Tuesday, March 31, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 218: Kiefer Shipman

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!


Name:Kiefer Shipman
Email:reflectivetreegames@gmail.com
Location:San Marcos, Texas
Day Job:Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Designing:Two to five years.
Twitter:@reflectivetree
YouTube:Reflective Tree Games
Find my games at:Hopefully, I’ll have a PnP soon.
Today's Interview is with:

Kiefer Shipman
Interviewed on: 3/7/2020

This week's interview is with Kiefer Shipman, the designer behind Reflective Tree Games. Kiefer has several designs that he's been working on and hopes to have one or more of them published through crowdfunding this year. Outside of board games, Kiefer is also a sign language interpreter. Read on to learn more about Kiefer and his projects.

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?
My philosophy: more games is best, and I want to be a part of that.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Merchants of The Tradewinds, Hope Falls, untitled time travel game

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Not yet! Looking to be Kickstarter ready end of this year/beginning of next

What is your day job?
Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
I run 4 weekly gaming-related groups. One is for designers here at my house, one is at a local community center, one is after parks and rec kicks us out of the community center at my house, and one is my weekly Gloomhaven group. I’m also looking to start a design-related podcast at some point in the future.

Who do you normally game with?
I game with about a dozen people on any given week.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
My tastes in games ebbs and flows like the waves in the sea. Right now, I’m really enjoying Taverns of Tiefenthal, Tiny Towns, Gizmos, and Fantastic Factories.

And what snacks would you eat?
Snacks vary greatly.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Occasionally, but I mostly enjoy having the sounds of the people around the table over a soundtrack.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Probably Emerald Tavern in Austin.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Favorite-probably Villainous. The theming and skill Prospero Hall adds into all their games manages to astound me each time. Least favorite- Betrayal at House on the Hill. In the end, you move typically one space, roll dice, and something happens to you, but I enjoy the role playing. I can’t really think of a worst game.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Favorite-worker placement Least-dudes on a map/area control and games where you just get picked on relentlessly.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
This War of Mine. Amazing mechanics and a fantastic message that don’t often get seen due to the subject matter.

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?
Ehhhh.... I’d rather not. In the end, the player who wins a large percentage of the time is the one who drew the dirtiest card.

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’ve done both. My first game, Merchants of the Tradewinds was theme AND mechanics. My second game, Hope Falls, started off as mechanics. My untitled time travel game started off with theme.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
I’ve entered several, made it to the second of three rounds in most of them.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Prospero Hall. Kind of cheating, since they’re actually a group of designers, but I really admire their dedication, understanding, and research they put into bringing the IPs they make games from to life. I also really admire Rodney Smith. Perhaps it’s his friendly nature, but I just want to get my game in front of him at some point.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Oddly enough, my best ideas come to me in that weird moment between asleep and waking. I’ve actually lost a few games during those times because I opt to go back to sleep thinking, “I’ll remember that one when I wake up” and then don’t.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Between the four groups I run, as well as several groups in both Austin and San Antonio, there’s never a shortage of play testers.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
That’s a double-edged sword. I’ve had bad experiences working with people when I didn’t set clear expectations. Working by yourself, you’re always on the same page as your team. Work with someone else, and they might not be on the same page. But designing solo is difficult in that you don’t always have people to bounce ideas off of.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Networking. Getting a crowd day one of a campaign is very important, but going to conventions is often a barrier to entry for people like me. I can’t afford thousands of dollars just to get my own booth, hotel, flights, and food, so I find it very difficult to meet all the people I would like.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
I had an idea a while back to release games that use characters/companies from other board games. Like a Mario Kart-like game using other board game characters, a Smash Bros-like game (same concept), and a worker placement game where you take on the role of a real-life board game publisher, and release their actual games. As I mentioned before, going to conventions is a huge barrier to entry for many people, and my thought process for these games was to take all the profit of those games and set up a scholarship for other game designers to attend free of charge.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Just because a blog tells you that you should design your game THIS WAY, doesn’t mean that’s how YOU need to design your game. Everyone designs differently, and that’s okay.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Sometimes, doing that possibly costly, possibly wasteful work is better than doing no work at all. Making a nice deck of cards when I probably didn’t need to kept my mind focused on my game when I was banging my head against the wall on some stupid mechanic. Keeping my mind engaged allowed me to think about it in my free time, and I was able to come up with a lot more solutions.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: None yet, but SOON.
Games that will soon be published are: Merchants of The Tradewinds
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Possibly Merchants of The Tradewinds. I haven’t quite decided if I want to self-publish or not. I’m keeping my options open.
I'm planning to crowdfund: Merchants of the Tradewinds possibly, but my Time Travel worker placement is a for sure self-publish.
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: Merchants of The Tradewinds
Games that I'm playtesting are: Hope falls
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Time Travel Worker Placement
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: Pottery worker placement game, murder hidden movement game, a game I’m calling Veto, which is a party game all about the power of the presidential veto.

