the insert.  This ensures that, not only is it super easy to sort and store the game, but it stays sorted, too!  
Everything has its own little spot, and it's all kept in place with a clear plastic cover.
On top of the great insert you'll keep the main game board, resource board, player boards, and rules.  This makes quite a stack, but there is a notch cut into the side of the box to make removing these boards a breeze.  It's little details like that which set the game's components, packaging, and presentation ahead of most other games.
No more bending boxes to get at the game board, or dumping it unceremoniously onto the table with all the components.
Francis Drake has this nice little detail for easily removing the boards!
Score: 10/10 x1

Rules & Setup:
Setting up Francis Drake takes a few minutes, simply because of the number of components.  However, setup is pretty simple and straightforward.  Each type of component has its very own spot on the boards.  Crew, guns, supplies, and trade goods all have designated areas on the resource board.  So do silver, gold, and jewels.  Each character also has a spot, along with the other cardboard tokens used in the game.  All that needs to be done for setup is to place everything in its spot and then give the players their pieces.

Players each get a pile of wooden bits in their chosen color, a player board with a ship depicted of the same color, both a frigate and galleon in their color, an Investor token, and a treasure chest.  Most of the wooden bits are small disks that will be used during the provisioning phase or larger disks that will be used during the journey phase.  A few cubes are used as markers for tracking battle types each round, and one cube is used to indicate how far each player can sail each round.  Finally, a captain shaped meeple is placed on the score track at the four point spot and the frigates are placed in a random order in the home port section of the board.
You will need a good sized table.  It does take up quite a bit of real estate.
For such a big game, the rules are a lot simpler than I expected.  The game plays out over three rounds and each round has two phases, a provisioning phase and a journey phase.  During the provisioning phase, players will travel through the town of Plymouth, England, visiting different buildings and collecting crew, guns, supplies, and trade goods.  You'll also be able to upgrade your ship and enlist the help of various characters, like the Governor, Informant, Queen, and more.  These will all help you out on the second phase, the setting sail.  The sailing phase is where your ship sets out, visiting various locations throughout the Caribbean and Central America, trading for local goods like a good privateer, or attacking and pillaging Spanish towns, forts, and galleons like a dread pirate!

In the provisioning phase each player will take turns visiting locations in Plymouth by placing small wooden disks at the locations.  Each location will give certain resources that will be needed in the setting sail phase.  The first to visit each location will get a bigger benefit and not every location can be visited by all players.  There are limited spaces at each location.  Furthermore, once you have passed by a location you can't backtrack.  This means you have to plan carefully to make sure you get what you need.  Some locations give you more than just resources though.  Some let you upgrade your frigate to a galleon, which you'll need if you plan to track a Spanish galleon.  The tavern is a game of chance where you may gain some crew or the benefit of the ghost ship, which let you bluff during phase two.  You can also seize the opportunity to use the Golden Hinde (Drake's own ship) which let's you visit one location before anyone else has even set sail.  Other locations give you the abilities of the Governor, Admiral, or Informant, which will give you critical knowledge for your journey.
Heading through Plymouth gathering provisions.
Once all players have proceeded through Plymouth and is ready to sail, phase two begins.  Turn order for phase two is determined by whoever has their ship in the docks first.  Players then take turns placing one of their larger tokens face-down at one of the locations on the map section of the board.  These disks are numbered one through four, plus a player may have the use of the ghost ship and/or the Golden Hinde.  The map of the Caribbean is divided into four regions.  In order to sail to each region players must have enough supplies (barrels) to get there.  

There are four different types of locations to visit.  Trade ports let you exchange a trade good (purple cube) for one of the commodities at the location (coffee, tobacco, sugar, or the rare indigo).  Towns can be attacked by expending one crew (gray cube) and will earn you one or two points.  Forts can be attacked by expending crew and guns required for each town.  Guns can be avoided if you acquired a panache in Plymouth, but crew must be used.  However, until someone attacks a fort the exact number of crew needed is only known to the Governor.  Successfully attack a fort and you'll collect several points, plus, if you are the first to attack the fort this round you'll pillage a gold or silver piece, which can get stored in your treasure chest.  Galleons require guns (and a galleon of your own) and the Admiral will be the only one who knows the exact number of guns required.  Galleons will earn you points, plus a jewel for your treasure chest if you are the first successful attacker.
The Spanish Main has towns, forts, and galleons, just waiting for you to attack.
After all players have placed all of their tokens the Informant may peek at one set of pieces and then move one of his own if he likes.  Then all of the tokens are flipped and arranged at each location in numerical order (ties are determined in turn order).  The Golden Hinde may sail and resolve that location first.  Then everyone sails to their number one location, resolving them in turn order.  Then everyone sails to, then resolve location two.  And so on until everyone has sailed to each of their locations.  You may opt to end your voyage early and head back to Plymouth to get a couple of points and have an earlier turn order for the next provisioning phase.

