Eye On Kickstarter #40

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 2018 Kickstarter Boardgame Projects geeklist over on Board Game Geek for a list of all the tabletop games of the year.

Support me on Patreon!

So, without further ado, here are the projects I'm currently watching as of the fourth fifth Friday of March, 2018:

Live Campaigns from Past Eyes:
Tabletop Network - Boardgame Designer's Retreat ENDS TODAY!
Sorcerer City ENDS TODAY!
Batman: Gotham City Chronicles ENDS TOMORROW!
Castles of Caleira
Dragon Keepers
Iron Harvest

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HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
Fire in the Library

• People Behind the Meeples Interview
• If there's one thing my family has a lot of, besides games, it's books. Nearly every open wall in our house is lined with book shelves. Some have games on them, but most have books. Our friends say we're like our own little library. One of our greatest fears is a fire in the house. How would we choose which books to save? They're all precious! Well, in Fire in the Library our worst fears are turned into a game. That's great, because I wouldn't want to have to rescue burning books in any other way.

Fire! The books are aflame and history is burning before your very eyes! Save what you can in this stunning 30min game for 1-6 players.

Fire in the Library is a press-your-luck game from Weird Giraffe Games by Tony Miller and John Prather with art by Beth Sobel and Katie Khau.

Players are heroic librarians rescuing books to accumulate knowledge and earn bravery all while avoiding the flames before the library collapses!

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Heroes Welcome

• People Behind the Meeples Interview
• There are a few games that take the heroes questing for treasures trope and flip it on its head. Red Dragon Inn is more about the stories and bragging that happens after the adventure, Manaforge is about magic shop owners, and Heroes Welcome is about conniving salesmen and con artists making a profit off of the local adventurers. It's designed by Marc LeBlanc and developed by the ever talented Eduardo Baraf, so you know it's going to be fun!

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Kingdoms Lawn Game

• I've been on the lookout for games that I can bring on Scout campouts that are more active than board games, yet still have some of the strategy and fun of board games. Kingdoms Lawn Game looks like it might be a contender. Simple, yet with some light strategy, and a pretty wide player count make this look like a good game for Scouts to play.

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Unbroken

• I go through phases where sometimes I play a lot of solo games. Other times I go for months without playing anything solo. Lately life has been so busy that my social gaming has taken a backseat to everything else going on, and my family has been way too busy to play games at home very much. So I've been doing a bit more solo gaming while waiting for the kids to get out of whatever activity they're at tonight, or in the evening after everyone else goes to bed, or while the family is finishing homework and other projects. Unbroken looks like a pretty cool solo game, and it's pretty high on my to-back list right now, I just haven't yet bit the bullet and backed.

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True Messiah

• GJJ Games Review
• GJJ Games Backed
• People Behind the Meeples Interview
• You might recognize this entry from my last Eye on Kickstarter. This was cancelled this week and then immediately relaunched because the designer/publisher received a new manufacturing quote that was substantially lower than previous quotes. So he decided to pass the savings on to his supporters with a less expensive game and much lower funding goal. I had the fortune to meet the designer of True Messiah, Craig Stern, back in January of 2016 at a game design meetup. There I got to play True Messiah and quite enjoyed it, even in its earlier stages. Craig also attends the Protospiel events that I go to, so we cross paths every so often.

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Eternal War of the Candy Realms

• OK, so this game doesn't interest me from a game perspective. It's more about the potential for some very interesting reading. If you're not familiar with Molly Friedrich's previous campaign for a game called Katalyka, I recommend taking a read through the updates. You'll find them very interesting. Or just watch this video for a summary of the whole thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie6b_sg2fsA
  And here is Molly's response to the video, so you can see her side of what really happened: https://www.facebook.com/ThisClose.ToEscape/posts/10158156658311959

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 113: Eliot Hochberg

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. Support me on Patreon!