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Board game design lab, San Marcos Board Game Designers, San Antonio board game designers, Austin Board game designers.

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. Either. VHS.

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
I play video games, but board games have filled a void in my life I didn’t realize was there-human interaction.

What is something you learned in the last week?
I suck at computers. I mean REALLY suck. 90-year-old man suck.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
I grew up with 60s, 70s, and 80s pop and rock. That’s typically my jam. But I’ve also found a group that does “epic” covers of those songs that are typically for use in movie trailers. Still to this day, one of my favorite series is the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, as well as The Giver by Lois Lowry (I do not recommend the movie for this AT ALL. DON’T EVEN WATCH THE TRAILER) I love the hidden gems of movies. The kind you see at Walmart that no one went to see. Some favorites: The Killing Room, Mr. Brooks, Bubba Hotep, Tucker and Dale VS Evil.

What was the last book you read?
I’m currently reading Jamey Stegmaier’s book.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I used to play the violin, but now I sing professionally in the shower.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I grew up with Deaf family members, and because I grew up signing, I now use that skill for a living.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I went to a paint rave. This was back in the day when Dubstep was the huge thing. None of that sounds like a big deal, but the paint being thrown around by the bucket...was house paint. I’m a pretty hairy guy, and the paint cemented my hair to my skin, so I had to shave most of my body (which hurt) and since it was house paint, I’m sure I probably chipped a few years off my lifespan.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Me and my wife (at the time we weren’t even dating) were in a really dark place. Worst time of our lives. We got pregnant, and that really put our entire lives into focus. We had something to live for. Something I wouldn’t give up for the world.

Who is your idol?
My grandparents. They are genuinely the most loving people in the entire world. I don’t know how they can go through life as the saints they are.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
I would go and undo some mistakes I made in the past. Things I shouldn’t have said. Things I should’ve said.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert, definitely.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
I want to be the superhero my daughter thinks I am.

Have any pets?
One cat, Evie (she’s part Lemur, I swear) and dog Mo (he’s not very bright)

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?
I don’t think board games could ever be wiped out. We’ve had them for thousands of years, and I imagine we’ll have them for thousands more. I would hope that something that big would unite us rather than the constant divisiveness we experience everywhere today.

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):
To my wife and daughter Elena, you are the force that keeps me going. Without either of you, I would have nothing.

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?  Please 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.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 217: Chris Rio

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!


Name:Chris Rio
Email:chris@cheerupgames.com
Location:Boston
Day Job:Digital Marketing
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:www.cheerupgames.com
Facebook:@cheerupgames
Twitter:@cheerupgames
Instagram:@cheerupgames
Find my games at:On Amazon, on cheerupgames.com, and Swearmints is on The Game Crafter.
Today's Interview is with:

Chris Rio
Interviewed on: 2/13/2020

Let's get to meet Chris Rio, a designer out of Boston who has a Kickstarter running right now for the first expansion for hid party game, Cheer Up. The expansion, Cheer Up! - The Big D Pack! adds locations and more to the game. In addition to designing fun party games, Chris also self-publishes his games. Read on to learn more about Chris and his other projects!