After each phase there are some bonus points awarded for how many different types of locations you attacked.  Then all remaining resources are returned, galleons are downgraded back to frigates, and all other benefits are returned.  The only thing you get to keep between rounds is the crops you traded for.  The order of the locations in Plymouth get shuffled around and the Spanish galleons change locations.  After three rounds final scores are tallied, with bonuses for silver, gold, and jewels as well as how many sets of commodities you've obtained.
If you attack multiple types of locations each round you can gain bonus points.
You also gain points from all the gold, silver, and jewels you've stashed in your treasure chest by the end of the game.
There are a few more rules than that, but that's the main idea.  It takes between five and ten minutes to explain, and for a game of this size and depth, that's pretty good.  We didn't have any situations come up that weren't covered in the rules and everything made sense.

Score: 8/10 x2

Gameplay:
I had a blast playing Francis Drake and so did everyone I played with.  Despite the generally simple rules, there is a real depth to the game.  The decisions are meaningful and at times difficult.  The game is full of player interaction, but without any direct conflict.  

The provisioning phase requires you to carefully consider both your plan for the sailing phase and your opponents' plans.  You'll be faced with the decision to visit an earlier location for a benefit you may need, or jump ahead and visit the location you absolutely require before someone else snags that benefit from you.  There are also plenty of opportunities to play mean and take a location you know someone else needs.  The sailing phase is full of bluffing and deduction, especially if the Golden Hinde or any ghost ships are in play.  
There's a lot going on and a lot to think about while playing Francis Drake.
There definitely seems to be an ideal strategy, but the challenge comes with trying to execute that strategy better than your opponents.  This is definitely a game that should see the table more often in my group.

Score: 9/10 x3

Replayability:
As I said above, there really does seem to be a dominant strategy, but there is just enough randomization in the game that your approach to that strategy will change every time.  The people you are playing against will also be going for the same, or a very similar strategy, so the game becomes a combination of puzzle and outmaneuvering your opponents as you try to figure the best way to complete that strategy.

As a slightly heavier game that plays in about two hours this won't see a ton of table time, but I can be assured that the time spent with the game will be enjoyable.  I could see the game getting slightly repetitive if it's played a whole lot, but as an occasional foray into a slightly meatier pirate game, Francis Drake is definitely going to be a great choice.
An outstanding second round left me with a whopping 119 points at the end of the game!
Score: 7/10 x1

General Fun:
Francis Drake is quite fun to play if you want something a bit puzzly and thinky.  I really like the two distinct phases and how the second phase really depends on what you manage to get in the first phase.  It takes an interesting combination of both planning for the future as well as reacting to the changes in the current game state.  There's also quite a bit of player interaction for such a Euroey (yes, that's a word now, at least in this blog) feeling game about privateers.

However, for a pirate game, there's not much excitement.  Combat is very bland, either you have the crew and guns or you don't.  This is combat through resource management, not through the excitement of battle.  There's no tension or anguish in the combat, no real feeling that you're stealing treasure from an enemy, and no sense of adventure. That's fine, but it really doesn't bring across the feeling of piracy. Francis Drake is much more of a privateer game than a pirate game.
The most piratey you'll feel is when trying to snag that ideal location from an opponent.
Score: 7/10 x2

Overall Value:
The MSRP for Francis Drake is a hefty $80. The components are definitely top notch and the gameplay is solid and fun, especially if you like Euro style resource management with a healthy dose of non-combat player interaction, but I'm not sure I'd recommended the game for $80.  There's good news though!  Since the game is a bit older, it's readily available for $50 to $60.  That's a much more reasonable price, and even a bargain for what you get in the box.  At $60 or less, this is a pretty good value for the money.
Did I mention the gorgeous components?
Score: 8/10 x1

Final Thoughts:
Well, the real Sir Francis Drake skirted the line between privateer and pirate, becoming legendary and a British hero.  I'm not sure Francis Drake the game manages to walk the same line.  It's much more of a privateer's game than a pirate's game.  If you're looking for swashbuckling excitement then you must look elsewhere.  However, if you love a good cube pusher, but want more interaction with your fellow gamers, then Francis Drake is an excellent choice.