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Name:	Eliot Hochberg
Email:	eliot@modestgames.com
Location:	Los Angeles
Day Job:	Video Director and Building Manager
Designing:	Two to five years.
BGG:	Eliot Hochberg
Facebook:	Eliot Hochberg
Twitter:	@modesteliot
YouTube:	Eliot Hochberg
Instagram:	@eliothochberg
Find my games at:	playfordgames.com, modestgames.com

Today's Interview is with:

Eliot Hochberg
Interviewed on: 2/7/2018

In 2016 Eliot Hochberg ran a successful Kickstarter campaign for his game, ILIOS: Battle for Troy. Late last year it was sent to backers and it's been met with generally positive reviews. Eliot has a number of other games in the works, so read on to learn more about his other projects and how he goes about designing 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?
I found out about blank inset dice and started making a version of Othello. Then, when worked out how long it would take, I decided I should add some features.

What game or games are you currently working on?
I have quite a few: one hidden roles game, a couple of word games, a deck of cards, a time travel game, and an add on for D&D. Plus like a hundred other ideas.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
ILIOS: Battle for Troy

What is your day job?
Video Director and Building Manager

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
At other people's houses :^)

Who do you normally game with?
Friends, some people at a game day I attend.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Quadropolis is my current go to. Just got Torres.

And what snacks would you eat?
Pretty much anything.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
I find music to be distracting, but can handle it if it's low.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Right now, Paper Heroes, although the selection at Game Empire is hard to beat.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Worst game is the Kickstarter redo of Red Shirts. Totally frustrating. Favorite is Lords of Waterdeep or Castles of Mad King Ludwig. I still play Werewolf, but everyone always thinks I'm the wolf.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I like engine builders. I hate anything that randomly steals things from another player.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Abstracts are always a hard sell.

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, RPG Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
I do have the whole set, but it was swag. I have enjoyed a couple of sessions, but it's not my favorite.

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?
Mechanics then theme, usually.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
I did enter the Indiecade contest one year. It seemed like they would have liked my game from the notes, but they dinged me for dark printing on the sample. Bummer.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I'm not good with putting names to games, but I like Patchwork and that designer a lot.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Sometimes from things in life, or from visualizing a way to play with bits that I think will be fun or satisfying.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
First, by myself. Then, with my girlfriend. Then, forgiving friends. Finally, strangers at game days or cons. Finish off with blind tests.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Mostly alone, but I can collaborate.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
I am great with ideas (who isn't?!) and getting a first version on the table. Where I fall short I think is in second step execution: pushing past the disappointment of something I thought worked that turns out not to work.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
I'm fascinated by the idea of a time travel or mystery story game. Any of the TV series about those topics.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Don't spend so much on prototypes!

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Ideas are cheap. Execution is king. Get your idea out there and test it. And don't spend so much on prototypes!

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: ILIOS: Battle of Troy
Games that I'm playtesting are: Golden Words, Anti-Scrabble, Seasons Deck, Standard Deck
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Card Alchemist
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: Untitled Time Travel Game

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Many of them... too many to list

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 Trek, Coke, VHS

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Improv, Karaoke

What is something you learned in the last week?
Cement cutters are loud

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
I like all sorts of sci-fi, and as for music, it's hard to say. But Sade and Propellerheads come to mind...

What was the last book you read?
Psychology of Doctor Who?

Do you play any musical instruments?
A little guitar, piano, sax/clarinet.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I can change a tire.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Pretended to be French while working at Subway.

Who is your idol?
Elon Musk

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Nothing! I don't want to destroy the universe!

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Both

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Martian Manhunter

Have any pets?
No, but my girlfriend has an awesome dog!

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?
Asteroid wipes out Washington DC while there is a politician convention. I want the game Mille Bornes to survive.

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):
Joseph Limbaugh, Ash Minnick, and Ross Hellwig

Thanks for answering all my crazy questions!

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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?  Pleasse show your support: Support me on Patreon! Or click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Press Release: Listit on Kickstarter Now!