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 play a lot of party games, but the quality varies wildly in the casual market and it's hard to know what's good. I developed my first game (Cheer Up!) as an antidote to what I saw were issues with certain games (like the popular one that rhymes with Lards Protest Calamity.) I literally just made the exact game I wanted to play.

What game or games are you currently working on?
The one that is public is called Master of Pieces and it's a painting party game where you don't have to know how to paint! I think it's going to be really unique when it's finished.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
I self-published my first one, but stay tuned for the others!

What is your day job?
Digital Marketing

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
At my house on the big wooden dining room table. I like games with a lot of table presence and I like to be able to see everything. No buckets of Cheetos!

Who do you normally game with?
Friends and family! You'd be surprised how much your parents can enjoy it if you find the right game.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
I like to play something big but light weight that's easy to teach (like The Grimm Forest, or Deception) and then maybe end with either a new prototype or a staple party game

And what snacks would you eat?
NO CHEETOS ON THE TABLE!

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
No. The laughter is the music.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Diversions in Portsmouth NH! They were one of the first stores I sold to and the nicest people ever!

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
I'm gonna go with an underrated party gem: The Metagame. It's a more clever twist on Cards Against Humanity and even funnier. I'm not gonna tear anyone else down!

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Judging. Almost all of my designs have incorporated it in some way, and even though most people knock it, I think it's the perfect social mechanic. It instantly designates the game as "just for fun" and isn't that the whole point? Least favorite: deck-building. I think I'm too dumb to get it.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
I can sometimes handle heavier games, but most of my groups are pretty casual. So I basically have to go to a con if I ever want to try something like Root!

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?
Yes. It has it's issues but I wouldn't be here without it.

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?
This is not the way they tell you to do it, but honestly I almost always start with a title. It will just be a funny theme idea or a visual element that I can picture in my head. Then I build the mechanics out. When coming up with Master of Pieces, I thought "wouldn't it be funny if you could mix up all the famous paintings? Oh I have the perfect title!" I'll figure out how to actually do it later.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
My second game Swearmints did pretty good in The Game Crafter's Mint Tin contest!

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Not a specific person, but Big Potato Games are my business idols. I'm obsessed with what they are doing from a marketing standpoint and they are really doing a great job standing out from the crowded field of party games. Just look at their con photos and you'll see what I mean!

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
In dreams - I'm not kidding. Sometimes I'll see an image or a visual cue and a complete game idea will pop into my head, like it's hidden in there and I just have to unlock it. For Master of Pieces, I think I just saw a picture of the Mona Lisa and it just popped in. I'm not claiming to be a genius. It's completely accidental and I can't control it.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I start with my very close friends and family. I know you're not "supposed" to do that because the feedback can be biased. But because I design casual games, that actually IS my audience. If they like it I'll take it to the next level. If they don't like it, I can tell! They won't tell it's great just because they love me.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Absolutely alone and it's a huge problem because I get stuck in my own head. My future goal is to maybe start a co-design and branch out a little more.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Art. I have a great eye for design and know what kind of artwork I like, I just can't draw for crap. I'm jealous of designers that can put a prototype together with full artwork because they can do it themselves.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. I already have the game in my head!

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Take your time. Every time I have failed or been rejected in some way it was always for the best. The present always seems like the best time because you haven't been to the future yet.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Don't ignore the casual audience! There is a huge market out there of people whose last game they played was Battleship in 5th Grade and who have never heard of Kickstarter. Make stuff for them, and they'll love you for it!

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Cheer Up! The Ultimate Party Game, Swearmints
This is what I have currently crowdfunding: The first expansion to Cheer Up! - Cheer Up! - The Big D Pack! (through April 1, 2020)
I'm planning to crowdfund: Master of Pieces (eventually)
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Many.
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: A million things.