I really had a lot of fun trying to maximize my strategy while anticipating my opponents' actions.  Every game I played was enjoyed by all players and they are all enthusiastic about playing again.  The outstanding components and gorgeous artwork really make the game stand out, too.  
If you like worker placement, resource management, and player interaction then definitely set sail with Francis Drake.
As far as audience, I'd recommend Francis Drake to gamers who have advanced beyond gateway games already, but haven't made it on to heavy Euros yet, although it's great for even advanced gamers as well.  This is a great gateway to heavier games.  It has a depth to the gameplay that is beyond your typical gateway game, but the straightforward mechanics bring a simplicity and elegance to what may at first appear complex and overwhelming.  The fact that there is a fairly obvious optimum strategy makes it pretty easy for players to figure out what they should try to do, at least after a game or two.  Then the challenge of figuring out how to execute that strategy, and execute it better than your opponents becomes the real game.  Experienced gamers will really enjoy this aspect of trying to out think, outmaneuver, and outperform their opponents.

If Francis Drake sounds like a game for you, be sure to check it out at Eagle-Gryphon Games, your favorite online game store, or ask for it at your FLGS.

Overall Score: 82/100


Did you like this review?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.
















GJJG Game Reviews are independent, unpaid reviews of games I, George Jaros, have played with my family and friends.  Some of these games I own, some are owned by friends, some are borrowed, and some are print and play versions of games.  Where applicable I will indicate if games have been played with kids or adults or a mix (Family Play).  I won't go into extensive detail about how to play the game (there are plenty of other sources for that information and I'll occasionally link to those other sources), but I will give my impressions of the game and how my friends and family reacted to the game.  A score of 1-10 (low-high) is given to each game in six categories: Components & Packaging, Rules & Setup, Gameplay, Replayability, Overall Value, and General Fun.  Rules & Setup and General Fun are weighted double and Gameplay is weighted triple.  Educational games have an extra category and Gameplay is only weighted double. Then the game is given a total score of x/100.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 36: Matthias Bonnici

Welcome to People Behind the Meeples, a series of interviews with indie game designers.  Here you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about the people who make the best games that you may or may not have heard of before.  If you'd like to be featured, head over to http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html and fill out the questionnaire! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples.


Name:Matthias Bonnici
Location:Newark, NJ
Day Job:Product and Packaging Designer
Designing:Five to ten years.
Webpage:www.lostcog.com
BGG:mbonnici
Facebook:Lost Cog
Twitter:@MatthiasBonnici
Find my games at:www.lostcog.com, currently Rampaging Jotunn is in pre-order
Today's Interview is with:

Matthias Bonnici
Interviewed on: 8/25/2016

Earlier this year Matthias Bonnici made a splash with his Kickstarter success, Raging Jotunn. But he's not just a game designer. Matthias also has a number of published games that he's done graphic design for, and he's also an author and publisher. Rampaging Jotunn is his company, Lost Cog's first published game, and I look forward to seeing what other awesome games they release in the future. Read on to learn more about Matthias.

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Five to ten years.

Why did you start designing tabletop games?
It was by accident, a friend needed help with a design and it kinda stuck.

What game or games are you currently working on?
The Jurassic Arms Race, The Zero Day War & Cobalt

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Rampaging Jotunn was just funded through Kickstarter and is in Production

What is your day job?
Product and Packaging Designer

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
My house, friends houses

Who do you normally game with?
My wife, other game designers

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Sushi Go Party (Wife's favorite), X-Wing, Völuspá, 7-Wonders, Cosmic Encounters

And what snacks would you eat?
Cheese Doodles, Pop Rocks, Swedish Fish

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Probably a score to a game or movie

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Men at Arms Hobbies in Selden NY

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
My Favorite is Space Hulk, been playing that for 20 years

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Both are the same thing, Drafting, it could be fun or it could damn you for an entire game.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
REX

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Miniatures Games, Video Games

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
I used to, but not really anymore

You as a Designer
OK, now the bit that sets you apart from the typical gamer. Let's find out about you as a game designer.