Party games are not generally my favorite.  I enjoy playing, but they aren't my go-to games.  That said, I do have a few that I really do enjoy and wish I could get to the table a little more often.  One of those is Scattergories, and another is the similar SiXeS, which I reviewed last year.  Out on Kickstarter now is another list-based party game called Listit, which strips down those two games to just the essentials.  If you're interested in easy to learn, casual party games, be sure to check out Listit, on Kickstarter now.

NSFW WARNING - I don't generally cover NSFW games on my blog, so be aware, some of the content in Listit is not family friendly.  One of the categories on the cards is a NSFW category, which has topics of a more adult nature.  In my opinion it's a shame that this is included in every topic card since most of the rest would be family friendly and the NSFW category is the only thing that makes the game age 18+.  Also note, the PnP and Kickstarter page does have a very little bit of foul language in spots.
Support me on Patreon!

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Stockholm, 2018-03-20

"It's f---ed up Scattergories"

The casual card game for mind reading list lovers.

Quick facts

Type of game: casual, party, word, pen & paper, compromise, communication, creativity

Players: 3-10+ Age: 18+ Playing Time: 25-60 Min

What's in the box: 2 category cards and 106 playing cards with a total of 530 topics.

What is Listit?

Listit is a casual card game that brings hilarious discussions as you find out all of your friends' prejudices and weird associations. It consists of more than 500 witty, weird, and wide-ranging questions, answered in lists of five. Designed to reveal the true nature of the friends you play with, it's filled with interesting, thought-provoking and sometimes controversial topics. What they all have in common? The only correct answers are those shared with other players. Or, as one player put it: "It's f---ed up Scattergories".

How do you play?

Pick a topic, write a list of 5 items, and score 1 point for every answer shared with other players – no matter what that answer might be! Dead certain someone will pick Trump in "Worst presidential haircuts"? Mark him for a bonus if you're right – or a penalty if you're not.

For a full game play illustration and score keeping example, see the sample print-and-play.

More than a game

Created in Puerto Rico by three Swedes, Listit combines the Caribbean laid-back attitude with the Swedish way of (not) dealing with conflicts. We call it the Caribbish mindset! The hidden agenda of the game is to get people actively communicating, developing our compromising skills whilst having a good time.

The Kickstarter campaign

Listit was was launched on Kickstarter on March 1st and can be found here. The game was funded in 10 days and is currently working its way towards the 2-player version stretch goal.

Reviews, additional material and contact

Undead Viking prereview Let's Level Up prereview Gameplay session

A sample print-and-play, high resolution pictures, logo etc. can be found at dropbox

If you have any further questions contact Björn Torstensson at bjorn@listitgame.com

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Did you like this press release?  Show your support: Support me on Patreon! Also, click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 112: Herb Stanway

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. Support me on Patreon!

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Name:	Herb Stanway
Email:	zubonzo@hotmail.com
Location:	Montreal, Quebec CANADA
Day Job:	Commercial sign manufacturer
Designing:	Two to five years.
Webpage:	www.crashfactor.ca
Facebook:	Crash Factor Boardgame
YouTube:	Crash Factor in Hyperspace
Instagram:	@crashfactorgame
Find my games at:	Randolph's Pub and La Recreation in Montreal.

Today's Interview is with:

Herb Stanway
Interviewed on: 2/7/2018

Herb Stanway has designed an interesting game using weights and balancing called Crash Factor. This is his first designed game and it looks pretty interesting. To learn more about Herb and his Crash Factor project, read on!

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?
Started off as a party activity.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Crash Factor

Have you designed any games that have been published?
No

What is your day job?
Commercial sign manufacturer

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Home or boardgame bistros

Who do you normally game with?
Friends

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
My game, Crash Factor of course!

And what snacks would you eat?
Munchies and beer

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Classic and Alternative Rock

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Randolph's

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Crash Factor. Crazy 8's. Concentration.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Dexterity. Acting.

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

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

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board 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?
Mechanics first.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Yes. Finalist.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
No

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Daily life.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Go to prototype events.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Alone mostly.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Keeping all players focused and interested throughout the whole game.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Artificial Intelligence

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
There's more to a game than trying to win.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Never think you've got it all figured out perfectly.