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

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 but only because of nostalgia (the new stuff is hit or miss). I try not to drink too much soda anymore. And who would pick Betamax?

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
I am not a bad drummer.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Modern rock I can blast and sing along to.

What was the last book you read?
Dan Brown's new one. It was ok.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Drums and a bit of guitar.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I'm a straight white male. Oh, you said surprise?

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Yup, not touching this one.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
My daughter. That's a joke, honey.

Who is your idol?
Kurt Cobain

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back to college. Don't laugh, I genuinely liked it!

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
The gaming community has made me MUCH more extroverted. I'm practically a Used Car Salesman now.

Have any pets?
Yes. I made him our company mascot because I could.

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?
Chess has lasted pretty long so far. Branded Monopoly boards can probably go though.

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):
Hey you big bullies from middle school, look how successful I am. Also, can I borrow some money?

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?  Please 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.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Press Release - Greater Than Games Temporarily Closing Parcel Shipments


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Louis - March 23, 2020 - Greater Than Games announced today that we are closing parcel shipments until the estimated date of April 22nd due to the St. Louis County stay-at-home orders and for the safety and health of our employees. This date is subject to change based on federal, state, and local regulations. We are fulfilling all webstore orders placed before March 23rd. We have placed all of our non-digital content to “out-of-stock” on our webstore to ensure no orders can be placed at this time.

As announced in our March 17th press release, we are offering all of our digital material downloads for free, including PDFs of all of the currently released material for Sentinel Comics: the Roleplaying Game and the Cheapass Games in Black and White book. Click here to learn more.

About Greater Than Games, LLC
Greater Than Games, LLC is a leading tabletop game developer and publisher based out of St. Louis, Missouri. Established in 2011, Greater Than Games is well-known for delivering engaging, richly-themed, highly-replayable tabletop games.

Look for Greater Than Games titles in major markets worldwide.

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.


Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Buds, Blooms, and Thorns Review of Tiny Epic Defenders 2E by Gamelyn Games

Buds, Blooms, and Thorns Review of Tiny Epic Defenders 2E by Gamelyn Games
Disclaimer Support me on Patreon!
Vitals:
Title: Tiny Epic Defenders 2E
Designed by: Scott Almes
Publisher: Gamelyn Games
Year Published: 2018
MSRP: $25 ($30 Deluxe)
1-4p | 30-60 min | 14+

Introduction:
The very first Kickstarter Preview I ever wrote on my site was for Tiny Epic Defenders, way back in 2014.  This was shortly after I started reviewing games and is the sixth game I reviewed, and the first I wrote specifically for this blog.  The review was for the limited, no-artwork, print and play version that was available during the campaign.  I read the description of the game and thought it sounded great.  So I printed out the game and tried it out with some friends.  We all enjoyed the game and I went home that night, wrote up a review, and then backed the game the next day.  This was the start of my foray into Tiny Epic madness!  In the pledge manager I bought Tiny Epic Kingdoms and I've backed every Tiny Epic game since... 

With the exception of this Second Edition of Tiny Epic Defenders.  At the time I was a bit turned off that the first edition wasn't compatible with the new The Dark War expansion that was also being Kickstarted.  Previous backers were offered a small discount, but it still meant paying over $50 to have Tiny Epic Defenders 'up to date'.  Fortunately I received this copy of the second edition to review and I've picked up The Dark War expansion, so now my Tiny Epic collection is complete!

In Tiny Epic Defenders, one to four players work together to defend the Capitol City against attacking Monsters, Dire Enemies, and an ultimate Epic Foe.  Six regions surround the city and these regions must be defended else the attacks begin to reach the Capitol City.  Each region has a special ability when a hero is defending from there.  Each hero also has a special ability, and there are artifacts with special abilities that can be acquired when defending against Dire Enemies.  Defeat the Epic Foe before the Capitol City falls and you win!