When you design games, do you come up with a theme first and build the mechanics around that? Or do you come up with mechanics and then add a theme? Or something else?
Theme First

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
I have entered Rampaging Jotunn and Dragon Chess into the Kublacon Competition, RJ placed 5th, Dragon Chess placed 3rd

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I dunno, I know a lot of designers and I can't pick one, they are all awesome.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
In the shower or on the subway, always someplace where I don't have a notebook handy.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I abuse my friends and go to a lot of conventions.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I am a co-designer on two games but I think I may go it alone for a bit.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Creating a game is a war of attrition, and bringing it to market is worse. A game surviving through the entire process is the biggest challenge.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
The Thing, Escape from New York or The Last Starfighter

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Be confident, be humble, take criticism gracefully and insight with thanks.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Always have a Plan B.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Rampaging Jotunn
I'm planning to crowdfund: Rampaging Jotunn: The Winter War Expansion
Games that I'm playtesting are: The Jurassic Arms Race
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: The Zero Day War

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
The IGA, Envoy, Kickstand, Tabletop Game Kickstarter Advice, DFW Nerd Night, Board Game Geek, Kickstarter Board Games, Board Game Revolution, Board Game Reviewer... etc... etc...

And the oddly personal, but harmless stuff…
OK, enough of the game stuff, let's find out what really makes you tick! These are the questions that I’m sure are on everyone’s minds!

Star Trek or Star Wars? Coke or Pepsi? VHS or Betamax?
Star Wars, Mountain Dew, Blu-Ray

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Writing, Video Games, Reading and cooking

What is something you learned in the last week?
I learned how to wire money out of the country

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Industrial Music, Dune, Blade Runner

What was the last book you read?
The Battlestar Galactica Vault

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I often like absolute quiet in a near pitch black room, it's calming.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I stood toe to toe against Harlan Ellison in a verbal argument and won

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
I accidentally signed up for a design with the macintosh class in college, that was 20 years ago, I am now a veteran graphic designer.

Who is your idol?
I don't know, there are many people I look up to that are both historical and fictional but no one person stands out.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go far ahead and see where the human race went.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Yes.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Superman

Have any pets?
Yep one fine Kitty

When the next asteroid hits Earth, causing the Yellowstone caldera to explode, California to fall into the ocean, the sea levels to rise, and the next ice age to set in, what current games or other pastimes do you think (or hope) will survive into the next era of human civilization? What do you hope is underneath that asteroid to be wiped out of the human consciousness forever?
Art and games have been a part of mankind since before language. What I hope survives is reading and the will to succeed.

If you’d like to send a shout out to anyone, anyone at all, here’s your chance (I can’t guarantee they’ll read this though):
Folks know who they are and know I appreciate them.

Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

If you read this far, the gold is in that mine in that place in Arizona.

I like tacos.




Thank you for reading this People Behind the Meeples indie game designer interview! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples and if you'd like to be featured yourself, you can fill out the questionnaire here: http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 35: Gregory Carslaw

Welcome to People Behind the Meeples, a series of interviews with indie game designers.  Here you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about the people who make the best games that you may or may not have heard of before.  If you'd like to be featured, head over to http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html and fill out the questionnaire! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples.


Name:Gregory Carslaw
Email:laughingfoxgames@gmail.com
Location:Birmingham, UK
Day Job:Game Designer.
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:http://www.3dtotalgames.com/
Blog:Greg’s Design Blog
BGG:x_equals_speed
Other:http://projects.thepeoplesorchestra.co.uk/ https://www.patreon.com/gregsgames
Find my games at:http://www.3dtotalgames.com/ links to where you can buy most of my published stuff.

Email greg@thepeoplesorchestra.co.uk and I can probably sneak you onto the Shenanigans: The Musical list.

My prototyping stuff is often available online for download (The 3dtotalgames site has some, as does that patreon page that I've not actually launched yet, but that's another story) and I sometimes prototype in Tabletop Simulator and try things out there as well as having some formal DLC out (http://store.steampowered.com/app/468730/ and http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=613696382).
Today's Interview is with:

Gregory Carslaw
Interviewed on: 8/25/2016

Gregory Carslaw is an active designer from the UK that has brought us the Kickstarter successes Wizard's Academy, Escape the Nightmare, and 404: Law Not Found. He has a slew of other game designs that he's working on, some of which you should see being published in this upcoming year. Read on to find out a bit more about Gregory and his games!