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: Crash Factor

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

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 Trek. Coke. VHS.

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
3D printing. Backwoods skiing.

What is something you learned in the last week?
How to build an IKEA kitchen.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Alt. Rock. Non-Fiction. Sci Fi.

What was the last book you read?
Worlds in Collision

Do you play any musical instruments?
No

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I like to skateboard.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Drove down Ridgewood St. with no brakes.

Who is your idol?
Tesla

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back to Expo 67

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert

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

Have any pets?
No

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?
Powder skiing, surfing, Chess. Betrayal.

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):
Roger Federer

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

The current boardgame world needs a good Dexterity game that isn't just child’s play.

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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?  Pleasse show your support: Support me on Patreon! Or click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Press Release: Fire in the Library is on Kickstarter Now!

If there's one thing my family has a lot of, besides games, it's books.  Nearly every open wall in our house is lined with book shelves.  Some have games on them, but most have books.  Our friends say we're like our own little library.  One of our greatest fears is a fire in the house.  How would we choose which books to save?  They're all precious!

Well, in Fire in the Library our worst fears are turned into a game.  That's great, because I wouldn't want to have to rescue burning books in any other way.  You can learn more about Fire in the Library below, or check it out on Kickstarter today!

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Fire in the Library is on Kickstarter Now!

Carla and Nick Kopp of Weird Giraffe Games, creators of Super Hack Override and Stellar Leap are back with their next project, Fire in the Library!  The Kickstarter will close on April 12^th, so make sure to check it out before that! 

Many different groups of play testers, including other game designers, all agree that Fire In The Library is a great experience. The Kickstarter campaign will feature the game at $19, plus shipping with $5 US shipping, $10 Canada, Australia and EU Friendly shipping, and $15 shipping to the rest of the world. 

About the game:

Fire in the Library is a press-your-luck game from Weird Giraffe Games by Tony Miller and John Prather with art by Beth Sobel and Katie Khau. 

Players use shear bravery and some nifty tools to dash into a burning library to become known throughout the world as the librarian that saved the most knowledge. Each round Players decide when to play it save for guaranteed points or risk it all to try to save more books. Players must choose the best moment to use their tools as no one can anticipate when the library will collapse and end the game immediately. 

Easy to Learn: Simple enough for kids to play and enjoy, with depth and strategy that will keep serious gamers coming back. 

Increasing Intensity: Books increase in value all the way until the end but no one knows who will take the last turn. Players must decide if they should save tools for an epic late game point swing or grab points now to take an early lead. 

AI Variants: Experience the excitement of Fire in the Library on your own with the solo game or spice up a multi-player match by adding new challengers.

History is burning—Take chances, Be brave, SAVE BOOKS!

Number of players: 1-6
Time: 30 mins

Recommended ages: 8+

Kickstarter Page: http://fireinthelibrary.com

Art Gallery: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uyxraouqert9t53/AAACgTfU4zkSPJwYZyaoU6Bxa?dl=0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weirdgiraffegames

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeirdGiraffes

What they are saying about Fire In The Library:

“If you don’t like press your luck games, it is only because you have never played Fire in the Library. It is simple and yet strategic, quick and yet full of depth.”                                                       

–  Derek, GoTo.Game

"Fire in the Library has just the right blend of theme, luck mitigation, and tension in it to make me reconsider this type of game. With the ability to play up to six players and the short length it takes to play, this is a fun little gem that I have played with several different groups of people, and they have all asked to immediately play it again.”                         

–  Stuart, Catholic Mom

"The solitaire mode shows off just how strategic the gameplay in Fire in the Library can be. Based on my experience, I wouldn't be surprised if Fire in the Library sets Kickstarter on fire!” 