Blooms:
Blooms are the game's highlights and features.  Elements that are exceptional.
  • Unique turn based system.
  • Great artwork and components.
  • Simple, straightforward cooperative tower defense game.
  • Fast, casual play, perfect for families.
Buds:
Buds are interesting parts of the game I would like to explore more. 
  • The Dark War expansion adds a campaign mode and additional options.
  • Great for solo play!
  • The game arc progresses quickly from almost too easy to frantically difficult!  And multiple difficulty levels make sure you're always playing at an appropriate difficulty.
Thorns:
Thorns are a game's shortcomings and any issues I feel are noteworthy.
  • Prone to 'quaterbacking'; easy to have an alpha gamer.
  • Updates to the Second Edition are minor, but required to use the expansion.
Final Thoughts:
As I mentioned in the introduction, this is the third version of Tiny Epic Defenders that I've owned, starting with the rough print and play version, then the First Edition, and now the Second Edition, and it (along with Tiny Epic Kingdoms) began my obsession with the Tiny Epic series of games.  So this is a game that holds a special place in my heart.  But how well does this Second Edition compare to the rest of the Tiny Epic lineup?  And is it worth getting if you already have the First Edition?

Over the years, Tiny Epic Defenders has gotten quite a bit of play from me.  It's not the most challenging or deeply strategic in the Tiny Epic lineup, but it's been a great casual cooperative game that I can play with my family.  You can knock out a game in 30-40 minutes and, even though the age says 14+, I've been playing it with my sons since they were 5 and 7 and they've had no issues with the mechanics (setup is a little challenging though, so I'd recommend an adult at least play along with younger kids).  I've played Tiny Epic Defenders a number of times as a quick game to play with the boys and as a solo game to play while I'm waiting for them somewhere, and I love it in both instances.

However, Tiny Epic Defenders does have some issues.  The biggest issue is that the game is very prone to 'quarterbacking'.  The game plays great solo, and there's a very strong temptation for alpha gamers to just make all the decisions.  If you're playing with younger kids you have to make an effort to let them feel like they're involved in the decision making process.

My other issue with the Second Edition specifically, is that it didn't really seem necessary.  Yes, it has updated artwork, new ITEMeeples, and some slightly more balanced abilities for the heroes, locations, artifacts, and enemies, and a few rules tweaks help smooth out a few minor rough spots, so it's a marginally better game than the First Edition.  However, these changes are super minor to the gameplay.  But when The Dark War expansion was released, Gamelyn Games wanted to incorporate the better art and components that their later games were known for.  This meant the base game also needed an update, making the First Edition completely incompatible with the expansion.  I guess I understand the decision, but I wasn't happy about it at the time.  I felt like people were being forced to re-buy a perfectly good game just to have the expansion (I have similar feelings about other games that have done this, too, like the excellent Dracula's Feast by Jellybean Games).

So, if you never intend to buy or play the Expansion (which adds a bunch of new features, including more ITEMeeple artifacts, new enemies, a campaign mode, and more), the First Edition is sufficient.  The changes didn't really affect the overall experience for me.  But if the features of The Dark War expansion sound great (and they are pretty great), then you'll definitely want the Second Edition of the game.

Now, where does Tiny Epic Defenders rank among the rest of the Tiny Epic lineup?  That's a more subjective question.  I quite like the game for what it is.  It's not the most strategic game in the lineup, but it's probably the fastest to setup and play.  I think the cooperative aspect of the game works better than the cooperative mode of Tiny Epic Zombies (and setup is much faster).  Personally, I like Tiny Epic Galaxies and Tiny Epic Kingdoms better than Tiny Epic Defenders, but I'd rank it about the same as the other Tiny Epic games.  It scratches a different itch than any of the other games, so I definitely think it's worth adding to your collection, especially if you're interested in a fast, simple cooperative game to play solo or with your family.