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Two to five years.

Why did you start designing tabletop games?
Wanted to. Could.

What game or games are you currently working on?
SATW, Dauntless Hunters and Showdown. Showdown is basically One Night Ultimate Bang and is amazing and I might try traditional publication for once rather than the daft things I do.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
404: Law Not Found, Escape the Nightmare and Wizard's Academy

What is your day job?
Game Designer.

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
Where doesn't matter, who with does.

Who do you normally game with?
My girlfriends, old uni friends, newer friends, local gaming groups.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Tragedy Looper.

And what snacks would you eat?
My weight in chocolate.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
I do not listen to music.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Waylands Forge (Though Firestorm have endeared me to them recently)

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Tragedy Looper. Boggle (with my mum). Outdoor Survival.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
A game is a mix, not a mechanic. If the mix is good, I'm good.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Twilight Imperium. So long. So big. So hard to find the players.

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, RPG Games, Video Games, Other Games.

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
No

You as a Designer
OK, now the bit that sets you apart from the typical gamer. Let's find out about you as a game designer.

When you design games, do you come up with a theme first and build the mechanics around that? Or do you come up with mechanics and then add a theme? Or something else?
I start with a desire that nothing I've played is fulfilling well.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Nope, though I want to try RPG Superstar next time it's on.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Vlaada

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Whenever I don't have a pen to hand >:(

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Like anything else: First with myself, then people close to me, then strangers.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Alone till the mechanics are sound, then a team to make it beautiful.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Don't starve. The activity, not the indie PC game.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Working on a comic IP atm. Would love to work with: xkcd, smbc or oglaf next.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Start now. Don't do a PhD first. Or at least do the PhD at the same time.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Start now. Right now. Stop reading and go and make a game. Go!

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: 404: Law Not Found, Wizard's Academy, Escape the Nightmare
Games that will soon be published are: Shenanigans: The Musical (funded, working details with manufacturer)
This is what I have currently crowdfunding: Dauntless Hunters. Kinda. Patreon is like crowdfunding?
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Showdown. Also the unnamed appalling one that people say is unpublishable.
I'm planning to crowdfund: Scandinavia and the World: A Heap of Trouble (check out satwcomic.com)
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: SatW: AHoT
Games that I'm playtesting are: Showdown, Dauntless Hunters
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: The unnamed appalling thing.
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: Dozens. Maybe hundreds. So many dead before they really lived. I've done a project with charity funding and am looking at another where I work with an epic doctor of biology on a game modelling disease spread (and what we can do about it).

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
I sometimes comment on Kickstarter Best Practices and dip into the design forums on BGG and Reddit.

And the oddly personal, but harmless stuff…
OK, enough of the game stuff, let's find out what really makes you tick! These are the questions that I’m sure are on everyone’s minds!

Star Trek or Star Wars? Coke or Pepsi? VHS or Betamax?
Wars. Both awful. VHS (Betamax was better but less useful in the end)

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
LARP, kink, mild civil disobedience aimed at making people smile.

What is something you learned in the last week?
"Taken as red" is actually "Taken as read". Never seen it written down before.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
No music. I really never got music. Epic fantasy. Weird.

What was the last book you read?
Black Magic (Collection of short stories)

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I have been accused of terrorism on national TV. (Didn't do it. The terrorism accusation was Scientologists so it doesn't count.)

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
As a child I tried to murder Santa. 3 billion toys seemed worth the naughty list. If Santa was real I now wouldn't kill him, I'm mildly amused that I discovered statistical analysis of the expected number of presents available in the recently inherited sleigh compared to the expected loss for a lifetime of naughty list before either empathy or that Santa wasn't real.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Can't think of one. Maybe my plans are good so when they go wrong it's bad?

Who is your idol?
It's bad to idolise people. You excuse their worst behaviour in them and in you.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Caption political promises with what that person actually does if elected. I'd probably violate causality with the time machine in the first week.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Neither extreme. Leaning towards introvert I guess.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
One of the ones that seem like they actually have fun. Kitty Pryde maybe.

Have any pets?
No. I like cats and get on with rats. Haven't tried bats.

When the next asteroid hits Earth, causing the Yellowstone caldera to explode, California to fall into the ocean, the sea levels to rise, and the next ice age to set in, what current games or other pastimes do you think (or hope) will survive into the next era of human civilization? What do you hope is underneath that asteroid to be wiped out of the human consciousness forever?
Things that require few components. Rock, Paper, Scissors perhaps. I don't think humanity gets a second chance if we screw up climate change (and it's not looking good!)