– Jeremy, Jambalaya Plays Games

"Fire in the Library is a tight, fun game that only gets better with more players. The theme really resonates with the pushyour-luck mechanics and as a librarian I can totally confirm that its 100% realistic. Save the books!“ 

-    Gameosity  

“Fire in the Library is a solid game and very well polished. Setup is quick, start to finish is about 30 minutes and it can be played solo or with up to six players. If this game was being released by a major publisher, I have no doubt it would be a trending topic in gaming circles as a must-have title. Don't let the fact it's a smaller publisher deter you from wanting to get this into your game library.”

-Nicole, SAHM Reviews

"Many problems I've encountered with press-your-luck games is they tend to carry little or no strategy. Thankfully Fire in the Library provides a great balance of luck and strategy, making it a great filler game for both new and seasoned gamers." 

-    Cassie, The Indie Game Report

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Did you like this press release?  Show your support: Support me on Patreon! Also, click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Eye on Kickstarter #39

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 2018 Kickstarter Boardgame Projects geeklist over on Board Game Geek for a list of all the tabletop games of the year.

Support me on Patreon!

So, without further ado, here are the projects I'm currently watching as of the second Friday of March, 2018:

Live Campaigns from Past Eyes:
Robin Hood and the Merry Men
Swordcrafters

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HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
True Messiah

• People Behind the Meeples Interview
• I had the fortune to meet the designer of True Messiah, Craig Stern, back in January of 2016 at a game design meetup. There I got to play True Messiah and quite enjoyed it, even in its earlier stages. Craig also attends the Protospiel events that I go to, so we cross paths every so often.

Recruit zealous followers, compete for surreal powers, control the wasteland. 2-4 players, 60-120 minutes.

Years ago, scientists constructed the Belief Engine, a machine that warps reality to match peoples’ most strongly held beliefs. The machine was turned on for testing, but it proved too sensitive: widespread belief in the depravity of man and imminent social collapse suddenly took on the full force of objective fact. Without resort to a shared external reality, civilization crumbled like a sand castle in the tide.

From the ruins have now arisen cults led by charismatic figures possessed of seemingly divine powers derived from the still-functioning Engine. You are one such a figure—the true one, the Messiah. It is God’s will that you build temples and marshal followers, then mold their beliefs to perform miracles and destroy your rivals. They’ll be doing the same, but don’t worry–God is on your side…

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Mysthea

• Mysthea looks like a really intriguing type of area control and hand-building game. Plus, the artwork is absolutely gorgeous. If I had an unlimited budget for board games this would be an insta-back for me.

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Into The Black: Boarding Party

• This semi-cooperative game about space piracy was on my list to review a while ago, however the prototype copy I received had a lot of flaws, so I ended up not posting a review. However, in the past 18 months or so the game has gone through a lot of changes (some of which I suggested, so I'm thrilled to see that they worked out). The new game looks a lot more interesting and hopefully fixes the early flaws.

Batman:

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Sorcerer City

• Sorcerer City is likened to a blend of Carcassonne, Dominion, and Galaxy Trucker. While I'm not wild about Galaxy Trucker, Carcassonner and DOminion are two of my favorites. Call me intrigued!

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Batman: Gotham City Chronicles

• How could this not catch my attention? Over three million raised already and two weeks to go, plus it's Batman!

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Castles of Caleira

• Castles of Caleira is a gorgeous looking micro game about building the best castle. It plays quickly, takes up very little space, and looks absolutely stunning, so what's not to love!

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Dragon Keepers

• Here's another gorgeous looking card game where players are working to protect dragons from the evil dragon hunters. This looks like a great family game.

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Tabletop Network - Boardgame Designer's Retreat

• Hanging out in a mountain resort in Utah for a weekend in June? That sounds like a vacation I need to convince my wife we need to go on (she's nervous about the ziplines and mountain roller coasters though). The best part is that you can spend two days at a conference learning about board game design from some of the best in the business!

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Iron Harvest

• I'm not really into playing video games, but Iron Harvest looks really incredible. It's set in the same 1920+ universe as Scythe, and since Scythe is one of my favorite games, this definitely caught my attention. It's almost enough to make me give up my analog games for digital!