Buds, Blooms, and Thorns Rating:
Bloom!  This game is great and worth
adding to your collection!  It should be
on just about every gamer's shelf. 

Pictures:






















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GJJ Games 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 were provided by a publisher or designer for my honest feedback and evaluation.  I make every attempt to be both honest and constructively critical in my reviews, and they are all my opinions.  There are four types of reviews on GJJ Games: Full Reviews feature critical reviews based on a rubric and games receive a rating from 0 to 100.  Quick Reviews and Kickstarter Previews are either shorter reviews of published games or detailed preview reviews of crowdfunding games that will receive a rating from 0 to 10 based on my impressions of the game.  Buds, Blooms,and Thorns reviews are shorter reviews of either published or upcoming games that highlight three aspects of a game: Buds are parts of a game I look forward to exploring more, Blooms are outstanding features of a game, and Thorns are shortcomings of a game.  Each BBT review game will receive an overall rating of Thorn, Bud, or Bloom.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 216: Jay Cormier


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!

Name:Jay Cormier
Email:jay@offthepagegames.com
Location:Vancouver, BC, Canada
Day Job:Video Production Specialist
Designing:Over ten years!
Webpage:www.offthepagegames.com
Blog:inspirationtopublication.wordpress.com/
BGG:Jay Cormier
Facebook:Off the Page Games
Twitter:@offthepagegames
YouTube:Off The Page Games
Instagram:@offthepagegames
Other:
Find my games at:BGG, Game stores!
Today's Interview is with:

Jay Cormier
Interviewed on: 2/14/2020

The second interview this week is with Jay Cormier, who there is a good chance you've heard of! Jay has published over a dozen games with a bunch more coming up soon. Most of his games have been designed with his design partner Sen-Foong Lim, who I interviewed in 2017. Currently Jay is running a Kickstarter for his first self-published game, MIND MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game", so check it out now!

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Over ten years!
Why did you start designing tabletop games?
I think anyone that enjoys a creative medium and is also creative in some way will eventually find a way to contribute to that medium. So, I have always enjoyed playing games of all sorts since I was a kid. I was designing board games and video games as I grew up. It wasn't until the renaissance of the modern board game era where I felt drawn to contributing to this medium once more. I started playing modern board games in the early to mid 90's when Magic was first starting up. I got hooked on that game hard and loved it so much! That opened the door to all sorts of other games, and along side me the entire time was my best bud, Sen. He actually ushered me into all these games! Eventually we thought we could make a game. Why not? How hard could it be? So we sat down and made something...not a game per se...but something! It wasn't interesting and we couldn't figure out how to make it interesting so we slowly talked about it less and less. It wasn't until I moved super far away from Sen, to the other side of the country when we decided that we needed something to do together to stay in touch. We thought we'd give designing board games another go. This time it stuck and we haven't stopped!
What game or games are you currently working on?
MIND MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game"
Have you designed any games that have been published?
Over a dozen! Belfort, Junk Art, Akrotiri, In the Hall of the Mountain King, D&D: Rock Paper Wizard, Zombie Slam, But Wait There's More, Train of Thought, Tortuga, Godfather: A New Don, Orphan Black: The Card Game, This Town Ain't Big Enough for the 2-4 Of Us, Djinn, and Tic Tac Moo
What is your day job?
Video Production Specialist