If you’d like to send a shout out to anyone, anyone at all, here’s your chance (I can’t guarantee they’ll read this though):
Old friend it's been too long. Pick up the damn phone.

Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

Some things are zero sum. You cannot gain £5 without someone else losing it. Even if it materialises from nowhere everyone else will lose a very small amount through inflation. Some things are not zero sum. When someone hugs you, they do not lose a hug, they gain an extra one. From nowhere. Define failure and success in terms of these things.

Everyone should write something to make someone feel good about themselves in a public place at least once.




Thank you for reading this People Behind the Meeples indie game designer interview! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples and if you'd like to be featured yourself, you can fill out the questionnaire here: http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Eye On Kickstarter #11

Welcome to my Eye on Kickstarter series!  This series will highlight Kickstarter campaigns I am following that have recently launched (or I've recently discovered) because they have caught my interest.  Usually they'll catch my interest because they look like great games that I have either backed or would like to back (unfortunately budget doesn't allow me to back everything I'd like to).  But occasionally the campaigns caught my attention for other reasons.  Twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, I'll make a new post in this series, highlighting the campaigns that have caught my attention since the last post.  In each post I'll highlight one campaign that has really grabbed my attention, followed by other campaigns I've backed or am interested in.  I'll also include links to any reviews I've done.  Comments are welcome, as are suggestions for new campaigns to check out!

You can also see my full Kickstarter Profile to see what I've backed or my old Eye on Kickstarter page that was too unwieldy to maintain.  Also, check out the 2016 Kickstarter Boardgame Projects geeklist over on Board Game Geek for a list of all the tabletop games of the year.

NOTE: Late in the year is generally a very slow time for Kickstarters. There are fewer running now than at any time of the year and unfortunately nothing really grabbed my attention in the last two weeks. So I'm going to re-post a game that I featured a few weeks ago that is ending this weekend, plus two others that I've made posts related to previously.


HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
Solarquest Deluxe Edition
  • GJJ Games Review
  • GJJ Games Backed
  • This was a Highlighted Campaign a few weeks ago, and it's ending this weekend. They're VERY close to funding, so please check this campaign out and consider backing it. Solarquest used to be my favorite game as a kid. I even made an Oort Cloud expansion for my copy (which has since gone missing), which I think was my first foray into board game design. This Kickstarter is for an updated version of the classic game that adds a new class of properties (dwarf planets), makes a few adjustments to the rules, adds mission cards, and adds support for eight players. For a roll-and-move game that has many similarities to Monopoly, Solarquest actually holds up pretty well to modern game standards. It's still a roll-and-move real estate game, but it's infinitely better than Monopoly. Be sure to check it out for some light, casual, family fun!


New Deluxe Edition of the classic board game SolarQuest, with enhanced gameplay, magnetic fuel card, 8 player capability, and more.




Dice Coins 2
  • GJJ Games Review
  • Much earlier in the year I reviewed a set of coins for a game called Ultra Coins. The game was an interesting battle game similar to Magic, however each player used an army of two inch coins that could spin to determine the outcome of battles. Since that successful campaign Ultimate Custom Coins ran a second successful campaign for similar coins that could be used as dice. My review was mainly about the quality of the coins, so it's applicable to the newest campaign for a second set of custom dice coins.


Hunting Sasquatch

Thursday, December 22, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 34: Daniel Rojas Arboleda

Welcome to People Behind the Meeples, a series of interviews with indie game designers.  Here you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about the people who make the best games that you may or may not have heard of before.  If you'd like to be featured, head over to http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html and fill out the questionnaire! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples.


Name:Daniel Rojas Arboleda
Email:drojasar@gmail.com
Location:Colombia
Day Job:I´m a journalist and a writer.
Designing:Less than six months.
BGG:Emiliolarsen
Facebook:boardgamersur
Twitter:@emiliolarsen
YouTube:Board Gamers del Sur
Find my games at:Don't know yet.
Today's Interview is with:

Daniel Rojas Arboleda
Interviewed on: 8/24/2016

Daniel Rojas Arboleda is a game designer from Colombia that is spearheading several South American board game ventures. He has started both a Facebook group and YouTube channel called Board Gamers del Sur for those board gamers to the South. He's relatively new to game design, but I look forward to seeing what he creates in the future! Read on to learn more about Daniel.