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
In my home, but I playtest games weekly at a game store.
Who do you normally game with?
I playtest with the Game Artisans of Canada, Vancouver chapter. Other than that, since I've had twins (3 years now), my regular gaming has subsided. Hopefully this will return once they're older - and they'll play with me!
If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
I am definitely into the Cult of the New, so anything new and different. I also have a few escape room in a box games that I'd like to play!
And what snacks would you eat?
Hmmm...chips I guess! Can't go wrong with chips!
Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Maybe quietly and in the background. I'd play some upbeat alternative type music.
What’s your favorite FLGS?
Magic Stronghold in Vancouver because I'm there every week. They let us playtest our games and that's super supportive!
What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Favourite? Hmmm...that changes a lot. I will always play Time's Up: Title Recall at a party. It's my favourite party game that never gets old. I love any game that's trying to do something different. Like Loony Quest or Detective.
What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I love tile placing! Love it! I've loved Entdecker for a long time, and it was partly responsible for Akrotiri. Sen and I just said, let's make a tile laying game, since I loved them so much. I think they make me feel like I'm exploring and even in abstract games, they make it feel a lot more themey. Amerigo has polyomino tile laying and that's satisfying too! My least favourite is pick up and deliver, which is super funny because my absolute 2 favourite games that I've designed both have pick up and deliver (Akrotiri and In the Hall of the Mountain King). The thing I dislike about this mechanic is how slow it can be. I pick this up here and then next turn I move a few spaces, then the following turn I move a bit more and then finally I get to where I am going to deliver it. Very slow. For Akrotiri we made the traveling super fast by allowing players to move from dock to dock with only 1 action point. For In the Hall of the Mountain King, it's more of a resource management thing than the main objective. Do you have enough carts of the right colour to get your statues where they need to go?
What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Amerigo? I really love it, but haven't played it in awhile.
What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, Video Games, Other Games?
Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games, Other Games?
OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
Hey, we had a lot of fun with it when it came out, but it got stale super fast. I'm disappointed with companies that make CAH rip-offs though.

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?
Both - and more! Sometimes we've started with the title (like Train of Thought came first and we said - what would that game be about?). That said, I will say that any game idea that started with a mechanic first has had a much higher success rate than if it started with a theme first. It might be my brain, but I need to ensure there's something unique and different with how the game is played. That excites me more than saying Zombies in Space!
Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Entered and made it to the finals, but didn't win.
Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Oh there are a lot. Anyone that's trying new and different things. Phil Walker-Harding is always doing new and different things. Antoine Bauza has been pretty amazing with really creating the drafting mechanic as a game with 7 Wonders and then also creating Hanabi with the aspect of not being able to see your own cards. Both are so inventive!
Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
From constantly brainstorming and keeping track of all ideas on a forum with my design partner Sen-Foong Lim! We'd come up with hundreds of ideas and eventually one of them would interest both of us and we're off to the races!
How do you go about playtesting your games?
I'm fortunate enough to have a weekly playtest group of other designers. It's amazing and I'd highly recommend designers to find other designers to playtest with to get really interesting and useful feedback.
Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I've designed one game on my own: Draw Your Own Conclusions - that just came out from Grey Fox Games. Otherwise I've designed with a partner. Most with Sen-Foong Lim and then In the Hall of the Mountain King with Graeme Jahns. I have 2 more signed games that are each designed with a different partner as well.
What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Time. I'd just love to have more time. I'd love to be full time as a designer but it isn't feasible right now. I am able to be part time at my job job, which is 3 days a week, and then 2 days a week as a game designer, and that's awesome. Otherwise, I'd say playtesting. Even though I'm able to playtest weekly, I could easily playtest 2-3 times a week based on the number of designs I have going on at any one time. But then it goes back to also needing more time. With twin 3 year old boys at home, I can't be out every night playtesting!
If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Indiana Jones. Can you make this happen???
What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
I've learned it since, but early on: Don't change the game based on every single piece of feedback you get. You're the designer. You make the call on what you should change or not. 100% you need to listen and make notes about the feedback you're getting, but it doesn't mean you have to act on everything.
What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Partner up. Sure you cut your royalties in half, but if money is the reason why you're getting into game design, then you're in the wrong field. It's just like being a writer. For every JK Rowling, there are a million other writers trying to get by. Find a partner who has the same passion and objectives that you do. Someone you can work with. Someone who can take feedback and work with it. Someone who will do half the work. This really helps when you're in a motivational rut. Your partner can pick up where you left off.
Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have:
Belfort
Belfort: The Expansion Expansion
Train of Thought
Tortuga
But Wait There's More
This Town Ain't Big Enough for the 2-4 Of Us
Akrotiri
Orphan Black: The Card Game
Godfather: A New Don
Junk Art
D&D: Rock Paper Wizard
D&D: RPW Fistful of Monsters
MIB: Undercover
Zombie Slam
Tic Tac Moo
Djinn
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Draw Your Own Conclusions

Games that will soon be published are:
MIND MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game"
WWE: Headlock Paper Scissors
Belfort: Her Majesty's Civil Service
2 unannounced 'escape room in a box' games
Draw the Line
Godzilla Card Game
Complexcity

This is what I have currently crowdfunding: MIND MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game" is from March 3rd to April 2nd
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Too many to list! :-)
Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Tons!

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?
I'm not much of a fan of either of the Star franchises, though I enjoyed parts 1 and 3 of the new Star Trek movies. I enjoy Diet Coke and I had a Betamax, but obviously had to switch to VHS so I could rent movies!
What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Playing video games - especially 3rd person action games like Tomb Raider or Assassin's Creed. I love reading comics when I get the chance and movies are probably my biggest passion outside of games. My wife is continually amazed at how much I know about every movie, but still can't remember to take out the garbage.
What is something you learned in the last week?
Seeing that I'm less than 3 weeks away from running my first Kickstarter as a board game publisher (I ran one last year for the Fail Faster Playtesting Journal), I'm learning 10 new things a day - or more! This week? I learned about setting deadlines with your partners not just so you can get the content you need, but to also work in the schedules of other people that might be affected - like your graphic designer!!!
Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Music: I like upbeat music! Books: Time travel is my favourite, but I love fast-paced stories with contemporary characters with either a thrilling concept or slightly unbelievable one! Movies: Almost anything, but I will say that I am much more a plot person than a 'let's explore this character' person. I love great characters and trying to understand their motivations, but I need a plot to keep it moving.
What was the last book you read?
I read 2-3 books a month (not counting comics). Currently I'm reading Unhappenings - which keeps getting better and better. It's not overly emotionally affecting me, but the plot is pretty awesome (time travel!)
Do you play any musical instruments?
I do not. I tried learning guitar once. Didn't work. So much effort to play an instrument. I would really love to when I'm older and have nothing to do!
Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I have performed as a children's entertainer for over 20 years! I have my own character who tells stories and uses magic while getting the kids involved. It's been a lot of fun, but I have stopped performing as I'd rather be designing board games!
Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I jumped out of an airplane! And - it was in the air at the time. :-) I did a tandem jump and it was fun. No need to really do it again, but I'm glad I did it!
Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
I can't think of one!
Who is your idol?
Steve Martin. Besides being an amazing stand up comedian whose style was unique at the time (and was the first to sell out stadiums), he's also been an actor, playwright and award winning banjo player. I just love that he loves being creative.
What would you do if you had a time machine?
Depends on the science and consequences of my travels. If I'm a tourist, then I'd check out the future. Maybe see what games are popular in the future! :-)
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Extro all the way! :-)
If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Batman. While I don't want to have dead parents, I do like that he's smart and uses more than just muscle to stop crimes. I also like that he doesn't use guns. Spiderman would also be cool for similar reasons - plus he's funny!
Have any pets?
No, my wife is allergic to all pets!
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?
I think a deck of cards would be good because they're so versatile!
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):
I'll shout out to my own publishing company, because I haven't mentioned them yet: Off the Page Games! www.offthepagegames.com With this company I'm publishing MIND MGMT: The Psychic Espionage "Game"!

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

I mentioned it briefly, but I also designed the Fail Faster Playtesting Journal which is available here: www.failfaster.ca if you want the pdf form, or here: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/parts/fail-faster-playtesting-journal - if you want the physical journal



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?  Please 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.