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Less than six months.

Why did you start designing tabletop games?
I started as a player but then I realised, as a writer, that many of my ideas could be turned into games.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Destination: Ithaca, a secret action and bluffing board game, and Garage Kings, and eurofiller card game.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Not yet. Pretty soon, I'm sure.

What is your day job?
I´m a journalist and a writer.

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
At home.

Who do you normally game with?
I created a Facebook group (Boardgamers del Sur) and I have a group of people, members of BGS, I usually play with.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
I like to start with fillers, like Avalon or Codenames, then go for Ticket to Ride, San Juan or Survive: Escape from Atlantis. Then I like to play some euro style games or something like Blood Rage.

And what snacks would you eat?
Potato chips, sandwiches or pizza.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Sometimes we play some rock or jazz music while playing.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
There's an LGS called Draco Hobbys I like to play in.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
I'm enjoying Blood Rage and San Juan too much. I enjoy Zombicide, though is not my favorite. I didn't like Forbidden Desert

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I really enjoy card drafting and movement programming. Auction and bidding allows a lot of player interaction, and I like that. My least favorite mechanic is line drawing, and, if there's a clever way to replace dice rolling is a winner to me.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
I haven't been able to get Dead of Winter to the table, and I'm dying to play it!

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, Video Games

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
No

You as a Designer
OK, now the bit that sets you apart from the typical gamer. Let's find out about you as a game designer.

When you design games, do you come up with a theme first and build the mechanics around that? Or do you come up with mechanics and then add a theme? Or something else?
I usually come up with the theme first and then I start to dream about mechanics and components.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
I'm currently participating in Prototipia, an spanish contest.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
The Bruno twins (Cathala and Faidutti), hehehe. They're like magicians to me. And Eric "Midas" Lang is definitely getting my attention.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
I got my office at home, and is a place in which every corner has been arranged to be creativity-booster. There's where my ideas tend to land into my brain.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Friends, family and local stores.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
My wife is always taking part of my projects, then, I like to involve other people, according to what they do best.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Testing is always where you must be paying attention. Not every gamer is a good tester. You need to find people willing to give you valuable feedback.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
I would like to do something with the Need for Speed flavor on it.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
How fun and stimulating it is.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
You need to have a lot of time at your disposal, and be ready to put a lot of effort into it.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Garage Kings
Games that I'm playtesting are: Garage Kings.
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: , Destination: Ithaca.

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Card and Board Game Developers Guild; Tabletop Game Publisher's Guild; Boardgame Geek.

And the oddly personal, but harmless stuff…
OK, enough of the game stuff, let's find out what really makes you tick! These are the questions that I’m sure are on everyone’s minds!

Star Trek or Star Wars? Coke or Pepsi? VHS or Betamax?
Lord of The Rings, milk and BlueRay

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Reading.

What is something you learned in the last week?
There's a lot of people around the world you can exchange ideas and work with.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
I really like heavy metal and rock; short stories and short novels, and drama.

What was the last book you read?
El coronel no tiene quien le escriba, written by Gabriel García Márquez.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
Actually, my closest friends are quite surprised with me designing board games.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Actually following my dreams has been always perceived as craziness by my family.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
I had a fight with my father and he threw me out of his house. I realized how good that was for my self development after the years went by.

Who is your idol?
My idols are Eddie Vedder and J.R.R Tolkien. I admire their creativity and the power behind their work.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back in time to avoid Álvaro Uribe Velez parents from knowing each other.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
I have to go with Wolverine.

Have any pets?
Nope.

When the next asteroid hits Earth, causing the Yellowstone caldera to explode, California to fall into the ocean, the sea levels to rise, and the next ice age to set in, what current games or other pastimes do you think (or hope) will survive into the next era of human civilization? What do you hope is underneath that asteroid to be wiped out of the human consciousness forever?
Reading and playing any kind of game would be good for humanity. Fanaticism is definitely something to take out of the equation.

If you’d like to send a shout out to anyone, anyone at all, here’s your chance (I can’t guarantee they’ll read this though):
Play more games people! Turn the world into a huge playground!


Thanks for answering all my crazy questions!




Thank you for reading this People Behind the Meeples indie game designer interview! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples and if you'd like to be featured yourself, you can fill out the questionnaire here: http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.